Perhaps the most important consideration for dog owners is figuring out what is the best dog food to give to their beloved canine. This is a quandary that is often faced by newbie owners of Labrador Retrievers. With so many brands of dog food in pet shops and in supermarkets, it can be difficult to choose the best dog food for Labrador Retriever.
What is the best food for Labrador Retriever?
When you want to talk about the best food for Labrador Retriever, you should consider giving it a healthy, balanced diet. Take note that, contrary to popular belief, Labs – and other dogs for that matter – are not carnivores, but omnivores, just like humans. They don’t just eat meat exclusively. You may have seen many cute ASMR videos on YouTube of Labs eating veggies and fruits.
So, the best Labrador Retriever food should contain the essential nutrients:
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Amino acids
These essential nutrients not only help in keeping your Lab healthy. They also help in maintaining their glossy coats, strong teeth, and healthy bones, muscles, and joints (strong joints are a must in medium- to large-sized dogs like Labs which are especially prone to joint problems).
If your dog develops poor coat quality, skin conditions, seems tired or listless, or even hyperactive, it may be because of the dog food that you are feeding it. It may be necessary to switch to another brand that can meet its dietary requirements.
Avoid giving your Lab foods that contain corn, wheat, and by-products. These fillers have no nutritional value and may predispose your dog to obesity and high blood sugar. You should also avoid giving your Lab dairy products, especially if they are lactose-intolerant, as this may cause diarrhea. Raw eggs, pork, lamb, or rabbit meat are also big “no-nos” as these raw foods may contain disease-causing bacteria.
Last but not least, let’s talk about bones. We have often seen dogs on TV and movies gnawing on big juicy bones. However, dog experts have found that bones can splinter in the act of chewing and may cause injury to the mouth, throat, and digestive system. Bones can also lodge in the throat. Never give your dog cooked bones. While you may give them raw bones with the meat still on it, once all the meat has been removed, the bones should be taken away from your Lab.
10 Best Labrador Retriever Dog Food
If you are wondering about the best dog food for a Labrador Retriever, we have compiled a list of highly recommended brands based on reviews. It is highly recommended that you ask your veterinarian’s advice on which among these brands are most suited for your Labrador.
1) Wellness Core Large Breed Dog Food
Wellness Core Large Breed Dog Food is consistently at the top of the lists for the best dog food to give to your Labrador. Specifically formulated for adult Labradors only, Wellness Core consists of animal protein in the form of deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal. It also contains peas and lentils. Ingredients such as lignan-rich flaxseed and antioxidant preservatives help to lower the cancer risk in your Labs. It also contains probiotics to promote healthy digestion.
2) Sport Dog Active Series Kibble (Field Dog Formula)
Sport Dog Active Series Kibble has been formulated for the active Labrador in mind. It is rich in protein derived from chicken meal, turkey meal, and fish meal. Other ingredients include whole ground sorghum, dried sweet potato, and whole ground millet. It also contains iron amino acid chelate and other chelated minerals to aid in nutrient absorption in the gut. This brand of dog food can be given to both adult Labs and puppies.
3) Orijen Original Dog Food
While it is considered to be one of the more expensive dog foods in the market today, Orijen Original Dog Food is consistently recommended as a good brand for Labradors. Ideal for both adult Labs and puppies, this dog food contains deboned chicken, deboned turkey, Whole Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic flounder, and cage-free eggs. This is one of the few brands that can truly be stated as being “grain-free”. It has kale and other fruits and veggies that are rich in fiber for healthy digestion as well as pollock oil (rich in omega fatty acids) for healthy hearts.
4) Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Dry Dog Food
This Royal Canin brand has been formulated specifically for the Labrador Retriever breed. Available in both adult and puppy formulas, it is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, Vitamins A and B complex, and omega fatty acids.
5) Eukanuba Breed-Specific Labrador Retriever
Like the Royal Canin brand mentioned above, Eukanuba Breed-Specific Labrador Retriever has been formulated specifically for Labs. It contains fortified vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. For healthy digestion, it is also rich in fiber and probiotics.
6) Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Kibble
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Kibble has a unique protein content, boasting of buffalo meat, as well as lamb and chicken meal. Rounding up the ingredients are peas and sweet potatoes. Aside from zinc proteinate and other chelated materials for better nutrient absorption, it also contains antioxidants in the form of blueberries and raspberries for maintaining cardiovascular health in your Labrador.
7) Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food derives its protein content solely from chicken and chicken meal. This dog food contains grains in the form of whole brown rice, rice bran, and brewer’s rice. While the grain content may be a concern for some, Nutro is rich in fiber for maintaining healthy digestion and stools. Cancer risk is also reduced because this dog food does not contain any preservatives or other additives.
8) Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Dog Food contains protein in the form of chicken and poultry by-product meal. It also contains grains, including corn gluten meal and whole grain corn. Because of the high-energy and high-protein content of Purina Pro Plan, this dog food is particularly recommended for active sporting Labradors. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids for healthy coat and skin and glucosamine for strong joints.
9) AvoDerm Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
The protein content of AvoDerm Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food consists of chicken meal and salmon meal. Another grain-containing dog food, you will find among its ingredients the following: oatmeal, ground white rice, and ground brown rice. This dog food derives its omega fatty acid content from avocados to promote healthy skin and cardiovascular system. It also contains chondroitin and glucosamine for joint health.
10) Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Kibble
The primary source of protein in Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Kibble is chicken (as ground meat, meal, and fat). It also contains ground white rice and cracked pearl barley. Like Purina Pro Plan above, this Diamond Naturals formulation is specifically for active sporting Labradors. It also contains lignin from chicory root for improve digestion and omega-3 fatty acids from lignan-rich flaxseed for a reduced cancer risk.
While there are many more excellent dog foods to choose from for your dog, it is strongly recommended that you consult first with your veterinarian. Based on their physical assessment, your vet can best advise you on the dog food to give to your Labrador Retriever.
