Are you the proud owner of a large or even giant breed puppy? Don’t you want to give them the best large breed puppy food? Check out our recommendations on what you should feed them.
Introduction
Growth and development are physiologically taxing processes. For proper growth to take place, there need to be sufficient amounts of energy and intake of crucial nutrients. More specifically, calcium nutrient is a key determinant of how growth takes place. Speaking of growth, large breed puppies tend to grow really fast. And, by fast, I mean that a one-pound puppy can grow to 150 pounds in a span of one and a half years.
If you’re thinking that such a rapid growth rate is good for your dog—I assure you it’s not! It will only strain the developing skeletal structures of your pooch. In fact, aside from gaining excess weight, your dog is likely to end up with abnormal bone remodeling. In the worst scenario, your dog may be diagnosed with developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). While genetics and physical activity can impact the skeletal development of your large breed puppy, diet is the one aspect that every pet owner must consider. This article highlights the best large breed puppy food.
At a Glance: Our Choices for the Large Breed Puppy Food
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
- Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy
- Instinct by Nature’s Variety Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
- Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Dog Food
- Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
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PRODUCT |
DETAILS |
RATING |
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Blue Buffalo Freedom Large Breed Puppy Dog Food |
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Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy |
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Instinct by Nature’s Variety Large Breed Puppy Dog Food |
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Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Dog Food |
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Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food |
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*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.
Reviews of the Best Puppy Food for Large Breeds
Blue Buffalo Freedom Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
Our Rating
Our rating for the Blue Buffalo Large Breed Recipe is 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Review
Undeniably, Blue Buffalo is one of the most popular names in the pet food industry. The firm not only offers a range of dog foods but it also guarantees that these products are made using high-quality ingredients.
Freedom is one of their main product lines and it features grain-free foods for dogs at all their life stages. But this product is best suited for a large breed puppy. It contains deboned chicken as the key ingredient. This provides minimize the number of calories consumed and maximizes protein to boost your pup’s growth of lean muscles. It’s also supplemented with fatty acids that guarantee a healthy skin and coat. What makes it the best dog food for large breed puppies is the addition of LifeSource Bits. Put simply, this represents a mixture of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for a complete and balanced diet.
Pros
- Superior quality of ingredients
- Provides grain-free nutrition
- This product is widely available
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than other large breed puppy foods
For a more detailed review of the Blue Buffalo Large Breed recipe by Chewy.com, watch this.
Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy
Our Rating
Our rating for the Wellness Large Breed Complete Health puppy formula is 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Review
With an extensive growth cycle and potential for a rapid growth rate, your puppy has unique dietary requirements. The Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy ranks at the top of most large breed puppy food reviews and for good reasons. This recipe features chicken, brown rice, and salmon meal, which provide vital nutrients for your developing pooch.
This dog food also has controlled levels of calcium and phosphorous. Wellness understands that proper skeletal development relies on the appropriate amounts of calcium and phosphorous. As such, the firm cautiously controls their mineral levels with each bag of food that they produce. The Wellness Large Breed Puppy formula comes in 30-lb and 15-lb bags.
Pros
- Small kibble size for your growing pup
- Improved skin and coat condition
- Suitable for large breed dogs with sensitive digestion issues
- Is naturally preserved
Cons
- Too much of the sweet potatoes can lead to yeast overgrowth
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Large Breed Puppy Dog Food
Our Rating
We gave Instinct by Nature’s Variety a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Review
With a brand name like ‘Nature’s Variety,’ you really should not expect anything less. For a long time, it has been a top brand in the dog food market. This manufacturer has two core product lines: Prairie all-naturals and Instinct. The first consists of high-quality proteins while the latter has a range of original, grain-free, raw food. If you have been looking for a large breed formula, you should try Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost. It is grain-free, enriched with proteins and kicked up a notch with freeze-dried raw pieces, which enhance the flavor and nutrition of this dog food.
That it offers well-balanced levels of omega fatty acids is why most customers love it. As previously stated, the diets of large breed puppies should be closely monitored to prevent fast growth rates. Moreover, Nature’s Variety Instinct Boost contains calcium, phosphorous, and DHA to boost brain and eye development.
Pros
- Utilizes dried-raw meat and veggies
- Ingredients include montmorillonite clay that’s beneficial in the treatment of bowel movement problems
Cons
- Some breeds may not like the taste of this product
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Dog Food
Our Rating
Our rating for the Nutro Wholesome Large Breed Recipe is 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Review
Nutro brand name is symbolic of the company’s use of only the freshest ingredients that nature has to offer. This brand has about five product lines dedicated to dog foods and another line of dental treats. When it comes to versatility, Nutro is known for its vast range of pet foods including some of the best food for large breed puppies.
The Nutro Wholesome Large Breed food is a premium choice as it consists of Australian and New-Zealand lamb; hence, offering a protein-endowed diet for your pup. Overall, this formula has approximately 26% crude protein, 3% dietary fiber, and 15% fat. Fiber comes in handy to help with digestion. The product also has a natural flavor, which I guarantee that your pooch will fall in love with. But what makes this one of the best puppy food for large breeds is the additional nutrients that boost your pup’s dental health.
Pros
- Well-selected ingredients that boost joint, bone and heart health
- Non-GMO puppy food with no artificial flavors
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks probiotics that are essential for a healthy digestive tract
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
Our Rating
We gave Holistic Select Large and Giant dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Review
As the name suggests, this puppy formula contains only holistic ingredients at the appropriate levels to promote healthy growth. Before releasing any product in the market, Holistic usually conducts intensive research to guarantee that their raw materials contribute positively to pet’s health.
The Holistic Select for large and giant pup breeds is supplemented with beta-carotene, L-carnitine and inulin, which is a prebiotic. When feeding your mutt, be sure to follow the instructions given. There are several reasons why we choose this as one of the best dog food for large breed puppies. First, the presence of prebiotics and probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria, which, in turn, facilitate the breakdown and absorption of crucial nutrients. Second, the natural fiber enables food to move through the gut smoothly.
Pros
- Easy digestion
- Fruits and veggies support healthy immune function
- Antioxidant-rich compounds enhance cellular health
Cons
- Improper transition to this food can cause side effects for some breeds
Conclusion
As you have learned, large breed puppies have different dietary requirements from ordinary puppies. Therefore, you should do your pup a favor by familiarizing yourself with his nutrition needs. The foods that you give him should not only have controlled levels of nutrients but also specially formulated for his size. With such a diet, your pup will grow properly and not suffer from orthopedic problems that affect large dog breeds. For best results, consider any one of the dog food brands in our review.
