Food for large dogs - a list of the best food according to veterinarians in 2022!

The assortment of pet stores now includes a huge variety of dry dog ​​food that can be selected to suit every budget and taste.

There is both regular nutrition and for the treatment and prevention of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidneys, liver, to combat excess weight and maintain the well-being of your pet.

The best dry food for large breed dogs contains everything the body needs. But it will only be like that if you make the right choice. Global feed brands divide their products into classes:

• Economy (low protein and high fiber);
• Premium;
• Super premium;
• Holistic.

The higher the category, the more expensive a kg of feed is, but at the same time its value for the animal increases. Buy products of at least premium class, taking into account the age, breed, weight, diseases and taste preferences of the four-legged animal. We have prepared a rating of dry dog ​​food in 2022, which will make it easier for you to choose the best option.

Features of feeding large breed dogs

Large dog puppies grow very quickly, so their diet should be enriched with calcium. Many owners use an additional source of calcium in the form of various supplements. A well-formulated diet should contain all the vitamins and microelements necessary for your pet’s health.

Depending on the breed’s body type, it is necessary to select nutrition individually. There are two types: athletic and powerful. For powerfully built dogs, the amount of fat and protein consumed should be 10-15% higher than other breeds.

Large dogs can develop musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases. Monitor the level of potassium, magnesium and vitamin B. To avoid obesity, give your pet low-calorie food and monitor the animal fat content in it.

Large dogs do not need to cook their own food. It happens that there is simply no time left for cooking. In 2019, there are excellent alternatives to natural feeding - wet and dry food.

Royal Canin Maxi Adult 26

Royal Canin is a fairly well-known brand among owners of four-legged pets. Over the years, he sponsored various competitions and was in great demand. Nowadays, the line of dog food allows you to ideally select food based on the age, health status and characteristics of the animal’s breed. The main source of protein in this diet is dehydrated pork or poultry. It is noteworthy that the manufacturer does not specify what kind of bird and what parts of it were used.

Advantages: the composition contains useful minerals and amino acids, as well as powdered cellulose, which helps to normalize the functioning of the digestive tract of animals. Contains fiber, valuable fats and vitamins. The products of this manufacturer are very widespread; they can be easily found in almost any specialized store at a low price.

Disadvantages: the manufacturer did not indicate the specific names of the components of the product, as well as the percentage of the main components, which makes you think about the quality of the product. In addition, the composition contains by-products of unknown origin. Preservatives are unnatural.

Natural feeding

My opinion is that a natural diet based on meat, fish, offal, vegetables and cereals would be ideal for a dog.

How many times should a large dog be fed?

• up to 1 month – 6-8 times;
• 2-3 months – 5-6 times;
• 6-12 months – 3 times;
• 1 year and older – 2 times, that is, adult mode.

Puppy diet 2-3 months

• calorie content. 250-200 kcal per kg of body weight;
• proteins. On average, a puppy needs 9 g of protein per kilogram of weight. It is acceptable to use egg whites and meat (chicken, turkey, beef, veal). It is also recommended to dilute the diet with cottage cheese and other dairy products. Milk is healthy, but you can’t give too much. Calculate something like this: 40-50% dairy products, 40% meat;
• fats are given carefully and in limited quantities. Excess fat is not needed. Basically, the dog gets the necessary fats along with meat and cereals; a little fish oil or butter in porridges won’t hurt;
• carbohydrates. The source of carbohydrates is cereals (in particular rice, buckwheat, rolled oats);
• vitamins and minerals. Vegetables should be the main source of vitamins. Boiled carrots, greens, root vegetables. A small puppy should chop vegetables.

Diet for the week in the table:

Don't change your diet frequently. Your pet needs constant, balanced nutrition. If the puppy is not eating enough, then you are overfeeding him. In this case, reduce the portion. Always remove leftovers 15-20 minutes after eating.

Adult dog (from 1 year)

Feed twice (morning and evening), only after a walk.

• calorie content. 53-60 kcal per 1 kg of body weight (the larger the breed, the more reduce the kilocalories to 53);
• proteins. Fish is added to dairy and meat products. By-products;
• fats. Fish oil, oil is added to porridge;
• carbohydrates. Porridge and vegetables. Excess carbohydrates for large breeds are just as dangerous and can lead to obesity;
• vitamins and minerals. Mainly made from vegetables, supplements are recommended (in consultation with your veterinarian).

Diet for the week in the table:

General rules for feeding natural food

1. It is very important to know what dogs should not eat. Prohibited foods include: pasta; sweets; pork; mutton; mushrooms; grape; pepper; grenades; beer; nuts and alcohol.
2. Follow the regime. Do not feed the animal from the table or provide different portions each time. For an animal, the main thing is balance and consistency.
3. Dry and natural feeding should not be mixed.
4. Your dog should always have a bowl of water next to his food bowl.
5. Keep raw meat in the freezer for three days and pour boiling water over it before giving it to your dog, this will protect it from parasites.
6. The puppy should not have small bones.
7. Feed your dog eggs 2-3 times a week for an additional source of protein.
8. Check your puppy periodically for worms.

Wet food

Wet food – canned food for dogs. Fast, nutritious, convenient. Sometimes it’s healthier than the same dry food. Available in the form of cans or small plastic containers.

The volume of a single portion of wet food is dictated by the volume of the can or container. There are specially selected foods for different breeds of dogs.

Calculate the daily amount of calories according to your dog's weight (53-60 kcal per kilo of weight for large breeds). Two meals a day is enough. Liquid food contains a large amount of fat and is very high in calories.

Dyes and preservatives in food are a myth

There is an opinion among consumers that artificial colors are added to dry food. We managed to prove that this opinion is nothing more than another myth. In the food we tested, we did not find such artificial colors as tartrazine, ponceau, azorubine and charming red. Most likely, the food gets its color due to natural dyes.

Also, the studied food did not contain preservatives (sorbic and benzoic acids) and fat antioxidants (butyloxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene), which protect the food from oxidation and, accordingly, from spoilage. Thus, we have dispelled another common myth: manufacturers do not increase the shelf life of food using the listed preservatives and antioxidants. In addition, we did not find nitrites in the studied food (they could have come from plant materials), which negatively affect the dog’s body.

Dry food

Photo: flickr.com
To this day, debates between dog owners continue, which is better: dry food or natural food? There is a myth firmly entrenched in the minds of many people that dry food is contraindicated for large breeds of dogs. This is not true, not true at all.

A large dog should be fed as standard; an adult dog (from 1 year old) should be fed twice a day. The amount of food consumed should be calculated on the packaging, depending on the size of the snacks and the weight of the dog.

Rules for using dry food

1. Do not use cheap food if you do not want to harm your pet.
2. A dog should not be suddenly switched from natural food to dry food. Also, you should not mix dry food with natural products.
3. Make sure your dog has water.

Top 5 best food for large breeds

Hill's Prescription Diet Canine J/D for Joint Health

Pros: dietary, will help improve your pet’s health. The food is perfect for large pets, as they most often have problems with the musculoskeletal system.

Cons: low in calories, not suitable for regular use, low in protein.

ROYAL CANIN Size Maxi Adult for large breeds from 15 months to 5 years

Good food, good composition, supports healthy skin.

Pros: the kibble is adapted to the dog’s jaw, healthy, supports the musculoskeletal and digestive systems.

Cons: relatively high price.

PRO PLAN line for large breeds

An excellent series of dry food suitable for any dog. There are specialized complexes designed for powerful or athletic large breeds, and for dogs with health problems.

Pros: it is possible to choose individually for each dog, healthy composition, contains meat, is not addictive.

Cons: high price.

Hill's Science Plan

Pros: Designed to support a strong immune system and healthy digestion. High meat content.

Cons: high price.

Acana Heritage Adult Large Breed

The food is rich in proteins and the amount of carbohydrates is reduced to maintain the health of the dog. Contains animal protein, ideal for large breeds.

Pros: ideal ratio of proteins\fat\carbohydrates, contains enough animal meat, dietary, to improve joint function.

Cons: high price.

Belcando Junior Maxi

German high-quality food (super-premium class) of this series is designed for young dogs, as well as medium-, large- and giant-sized dogs. They are allowed to be given to puppies over 4 months of age. The composition contains 21% meat products, as well as fats of vegetable and animal origin, cereals, egg powder, herring flour, etc. The ingredients of this food are well absorbed by dogs and have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, bones, joints and coat. In addition, the components included in the composition help strengthen the immune system and prevent the occurrence of various diseases characteristic of large breeds.

Advantages: excellent product quality at an affordable price, balanced composition, the label contains detailed information about the components, there are no vague names.

Disadvantages: the composition contains potato starch, as well as a large number of cereals among the first ingredients. In addition, this food is not very common - in large cities it can be found in large veterinary stores, but in small ones you will most likely have to order it online.

Which company is better to choose?

The most ideal option for a dog would be to choose holistic food.

Holistic – complete, holistic (translated from English).

When creating holistic food, only high-quality and natural products are used, without additives. The following brands are represented on the holistic food market: Grandorf, ProNature.

The next class of food, not inferior in quality, is super-premium food. Brit, Acana; Now; Hills; Monge; Purina Pro Plan; Farmina. The super-premium class by default includes the highest quality ingredients that will provide your pet with vitamin enrichment and good health. They contain at least 30% meat ingredients. Super-premium products often have special diets for dogs with problem areas. This can be food for the prevention of diseases of the fur, gastrointestinal tract, and joints.

Premium food is also suitable for daily use, but its composition differs in less meat and more grain and other components. These are brands Acana, Royal Canin, Farmina.

And finally, it is not recommended to choose economy class meals (Pedigre, Dog Chow, Farmina, Pro Plan). Reviews from owners about this diet are controversial. They cannot be used in everyday life. The pet will simply lack the necessary components in the body, since the content of vitamins and proteins in such foods leaves much to be desired.

When purchasing economy class dry food, pay attention to the composition. Do not buy food with a high content of corn, wheat gluten and vegetable protein.

If a protein has low biological value, then it must be present in food in large quantities to meet the body's need for amino acids.

Special food for large breeds

Hypoallergenic feeds are high-quality diets for animals that are allergic to certain synthetic feed components. All holistic foods can be called hypoallergenic.

ACANA Grass-Fed Lamb for all breeds, lamb, apple

BRIT VDD Hypoallergenic grain-free hypoallergenic diet

ROYAL CANIN Vet Diet Hypoallergenic DR21 for food intolerance, poultry

There are also special foods for sterilized large dogs. During the postoperative period, it is important to monitor your pet’s diet, as the metabolism undergoes changes.

Acana Light&Fit

Choose dietary food, or even better, consult the doctor who performed the sterilization.

Almo Nature Holistic Adult Dog Large

The main component of this food for large breed dogs is fresh lamb meat. The size and shape of the granules allow mechanical cleaning of the teeth and oral cavity from food debris, thereby preventing the occurrence of stone and diseases of the animal’s teeth and gums. A balanced content of minerals and vitamins, as well as exclusively natural ingredients, are the key to your dog’s well-being, healthy coat and skin. The composition does not contain unnatural flavors or preservatives, and natural rosemary oil extract allows the product not to lose its taste and quality characteristics throughout the entire shelf life.

Advantages: the production of this food is carried out in Italy, it meets all European quality standards. The ratio of components allows you to ideally replenish the daily requirement of nutrients in accordance with the physiological characteristics of large breed dogs. Most meat ingredients are suitable for human consumption. Excellent taste is guaranteed by exclusively fresh and selected ingredients.

Disadvantages: 14% of the composition is cereals, namely rice, which is not suitable for all adult pets.

Reviews from veterinarians

About natural nutrition:

Vladimir Mitin:

“Dogs love raw meat or fish. Cartilage and beef bones are suitable for strengthening tooth enamel.”

What foods do veterinarians recommend:

Olga Ivanchenko:

“Cheap brands will not provide the dog with adequate nutrition. I choose Canadian Pronature Holistic as a truly high-quality and complete product.”

Sergey Rudenko:

“The dog’s body reacts poorly to cheap food. Choose holistic or super premium class if it is not possible to feed your pet natural food. Among them there are both medicinal and specialized types.”

Here's what negative veterinarians say about dry food:

Ekaterina Chistova:

“A very questionable ingredient, dehydrated protein. The quality and origin of the product is unclear.”

Valentina Belova:

“Animals often suffer from low-quality food. Economy class food does not contain enough nutrients for a dog. I advise you not to skimp when choosing food.”

However, there is also an opposite point of view:

Ekaterina Nigova:

“Dehydrated protein is not suitable for breeds prone to allergic reactions to different types of food, since the exact composition is unknown. For others, there’s nothing particularly scary about this: animal proteins are good in any case as a source of protein.”

GMOs: discovered for the first time, but no need to be afraid

Yes, for the first time in the entire existence of Roskachestvo, we found GMOs in a product. Moreover, in food for adult dogs there are 21 brands out of 39 and in food for puppies three out of five brands, both imported and domestic. Genetically modified soybeans were most often identified. However, there is no need to be afraid. Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian State Center for Quality and Standardization of Medicines for Animals and Feed" (FSBI "VGNKI") Leonid Kish

commented:

– It should be noted that manufacturers do not indicate soy in the composition. Therefore, we can assume that this is either falsification or a technically irremovable impurity. Due to the intersection of logistics of GM products and non-GM products (transportation by the same transport, storage in the same warehouses), the risks of unintentional contamination of raw materials are high. At the moment, no one can officially say that the discovered GMOs are harmful. To make a statement about the dangers of GMOs, long-term large-scale studies and experiments are required, as well as post-marketing monitoring. GMOs found in the studied dog food are permitted for use in food producing countries. In the Russian Federation, these lines have not passed the state registration procedure in the prescribed manner and are not registered for the production of feed and feed additives.

Out of 21 cases, we highlight only the food manufacturer Grandorf

. He indicated in his labeling: “Does not contain GMOs,” which means he deceived the consumer.

Note that when testing dry cat food, GMOs were not found even in trace amounts.

Briefly about the main thing

1. Every type of food is good, be it natural food or dry food.
2. To choose the right food for a large pet, weigh the pros and cons.
3. If you decide to go with dry or wet food, choose high-quality holistic or super-premium products. Don't skimp on your pet's health.
4. Remember to consult your veterinarian regarding your dog's nutrition and health.

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Rating of the best super-premium food for dogs and puppies