Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Large Breed Formula
Purina Pro Plan Focus for large breeds has balanced nutrition for your Golden Retriever. it has the right protein and fat balance to help your dog maintain a healthy weight while staying healthy and active. The balanced formula will also take care of the beautiful coat. Whats more: This dog food also contains ingredients that actually allow for optimal absorption of all the nutrients. You also get natural probiotic fibers for easy digestion.
Best Homemade Dog Food Cooking Practices
Its vital you discuss your Golden Retrievers specific nutritional needs with a veterinary nutritionist as every dog is different.
Why is this important?
A;study;published in the;Journal of Nutritional Science;found that;48% of home-prepared diets for dogs;had no precise determination of ingredients and quantities and that;71.3;%;of pet owners lacked information on how much to feed the animal.
As you can see, while most dog parents want the best when it comes to their furry friends nutrition, most of them dont have a proper understanding of dog nutrition. Thats why getting professional guidance on how to properly plan a home diet for Fido will minimize the risk of exposing your Golden Retriever to nutritional deficiencies due to a bad diet.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking for homemade dog food for your Golden Retriever:
- Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
- Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
- Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
- Research every ingredient before using it for safety
- Follow the recipe as instructed
- Add supplements to their diet as needed
- Understand the impact of dietary changes
- Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist
What About A Mixture Of Dry And Wet Foods
Both wet and dry foods bring something special to your pets. So, there’s nothing wrong with feeding them with both.
However, you shouldn’t mix both wet and dry foods in a single meal. Rather, you should serve your dogs with wet and dry food at different intervals .
When you adopt this feeding method, you should ensure that the amount of food they take does not exceed the required energy, calorie, and nutrient they need daily.
Moreso, if your pet has digestive problems, it is best to stick to one type of food, especially if your pet nutritionist recommends it. Switching between both foods, in this case, may cause diarrhea, constipation, and other health issues.
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How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers usually weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and reach their full height and weight when they are 12 to 18 months old. Keep in mind that every dog is an individual and that it can take more or less time for your Golden puppy to reach his adult size. However, your Goldens caloric needs will greatly decrease when he reaches 12 to 14 months and he will no longer need the same amount of food as before.
An adult and active Golden will need to eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day. However, keep in mind that age, weight, activity level, health problems, and overall lifestyle will determine how many calories your Golden needs per day.
For example, nursing mothers and dogs that perform heavy work will need more than 2,000 calories per day in order to maintain their weight and stay healthy. On the other hand, if your pooch is more of a couch potato type than an athlete he will probably need around 1,000 calories a day in order to maintain a healthy weight.
During adulthood, your Golden Retriever feeding schedule should consist of two equally spaced meals ideally, you should feed your dog in the morning and evening. If you opt for feeding high-quality large breed dog food, an optimal Golden Retriever food amount will be:
- Females: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day
- Males: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day
- Active Males: 4 cups a day
- Nursing Females: 5 to 6 cups a day
Is Wet Food Or A Raw Diet Better Than Dry Kibble
Not necessarily. Some dogs prefer wet food, or have medical needs that require their food to be softer . However many wet and dry foods have similar nutritional content.
Similarly, homemade/specialty prepared meals may have higher quality ingredients than some dry foods, but are not always better in terms of nutrition.
Raw diets do come with a number of pros. However, one thing to consider is that dogs can spread pathogens that dont bother them, but can still make you sick. For example, while Salmonella may not get your dog sick, it can be passed onto you and your family after going through their system.
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Why Is It Important To Give Your Golden Retriever The Right Amount Of Food
Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is very important. It can minimize your dogs risk of health problems, ultimately increasing his lifespan. Golden retrievers are one of the dog breeds who are most likely to suffer from obesity, so its even more important to be vigilant about their diets.
In recent years, the lifespan of golden retrievers has gone down significantly. They used to live for an average of 16 or 17 years, and now their average lifespan is 10 to 12 years. This is because golden retrievers are more susceptible than other dogs to different types of cancer, and a factor that plays a role is the type of food and how much you give them.
Nutritional Guidelines To Follow
To ensure a homemade dog food diet;will meet your Golden Retrievers dietary requirements, you need to take into account your Goldens weight, health condition, size, and activity level.
The best homemade diet for Golden Retriever will always have the six essential nutrients any dog meal should always have.
| Nutrient | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs | Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more. |
| Carbohydrates | Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat | |
| Fat | From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others | Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues |
| Minerals | Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. | Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production. |
| Water | Water | Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day. |
| Vitamins | A, B, C, D, E, and K | Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function. |
Its not advice to improvise when cooking for your pooch.
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Zukes Hip Action With Added Glucosamine And Chondroitin
- Zuke’s Hip Action hip & joint dog treats feature 300mg of glucosamine and 50mg of chondroitin per tender, tasty treat
- These natural dog treats contain egg shell membrane to support joint health
- With real beef as the #1 ingredient, these soft and chewy dog treats also feature nutrient-rich cherries, turmeric and sesame seeds
- No corn, no wheat, no soy. No artificial colors or flavors
- Crafted in the USA using the earths best ingredients
Zukes steaks have recently changed their packaging so many of you may not recognize this product on the first look. But there is no denying that whilst it may look different the food is still just as good inside.
This treat is made with real grass-fed New Zealand beef and fresh carrots & apples. There are 3 different flavors that you can get your hands on as it comes in beef, chicken & beef and beef, lamb, and turkey. No matter what your dog likes theres guaranteed to be a flavor that theyll love.
Youll sees on a majority of Amazon reviews that people are having some great results and experiences with these treats.;
How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy
Golden Retriever puppies should eat three to four times a day until they are six months old at scheduled intervals. They require more calories and frequency at this young age. It is not best to feed them extra food as they could become overweight. They should be lanky with long legs at this stage in life.
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Avoid Overfeeding A Golden Retriever
For those who have Golden Retrievers at home, how to avoid overfeeding a Golden Retriever is an important issue. You have probably noticed that no matter how much food you put, your Golden Retriever wants to eat more and acts like he is on the brink of starvation! Because dogs are usually greedy, they often dont know when theyre full. Especially for delicious food, it will never eat enough. However, eating too much can have a bad effect on your dogs health. A lactating Golden Retriever mother should not control how much she eats. Because breastfeeding mothers need to eat a lot, in order to ensure adequate milk. When a golden dog mother has indigestion, we can give him some medicine such as lactase to help digestion, but do not give him less food.
Natural Snacks To Feed Your Healthy Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever loves eating and is susceptible to easy weight gain. Thus, considering their health, you can find many options and opinions about the snacks you feed your pet. Apart from filling up your Retrievers belly, natural snacks will provide more nutrition to the food you offer. Do you know what are healthy natural snacks for your Golden Retriever?
You surely want the treats of your Golden to be healthy, dont you?
Some of the easiest natural snacks to feed the healthy Golden Retriever readily available in your kitchen includes; Apples, Green Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Cooked Sweet Potatoes, Bananas, Broccoli, Cooked Squash, Strawberries, and Blueberries.;
When it comes to the diet, controlling what and how much your Golden eats are the most important things to do. The food you serve them solely determines their mood and longevity. Thus, it is necessary to fill them with the best natural foods for qualitative and quantitative life.
Let us look at the benefits of natural snacks that you feed your healthy Golden Retriever first.
A simple change in your snacking pattern will benefit your Golden Retriever a lot. Right?
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Expert Tips For Canine Nutritional Management
- Understand your Goldens activity level
- Age plays a role when choosing a formula
- Your dogs breed needs to be taken in to consideration
- Assess your dogs medical condition
- Consult with your veterinarian for the best nutritional advice
- Look for brands that assist with nutritional management for dogs with medical conditions.
- Dog food formulas need to be tested using the AAFCO feeding trial testing methods instead of by formulation
- The nutritional adequacy statement needs to be on the label
- The dog food formula that you choose needs to be complete and balanced
- The formula needs to be for the correct life stage of the dog
When it comes to choosing the best dog food for your Golden Retriever, keep in mind that a high-quality dog food will have better results in helping to keep your Golden healthy than a lower quality dog food.
Goldens may have diseases which are heavily impacted by their diets like inflammatory bowel disease or atopic skin diseases. These can be helped by feeding the correct diet, since Goldens with health conditions will need to follow a diet that is appropriate to their medical conditions. Always consult with your veterinarian for advice before changing diets.
What To Feed Golden Retriever Puppy
During the first four weeks of your Golden retrievers life it should spend most of its time with mom, litter-mates and other family members. It is extremely rare for a puppy owner to care about them during this time. Responsible breeders are the best. As they grow, the puppys body will double in size. Here well discuss what to feed golden retriever puppy once shes a 30-day old.
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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large
The top five ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. The food contains a minimum of 38 percent protein.
The Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed recipe contains added glucosamine and chondroitin to help support healthy hip and joint function, essential for large-breed dogs.;
Omega fatty acids from salmon oil help ensure a healthy skin and coat.
A unique raw-infused kibble recipe is loaded with protein.;
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries are also included to boost your dogs immune system
This formula has a large kibble size.
The recipe has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and is gluten free.
Dangerous Foods For Golden Retriever Puppies
Golden retrievers are special dogs. Some foods that Golden Retrievers should stay away from are:
- Avocado They contain persin, which is an oil-soluble toxin, They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death for dogs who are highly sensitive.
- Chocolate Chocolate, has a substance called theobromine, which can have a detrimental effect on your dog.
- Grapes and raisins Grapes and raisins can cause serious complications like kidney failure and even death if your dog eats them.
- Xylitol This can be found in gum, candies, baked good,s or other sugar-substituted items.
Some other foods that you should look out for are Pips, seeds, and stones, Mushrooms, Nuts, Unripe tomatoes, Onions and garlic, Nutmeg, Broccoli, Rhubarb, Potatoes plants, Persimmon seeds.
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What Should You Add To Kibble
In most cases, wet puppy food is not designed to provide complete and balanced nutrition in the same way as with dry kibble puppy food.
However, there can be some cases where feeding wet puppy food is advisable, either as a kibble topper or on its own.
One such case might be if your puppy is recovering from an illness or a procedure and doesnt have much appetite.
Wet food is quite palatable.
Wet food can also add more moisture to your puppys diet to make sure she stays well-hydrated.
Wet puppy food can be a tasty treat to liven up mealtimes. Weve reviewed our favorite dry and wet foods for Golden Retriever puppies here.
You can also add scraps such as meat, scrambled organic eggs, organic vegetables and fruits, canned pumpkin for healthy digestion, or probiotics such as yogurt.
So How Do You Choose The Best Food For Your Golden Retriever
In a recent 2019 FDA dog food update about grain-free dog food that contained legume seeds, lentils, potatoes or peas as main ingredients, dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs was linked to grain-free dog food formulas.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is becoming more common in dogs on grain-free diets that as a breed are not predisposed to DCM. This includes the Golden Retriever!
In grain-free formulas there is often a high level of potato. FDA medical records indicate that dogs with DCM had low levels of taurine which may result in DCM. Dogs fed diets that included exotic proteins, and that were grain-free resulted in higher rates of DCM.
Heres what the FDA had to say. To better characterize diets reported in DCM cases, product labels were examined to determine whether the product was grain-free , and whether the products contained peas, other lentils including chickpeas and beans, or potatoes . ;Because so many products contained peas and/or lentils, a category was created for peas and/or lentils. More than 90 percent of products were grain-free, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils. ;A far smaller proportion contained potatoes, via FDA
Animal protein sources in the reported diets varied widely, and many diets contained more than one protein source. ;The most common proteins in the reported diets were chicken lamb and fish; however, some diets contain atypical protein sources such as kangaroo, bison or duck.;No one animal protein source was predominant.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Large
The top five ingredients are deboned salmon, chicken meal, pea protein, peas, and tapioca starch, with a minimum of 32 percent protein.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken is a great option for those looking for higher protein and an optimal blend of calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins to help keep bones strong.
Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids found in fish meal and flaxseed ensure a healthy coat.;
An ideal blend of protein, fat and carbohydrates are also included to assist your large breed dog in keeping a healthy weight.;
The formula doesnt contain any grains or gluten and has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
It also has antioxidants to boost immune health and no poultry by-products.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are added for healthy joints.
Royal Canin Best Golden Retriever Adult Dog Food
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Brown Rice, 2. Chicken By-Product Meal, 3. Oat Groats, 4. Brewers Rice, 5. Wheat
This offering from Royal Canin is formulated with a specific focus on your Golden Retrievers dietary needs. It is a heart-healthy recipe because goldens can be susceptible to heart problems. Plus, there is a blend of ingredients that will keep their golden coat shining in its full glory.
It has taurine and DHA for your babys cognitive and visual development. Simply put, Royal Canins exclusive Golden Retriever formula is one of the rare products that will fulfill all their nutritional needs while managing a healthy weight. This Royal Canin formula is one of the most popular and is considered one of the best dog foods for golden retrievers.
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