The golden retriever is one of the most beautiful and loved dogs on the planet. With their shiny coats and their exuberance, they are one of those dogs that everyone seems to love, and that is the reason why so many people have decided to add the retriever in their family as their pet. They are just wonderful animals in so many ways.
The golden retriever is also a very intelligent animal, but they can be quite hyperactive at times. In fact, this is one of the battles that many pet owners have with this dog, is that they always seem to be on the go. That is just part of their nature. They are most definitely high energy animals.
The problem is that if they are given the wrong kind of food then that exuberance can become too much for any pet owner to handle. They simply become too active because of the way that the food interacts with their brain chemistry.
In addition, these dogs are also prone to having allergic reactions, not only to the elements in the environment around them but to the kinds of foods that they eat as well. This means that you need to feed your golden retriever a kind of meal that will be good for it in terms of the energy it provides, but also beneficial in that it does not cause the dog to have an allergic reaction. That is quite a daunting task, to say the least.
| Product | Brand | Size | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROYAL CANIN BREED HEALTH NUTRITION Golden Retriever Adult dry dog food, 30-Pound | Royal Canin | 30-Pound | |
| Red Ginseng Organic Pet Health Food Golden Retriever, 42.3Oz | Ginipet | N/A | |
| Nutro MAX Adult Grain Free With Salmon Dry Dog Food, 25 lbs. | Nutro | 25 lbs. | |
| Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Sweet Potato & Fish Formula Dry Dog Food, 26-Pound | Natural Balance | 26-Pound | |
| Wellness CORE Natural Dry Grain Free Large Breed Dog Food, Chicken & Turkey, 26-Pound Bag | Wellness Core® | 26-Pound Bag |
The Best Foods for Your Golden Retriever
Knowing that your dog has special dietary needs for it to be at its optimal health, both physically and mentally, means that you need to be quite attentive in the kinds of foods that you get for your dog.
This not only means that you want to ensure you’re getting a proper diet with high-quality nutrition, but that the vitamins and minerals contained in the dog food are essential and beneficial for your golden retriever.
While many choose to make their own food for their dog, you should be aware that there are great commercial brands out there that you can get for your dog that will provide him or her with the nutrition that he or she needs, and which are made to supplement the important nutrients that your dog needs for optimal health. If you are looking for a great commercial brand, here are some suggestions for you.
1. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Golden Retriever Adult Dry Dog Food
What separates Royal Canin from virtually all of the other makers of dog food is that they focus on creating food that is specific to your breed dog. What they offer for golden retrievers is no exception.
This brand gives you a dog food with an incredible nutritional value that will provide for the essential needs that your dog has, while also taking into account the unique traits that make a golden retriever so special and make it so that the food that they eat needs to be created for optimal health. This brand will give your dog a shiny coat, an essential ingredient of golden retriever and then the hair will be healthy and easy to manage.
In addition, you can be sure that the nutrients provided in the food will be of the highest quality. This means that proteins will be fresh to the factory, and will not be treated with chemicals that can affect your dog.
Probiotics and antioxidants are added to the food to ensure that the dog has a healthy digestive track as well as an immune system that is healthy and ready to defend the dog against diseases.
Pros:
- A great formula that will help your dog to be healthy and have the right kind of energy during the day.
- Probiotics and antioxidants help in enabling the dog to have a healthy digestive tract and a strong immune system.
- The specially designed complex of nutrients will help your dog to have the shiny coat that we all love and our golden retriever.
- And all-natural products with no artificial ingredients.
Cons:
- This is a dog food that can be rather expensive, but many think their dog is well worth it.
2. Red Ginseng Organic Pet Health Food Golden Retriever
This is another brand of food that is specifically made for the golden retriever. Consisting of concentrations of Korea ginseng, chokeberry, as well as other organic ingredients, this is a high-quality food that is geared to give your dog a food that will improve and sustain its health.
Not only does the food give your dog the right kind of energy that it needs, but it can also improve memory functions, improve the immune system, aid in stamina, and improve blood circulation for your Golden retriever. The fact that all the ingredients are all natural and organic means that you are getting the right kind of food to feed your dog with minimal chances of it having an allergic reaction.
Pros:
- All natural ingredients that are also organically produced.
- Helps in maintaining and improving a wide variety of systems within the dog’s body, including blood circulation, immune system, memory functions, and stamina.
- Great product and ensuring your dog has the right kind of energy.
Cons:
- This is a very expensive brand of dog food, but one that gives your dog one of the best health related foods on the market.
- Some owners find the dogs don’t prefer the taste.
3. NUTRO MAX Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
While not a food specifically geared towards the golden retriever, this is a dog food that is ideal for any adult dog because it comes with so many essential ingredients that can be of great benefit to the larger dog. Not only is there the essential proteins that are needed for your dog, but other things included are fats, fibers, and other ingredients to maintain your dog’s health.
This is an all-natural food, that is great tasting for your dog, so you will have no challenges in getting your dog to eat it. The chickens used in the food are farm raised, and vitamins and minerals are added to improve the optimal health of your dog. Whole grains are included to provide a filling meal, which include corn, wheat, and soy proteins.
Pros:
- Well-balanced meal that your dog will love the taste of.
- No artificial ingredients or additives included.
- Vitamins and minerals added to improve the health of the dog, including in its immune and digestive systems.
Cons:
- Dogs who are allergic to grain will not be able to eat this food.
- Some find that 22% protein is not sufficient for their larger sized dog.
4. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food
Whether you are choosing the dry food option or the canned good option, you will find that this is a great food for your dog because it has all of the essential ingredients your dog will need for healthy and happy life.
The nutritional value is excellent, as meats and vegetables are included that are essential for your golden retriever’s health while no artificial additives, colors, or preservatives are included within the food.
There are also nutrients added which will help to promote a healthy digestive track for your dog, as well as help it to maintain a shiny coat.
One thing that dog owners really love about this food is that there is a wide variety of flavors available, ensuring that your dog will get a kind that it will enjoy eating. This is one of the challenges with many dog foods you will find, where the dog will simply not like the taste of one particular flavor and there are not other options available. This brand gives you a great assortment of meats and other flavors.
Pros:
- An all natural product that uses no artificial preservatives or additives.
- This food helps to promote a healthy digestive system and improves and maintains the immune system.
- Outstanding choice of product to ensure that your dog will get the nutrients that needs and the taste it wants.
Cons:
- Some owners report that the canned option of this food leads to stool that is abnormally loose.
5. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Wellness produces some of the highest quality dog foods and this version for larger size dogs is no exception. Because the food is made grain free, a great number of allergies that a golden retriever would be susceptible to are eliminated. This is great news for these pet owners who watch their dog struggle with itchy skin.
The food is packed with an outstanding quality animal protein, that will ensure that your dog is getting the optimal protein amount that it needs for health and energy. This includes the use of salmon, a fish ingredient that is high in Omega fatty acids.
There are no fillers or grains that are used in the food, and a proprietary blend of botanicals and other nutritional supplements are added to the food to ensure that your dog reaches the optimal state of wellness.
If you are a dog owner who wants to make sure that your pet is getting the very best choice in food in terms of the protein, fruit, and vegetables it needs, this is a great choice for you.
Pros:
- Only high quality proteins are used which will help to maintain the right kind of energy level for your dog.
- Omega fatty acids are included through the addition of salmon, which promotes healthy skin and coat.
- Probiotics, antioxidants, and other nutrients aid in the health of your dog’s digestion.
Cons:
- Some find this dog food a little too costly.
Best Dry Dog Food for Golden Retrievers
While you can find many great dog food brands out there, the one that many vets recommend above all others is the Royal Canin breed health nutrition golden retriever adult dry dog food. This was discussed quite extensively in the previous section, but the fact remains that this is the dog food that really has the most bang for the buck in terms of caring for your dog.
Yes, it is true that it is a costly dog food, but if you are looking for a dry food that has the right kind of nutrients and dietary guidelines for the golden retriever, then this is the best dry dog food for sure.
The fact that is specifically designed to cater towards the dietary needs of a golden retriever is one of the main reasons why it is so highly recommended. This means that it is perfect for the hyperactive dog and also has the right kind of nutrients to aid in the development of these very intelligent canines.
Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers with Skin Allergies
Allergies are something that is becoming quite common to dogs and, sadly, the golden retriever is not only not exempt from this, but they are actually more prone to battle skin allergies than most other dogs. This means that you have to get the right kind of food to help your dog from having reactions to these kinds of allergies.
Of course, if you are golden retriever is allergic to wheat or other kinds of grains, then you need to stop feeding him or her foods that contain grain. There are plenty of grain-free options out there that you can find that have exceptional nutritional quality and will be quite tasty to your dog.
You may also have a golden retriever that has a very sensitive stomach. This is not surprising at all, because these dogs are so hyperactive, so having a nervous or sensitive stomach kind of goes with the territory. If you have a dog that is battling this kind of condition then look for a food that is hypoallergic. There are some good options out there that your dog will enjoy.
The brands that many vets recommend for dogs that have skin allergies are Blue Buffalo Basics in a can, and California Natural. You cannot go wrong with either choice.
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