1. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Probiotics support healthy digestive and immune systems
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Protein blend provides optimal amino acid profile
Antioxidants from superfoods
Proprietary probiotics survive and thrive in GI tract
Egg-free formula
Real salmon is the number one ingredient in this dog food for Golden Retrievers, providing an excellent source of protein. Vitamins and minerals have been added, as well as fruit and vegetables as superfoods. The fatty acid blend helps your dog’s skin and coat.
As well as being nutrient rich, the food has been made to be highly digestible. No grain, wheat, fillers, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives have been added. There are also no eggs in this Taste of the Wild dog food, which is important for pooched who dogs who are sensitive to these. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream is one of 7 recipes included in our review of Taste Of The Wild Dog Food.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe
Key Features
High and multi-protein formula
No grain, wheat, corn or poultry
Special LifeSource bits provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
L-Carnitine helps burn fat, Glucosamine supports healthy joints
Second on the list, we have this high-protein, grain-free food that features real beef as the primary ingredient, helping to build and maintain your dog’s muscles, as well as giving them the energy they require for their active lifestyles.
Special LifeSource Bits are included, which consist of a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Healthy fruit and vegetables such as blueberries, cranberries and sweet potatoes provide other nutrients as well. Aside from tasty beef, this formula also contains fish meal, lamb and venison, making it pretty high in protein – perfect for energetic, active Goldens!
3. Merrick Grain-Free Real Bison, Beef+ Sweet Potato Recipe
Key Features
70% protein and healthy fat ingredients
No gluten or grain ingredients
Fresh sweet potatoes provide nutrients
Balanced nutrition
Made with a real buffalo and sweet potatoes formula, this grain-free retriever dog food contains no gluten or grains, which is designed to make digestion more straightforward. Cooked in the USA, high levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin aid healthy joints and hips.
There are also leading levels Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which support the healthy skin and coat of your dog. Other main ingredients include chicken, turkey, and salmon meal. For more information on the brand, check out our Merrick Dog Food Review.
4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato
Key Features
Essential amino acids from fish
Sweet potatoes contain fiber for healthy digestion
All essential vitamins and minerals
Grain-free formula
Based on the limited ingredient philosophy of Labrador dog food, there are no fillers included, so your pooch’s digestion is improved. This is also helped by the natural fiber in the recipe.
Premium protein and carbohydrates are provided by the fish and sweet potato formula. Complete and balanced nutrition is provided for dogs of all life stages, meaning that all essential vitamins and minerals are included.
5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy
Key Features
Protein from real chicken
Kibble specially suited for large breed puppies
Antioxidant-rich fruit
Supports healthy muscle growth
High-quality protein is what a dog needs for healthy functioning, and this large breed puppy food formula provides this with the real chicken primary ingredient. Supporting it are other healthy ingredients such as whole grains, garden vegetables, and fruit.
The trademark of the Blue Buffalo brand is the LifeSource bits, which are a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant. These have been carefully selected by animal nutritionists and veterinarians to provide support to the immune system and a good oxidative balance.
6. Fromm Adult Gold Golden Retriever Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Formulated from range of protein sources
Added cartilage supports joint health
Viable probiotics and prebiotics
Free of corn, wheat, and byproducts
Balanced with wholesome, natural ingredients, this Golden Retriever food is specially made for adults weighing more than 50 lbs. The core ingredients are made up of fresh Wisconsin duck, chicken, lamb, fish, oatmeal, barley, brown rice, potatoes, whole eggs and real cheddar cheese.
This holistic food has been enhanced with probiotics and prebiotics to boost the digestive system of your pup. Salmon oil has been added for your dog’s healthy coat and skin.
7. Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Lamb & Brown Rice
Key Features
Lamb is the primary ingredient
Made with non-GMO ingredients
Natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin
Contains essential antioxidants
This adult large breed dry dog food consists of a lamb and rice recipe, offering energy from these sources. While lamb is the number one ingredient, it also contains vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
To support your dog’s healthy joints, glucosamine and chondroitin have been added. Some of the other core ingredients include Vitamin E, which helps to keep a dog’s immune system healthy. Read our in-depth Nutro Dog Food review here.
8. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula
Key Features
No corn, wheat, or filler
Enhanced with superfoods
Ideal protein and mineral content
Omega fatty acids and antioxidants
Providing a high quality protein source from the pasture raised lamb, the optimal amino acid profile helps muscles to be strong and lean. Made for large breed puppies, superfoods provide antioxidants, while there are fatty acids for their skin and coat.
Rich in nutrients, there is DHA which helps with brain and vision functioning. Everything is highly digestible with proprietary probiotics included.
9. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey
Key Features
Infused with omega fatty acids
High quality protein ingredients
No meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Offers whole body health
Offering complete and balanced nutrition to your canine companion, the nutrition provided in this dry dog food is based on protein, which has been enhanced by essential vitamins and minerals, plus real vegetables.
This recipe consists of deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. Some of the benefits that are promised include a leaner body mass and muscle tone and a healthy coat. Here’s a detailed look at Wellness Core Dog Food.
10. Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Dry Dog Food
Key Features
Protein-rich nutrition
No meat by-products or fillers
Supports a healthy coat
Provides lean body mass and muscles tone
The final one on our list is another grain free dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition. Proteins comes from turkey and chicken, while it has all been enhanced with essential vitamins and minerals. All the ingredients in this Royal Canin Golden Retriever food are natural and there are no meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Best Dog Food for Golden Retrievers Buying Guide
We now move onto the buying guide and frequently asked questions section of the post. In this, we will cover some interesting points regarding Golden Retrievers and their dietary requirements. We will also take a look at some of the potential health problems that can affect the breed so you know what you should be looking out for.
What to Look for When Buying Dog Food for Golden Retrievers
It is best to look for a formula that is specifically made for large-breed dogs and designed for their stage of life. You should be looking for food that is made from wholesome, natural ingredients – not food that contains fillers, artificial additives, or by-products. Lean protein should make up a big proportion of the food from meat, poultry, and fish sources. Fat and calorie content should be limited as Golden Retrievers have slower metabolisms and you don’t want your pooch to be at risk of becoming obese.
Look for food that has that label of complete and balanced nutrition as this ensures that they are getting the right stuff for a healthy lifestyle. Also, consider factors like the kibble size as Golden Retrievers are better able to eat food a bigger size and this helps to stop your dog eating too much too quickly, which can lead to serious issues like bloat.
Ingredients to Avoid Feeding Your Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers can sometimes develop food allergies. Grains such as corn, wheat, and soy are common, so look for food that doesn’t contain any of these if you want to be especially cautious. Also, you should look for natural ingredients and avoid anything artificial like colors, preservatives or flavors. You should also be careful of food that contains too high a sugar content. These are often common in semi-moist dog food. While many of the dog foods listed above contain ingredients we often find in human food, there are some foods that we eat that are not safe for canines. These include garlic, onions, chocolates, grapes, and raisins, so always be wary of what you are offering to your dog if you ever feed them off your plate.
Nutritional Needs of Golden Retrievers
- Protein
Like all dogs, protein should form an essential component of the diet of your Golden Retriever. As a guideline, they should have at least 18% protein in their diet, whereas puppies need slightly more at 22%. This is why protein is so prominently featured in the foods discussed above. This is essential in supporting the muscular bodies of these large and active dogs. For more options, check out our detailed review of high protein dog food.
- Fat
Concentrated energy is provided by fat in Retriever dog food, and this should form 5% of your adult dog’s diet and 8% of your puppy’s. However, fat and calorie content should still be low to moderate compared to smaller dogs with faster metabolisms. Look for specific types of fat like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids as these can help to reduce shedding, as well as adding gloss and shine to your dog’s coat.
For more options head over to our guide on Fish Oils For Dogs.
- Carbohydrates
Carb levels should depend on the age of your dog and their regular activity levels. The more active your dog is, the higher their carbohydrate needs will be.
Potential Health Problems for Golden Retrievers
- Cancer
Golden Retriever dogs have a high risk of cancer, which claims around 60% of their lives and has cut their average lifespan by a few years. It is certainly worth taking your dog into the vet for regular checkups, as it always helps to get treatment starts as early as possible if it is required. Of course, keeping your dog in good health with the right diet and regular exercise is important.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
Both of these forms of dysplasia are common in Golden Retrievers. You can see hip dysplasia if your dog appears in pain and struggles to move in one or both of their rear legs. This can turn into arthritis as your pooch ages. Elbow dysplasia also leads to painful lameness in your dog’s legs. If your dog seems to be stiff or struggling to move, you should have them checked over and get treatment started at the earliest possible opportunity.
- Epilepsy
Some Golden Retrievers suffer from epilepsy, with symptoms that usually come in the form of seizures. If your dog suffers one of these, you should clear away any dangerous objects that your pooch can hurt themselves on. You won’t have to perform the same action as humans in keeping their tongue out of their mouth as dogs don’t have this choking risk.
- Obesity
As Golden Retrievers have relatively slow metabolisms, you don’t want to overdo it in terms of the number of calories they consume. Treats are often a big contributor to your dog’s waistline, so you should follow an 80/20 rule. This means that 80% of your dog’s food should consist of their regular food while the other 20% can come from treats. For a wider selection of choices, check out our dog food for weight loss guide.
- Separation anxiety
Your dog’s mental health is also important, and Golden Retrievers are a breed who can suffer from separation anxiety when they are away from their owners.
Our Top Pick
Going back to our number one choice on the list of best dog food for Golden Retrievers, we have this one from Taste of the Wild, which contains real salmon as the number one ingredient. Vitamins and minerals have been added, alongside superfoods and a fatty acid blend that all offer health benefits to your pooch. As well as being nutrient rich, the food is also highly digestible with proprietary probiotics that can thrive in the GI tract.
