Eating Their Way To Health
Puppies have their own unique nutritional requirements. They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development.
As such, the best dog foods for golden puppies are packed with extra nutrition and things that adult golden retrievers dont need.
Be sure to feed your puppy food that is specifically made for their age bracket and check the label to be sure youre getting the right formula.
Now Let’s Break Down The Recipe For My Easy Homemade Dog Food Shall We
The recipe box below contains a printable version of my go-to recipe for homemade dog food, which consist of lean ground sirloin, brown rice, carrots, hard boiled eggs, parsley, and a few tablespoons of oil that is high in Omega’s. But sometimes, especially since social distancing, I’ve found that it is helpful to have a list of easy substitutes for when ingredients run low. Plug in or swap out any of the items below based on what foods your pup likes/needs and what you have on hand to create your pup’s ideal dog food flavor profile.
Homemade Dog Food Recipe
There are hundreds of dog food recipes. But honestly, you need only one basic recipe. Then you can swap out the ingredients for variety. That’s what I do.
When you first start preparing food for your dog, you should have a good postal or kitchen scale. But don’t worry, you’ll quickly learn to eyeball the food so that it comes out in the right proportions. Perfect accuracy is not required.
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Best For Small Breeds: Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Paws Chicken Meal Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
PetCo
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Small bags available so it doesnt go stale before pups can finish
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Also suitable for pregnant or nursing dogs
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Available in large breed formula
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More expensive than some brands
Hills Science Diet Small Paws Puppy dry food is formulated for the nutritional needs of growing small and toy breed dogs. Even its kibble is nibble size since regular-sized kibbles can be too big for small-breed puppy mouths.
Using chicken meal as its protein basis, the Hills Science Diet puppy food contains the complete nutritional profile found in our other recommended foods, including DHA from fish oil, plus an enhanced antioxidant blend for immune support.
Manufactured in the United States, Small Paws Puppy food is suitable for dogs up to a year old, puppies up to 1-year-old and pregnant or nursing dogs. Its also a good formula for adult dogs over 7 years of age, obese or obese-prone dogs.
Flavors: Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice | Nutritional Specs: 29.9% protein, 20% fat
Homemade Dog Food Delivered
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In the age of UberEats, DoorDash, and having just about anything you wish delivered, you also have the option to buy fresh, natural dog food for doorstep delivery. It can be a huge time-saver and may be worth the cost after adding all the ingredients youll need to buy to cook a recipe.
The Farmers Dog ships frozen, allowing you to keep it on hand or serve it daily as a regular meal. This food is made with fresh, healthy, and easy-to-pronounce human-grade ingredients. And you can spend your time on more important things, like belly rubs and walks.
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed
Pet owners that want a whole and natural dog food for their Golden Retriever will love this formula made by Blue Buffalo. It contains real meat, like deboned chicken, to promote strong muscles, which is crucial for big dogs like the Golden Retriever. Moreover, it contains whole grains, fruits and veggies that further encourage a healthy body.
A unique feature to this is that it contains LifeSource bits. These bits are a mix of nutrients that are further enhanced with more ingredients that are rich in antioxidants. The dog food also has chondroitin and glucosamine that helps support bone and joint health, making a dog more mobile. Moreover, it has omega 6 and 3 fatty acids that help the dog stay healthy with a beautiful coat.
This dog food is an excellent choice for dogs that are active and need extra support. It has L-carnitine that helps the muscles, helping aid a dog stay healthy and mobile in their active lifestyles. It also has loads of essential vitamins, phosphorus and calcium to encourage stronger teeth and bones. Moreover, there are antioxidants, mechalated minerals and vitamins to support a healthy immune system.
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Eagle Pack Adult Large And Giant Breed Dog Food
Rating:
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed is one of 7 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the Eagle Pack product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, pork meal, ground brown rice, oatmeal, rice
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best for:Adult goldens
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Adult obtains most of its animal protein from chicken meal and pork meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 28% protein, 13% fat and 51% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.
We like the inclusion of multiple probiotics to promote healthy digestion and flaxseed to help deliver above-average omega fatty acid content for better joint health. Highly recommended.
Sample buyer reviewWe used grain free before, but the risks led us to go wheat/soy free instead. Eagle Pack is fantastic. Our 6 year old Lab loves it and her coat is shiny shes eaten nothing but Eagle Pack since she was 4. She is a very active dog who retrieves every day, yet she thrives on amounts at the low end of Eagle Packs recommendation. Of the super dog foods, EP is consistently less expensive and yet we find it fully equal in taste and performance to the most expensive brands. We are committed users.
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Do Your Portion Research
You will need to do some research on how many calories your dog needs per day based on your dog’s activity level and your dog’s weight. There are so many factors to consider that will vary due to the breed, size, age, and activity of your pet. My dog needs about 400 calories a day and is a small dog weighing just 11 pounds.
Nutrition For The Outside
One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Youve probably noticed that a nice, shiny coat gets a lot of attention from dog lovers! Nutrition plays a vital role in this area.
A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur.
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Trying New Dog Recipes
Best advice is to slowly introduce new foods to our dogs. We want to keep our pets healthy and food changes can cause issues to their digestive tract. All dogs are unique, what works for one won’t work for another. Fresh dog food recipes have ingredients your dog might be trying for the first time so go slow, with small portions. Sassy could not handle chicken stock cooked into the rice, and wouldn’t eat it due to her allergies, so I used beef stock or Better Than Buillon when I make the rice and she loves it.
Wet Foods Theyll Love
You can switch from dry food so they wont get bored, so here are some of the best-wet foods that dogs adore and they also provide them with vitamins, fats, calcium, protein, and carbohydrates at the same time.
Merrick grain-free puppy plate
My puppies love this one so much that they can come rushing from the other end of the world if they hear me opening it up or smell it. It Contains DHA that support healthy brain development
It also contains vitamins and minerals to offer complete balanced nutrition and they are necessary for the maintenance of teeth and bones.
They are also rich in high-quality proteins: it supports their muscles, immune system, skin, and hair.
Wellness complete health just for puppy
The Wellness complete health for puppies is an excellent wet food for golden retriever puppies. Its rich in nutrient ingredients that designed to provide them with all the nutritional requirements they need and they absolutely love the taste of it .
Rich in protein: It supports a strong immune system, digestive function, optimal energy levels, healthy skin, and coat.
Filled with veggies: it provides your dog with all the vitamins they need and helps their coat to grow and prevents shedding.
Instinct original grain-free wet puppy food
Contains natural DHA: it supports your puppys brain and eye development.
Features beef liver and salmon: it helps to grow their muscle properly.
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Ingredients For Rascals Homemade Dog Food:
- All-Natural chicken stock or water
- Macaroni noodles
Note: We add in a supplement nutrient blend from a company called Just Food For Dogs very similar to dog vitamins as well as Omega oil to make sure he is getting enough healthy fats. I highly recommend adding both of these into your dog food so you can rest assure that they are getting proper nutrients.
Dont Give Them Too Much Of A Good Thing
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Overfeeding your puppy can undo all the benefits of breed-specific golden retriever puppy food. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited.
Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come.
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Which Food Do I Choose
Ask 10 different dog owners for their opinion on what the best dog food is, and youll likely get 10 different answers!
There will always be those who buy the cheapest brand on the market. Some will opt for the most expensive, while others will simply go with a brand name they recognize.
The truth is, there is no single best food for puppies in general. The key is to find the right food for your particular puppy.
One thing you cannot afford to ignore is the nutritional content. Food suppliers, vets, and researchers all agree that adult dogs need at least 18% protein while puppies require no less than 22% protein. Because they are still growing, puppies need more protein than adults.
Proteins foster muscle growth and development in puppies and lean muscle maintenance in adults, so the more of it there is in a diet, the better it is for your growing retriever.
Fats, too, are important for golden puppies because they provide the energy required for everyday activities. Lets not forget that this is an athletic breed that loves to play. Enough fats are therefore needed to help them stay active and healthy.
You should be careful, however, not to feed your golden excess calories because this will result in excess weight or obesity. Eventually, your dog will end up battling joint problems.
A Meal For You And Your Dog
Love cooking for your dog but never have the time? Rocky Kanaka from The CWs SAVE our SHELTER, Dog’s Day Out and founder of The Dog Bakery, has a solution. This easy to make salmon meal for yourself can also be made for your dog.
This recipe is designed for those who want to eat healthy and want their dogs to eat healthy as well but are always on the go. This is also one of the most eco friendly recipes we have seen. Instead of tossing things we would usually not eat such as broccoli stems, the recipe uses these as a key part to the dogs delicious meal.
This recipe also has a bonus tip on what to do with that salmon skin that is usually thrown in the trash. I get asked a lot if salmon skin is okay for dogs. While it is not safe if consumed raw, due to unwanted parasites, cooking in the oven for 20 minutes to make a crunchy, healthy, limited ingredient, organic, high omega dog snack that may help with heart health and give them a great skin and coat is a big win! says Rocky.
And there is more, when you cook for your dog you are more conscious of what you put in your body. For all of those reasons and more we give this recipe four paws up!
Healthy meals are important for you and your dog but the best thing about this recipe from Rocky Kanaka is it allows you to take time out of your day to spend time with your family two and four legged! Read on to find out how to do it or watch Rocky has he demonstrates!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup rolled oats
Directions:
Anna Smith
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What We Feed Our Golden Retriever
Oliver had a few different brands of food that he ate as a puppy.
First, we started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM.
Once we heard about the study we switched to another brand, although he didnt like that at all.
Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked.
Finally, after talking to a few veterinarians and Golden Retriever breeders, we decided to test out Royal Canins Adult Golden Retriever food , which has been his favorite food so far.
If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food.
The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers For 202: Reviewed And Ranked
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Golden Retrievers are known for their wildly friendly personalities. But do you know what the best food for is? Its easy to get caught up in their personalities. They are extremely affectionate with their family, great with other dogs, and even perfect to have around young children. Theyre easy to train, they have moderate energy levels, and they have low barking levels. They do need significant mental stimulation but thats always easy to provide when youre dealing with such a friendly dog.
Your Golden has several different needs ranging from his health to his grooming to exercise and of course, training. But perhaps the most important are his nutritional needs because they lay a foundation for everything else. When you have a Golden, its vital he be fed high-quality dog food that is suitable for his life stage. Whether hes a puppy, an adult, or a senior, he has a different set of nutritional requirements. So, what is the best dog food for golden retrievers?
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When Does Your Dog Need Supplements
If your dog is suffering from a chronic condition such as digestive problems, joint pain, or skin problem then the supplements could really benefit them.
Supplements could be great for your dog, and they can indeed be helpful in dealing with many health problems and avoiding a lot of health issues, and you can also give them to your aging dog as a preventative measure, however, its important to not give too many vitamins or supplements to your dog, overuse of supplements can be bad for their health.
Theres No Dog Like An Old Dog
Dogs reach old age too, and older dogs have different needs to younger dogs. Physical alterations trigger and make necessary other dietary requirements for senior dogs. Since the activity of senior dogs diminishes, their energy requirements fall too. The calorie content of the food should be reduced so that older dogs do not gain weight. A really tasty food can be an advantage too, since some elderly dogs experience a loss in the senses of smell and taste.
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Benefits Of Golden Retriever Homemade Dog Food
Can a wholesome diet for your Golden Retriever prepared right in your kitchen be the start of the journey to better health and nutrition?
According to Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, MS, Ph.D., and Joe Bartges, DVM, Ph.D., board-certified veterinary nutritionists and diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, there are a handful of the benefits you can expect when you start to add homemade food to your dogs diet including:
- Diet management
- Avoid concern over food recalls
Other benefits of a homemade dog diet include no additives or preservatives, healthier digestion, and preventing many conditions associated with a poor diet, such as obesity, poor skin, and coat condition, pancreatitis, diabetes, and reduced immunity.
How To Read A Dog Food Label
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To help make an informed decision about what youre feeding your Golden, youll need to read the food label.
But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC.
Ingredients are listed in order of weight
The first ingredient listed is the ingredient that theres the most of in the food, while the last ingredient is the ingredient that theres the least of.
There is one caveat though.
Ingredients are listed in the exact type that theyre added in.
For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn.
The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. Meat Byproduct
Lets say youre looking at a food label and you see chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct.
Chicken means that its chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken meal means that its essentially ground and dried chicken muscle, skin and/or bones.
Chicken byproducts means that its byproducts .
Chicken byproducts meal means that its essentially ground and dried byproducts.
The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food.
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