Choosing the best puppy food for giant breeds is an important part of raising a healthy horse of a dog!
While the nutrition needs of all dogs are essentially the same, there are some vitamins and minerals that different sized dogs need more or less of.
Also, there are caloric needs to take into account as well.
It may initially seem like a maze of calculations and equations that only a science major can understand, but it really isn’t.
That’s why today, we’re talking about giant breed puppy food, why it’s important, and the best ones out there.
Why Giant Breed Puppy Food and Dog Food are Important
Giant breed puppy food, and later in life, giant breed dog food, helps support your big boi in ways that standard food can’t.
These foods take into account things like the caloric needs of giant breeds, joint health, and other factors that should always be addressed to continue excellent health in giant breeds.
If you’ve read any of my past articles here, you might be thinking, “Wait. You said that breed-specific food is mostly hype.”
That’s true. I did.
While I still stand by that statement, food made for different sized dogs is different than food made for specific breeds of dogs.
Breed-specific food is one of those things that was almost certainly come up with by a marketer.
Your Labrador Retriever needs this food. Your Schnauzer needs that food. I do not subscribe to this in any way.
The basic nutritional needs of dogs are all the same when you boil them down, so when you compare high-quality general dog food to breed-specific food, you’ll find very little difference.
Different kibble sizes and marginally different nutritional profiles are mainly what you’ll see. I emphasize marginal.
Breed-Specific Food vs. Size-Specific Food
However, you’ll see major differences in size-specific foods.
Of course, you’ll immediately notice that food for giant breed dogs has larger kibble pieces.
This is mainly to keep them from inhaling it too quickly and getting bloat, a condition common to large and giant breed dogs.
However, go deeper and look at the ingredients.
You’ll soon realize that there is, in fact, a major difference between foods made for small breed dogs when compared to food made for large and giant breed dogs.
Calories
Believe it or not, giant breed dogs need far fewer calories than small breeds.
Just compare the behavior of an Old English Mastiff with a Maltese.
At the same age, you’ll see a marked difference in their activity.
The Mastiff lays. And lays. And lays. He’ll only need one good walk a day, and that’s just to keep him in shape.
He’ll be perfectly content to lounge until the end of time.
Compare that with the Maltese who is constantly on the move. He’ll follow you everywhere.
He’ll bark at everything. He’ll rush the window when he sees a squirrel. He’ll pant all the time (probably).
This high-strung little fuzzball of adorableness actually uses comparatively MORE calories than his ginormous counterpart.
Giant breed puppy food ensures that you little big guy has all the calories he needs to grow big and strong.
However, not so many that he’ll pack on extra weight, which can be incredibly detrimental to his joint health later in life.
Caloric Density
Closely related to calories, in general, is caloric density. Giant breed puppy food “packages” its calories in a less dense fashion.
This means that while the calories in the food are less, the volume of the food remains high enough to keep your puppy from feeling like he’s starving.
If you tried to serve regular or small breed food to a giant breed puppy and still maintain the caloric value, you’d be giving him a light snack, if that.
Joint Support
Giant breed puppy food almost always contains extra ingredients for added joint health.
You’ll find ingredients like fish oil and glucosamine with chondroitin to help support healthy joints.
We know that fish oil is excellent for the coat and skin, but it’s also a natural anti-inflammatory and helps keep joints healthy.
Glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown to help keep existing collagen in the joints healthy as well as promote collagen growth.
Both of these ingredients are key to healthy joints in large and giant breed dogs.
Heart Support
In many cases, giant breed puppy food also contains added taurine.
Taurine is an amino acid that helps support heart health. So does fish oil, by the way.
Working together, these ingredients help keep your dog’s heart as healthy as it can be.
That’s an important factor considering that heart disease is more prominent in giant breed dogs.
Bone Support
Giant breed puppy food also helps support healthy bones. Giant breed dogs grow fast, and they grow a lot.
Their rapidly growing bones need extra support so that they can stay healthy and strong.
Food designed for gain breeds contains specifically-balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio to promote strong, healthy bones in our big guys as they rapidly grow from puppies to extra large adults.
Besides, that balance is somewhat lower in giant breed food, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of orthopedic diseases later in life.
Best Giant Breed Puppy Food
Now that we know why giant breed puppy food is key to your pup’s health, you must pick a high-quality food.
Remember, there are all kinds of food companies out there that are not above just slapping the words “giant breed puppy” on their bag to get more sales.
You need high-quality food to ensure high-quality health. These are our picks for the best giant breed puppy food.
1. Wellness Complete Health
- Chicken, chicken meal, and salmon protein sources
- Peas and brown rice carbohydrate sources
- Omega fatty acids for healthy joints, skin, and coat
- Added taurine for heart health
- DHA supports brain health
- Yucca Schidigera extra reduces stool odor
- PROTEIN RICH PUPPY LARGE BREED DRY DOG FOOD: Nutritionally dense crunchy kibble with ingredients such as chicken and salmon for whole body health
- ALL NATURAL: Created by nutritionists, veterinarians and animal lovers, our recipes provide an ideal balance of nature's finest ingredients, carefully selected to nourish and sustain your dog's wellbeing.
- SUPPORTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND COAT: Guaranteed levels of DHA from Salmon Oil support brain development, antioxidants support strong immune systems, balanced nutrients promote optimal energy and omega fatty acids ensure healthy skin and coat.
- NO CORN, WHEAT, OR SOY: Puppy dry food doesn't contain poultry by-products, wheat, wheat gluten, corn, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives.
- MADE IN USA: Using only the finest globally sourced ingredients, we prepare each of our diets in our own state of the art facility; recipes crafted with wholesome, non-GMO ingredients chosen for their nutritional benefits
2. Diamond Naturals
- Lamb and lamb meal protein sources
- Brown rice, cracked pearled barley, and ground white rice carbohydrate sources
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy joints, skin, and coat
- Contains Das for brain and eye development
- Antioxidant Formulation
- Balanced omega fatty acids for skin and coat
3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
- Deboned chicken and chicken meal protein sources
- Brown rice, oatmeal, and barley carbohydrate sources
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy joints, skin, and coat
- DHA and ARA for brain and eye development
- Added taurine for heart health
- REAL MEAT FIRST: Blue Buffalo foods always feature real meat as the first ingredient; High-quality protein from real chicken helps your dog build and maintain healthy muscles; Plus they contain wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and fruit
- FOR LARGE BREED PUPPIES: BLUE Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy Food supports healthy muscle growth and contains DHA and ARA (important fatty acids found in mother’s milk) to support cognitive function and retinal health
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs and a healthy oxidative balance
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
- Contains one (1) 30 lb. Bag of BLUE Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Brown Rice
- DISCOVER THE TRUE BLUE EFFECT: The True BLUE Effect is a set of 7 benefits your dog could experience from the high-quality ingredients in BLUE Life Protection Formula; Scroll to learn more
4. Chicken Soup for the Soul
- Chicken, turkey, chicken meal, and turkey meal protein sources
- Cracked pearl barley, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, Faba beans, and millet carbohydrate sources
- DHA to support brain health
- Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy joints, skin, and coat
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- All-natural dog food made with real chicken & turkey as the #1 and #2 ingredients
- No by-product meals
- No wheat, corn or soy
- No artificial colors, preservatives or flavors
- Lovingly prepared in the USA with the world's finest ingredients
5. Hill’s Science Diet
- Chicken meal protein source
- Whole grain wheat, whole grain oats, whole grain sorghum, and corn gluten meal carbohydrate sources
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- Vitamin E and C and antioxidant blend for immune system support
- Added taurine for heart health
- A large breed puppy food specially made with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth
- Uses a balanced set of minerals to promote strong bones and teeth in large puppies
- Uses DHA from fish oil to support healthy brain and eye development for growing dogs
- High-quality protein helps your large pup build and maintain lean muscle
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust in a Hill’s-owned, TRUE GOLD certified zero waste facility
- #1 Veterinarian Recommended
Giant Breed Puppy Food is an Essential Part of His Good Health
While breed-specific dog food doesn’t sit well with me, size-specific food absolutely does.
If you have a little big boy in your home, giving him high-quality giant-breed puppy food is key to his good health.
The above five brands make excellent giant breed puppy food that will keep your pooch growing healthy and strong.
Don’t forget to switch him to a giant breed adult food after he’s all grown up!
Do you have any other picks for the best puppy food for giant breeds? Share below!
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Last update on 2023-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API