Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Meals
Instinct offers another one of the best raw freeze dried Golden Retriever foods due to its convenience. It comes in small, freeze dried pellets that are about the size of kibble pieces. You can feed the pieces as-is or you can mix them with warm water, which is ideal for making sure your pup gets enough moisture. These freeze dried pieces can be served as full meals or food toppers.
85% of the formula includes meat, organs, and bones. Then, the rest contains non-GMO fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. Despite looking like kibble, this Golden Retriever food has never been cooked and its minimally processed to preserve the nutrients. All the dog food is made in USA kitchens. This food comes with either beef, chicken, or lamb as the primary protein.
The freeze dried raw meals are the more popular choice, but there are also frozen raw meals available. If youre not ready to switch completely to raw, Instinct also offers Raw Boost recipes, which are kibble mixed with freeze dried raw pieces.
Benefits:
Eagle Pack Chicken And Pork Adult Large And Giant Breed
Primary Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Pork Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Rice, Dehulled Barley
Eagle Packs dry food is exclusively for large to giant breed dogs, made with a blend of chicken and pork. Its combination of proteins and whole grains support your Golden Retrievers bone health and improve their digestion. The exclusive formula also increases energy levels!
Customer Review: It has everything they need and nothing they dont. We tried another brand, and it caused all kinds of allergic reactions. We went back to Eagle Pack, and all is right again. Great product!
Rating: 4.4/5
Special Considerations For Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are very active. They are most active as puppies and young adults but they need exercise throughout their lives. Walking, swimming, and good, long runs provide excellent exercise for these sporting dogs. Because of their high level of activity, they do need quite a few calories in their daily food.
Golden Retrievers can be prone to hip dysplasia and some other health issues.
Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds that has been connected to food-related dilated cardiomyopathy . The FDA is currently investigating a possible link between grain free dog foods and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. At this time there is no firm conclusion about a connection but you may wish to consider these findings when choosing a food for your Golden. The FDA has not advised anyone to stop feeding grain free dog foods. However, they have suggested that owners might cut back on foods with high amounts of peas and some other ingredients that have been used in place of grains.
Some Golden Retrievers have developed food allergies. Do watch your dogs health and reactions after meals, especially if you have recently changed dog foods. If you notice anything unusual, consult your veterinarian.
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How To Choose The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
The friendly Golden Retriever is one of Americas most beloved breeds. A dog renowned for its loyal, loving, and affectionate ways, the Golden Retriever is an active family companion that requires a high-quality diet to thrive.
Golden Retrievers can be prone to developing bloat, a condition that primarily affects large-chested breeds. Though the causes of this problem arent fully understood, experts recommend feeding a kibble that is comprised of large enough pieces to require the Golden to chew rather than gulp its food since bloat is associated with eating too quickly or too large a quantity.
Golden Retrievers love to eat and can be prone to weight gain. To prevent this from occurring, the best dog food for Golden Retrievers should be carefully measured and the dogs body condition monitored to achieve and maintain an appropriate weight.
What Do The Terms On The Label Mean
The labels on pet foods can be confusing. Learning what the terms mean can help you decipher which one is a higher-quality product.
The terms on a label are listed in descending amounts of ingredients. So the first few listed are found in larger amounts than those at the bottom of the items listed on the label.
And check the âbest byâ date to be sure that the food is fresh.
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How To Read A Dog Food Label
To help make an informed decision about what youre feeding your Golden, youll need to read the food label.
But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC.
Ingredients are listed in order of weight
The first ingredient listed is the ingredient that theres the most of in the food, while the last ingredient is the ingredient that theres the least of.
There is one caveat though.
Ingredients are listed in the exact type that theyre added in.
For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn.
The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. Meat Byproduct
Lets say youre looking at a food label and you see chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Chicken means that its chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken meal means that its essentially ground and dried chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken byproducts means that its byproducts .
Chicken byproducts meal means that its essentially ground and dried byproducts.
The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food.
Our Second Choice: Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Food
Our 2nd Choice
According to our staff veterinarian, Dr. Amanda Jondle, DVM, the second-best puppy food for Golden Retrievers is Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Food. Royal Canin is designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred Golden Retrievers 8 weeks to 15 months old. There is added vitamin E to support the immune system as an antioxidant and protects the skin. It reinforces the skin barrier with essential nutrients to support healthy skin and a shiny, golden coat.
They have designed their kibble specifically for Golden Retriever puppies. The kibble is shaped for a Golden Retrievers straight muzzle and scissor bite to encourage chewing.
The formula lists chicken by-product meal as their first ingredient. This would be a downside considering many other brands list whole chicken as the #1 ingredient.
Top Ingredients:
- Protects skin with essential nutrients
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Some Suggested Foods For Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Of course puppies require a higher amount of protein and fat than adults generally do.
But note that adult goldens who are very active, such as dogs who do agility, generally need more protein and fat than other goldens do. But they may not need as much as puppies do.
If in doubt, itâs best to check with a vet who knows canine nutrition regarding your dogâs specific needs.
The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers For 202: Reviewed And Ranked Faqs
Which dog food is best for Golden Retrievers?
The best dog food for your Golden Retriever is dependent on his age. Life stage is a crucial consideration when selecting dog food for your pup. If your Golden is in the puppy stage, he needs a formula specific to large breed puppies. If he is in the adult stage, then he should be consuming a formula made for large breed adult dogs. If your Golden is in the senior life stage, he should be consuming large breed senior dog food.
What is the healthiest diet for a Golden Retriever?
The healthiest diet for a Golden Retriever includes high-quality protein. As we mentioned above, you should be looking for dog food that has real meat listed as the first ingredient. Wholesome grains can be included along with essential nutrients and omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. Consider age-specific requirements when selecting the healthiest diet for your golden as well.
What is a Golden Retrievers favorite food?
Thats up to your Golden to decide! Although Goldens are of the same breed, just as each of their personalities is unique, so are their flavor preferences. While one Golden may be highly attracted to chicken or beef, another May love duck or even fish flavors. Keep an eye on what makes your dog salivate the most and thats how youll be able to determine what his favorite food is.
Do Golden Retrievers need grain-free food?
Is Royal Canin good for Golden Retriever?
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Purina Pro Plan Savor Shredded Puppy Blend With Probiotics
Primary Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat, Soybean Meal
Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the industry, thanks to products like this puppy chow. The Save Shredded Puppy Blend includes probiotics to help ease the digestion in growing Golden Retriever puppies with sensitive stomachs.
Customer Review: My puppy with a sensitive stomach loves this food. I mix it with wet food, and he loves it. He loves the chunks of shredded chicken!
Rating: 4.6/5
Nutro Lamb And Rice: Adult Large Breed
Nutro has one of the best dry dog foods for Golden Retrievers in their lamb and rice formula. Your dog will likely love this food. Even though it’s not hypoallergenic, because it’s lamb, it can sometimes avoid allergies – if your particular pup is prone to that.
One of the best aspects of this formula is that they have done a fantastic job packing in as much protein as possible. With 21% protein and a mere 13% fat, this food will provide your dog with as much nutrition as possible!
There are no by-products or fillers. The bag that you get from Nutro is full of goodness for your dog, and it will show with a clean, smooth coat and a healthier physique!
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What Is The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
In general, you should consider the following three dog foods: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, Nutro Lamb and Rice, and Science Diet. All of these are the adult, large-breed formulas. For the best dog food for a golden retriever puppy, we recommend checking out Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy.
What Food Is Best For A Golden Retriever Puppy
When feeding any puppy, make sure youre giving them puppy food! Kibble formulated for young dogs will have higher levels of protein, fat, and omega fatty acids to support their growing bodies and developing minds, which cannot be overlooked .
Ashley Gallagher, DVM, also reminds pet parents to look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials seal of nutritional adequacy when browsing puppy food labels. This proves that the product youre looking at has undergone significant trials and testing to ensure balanced, complete nutrition for your puppy. After all, they deserve nothing less. Gallagher also suggests buying puppy food meant for large breeds if youre raising a golden, as their larger bodies need extra sustenance to grow.
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What Should I Do If My Puppys Food Does Not Appropriately Reflect Their Development
When comparing different kinds of dog food, youve probably realized that some of them are meant for puppies, while others are meant for seniors. The dietary tract of a pup develops and matures over time, so your dog may have different requirements in different phases of its life.The time when your dog should begin eating adult food varies based on the size of your dog. Your veterinarian can recommend the right time to switch from puppy to adult food. Puppy food will benefit your dog for about eight weeks, from about six months to a year of age.
Our Third Choice: Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy
3rd Choice
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Food uses high-quality ingredients and is made in the USA. Its high-quality chicken is the first ingredient for protein that will power your Golden Retrievers day.
This puppy food supports muscle growth and bone health in active puppies with optimized levels of calcium and phosphorous. It also supports healthy brain development with clinically proven levels of DHA for a smarter, more trainable Golden Retriever puppy.
If the two choices listed above were not to your liking, this option is also highly recommended by our veterinarians. Choosing Eukanuba for your dog will leave you confident they are getting the nutrients they need.
Top Ingredients:
- Complete balanced nutrition for large breeds
- Added omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E
- Comes in 3 bag sizes 5lb, 16lb, and 33lb.
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How Do I Know Which Foods Are Good
While the above foods are ones that tend to be best for Golden Retrievers, it’s worth understanding why these foods work best.
Golden Retrievers have somewhat unique dietary needs. They are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to some illnesses. In particular, all large dogs, including Retrievers, may be predisposed to a genetic condition called hip dysplasia. With this condition, dogs display decreased activity, mobility, and a decrease in overall quality of life.
One of the factors that influence whether or not a dog will suffer from this condition is nutrition. Dogs that receive more inadequate nutrition during their early years are more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia than those that receive quality food. Having an obese dog is a risk factor, as well. Fatty foods or foods that are high in carbohydrates will lead to obesity, much like humans!
Therefore, when you want the best dog food for Golden Retrievers – the food that will give them the best possible chance at a high quality of life – you need food that his high in protein and has glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. You’ll also want food free of fillers and low in fat. These properties will ensure that your Golden Retriever has the best levels of nutrition.
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Formulated to support your dogs hip, joint, and digestive health, this nutritionally-balanced recipe will also help your dog maintain a healthy body weight. Fresh chicken and chicken meal provide a concentrated source of protein with wholesome grains for essential nutrients.
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Formulated without meat byproducts, fillers, or artificial preservatives, this recipe features deboned chicken, whole grains, and a mix of fruits and veggiesincluding sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples.
If food allergies and sensitivities arent a factor, this dry dog food recipe is a protein-rich source of quality nutrition. It also contains limited fat and calories to help your Golden Retriever maintain their weight as they get older.
Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
This weight management dry dog food is intended for senior-aged dogs and contains ingredients to help support their joint health.
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Golden Retrievers Health Issues
Golden Retrievers struggle with a predisposition to a variety of health concerns. Goldens are one of my favorite breeds to treat in the vet clinic.
But unfortunately, many have to make frequent visits. Thankfully, proper nutrition can help reduce their risks.
Allergies
Dogs can suffer from allergic reactions, just like people. Skin allergies, environmental allergies, and food allergies can drastically decrease your pups quality of life.
Golden Retrievers are predisposed to these reactions. And diet is an essential aspect of managing allergies in dogs.
If your Golden suffers from allergies, choose a limited-ingredient dog food. These options feature simple recipes and a single protein source to limit the risk of exposure to potential allergens.
Formulas that are free of soy, corn, or wheat are also excellent choices for sensitive pups.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Nearly all large breeds can be affected by hip and elbow dysplasia. This abnormality impacts the anatomy of the joint and leads to severe arthritis.
Poor nutrition and rapid growth as a puppy can increase the risks of this disease. Make sure growing Goldens eat a diet with adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus. These minerals play an essential role in bone development.
If your Golden Retriever suffers from arthritis, added glucosamine can help ease joint discomfort.
Aortic Stenosis
Feeding your Golden Retriever a diet low in crude fat but high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids can help manage this diseases risks.
Best Puppy Food For Golden Retrievers
Finding the best puppy food for your Golden Retriever can be difficult. However, equipped with the knowledge in this article from a practicing veterinarian, we will have you on your way to providing nutritious meals for your puppy. Selecting the best food for your puppy will help them grow healthy and strong right from the start.
Our Pick
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Foodis our top choice. This is the food I have been feeding my Golden Retriever, Brady, since I got him at eight weeks old. He is currently 6 months old and still loves his nutritious Purina Pro Plan puppy food. It comes highly recommended by our staff of veterinarians here at Golden Retriever Society.
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What Is The Best Food For Golden Retrievers
In the table below, youll find the top five best food formulas for your Goldy. We chose these products based on our thorough research and advice from the experts.
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Ingredients:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat , Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Chicken Flavor, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lecithin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Kelp Meal, Sea Salt, Flax Seed, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Canola Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, New Zealand Sea Mussel, Dl Methionine, Ascorbic Acid, Glucosamine, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Garlic Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide.