Natural Balance Lid Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
Key Features:
- No artificial colors or flavors
The Best Food with Limited Ingredients Natural Balance is widely respected when it comes to limited ingredient diets. If your Golden Retriever has a food allergy or food sensitivity and needs to avoid certain common dog food ingredients such as chicken, beef, or other things, Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is a great choice. Lamb is the only source of meat protein in the food, making it easier for your dog to avoid meat proteins that could be a problem. Rice, in several forms, provides most of the carbohydrates. Brown rice is also a good source of fiber.
In addition, this limited ingredient formula is noteworthy for what it doesnt contain. It has no corn wheat, or soy. And, it is pea-free. It has no fillers and no artificial colors or flavors. Its a good choice for dogs with sensitive digestion.
If you think your Golden Retriever has an allergy or food sensitivity, its always recommended to see your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can test your dog to find out definitely and find out what, if any, ingredients might be bothering your dog. That makes it much easier to know which ingredients to avoid.
This Natural Balance food is available in 4.5-lb, 14-lb, and 28-lb bags.
Pros:
- Made for large breed puppies
- Contains DHA for good brain and eye development
- Precise calcium and phosphorus levels for proper bone development
Pros:
Pros:
Pros:
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Pros:
The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Though breed-specific dog food formulas might be fine for your dog, its better to understand your dogs nutritional needs and make an informed decision based on that. Considering your dogs age, breed size, and activity level will help you make the best choice.
With that in mind, these are our top picks for the best dog food for adult Golden Retrievers.
Formulated for digestibility, this holistic natural dog food recipe features real chicken as the main ingredient, acting as both a lean source of protein and a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin for your Golden Retriever.
Halo Holistic Chicken Recipe Large-Breed Dog Food
This holistic crunchy dry dog food features real chicken as the main ingredient.
Pasture-fed lamb is the protein-rich foundation of this large-breed recipe, balanced with whole brown rice, whole grain oatmeal, and assorted vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure optimal nutrition.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large-Breed Adult Lamb & Rice Recipe
This large-breed recipe contains lamb as its main source of protein and glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
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
You May Like: What The Best Dog Food To Feed My Pitbull
Taurine Deficiency In Golden Retrievers
Past publications and research suggest that Golden Retrievers may be genetically predisposed to taurine deficiency, which is well-documented as potentially leading to DCM, via FDA.
Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Joshua Stern from the University of California at Davis has been studying the rise in cases of DCM in Golden Retrievers, including a potential dietary link. Many cases of DCM in Golden Retrievers are taurine-deficient.
Pet owners who suspect their Golden Retrievers may be affected may wish to consult their veterinarian to discuss checking taurine levels or conducting an echocardiogram.
For more on this, visit: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy#cases
Some Suggested Foods For Your Adult Golden Retriever
The following list contains some foods for you to consider for your golden. Remember that if you feed a high-quality food to your dog without fillers, you often can feed less.
A general guideline Ive found when choosing a food is to make sure that it has specifically-named ingredients, not vague, generic ones. So lamb meal would be preferable to the generic term meat meal.
The same is true of preservatives and other ingredients.
I feed my golden a food thats been recommended by many reliable sources such as the Whole Dog Journal and thats been well-rated by the Dog Food Advisor.
I wont name it just because its one of many choices and what Ive found to be great for my dogs may not be for yours.
And I also considered various foods before making my selection. My dogs are doing well on this food.
You dont need to break the bank to find a great food. Goldens love their food and eat a lot because of their size. So Im providing a wide selection of price points to select from..
Im listing the top-five adult and puppy formulas for large breeds and links to the Dog Food Advisor and Chewy so that you can see additional information regarding these foods and their ratings.
The Dog Food Advisor is a public service website designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.
The write-ups are taken from those found on the Dog Food Advisor website.
The links will also lead to information regarding additional high-rated foods.
Read Also: Where To Buy Regal Dog Food
Why Do The Ingredients Of A Food Matter
Of course, your golden is a highly intelligent and sociable dog. Heâs very lovable and everyoneâs his friend.
Unfortunately, goldens have a higher-than-average incidence of cancer. Many factors, including genetics and nutrition, determine a dogâs health.
All dog foods are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration . They must also meet the Association of American Feed Control Official nutrient standards for the correct life stage.
But AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles consist only of minimum values for all the nutrients required by dogs and maximum values for just a few nutrients that can be toxic if consumed in excessive amounts.
As long as a food meets the minimum nutrient values expressed in the profiles, and doesnât exceed the maximum values, it can be labeled as complete and balanced.
But, even with such regulation, not all foods are created equal.
Feeding a food with low-quality ingredients may contribute to chronic inflammation and obesity. And chronic inflammation can contribute to arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and infection.
Foods should be made from wholesome, natural ingredients with no fillers, by-products, or artificial additives.
They should be rich in high-quality animal sources such as poultry, meat, and fish. They should also name the specific protein sources such as chicken, duck, beef, lamb, not a generic âmeatâ label.
If your dog becomes obese, you can even ask your vet about prescription weight-loss diets.
Best Overall Puppy Food: Purina Proplan Large Breed Puppy Food
Purina ProPlan Large Breed is the best choice for your Golden Retriever puppy, as it provides a complete, healthy, and nutritious diet. The number one ingredient is chicken which provides the protein your puppy needs for strong muscles and healthy body function. This food comes highly recommended from our staff veterinarians.
This puppy food has added minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to build strong bones and teeth. It includes other natural sources of glucosamine to supplement joint and cartilage health.
The ProPlan brand is the highest quality line of Purina dog food apart from the prescription diets. We found there are added omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and antioxidants to support the immune system, brain development, and vision of your puppy. This food meets many nutritional needs of individual puppies.
Top Ingredients:
- Highest quality line of Purina dog food apart from the prescription diets
- Comes in the flavor chicken and rice with chicken as the #1 ingredient
- Supports immune system, brain development, and vision
- Available in two sizes 18lb. and 34lb.
This puppy food provides many health benefits to your Golden Retriever through natural ingredients that will help them grow healthy and strong during their first couple years of life.
Don’t Miss: Rachael Ray Grain Free Dog Food
Avoiding The Ingredients Causing Most Sensitivities
Golden Retrievers require delicate diet handling. Its common in the breed to experience a host of intolerances and food allergies, and to be in general more sensitive than the average pup.
Scratch kicks allergies to the curb with none of the common food triggers the most frequent being dairy , chicken and wheat .
The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Organic Whole Grain Chicken
Primary Ingredients: Dehydrated Chicken, Organic Barley, Dehydrated Potatoes, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Oats, Dehydrated Peas
The Honest Kitchen dehydrated dog food is an excellent option for owners who like to avoid dry kibble. That may be because they have a senior Golden Retriever who is struggling with dental issues or feel that dehydrated food options are healthier. This particular food contains real protein and essential nutrients that can benefit dogs of all ages.
Customer Review: This is real food! When we first got our puppy, she wouldnt eat anything, even human food. Once we got this, she became a food-crazed puppy!
Rating: 4.4/5
Don’t Miss: What Are Dogs Allergic To In Food
Are Golden Retrievers Carnivores
Many people presume dogs to be pure carnivores, but are they just meat-eaters?
Golden Retrievers are not carnivores but omnivores. While protein makes up most of a dogs diet, the domesticated dog can digest and use plant-based foods for essential nutrients. They also have blunt molars capable of grinding up fibrous plants and intestines that can digest non-meat foods.
Through thousands of years of domestication, dogs have adapted to a starch-rich diet. Theyve developed into omnivores, showing that they can survive on a wide range of foods rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
The domesticated dog is known to be a direct progeny of the grey wolf. This research revealed that wolves were true adaptive carnivores, while modern dogs have many digestive and metabolic traits associated with omnivores.
| Retailer |
|---|
Feeding Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Although it can be overwhelming to choose which type of food to feed your Golden Retriever puppy, its a very important decision.
To help make that decision, talk to your veterinarian and your breeder, and consider the study mentioned about DCM.
Also consider how long the brand of food has been around, whether or not there have been any recalls of that brand, and if there is any research behind it.
What do you feed your Golden Retriever puppy?
Have any questions about what to feed them?
Let me know in the comments below!
And if you liked this article, check out the Complete Guide To Raising A Golden Retriever Puppy.
P.S. Getting a Golden Retriever Puppy? Get the gameplan for raising them right with the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook.
Related articles:
Read Also: What Is The Best Wet Dog Food On The Market
Dr Tims Highly Athletic Momentum Formula
Best Dog Food for Gaining Weight
Although golden retrievers are prone to becoming overweight, there are some circumstances under which your golden might end up underweight. If this is the case, simply feeding them more of their regular food usually isnt the best idea. You want to find dog food thats rich in protein rather than fat. It should be high-calorie, yes, but also high-quality. Dr. Tims Highly Athletic Momentum Formula is a calorie-rich dry food made for extremely active working dogs, but it can also help an underweight golden retriever put on more muscle.
This food clocks in at a whopping 518 calories per cup with 35% protein, 32% fat, and 3% fiber. Your dog may need about 2.5-3 cups a day. If you want to increase your dogs weight, make sure you do so under the guidance of a veterinarian. Its important to go about it the right way to ensure your golden retriever remains healthy.
Flavors: chicken
Sizes: 18 lbs., 40 lbs.
Grains: brown rice
Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppies
The best food for Golden Retriever puppies is formulated for large, energetic breeds with a long coat.
There are plenty to choose from, and any complete food for medium to large puppies will probably be fine.
Which did you choose? Let us know in the comments section below!
Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Healthiest Foods For Dogs
Read Also: What Can I Feed My Dog With Food Allergies
Faqs About Best Food For Golden Retrievers
What does your Golden Retriever need?
Caring for a dog is a big responsibility. They depend on you for all their needs.
When choosing food for your Golden Retriever, look for higher protein and fat-rich formulations. Animal protein is best because it contains amino acids that your dog needs. Nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus are essential for puppies and vitamins B, A, and E for all stages of life.
Search for EPA, ALA, and DHA because they are useful for the brain and nervous system, heart and lungs, and immune system.
Are grain-free diets safe for Golden Retrievers?
There has been much debate over the past year on the subject of grain-free diets for dogs. It started in July 2018 when the FDA announced it had received several reports of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs related to grain-free diets.
Following these reports, the FDA launched an investigation with the following results:
- Of the 300 reports from DCM, 90% of dogs who ate a single primary diet received grain-free food.
- These reports contain different breeds, not just gigantic breeds known to have a genetic predisposition to DCM.
Released cardiomyopathy is not a condition commonly seen in Goldens, but a UC Davis report shows an increase in cases of DCM, often in dogs on a grain-free diet.
How much should Golden Retriever eat per day?
It depends on the size, build, and activity level of your Goldie. I would say that two drawers with useful chunks are sufficient, but a larger, more active adult may need more.
Purina Proplan Large Breed Puppy Food
Many veterinarians love this dog food for Golden Retriever puppies because it provides all the nutrition the pups need. It has some of the most nutrition found in the Purina prescription line, making it an excellent choice for Golden Retriever puppies. It comes with lots of quality ingredients, the first ingredients on the list being chicken, brewers rice, etc.
It has phosphorus and calcium, important nutrients to support a growing puppys bones as they grow. Golden Retrievers are prone to issues like hip dysplasia as they age, but this formula contains glucosamine that supports joint and bone health. Moreover, this dog food formula has lots of antioxidants and fish oil that support vision, brain development and immune system.
Don’t Miss: Best Puppy Food For Sensitive Stomach And Diarrhea
Purina Pro Plan Large
The top five ingredients are chicken, rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and poultry by-product meal. The dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32 percent protein.
It also contains 15 percent fat and 45 percent estimated carbs. This yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47 percent.
Itâs listed as a âtime-proven field-tested formula with balanced calcium levels ideal for large and giant breed puppies.â
This is a budget-friendly food that many people recommend. This formula is highly-ranked and has been a favorite with consumers.
Purina Pro Plan is what we are currently feeding our guide dog puppies.
But, as is true of the adult Pro Plan food listed above, please note that it contains poultry by-product and soybean meal, both of which are often considered to be inferior ingredients.
But apparently many consumers have found that their dogs are doing well on this food.
Alpha Paw Natural Vitality Food For Retrievers
Alpha Paws Natural Vitality for retrievers is the best dog food for golden retrievers. It is a complete, balanced, high-quality dog food designed for retrievers. The nutrient-rich formula provides all the essential nutrients that golden retrievers need to stay healthy and active. In addition, the food is fortified with vitamins and minerals to support joint health, skin and coat health, and digestion. And best of all, it is made with all-natural ingredients that are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. So if youre looking for the best dog food for golden retrievers, look no further than Alpha Paws Natural Vitality.
You May Like: Where Can I Buy Tlc Dog Food
History Of The Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a breed of gundogs that originated from Scotland. Sir Dudley Marjoribanks is credited with the creation of the breed. The Golden Retriever is a result of cross-breeding the Flat-coated Retriever with the Tweed Water Spaniel and some other British dog breeds.
Majoribanks wanted to create a dog breed that would suit the wet, rainy climate and rugged terrain of the Highland region of Scotland where his estate was. In 1868, he bred a yellow Flat-coated Retriever named Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle.
This started a meticulously documented breeding line, as some of the offspring were mated with other dog breeds to create one breed that has all the qualities Majoribanks was looking for in a gundog. It is said that all Golden Retrievers descend from the mating of Nous great-great grandson Nous II and Queenie, another descendent of the line who is half-labrador.
While the cross-breeding with various breeds produced dogs with color variations such as black, gold, and cream, only the golden ones were bred with each other to make the foundation stock of the Golden Retriever.