Dry feed for large dogs

The size of the dog is not only important when choosing ammunition or stove benches - the nutrition of the animal should also be regulated on the basis of its parameters and needs. For example, dry food for large dogs should have a moderate caloric content to prevent the development of obesity, include special additives that help keep the joints healthy. But with all the variety of offers on the market, the rating of the best manufacturers will hardly consist of five items in each class.

Specialized food usually produce large brands. Large and massive dog breeds are relatively rare, and the segment of food produced for them is also quite narrow. However, acquiring 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 you choose the best in composition food for puppies of large breeds or buy food for an adult pet, you should study the list of useful and harmful ingredients in more detail. In this list, the main product should always be meat. Quality dry food for large dogs should include at least 30-60% of mutton, beef, veal, chicken and turkey. By-products are counted separately (not all of them are harmless) - they are considered separately from the total share of natural meat.

The source of energy for dogs is carbohydrates derived from cereals and cereals. For dogs, legumes are not very useful: corn, soybeans and other cheap sources of vegetable protein. Their presence is an indicator of poor quality. Among the useful ingredients worth mentioning rice, wheat (in the absence of an allergy to gluten), barley and oats. In good feed there should be no waste - residues from threshing grain, husk, beer cake (they are included to increase the volume).

Large breed dogs are useful feed with the addition of eggs. It will be better if you feed your pets with a whole product, not with powder. Dry milk is often included in puppy rations. For adult dogs, this supplement is too high in calories, and it can cause an upset stomach.

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

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

All existing dry food intended for large dogs are divided into categories that determine their quality and balance of ingredients in their composition. Cheap food is similar to fast food for people; it contains a significant amount of fillers and fats that increase the caloric content of food. In pursuit of savings, manufacturers can use dangerous preservatives and other possible additives that do not bring health benefits.

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

This is a more expensive category, but due to the lack of intelligible standards, the products here are not too different from economical taxes. The meat is still present, but is complemented by offal and cereal fillers. Premium feeds contain healthy dog ​​food. But dyes, cheap preservatives and fats are still used here. This is not the most useful choice for an expensive pedigree dog, but a pet such food is quite suitable.

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 on rations, breeds, special needs of the pet. The structure does not include cheap crops: corn and soybeans. However, fiber is present in excess, and the proportion of cereals is often minimized, or they are completely removed from the list of ingredients.

Food for dogs in the category of holistic is a relatively new product that takes into account the natural needs of predators. Composition is different natural and balanced, the proportion of animal protein reaches 70-80%. In the selection of ingredients tested for human standards. Of cereals, only rice or buckwheat is allowed, necessarily the inclusion of antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

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). There is a strict control over the quality of products, there is a whole list of prohibited additives.

Below is a ranking of the best manufacturers of feed for dogs of large breeds.

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

• Belcando. This is a German brand, which produces specialized line of dry feed Junior Maxi and Adult Multi-Croc. They are made at a family enterprise, the company takes over all the stages of production. The inclusion of the meat component reaches 80% of the total, formed by combining fresh and dried poultry, fish, chicken eggs.

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

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

• Eukanuba This is a brand from the USA that has been specializing in high-quality animal nutrition for more than half a century. Today it has production in the Russian Federation and Europe.The company is trying to bring ready rations to the natural composition of food predators in the wild. For large dogs, the best choice will be the specialized Puppy & Junior Large Breed and Dog Adult Large Breed lines. The average share of meat ingredients in their composition reaches 25%, and 14% falls on cereals.

• Hill's. This is an American brand that produces super premium dog food. For large breeds, Nature 's Best series is designed with a completely natural balanced composition. In the list of ingredients you can find the flesh of citrus fruits and marc grapes. The share of meat products reaches 30%.

• Royal Canin. This brand is from France. He creates feed with the individual needs of pets. The product range includes offers 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 pedigree features. 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.

The holistic category feed deserves special attention. They are positioned as the highest in quality, often represented by grainless versions. The following feeds are available for large breeds:

• Golden Eagle Holistic Large & Giant Breed - for puppies and adult animals, is multiprotein (chicken, pork, salmon) with an optimal composition;
• Almo Nature Holistic Adult Dog Large Italian production, with a share of animal protein of 53%.

There are other holistiki, but not all of them are suitable for dogs of large sizes. In any case, animals with gigantic and high growth need food, taking into account their special needs. It is not necessary to offer the pet products of premium class and below - it will provide only basic saturation and will not benefit the dog.

When choosing food for dogs of large breeds, one must always take into account the individual characteristics and needs of different age groups. Pregnant and lactating animals require a special approach. For neutered and sterilized dogs, separate feed lines are available.

Young representatives of large breeds, demonstrating active growth, require the most high-quality feed with a natural composition. The proportion of animal components in the product should not be less than 30%, use of low allergenic crops, such as oats or rice, is encouraged. The best 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 feed pellets that are easy to chew. Power should be low-calorie with an accurately calculated composition and optimal set of ingredients. The diet takes into account limited mobility, problems with the heart and joints, alleviates the condition of the animal, prolongs the days of its active longevity.

The diet of dogs that have undergone the procedure of getting rid of reproductive function should include special additives that take into account changes in the hormonal background. Dry foods in this category are low in calories, a balanced composition does not have an excess amount of fat and cheap carbohydrate component. Among the ingredients should prevail proteins and useful fiber.

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

There is a norm of caloric intake, which should be considered when feeding your pet dry food. It is important to note that when determining it, it is necessary to 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, elderly 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;
• 50 kg - 400-620 g;
• from 40 kg - 330-525 g.

For active dogs, the daily ration is recommended to increase by 30% - this will allow to take into account the increased energy costs of the animal. In addition, you need to take into account the individual recommendations on the packaging specified by the manufacturer. The calorie content of food is necessarily increased in the winter. The volumes of the portion of the economy and super-premium nutrition may vary significantly due to the increase in the content of the protein component. Given these recommendations, you can organize feeding a large dog at the highest level.

Top 5 best dog food for large breeds is presented in the following video.