A dog is a dog is a dog, right? Not quite – at least when we’re talking nutrition. While dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes do have similar nutritional needs, there are some subtle but important differences that owners should be aware of. Large dog breeds need a healthy balance of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in their everyday diet.
While many brands offer healthy options for large breeds, some do not. If your dog food includes animal by-products, wheat, animal fat, and artificial flavors, we recommend you stop using it because those ingredients are bad for your pup. With that in mind, here is a list of 10 large breed dog foods you should avoid.
Science Diet Adult Large Breed
Ingredients: Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Oat Fiber, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Peas.
IAMS Protective Health Large Breed
Ingredients: Chicken, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Ground Whole Grain Barley, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Flax Meal, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide), Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid.
Purina One Smart Blend Large Breed Formula
Ingredients: Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Pea Fiber, Oat Meal, Fish Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Animal Digest, Glycerin, Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Caramel Color, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Sulfur, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Garlic Oil, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Biotin, Sodium Selenite. C-4180.
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Shredded Blend Large Breed Formula Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken, Brewer’s Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (Form of Vitamin E), Fish Meal (Natural Source of Glucosamine), Barley, Corn Germ Meal, Dried Egg Product, Animal Digest, Glycerin, Calcium Phosphate, Wheat Bran, Fish Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Sulfur, Copper Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Garlic Oil, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.
Diamond Hi Energy Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Corn, Wheat Flour, Rice Bran, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Fish Meal, Millet, Meat Meal, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.
Purina Dog Chow Large Dog Chicken Flavor
Ingredients: Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Hulls**, Corn Germ Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Meat and Bone Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Whole Grain Wheat, Egg and Chicken Flavor, Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Mono and Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Yellow 6, Ferrous Sulfate, Red 40, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Blue 2, Copper Sulfate, Red 40, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Blue 2, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Garlic Oil, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite. **7% (en) a source of fiber.
Pedigree Large Breed
Ingredients: Ground Whole Corn, Poultry By-Product Meal (Source of Glucosamine (Not Recognized as an Essential Nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles), Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved with BHA/Citric Acid), Meat and Bone Meal (Source of Calcium), Soybean Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Brewers Rice, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vegetable Oil ([Source of Linoleic Acid] Preserved with BHA/BHT), Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source of Vitamin E], Niacin, Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate), Added FD&C Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2).
Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition
Ingredients: Ground Yellow Corn, Meat And Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved With BHA And Citric Acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Natural Flavor, Brewers Rice, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Color Added (Titanium Dioxide, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #40, Blue #2), Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K), Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate.
Gravy Train Dog Food
Ingredients: Corn, Soybean Meal, Meat and Bone Meal, Wheat Middlings, Animal Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gum, Wheat Flour, Caramel Color, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Natural and Artificial Beef Flavor, Red 40, BHA (preservative), Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Rosemary Extract.
Kal Kan Complete Adult Dog Food
Ingredients: Ground Whole Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Poultry By-Product Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid, Source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Yeast Culture, Salt, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, dl-Methionine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement).
