Dry food for large dogs

The size of the dog matters not only when choosing a harness or a bed - the food of the animal should also be adjusted based on its parameters and needs. For example, dry food for large dogs should be moderate in calories to prevent the development of obesity, and include special additives to help keep joints healthy. But with all the variety of offers on the market, the rating of the best manufacturers will hardly include five items in each class.

Specialty food is usually produced by big brands. Large and massive dog breeds are relatively rare, and the segment of food produced for them is also quite narrow. However, when purchasing food that takes into account the individual characteristics of the dog, there is no doubt that the dog will fully satisfy its needs for calories, vitamins and minerals.

Before choosing the optimal composition of food for puppies of large breeds or buying food for an adult pet, it is worthwhile to study in more detail the list of useful and harmful ingredients. Meat should always be the staple on this list. Good quality dry food for large dogs should include at least 30-60% lamb, beef, veal, chicken and turkey. By-products are taken into account separately (not all of them are harmless) - they are counted separately from the total share of natural meat.

The dog's energy source is carbohydrates from cereals and grains. Legumes are not very good for dogs: corn, soybeans, and other cheap sources of vegetable protein. Their presence is an indicator of poor quality. Among the healthy ingredients, it is worth noting rice, wheat (in the absence of gluten allergy), barley and oats. A good feed should not contain waste - residues from threshing grain, husks, beer cake (they are included to increase the volume).

Dogs of large breeds benefit from food with the addition of eggs. It is best to feed your pets whole food rather than powder. Powdered milk is often included in puppy rations. For adult dogs, this supplement is too high in calories and can cause stomach upset.

Another healthy ingredient is fish oil. Antioxidants, amino acids (chondroitin, glucosamine) are added to premium products.

Its source can be coarse herbaceous fibers, root crops (beets, carrots), pumpkin, tomato pomace. These ingredients help to "evacuate" the contents of the intestines, prevent the development of constipation.

All existing dry food for large dogs is divided into categories that determine their quality and the balance of ingredients in their composition. Cheap food is similar to fast food for humans, and contains significant amounts of fillers and fats that increase the calorie content of food. In pursuit of economy, manufacturers may use hazardous preservatives and other possible additives with no health benefits.

The most affordable food for large dogs and puppies is economy class. They can be easily found in mass-market segment stores, including non-specialized ones. The composition always contains artificial colors, flavors, and other types of hazardous ingredients. Raw materials for the manufacture of feed are taken the cheapest, meat is often replaced by offal. The share of protein in such a diet does not exceed 5-10%.

This is a more expensive category, but due to the lack of intelligible standards, the products here do not differ too much from economic analogs. Meat is still present, but supplemented with offal and cereal fillers. The premium food contains additives that are beneficial to your dog's health. But dyes, cheap preservatives and fats are still used here. This is not the most useful choice for an expensive pedigree dog, but such food is quite suitable for a pet.

This is a high quality and rather expensive food with a high content of pure animal protein. In the super-premium category, there is a gradation for rations, breeds, and special needs of the pet. The composition does not include cheap crops: corn and soybeans. However, fiber is present in excess, and the proportion of grains is often minimized or removed entirely from the ingredient list.

Holistic dog food is a relatively new product that takes into account the natural needs of predators. The composition is different naturalness and balance, the proportion of animal protein reaches 70-80%. The selection of ingredients is tested against human standards. From cereals, the presence of only rice or buckwheat is permissible, the inclusion of antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals is mandatory.

The world leaders in the production of high-quality food for large and giant dogs are the countries of North America: Canada, USA, European powers (England, France, Czech Republic, Germany). Here strict control over the quality of products is established, there is a whole list of additives prohibited for use.

Below is a ranking of the best manufacturers of food for large breed dogs.

• Acana. It is a Canadian brand of Champion Pet Food. In this line, the manufacturer focused on the meat component of the diet of predators in their natural habitat.For large breeds suitable food Puppy Large Breed, Adult Large Breed, designed for puppies and adult dogs. A distinctive feature is a balanced composition: 60% meat and 40% fruits and vegetables (70% protein in the "children's" diet due to the addition of eggs). Both types of feed are completely grain-free.

• Belcando. It is a German brand that produces specialized dry food lines Junior Maxi and Adult Multi-Croc. They are made in a family business, and the company takes over all stages of production. The inclusion of the meat component reaches 80% of the total, is formed by combining fresh and dried poultry, fish, chicken eggs.

• BiOMill. Swiss brand producing super premium feed. For large dogs, the Swiss Professional Maxi Junior and Maxi Adult line (for adult pets) is intended. Since 2012, all feeds are produced in a factory in Italy. Poultry and lamb meat is used as raw materials, but the share of protein is significantly lower than that of previous producers in the ranking.

• Bosch. This is a well-known German concern, whose products include the Junior Maxi and Adult Maxi lines for large dogs. Dry food belongs to the super-premium class, but in the composition you can find fresh poultry meat, which is lost in volume after processing, as well as not very healthy corn. Cereals occupy a large volume in the composition, while the animal needs a predominance of protein. But it can be considered that this is a good food, somewhat inferior to the leaders in the selection of ingredients.

• Eukanuba. It is a brand from the USA that has specialized in the production of high quality pet food for more than half a century. Today it has production facilities in Russia and Europe. The company strives to bring ready-to-eat diets closer to the natural food composition of wild predators. For large dogs, the specialized Puppy & Junior Large Breed and Dog Adult Large Breed lines are the best choice. The average share of meat ingredients in their composition reaches 25%, and cereals account for 14%.

• Hill's... It is an American super premium dog food brand. For large breeds, the Nature's Best series is designed with a completely natural balanced composition. In the list of ingredients, you can find citrus fruit pulp and grape pomace. The share of meat products reaches 30%.

• Royal Canin. This brand is from France. He creates food tailored to the individual needs of pets. The product range includes proposals in two lines: Maxi (26-44 kg) and Giant (over 45 kg). Starter is available - a product for puppies and lactating dogs, separate versions, taking into account breed characteristics. The large amount of cereals in the composition, the presence of wheat and soybean oil make this product less useful for dogs than the proposals of the leaders of the rating.

Forage of the holistic category deserves special attention. They are positioned as the highest in quality, often in grain-free versions. Here the following feeds are available for large breeds:

• Golden Eagle Holistic Large & Giant Breed - for puppies and adult animals, it is multi-protein (chicken, pork, salmon) with an optimal composition;
• Almo Nature Holistic Adult Dog Large Made in Italy, with 53% animal protein.

There are other holistic, but not all of them are suitable for large dogs. In any case, animals with a gigantic and simply tall growth need food, taking into account their special needs. You should not offer your pet products of premium class and below - it will provide only basic saturation and will not be good for the dog.

When choosing food for dogs of large breeds, it is imperative to take into account the individual characteristics and needs of different age groups. Pregnant and lactating animals require a special approach. Separate feed lines are available for neutered and neutered dogs.

Young representatives of large breeds showing active growth require the highest quality feed with a natural composition. The proportion of animal components in the product should not be less than 30%, the use of low allergenic grains such as oats or rice is encouraged. The optimal combination of meat ingredients is lamb and salmon or chicken and trout. In this case, the composition will be the most complete and easily digestible.

A special diet for an aging pet includes smaller dry food pellets that are easy to chew. Food should be low-calorie with a precisely calculated composition and an optimal set of ingredients. The diet takes into account limited mobility, problems with the heart and joints, eases the condition of the animal, and prolongs the days of its active longevity.

The diet of dogs that have undergone the procedure for getting rid of reproductive function should include special supplements that take into account changes in hormonal levels. Dry food in this category has a low calorie content, balanced composition does not have an excess amount of fats and a cheap carbohydrate component. The ingredients should be dominated by proteins and healthy fiber.

The needs of animals are quite diverse, and in many respects their diet is built taking into account the characteristics of the breed. If the dog has a thick coat, the feed must contain additives to improve it. Allergy-prone pets need specialized products without hazardous ingredients. For active dogs, food with an increased calorie content is purchased, taking into account their energy expenditure.

There is a calorie intake rate that should be taken into account when feeding a pet with dry food. It is important to consider that when determining it, one should take into account not only the body weight of the animal, but also the level of physical activity. It is also worth paying attention to the amount of protein in food: puppies need at least 24%, an adult dog needs 15-21%.

The specialization of food is also important: for puppies, pregnant and lactating dogs, it is better to choose food that takes into account their special needs. Average values ​​for an adult animal will be as follows:

• with a body weight of 80 kg - 570-800 g per day;
• with a weight of 70 kg - 510-710 g;
• at 60 kg - 450-665 g;
• for 50 kg - 400-620 g;
• from 40 kg - 330-525 g.

For active dogs, it is recommended to increase the daily ration by 30% - this will take into account the increased energy consumption of the animal. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the individual recommendations on the packaging indicated by the manufacturer. The calorie content of food must be increased in winter. Serving sizes for economy and super-premium food can vary significantly due to the increase in the protein content. Considering these recommendations, it is possible to organize the feeding of a large dog at the highest level.

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