Foods For Large Breed Puppies & Dogs - What to Look For

If you have a large breed dog, you already know that they’re special. There’s something about having a dog the size of a small pony that brings a lot of satisfaction to one’s life. These big pups are also unique when it comes to nutrition. Dogs of different sizes have different growth curves, different metabolic rates, and particular health risks that they are prone to. Dog food manufacturers know this, and make specific foods for large breed dogs to meet their many needs.

What’s Makes Large Breeds Different?

According to veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates from Pet MD, large breed dogs require significantly less calories per pound than small breed dogs. This is because small dogs have an extremely fast metabolic rate, so combined with their little stomachs, they have to take in almost double the calories per pound as their larger cousins. You may think your big buddy eats a lot, but you can be thankful that proportionally, he doesn’t need to eat at the rate of a chihuahua!

Size-specific health concerns are also a deciding factor for what goes into large breed dog food. For example, large breed puppies are unfortunately prone to developing orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia. A diet that is lower in calcium and phosphorous and less energy dense has been proven to lower this likelihood. Additionally, as adults, large breeds seem to develop arthritis much more commonly than small breeds, so foods with added glucosamine and chondroitin are made to promote joint health.

So what should you feed your giant friend? K9 Cuisine has gathered some great dog food options that promote large breed health. Take a look:

ORIJEN Large Breed Puppy Food

ORIJEN is all about making sure your pup gets a meal that he’s biologically adapted to eat, which means lots of fresh meats! 85% of this food is a variety of animal ingredients, giving big puppies all the protein they need to develop their large muscle mass. This food is grain free, limiting carbohydrates to low-glycemic foods such as lentils, squash, chickpeas and greens. Calories are also limited to promote a healthy weight and reduce the stress extra pounds put on bones and joints.

Fromm Family Foods Large Breed Puppy Gold Dry Dog Food

This second large puppy food option is carefully prepared with duck, chicken, lamb, whole eggs and real Wisconsin cheese for a flavor your big guy won’t be able to resist! Fromm Family Foods makes several size-specific foods because they recognize that large and giant breed dogs grow differently than smaller pups. Fromm recommends feeding this calorie-limited food to your large breed puppy until 13 to 17 months, and the giant breed puppy until 17 to 24 months.

Fromm Family Foods Large Breed Adult Gold Dry Dog Food

If your dog has an adult weight of more than 50 pounds, Fromm Family Foods recommends giving her a large breed food to complement her specific needs. This food is a great continuation of the nutrition your dog got with Fromm Large Breed Puppy Gold Dog Food. Made without corn or wheat and with lots of animal protein, this gourmet meal is a delicious and healthy option for your adult large breed dog.

NOW! Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dog Food

This food for your big furry friend includes only the freshest and most flavorful ingredients, none of which include grains, gluten, beef, corn or soy. Instead, its recipe features glucosamine and chondroitin to support hip and joint health and L-carnitine for heart health and fat burning. Turkey, salmon and duck are among the main ingredients, ensuring an amazing flavor and lots of protein.

No matter what brand you choose, the important thing is that your size XL dog gets the nutrients he needs in a dog food that’s specifically formulated for him. Choosing a large breed dog food will benefit your dog right now, and you’ll thank yourself for it in the future. If you need help deciding which food is best for your dog, make sure you give K9 Cuisine a call! We’d be happy to help.

ORIJEN Large Breed Puppy Food

ORIJEN Large Breed Puppy Food

Fromm Large Breed Puppy Food

FROMM Family Foods Large Breed Puppy Gold Dry Dog Food

FROMM Family Foods Large Breed Adult Gold Dry Dog Food

FROMM Family Foods Large Breed Adult Gold Dry Dog Food

NOW! Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dog Food

NOW! Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Adult Dog Food