What Is The Best Dog Food For Boxers

Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Complete and balanced nutrition is essential for all dogs and this Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food provides just that in a recipe formulated uniquely for large breeds. It features three lean animal proteins, including farm-raised chicken, pasture-fed lamb, and fresh salmon to deliver a total of 23% crude protein. This recipe contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support as well as whole-grain carbohydrates for digestibility. It also features a holistic blend of superfoods to ensure complete and balanced nutrition in a biologically valuable form. Overall, this recipe is an excellent source of lean animal protein, healthy energy, and digestible carbohydrates.

• Pros: Three lean sources of animal protein, digestible whole-grain carbohydrates, holistic blend of superfoods, moderate fat and calories, rich in omega fatty acids, chelated minerals
• Cons: some dogs may be sensitive or allergic to grains

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Dog Food For Boxers

• Recipe Formulation

High-quality ingredients are the key to a well-balanced meal. Look for dog food with a rich source of animal protein. Limited carbohydrates should be present and no artificial fillers, byproducts or additives should be present. Another thing to check for is fat that should be in moderate quantities and animal-based fats are preferred and should be married with plant oils for sufficient provision of Omega fatty acids. Veggies and fruits are essential and for the meal to be complete, vitamins, minerals and in their right quantities as is required by your dog.

• To Grain or Go Grain-free?

Some grains can cause upsets to the digestive system of your Boxer like excessive gas in the stomach. Others may cause itching and skin related problems. It is, however, recommended to offer healthy grains and to achieve this, you need to know if your pooch has any sensitivity to any grains and eliminating them from his diet while retaining the beneficial ones. Rice is one of the grains that are generally well tolerated. It would be wise to consult with your veterinarian too before feeding new foods to help you understand any health issues that may be underlying and getting proper recommendations.

• Wet Dog Food vs Kibble Food

Do Boxer Dogs Have Special Dietary Needs

Though boxers make wonderful family pets, theyre a highly active breed and prone to a number of serious health problems. Boxers have a higher risk for several heart conditions as well as diet-related issues such as food allergies and bloat.

Here are some key things to look for in dog food for boxers:

• Natural, whole-food ingredients. High-quality ingredients are the key to a healthy diet for dogs. Look for a rich source of animal protein as the first ingredient with limited carbohydrates and no artificial additives, byproducts, or fillers.
• High in animal protein. Though your boxer needs a minimum of 18% protein as an adult and 22% as a puppy, more is usually best for this well-muscled breed. Meat, poultry, and seafood are rich sources of animal protein and highly digestible for your dog.
• Moderate healthy fats. Boxers are fairly high-energy dogs, so they may need more than the minimum 5% recommendation. Animal-based fats like chicken fat and salmon oil are preferable but can be combined with plant oils to ensure a balance of omega-3 and omega-6s.
• Complete and balanced. Look for a dog food for boxers that contains the vitamins and minerals they need, in the right amount, by checking the Association of American Feed Control Officials nutrient profiles.

Learn more about grain-free dog food in our detailed article, Should I Be Worried About Grain-Free Dog Food.

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Allergies Sensitivities And Other Health Issues

Boxers are prone to food allergies and stomach sensitivities.

It is a good idea to give them hypoallergenic and grain-free dog food but that is not all. Quality of food also matters a lot. Cheaper food, even if its grain-free, may have fillers and other ingredients that can trigger digestive problems. Boxers are prone to bloating due to those filler ingredients. So, make sure the food you buy for your Boxer has quality ingredients only.

Switching From Boxer Puppy Food To Adult Food

When your Boxer is at least 12 18 months, you should start to switch from puppy food to adult food. Remember that puppies develop at different paces, therefore assess and adjust as necessary.

Also, ensure that the switch is seamless by giving him a little adult food at a certain feeding time during the day until you switch entirely. Abrupt changes can lead to an upset stomach and other issues.

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Best Dog Food For Adult Boxers

If you are looking for the best dog food for Boxers over 15 months of age or are transitioning from puppy food to adult food, it is a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. Your vet can help determine your dogs current body condition score. With this in hand, you can decide which maintenance adult diet is best. Boxers should start eating adult foods around 12-15 months of age.

Normal Body Condition Boxers

A great place to start for an active, normal body weight/condition Boxer is with Royal Canin Boxer Breed Health Nutrition Adult. This adult formula is excellent for adults over 15 months of age. Royal Canin provides the right balance of nutrients to optimize a lean body condition over a lifetime.

Chondroitin sulfate protects from daily wear-and-tear on joints and ingredients like tea and rosemary extract provide heart-healthy antioxidants and vitamins. Like Royal Canins Boxer puppy food, the adult food has a similar wave-shape kibble that is easy for them to pick up and chew.

Active Adult Boxers

Boxers that are active require an extra boost of calories and more protection for their joints. Boxers that compete in agility frequently come to mind they are running, jumping and turning on a dime, putting more strain on their joints and burning lots of energy.

Overweight Adult Boxers

Nutrience Adult Large Breed

The Nutrience pet food company offers several different formulas for dogs as well as cats. The Original line of dog foods contains three different formulas one for small-breed, one for medium-sized, and one for large-breed dogs. Once your Boxer has passed the puppy stage but has not yet reached his full size, the Nutrience Original Adult Medium Breed formula might be a good choice for him. It is made with chicken meal, brown rice, and chicken fat in addition to a number of other beneficial ingredients. It also contains valuable antioxidants for immune system support and a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. The Nutrience Original Adult Large Breed formula is also made with chicken meal and brown rice, supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin as well as a healthy blend of fatty acids. Simply put, both of these formulas would be a good choice as a commercial dog food diet for your Boxer.

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Do Boxers Have Food Allergies

The Boxer is slightly more sensitive to food allergies than other breeds, but it is unnecessary to change its diet unless it starts to show symptoms. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of grain-free diets and exotic proteins for dogs, so it is best to stay with healthy dog food unless your Boxer develops a problem.

If this is the case, perform a food test to identify the specific ingredient for which it is allergic and then choose a dog food without that ingredient. When it comes to boxer dog food allergies, there are many options, so it can take some time to identify the culprit.

Boxers And Food Allergies/sensitivities

While dogs most frequently suffer from allergies that are due to environmental triggers such as pollen, molds, dust mites, or flea bites, they can also suffer from food allergies or sensitivities and Boxers are not exempt. It is important to note that there is a difference between a food allergy and food sensitivity.

Food allergies will trigger a prompt immune response and a sensitivity will not. Sensitivities tend to be more gradual and are caused by a reaction to an ingredient in the food. If your Boxer suffers from food allergies or sensitivities, you must speak with your veterinarian to properly diagnose any issues and come up with a treatment and nutritional plan.

• Feeding guidelines

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Evo Large Bites Dog Food

The EVO pet food company provides dogs with ancestral diets commercial diets that are inspired by the natural diets of their ancestors, the wolf. EVO offers two different formulas which are specially designed for larger dogs the Turkey & Chicken formula and the Red Meat formula. The Turkey & Chicken Large Bites formula is high in protein, made with turkey, chicken, chicken meal, salmon meal, and menhaden meal as the top five ingredients. This formula is also completely free from gluten, grains, and potatoes it contains fresh fruits and vegetables instead to provide your dog with vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fiber. The Red Meat Large Bites formula is made with beef, pork meal, and salmon meal as the top three ingredients this formula is also free from gluten, grains and potatoes. Either of these formulas would be a good choice for your Boxer.

Get Current Pricing For Evo Large Bites Dog Food

Your Boxer will be a devoted friend for life as long as you provide him with the nutrition he needs to remain happy and healthy. If you arent sure where to start in shopping for your Boxers food, consider some of the high-quality dog food brands reviewed above.

Is Grain Free Food Good For Boxers

This lower meat content can lead to a deficiency of the amino acid taurine, which is only found in meat, not plants. Taurine deficiency is one of the causes of DCM. While much remains to be understood, its safe to say that Boxers shouldnt eat grain-free diets that are high in legumes and low in meat content.

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American Journey Large Breed Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain

Protein 32% | Fat 14% | Fiber 5% | Moisture 10%

Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Salmon, 2. Turkey Meal, 3. Peas, 4. Chickpeas, 5. Sweet Potatoes

Rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, American Journey salmon and sweet potato recipe are good for Boxers. It focuses on leaner muscle development in large-sized dogs. Other ingredients, including dried kelp, blueberries, carrots, and many phytonutrients, making it a good meal for the physical and mental health of a Boxer. Plus, there are no fillers or harmful ingredients to worry about. Chickpeas add healthy fiber to keep digestive problems away from your pal.

How Much To Feed An Adult Boxer Dog

Once a boxer is two, theyre typically at their ideal height and weight. Ideally, they need forty calories of food for every pound of body weight. Caloric count to cup ratio information can be found on the food bag.

This means its not only time to switch the puppy food to adult dog food, but to change how you feed them as well. Though dependant on size, it can be safe to give your adult boxer three cups of dog food a day.

For exact guidelines, please use your dogs weight.

• Weight 50 pounds = 1,250 to 1,750 calories
• Weight 55 pounds = 1,375 to 1,925 calories
• Weight 60 pounds = 1,500 to 2,100 calories
• Weight 65 pounds = 1,625 to 2,275 calories
• Weight 70 pounds = 1,750 to 2,450 calories
• Weight 75 pounds = 1,875 to 2,650 calories

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Royal Canin Boxer Adult Breed Specific Dry Dog Food

The Royal Canin Boxer Adult Breed Specific Dry Dog Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred Boxers 15 months and older.

This breed specific dog food maintains a Boxers powerful muscles and low body fat with precise protein content and L-carnitine.

The Royal Canin Boxer food promotes cardiac health with specific nutrients including taurine, EPA, and DHA.

Pros:

• Easy to eat! The exclusive tailor-made kibble design helps Boxers easily pick up and chew their food.
• This breed-specific formula features an antioxidant complex for cellular health and optimal nutrient absorption.
• Tailor-made nutrition created specifically for your purebred Boxer.

Cons:

Foods We Recommend For Boxer Adults

When should Boxers start transitioning to adult food?Until they’re 12 to 16 months old

From a nutrition standpoint, Boxer become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dogs body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese both of which lead to even worse problems for a Boxer.

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Nutrients For Adult Boxers

Adult Boxers require slightly different nutrients than puppy boxers, as at this stage he is fully grown, and his nutrition is solely about maintaining his energy and health. Boxers need high quality protein rich foods that are going to provide him with the nutrients for muscle repair and cellular regeneration. Ideally, adult Boxer foods should contain at least 20% to 30% of protein.

He also needs natural carbohydrates that are going to provide him with the energy that he needs to be able to exercise up to 60 minutes every day, as well as provide him with the stamina to keep him going throughout the day. Complex carbohydrates such as potatoes and peas are the best carbohydrates for any dog, and not only do they give your dog the energy, but they also help to prevent a buildup of plaque on their teeth.

Because Boxers suffer from a lot of cardiac health complaints, more so than the average dog, it is really important to feed him food that is going to compliment his heart. Nutrients such as Taurine and L-carnitine are essential to his cardiac health Taurine is an amino acid that is found in his heart tissue and L-carnitine is a substance that enables cells to carry fuel to the heart for normal function.

In addition to diet, having the right Boxer-specific toys on hand can also help him maintain a healthy weight and heart.

Foods We Recommend For Boxer Seniors

When should Boxers start transitioning to senior food?All dogs can age differently, but Large dogs like the Boxer can start to benefit from senior food around 6 to 8 years old

Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Boxers slow down as they age, which often means they arent needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.

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Dietary Requirements For Boxer Dog Foods

The Boxer requires meat in its diet in order to maintain optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Boxers include either a whole meat or meat meal as their first ingredient. By-products are derived from less desirable portions of an animal and can be difficult for the Boxer to digest. It is recommended that foods that base their formula on these items be avoided.

Soy, corn, and wheat, the most common plant-based proteins, are allergens for many dogs including the Boxer. It is best to leave foods with these ingredients in their recipe on the shelf. In addition to this, other ingredients to avoid include chemicals, additives, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.

Carbohydrates help the Boxer to enjoy good digestion and a healthy immune system. Boxers that have previously expressed sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet otherwise, the carbohydrates in a food can come from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Of utmost importance in any included carbohydrate is its abundance of antioxidants and fiber.

From healthy fats, the Boxer is able to enjoy strong energy reserves and excellent coat and skin health. These fats are best found in animal sources and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish. However, the plant-based oils coconut, canola, and safflower also offer ample servings of these vital nutrients.

Boxer Puppy Feeding Schedule

When your boxer is a puppy, he needs to eat frequently during the day, and the number of calories that he consumes should be spread across multiple meals.

This results in a healthier puppy because his food is better able to digest as he absorbs the nutrients and can consume more. It would also mean that he is not hungry throughout the day.

However, there are some owners who prefer to free-feed the puppy in the early years. This may work for other breeds, but boxers have a tendency to overeat, so this method may not be suited for him.

Do your best to prevent weight gain and overeating by sticking to a schedule for your boxer puppy.

In the first three months of your boxer puppys life, it is good to just separate his food into four separate meals.

When they are 3 to 6 months old, you can reduce this to 3 times per day, but remember to always monitor your puppy to see how he is coping with the schedule. With your assessment, you can adjust the schedule as necessary.

Most boxer puppies will begin to shed their puppy weight and look after 6 months. When they are around 1 year, you could limit his feeding times to twice per day, but keep in mind that you do not limit the amount of food he consumes every day.

You need to spread out the feeding time and not the amount.

Also, remember, puppies mature at different rates, so some puppies will not be ready to switch to the eating schedule of twice per day just yet. You may have to wait a few extra months.

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