11 Best Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers – Reviewed & Tested
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The most popular dog breed in America is the Labrador Retriever, and for good reason. These medium- to large-sized, gentle dogs are amazing dos and great choices for first time pet owners.
The privilege of being a dog owner is great, but it also comes with a ton of responsibility. And one of the biggest one is making sure you feed your lab the right food.
Now don’t worry if you don’t know where to start here because in this one, we’ll be breaking down the 10 best dog foods for Labrador Retrievers.
Labrador Retrieves are the ideal choice for a pet, working dog, or hunting dog. They are amazing athletes who need a lot of exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. Therefore, it’s important that you pick the best dog food for Labrador Retrievers to satisfy all of their dietary requirements.
The best food for Labrador Retrievers might not be the best food for other dogs. Below, we’ll go over this breed’s particular dietary requirements and potential health issues.
It’s important to buy the best food for your pet based on their current stage of life because puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional and caloric requirements.
You’ll also need to modify your Labrador Retriever’s diet as they grow to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. You’ll also need to feed your dog more food if they’re very active, which most labs are.
At Jacktra, our goal is to make sure your dog has the best food possible. We’ve tested and examined 100s of different formulas of food and well be breaking down the best one for your dogs breed.
Ready to get started? Great, let’s go!
Best Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Stella & Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food — Best Raw Food Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Gentle Giants Dog Food – Best Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula – Best Balanced Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult- Best Balanced Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner Canned Dog Food — Best Wet Food For Labrador Retriever Puppies
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie – Best Meat Formula Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Dog Food – Best Breed Specific Formula Food For Labrador Retrievers
- The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food – Best Fresh Food For Labrador Retrievers
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Vegetable Entrée – Best Sensitive Stomach Dog Food For Labrador Retriever
- CANIDAE PURE Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Dog Food – Best Budget Dog Food For Labrador Retriever
- Wellness Complete Health Senior Chicken & Barley Dog Food – Best Dog Food For Senior Labrador Retrievers
Do Labrador Retrievers Need Special Dog Food?
When it comes to specific nutritional needs, puppies need at least 22 percent protein in their diets, adult dogs need a minimum of 18 percent.
Puppies get the building blocks they need from protein to develop strong muscles. Adults need it to maintain their lean muscle mass.
More protein is usually good, but you need to make sure your dog is getting calories from other types of food like fats and carbs.
Fat helps your dog have energy and you need at least 5% of your dogs diet to come from it. For puppies this number should be at least 85%
Excess calories, on the other hand, can lead to unhealthy weight gain in large breeds like Labs.
The risk of other health issues, such as bone and joint issues, is increased by obesity. As a result, Labrador Retrievers need a dog food that is high in protein, low to moderate in fat, and low in calories.
What to Look for in Labrador Retrievers Food
Four things should be taken into account when selecting the best dog food for your Labrador Retriever: ingredients, price, quality, and type (dry or wet). You want to look for food that is like the following:
- Has Natural ingredients – no fillers, byproducts, and artificial flavors / additives. Good & Limited fat and calorie content: Fat is needed, but to much is not recommend. Focus on rich in lean protein from high-quality animal sources like chicken, meat, and fish
- Making sure your dog food is in your budget is always something to consider. We do not recommend you skimp out and just get the cheapest food. Most times, the food that is less expensive is priced this way for a reason. It usually does not have high quality ingredients and is filled with fillers which can be seriously bad for your dog.
- AAFCO nutrient profiles show that these formulas are nutritionally complete and balanced.
- Type of food, wet or dry. Both have there pros and cons, but making sure you are aware of this is important. For example hard kibble is better for your dogs oral health as opposed to wet food.
But, with that being said it’s time to break down the top 10 dog foods for Labrador Retrievers!
Our Top Recommendations
The ten best-rated brands are listed below. Each one has the right amount of protein, fats, and other nutrients for Labrador Retrievers. Adults and puppies will have different recommendations and different formulas.
- Stella & Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food — Best Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers
Available in many different flavors
Stella & Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties are an amazing recipe that even picky eaters will love. Jack, my Labrador Retriever, adored this food. Even though he was a very picky eater, he devoured his meal every time I feed him this!
We love to recommend this because it is ideal for retrievers. It is packed with high protein and tons of nutrients needed for active dogs. We know some may not be interested in feeding there dog raw food, so if that is you, don’t worry. To see our other top-rated foods for Labrador Retrievers, scroll down!
The first ingredient in this recipe is chicken, along with ground bone, a fantastic natural source of calcium, and chicken liver, a well-known healthy organ meat following it.
Next we have Chicken With Ground Bone, a healthy raw bone that is safe, efficient, and has many benefits for your dog health. This offers a great source of calcium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, which helps keep teeth clean.
Now let’s talk about chicken liver. This ingredient is great for our dogs. It has a large number of excellent proteins and amino acids. Additionally, it is a good source of zinc, copper, iron, and vitamin A for vision. Your dog’s skin and coat benefit from the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well that chicken liver is packed with.
It provides an excellent amount of calcium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, as well as acts as a mild abrasive to keep teeth clean.
Another ingredient in this dish is chicken gizzard. When combined with other ingredients, such as chicken gizzard, this low-fat, meaty part of the bird’s digestive system will help break down the food that has been consumed.
Pumpkin seeds contain linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fat, in addition to fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Another essential component of this mixture.
The fifth and final ingredient is cranberries, a fruit high in nutrients and fiber.
Foods like spinach, beets, carrots, and squash, which are all excellent, high-quality foods, also provide additional nutrients to your dog. Based solely on its ingredients, Stella and Chewy’s Freeze Dried Dinners is an excellent raw dog food product.
It is loaded with proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s. We love it because it has everything your Labrador needs to remain healthy and fit.
This formula is excellent, and all of their flavors are loaded just like this, This way you can try different flavors for your dog as well.
What we do:
Use it as an adder to combine two different foods (how Jack ate it). So I would mix his hard food with a few of these chews. Half cup of hard food with 4-5 chews.
Let’s talk feeding your dog raw food:
Feeding your dog raw food has a number of benefits. Some people adore it, while others despise it. You will ultimately have to decide what is best for you and your dog. But one thing is certain: Stella & Chewy’s should be seriously taken into consideration if you want to feed your dog raw food. If you want to learn more about why we love to recommend feeding your dog raw food, you can read our detailed post here.
Also available in turkey, beef, fish, duck, and many more – all which my Jack loved, and all which are great.
Main Ingredients: Chicken With Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets
Guaranteed Analysis: 48% Crude Protein, 28% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 5% Moisture
Caloric Content: 50 kcal/ per patty
Type of Product: Raw Food
Gentle Giants Dog Food – Best Dog Food For LabrRetrievers
Gentle Giants was another staple in my boy Jack’s diet. Despite once again being a very picky eater, he liked it. I would combine it with the Stella chews to improve the flavor for him. Gentle Giants contains a lot of high-quality proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients.
The first ingredient in Gentle Giants is chicken meal. Chicken meal, also referred to as meat concentrate, has nearly 300 percent more protein than fresh chicken. This strengthens and builds up their muscles. A vital dietary component.
Barley makes up the second ingredient. A starchy carbohydrate called barley contains fiber and other beneficial nutrients. This facilitates digestion and offers additional nutrients to support your dog’s daily activities.
Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate that is simple to digest once it has been cooked. serving to supply energy.
The fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats and another clean carb. Oatmeal is gluten-free and naturally rich in dietary fiber and B vitamins (unlike many other grains). a fantastic, healthy component.
The fifth ingredient listed here is peas. It is an additional reliable source of carbohydras. They are also a good source of natural fiber, like all legumes.
Also included from other ingredients like chicken liver are linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid necessary to help your dogs skin, coat and more.
Dried Yeast:
Yeast helps our furry friends’ pets’ immune systems by boosting their defenses against parasites like fleas. However, some critics assert that yeast ingredients could lead to allergies. If your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself, then this may be true (as with all allergies).
Yeast’s ability to raise the risk of bloat, a potentially fatal condition for many large breed dogs, is another thing to be aware of.
Now don’t let this freak you out, because yeast is actually very common in dog foods and has tons of benefits.
It is loaded with protein and other healthy nutrients that can keep a dog’s health in check. According to a lot of experts, yeast in dog food can boost a dog’s immune system and protect it from flea bites.
PS: I’ve feed my Jack Gentle Giants for years, and never had any issues.
To read our full review on Gentle Giants click here.
Main Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Poultry Flavor, Whole Flaxseeds
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (Min.) 22.0%, Crude Fat (Min.) 9.0%, Crude Fiber (Max.) 4.0%, Moisture (Max.) 10.0%.
Caloric Content: 358 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Active, Best
Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula – Best Balanced Food For Labrador Retrievers
Lamb meal, turkey meal, and chicken meal make up the majority of the animal protein in Multi-Protein Formula.
It has four different animal meal ingredients, making it a particularly diversified and well-balanced protein formula. among the top-selling dry dog food brands in our database. Highly suggested.
With cars coming from brown rice and oatmeal you can feel confident that your dog will be getting a very high quality and blend of food.
Main Ingredients – Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Peas, Oatmeal, Barley
Guaranteed Analysis: 24% Crude Protein, 10% Crude Fat, 4.5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 506 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Lab puppies and adults
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult
The best possible health and well-being of your lab are ensured by the superior quality of this life-protection formula. It includes real meat, fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden, and a precise combination of crucial nutrients to meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs. Ensure the healthiest diet for your large-breed dog’s growth and development.
Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and fur, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin for joints’ flexibility and health are included in the formula.
L-Carnitine, an essential high-quality protein for building lean muscle, and carbohydrates provide energy for an active lifestyle. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Antioxidants, chelated minerals, and vitamins for healthy immune systems.
Main Ingredients – Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Pea Starch, Peas, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids)
Guaranteed Analysis: 22% Crude Protein, 12% Crude Fat, 6% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 352 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Fresh
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner Canned Dog Food — Best Wet Food For Labrador Retriever Puppies
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Chicken Dinner Wet Food is a great option to consider for you puppy.
This puppy dog food contains chicken as its first ingredient. Which is high in protein, taste’s great and includes ten essential amino acids that dogs need to survive.
The following ingredient is chicken broth. Broths don’t have much nutritional value. However, they are frequently added ingredients in many canned goods because they add flavor and moisture to dog food.
The third is hen liver. This is referred to as “animal-sourced organ meat,” which is why it is valued as a component.
The fourth ingredient is carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals, dietary fiber and help provide a suite of benefits for your dogs vision and overall health.
The last main ingredients is peas, which are good source of carbs.
Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas
Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 10% Crude Protein, 7.5% Crude Fat, 1.3% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
Caloric Content: 451 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Puppy, Wet Food
Taste of the Wild High Prairie – Best Meat Formula Food For Labrador Retrievers
The majority of the meat protein in High Prairie comes from water buffalo, lamb meal, and chicken meal.
For improved absorption and ideal blood levels, zinc proteinate is combined with three other chelated minerals. For adult Labs, a fully balanced nutrient design is ideal.
Designed with vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and nutrients for the energy your lab needs to thrive. Contains K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics that are great, along with antioxidants and prebiotics to support healthy digestion, immune system function, and general health and wellness.
Main Ingredients – Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat
Guaranteed Analysis: 32% Crude Protein, 18% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 422 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Fresh
Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Dog Food – Best Breed Specific Formula Food For Labrador Retrievers
Next we have Royal Canin for Labrador Retrievers.
This one is really cool because it’s specifically for purebred Labrador Retrievers.
This mixture was created especially with your Labrador’s hyperactivity and athleticism in mind. In addition to being balanced for this magnificent breed, the kibble processing details give it an extra special touch.
This is the ideal diet to help your lab’s bones and general health maintenance without sacrificing any mouthwatering flavors because it is high in high-quality protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Owners of labs love this Royal Canin formula, which is deserving of a spot on our list of the top 5 foods for Labrador Retrievers.
You’ll be able to ensure that purebred Labrador Retrievers’ dietary requirements are met. It will also support bone and joint health with glucosamine, EPA, and DHA.
Main Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewers Rice
Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 11% Crude Fat, 5.4% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 275 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Breed Specific
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food – Best Fresh Food For Labrador Retrievers
The Farmer’s Dog, a subscription-based service, delivers freshly made dog food to your door. Each and every one of their recipes was created by veterinary nutritionists, and they only use ingredients that are safe for human consumption.
The best part about it all, though, is that every diet is unique to your dog’s requirements. They take into account the dog’s breed, age, and level of activity to determine the formula that is best for your dog.
The Farmer’s Dog is the best fresh dog food for your lab for a number of reasons, and it might even be the best food available right now. You can be sure that your dog will be eating wholesome, all-natural food because only premium ingredients are used.
They only use fresh, whole foods that are of human-grade quality in their recipes. This formula is suitable and sufficient for your furry friend to grow and maintain good health because it contains all the nutrients your Labrador Retriever needs.
Main Ingredients – Depends On Flavor (Beef, Lamb, Turkey Available): Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice
Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 10% Crude Protein, 7% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 74% Moisture
Caloric Content: 266 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Fresh
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Vegetable Entrée – Best Sensitive Stomach Dog Food For Labrador Retriever
Additional Flavors Available
Jack was a big fan of this food. Jack was diagnosed with a hemangiosarcoma on November 7th, 2019. This is a malignant tumor derived from the cells lining blood vessels.
I’m telling you this because it ended up pressing against his stomach, which occasionally caused him to feel very bloated and, of course, uncomfortable.
I made the decision to include giving him some blends for sensitive stomachs. Despite the fact that I’ve tried a ton of different blends for sensitive stomachs, my Jack loved this food. He would always eat the whole thing.
About the food, it is made up of some really good ingredients.
The first ingredient is listed as chicken broth. Because chicken broth adds flavor and moisture, the food tastes fantastic. The second ingredient is salmon, which is a fantastic source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
The third ingredient is carrots. Carrots are a natural source of many dietary nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
The fourth ingredient, turkey, is yet another excellent source of protein.
The fifth ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes are frequently used in all kinds of pet food as a common source of gluten-free carbohydrates that also offers a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Other essential ingredients in this recipe include the egg whites, which add lean, high-quality protein, the dried whey, which boosts the protein content, and the chicken fat, which offers a healthy serving of omega-6 fatty acids.
Main Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Salmon, Carrots, Turkey, Potatoes, Green Beans, Potato Starch, Pea Protein
Guaranteed Analysis: (Wet analysis) 4% Crude Protein, 3% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
Caloric Content: 379 kcal/can
Type of Product: Sensitive Stomach
CANIDAE PURE Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Dog Food — Best Weight Loss Food For Labrador Retrievers
Your beloved Labrador Retriever is more likely to become obese just by their DNA. This increases there risk of developing health issues.
But don’t worry because there is a perfect recipe to keep your Labrador at a healthy weight. The formula you can use is the CANIDAE grain-free formula. Real chicken and peas are included in this well-balanced diet to keep the mixture nutrient-rich and easily digestible and to maintain your dog’s ideal weight.
Made with just 9 whole food ingredients to keep your friend full and well-fed and made without grains, corn, wheat, or soy to prevent upsetting sensitive stomachs. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Main Ingredients – Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Garbanzo Beans, Potatoes
Guaranteed Analysis: 28% Crude Protein, 9% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 409 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Weight Loss
Wellness Complete Health Senior Chicken & Barley Dog Food – Best Dog Food For Senior Labrador Retrievers
As a Labrador gets older, so do their nutritional requirements. We recommend Wellness Complete Health Senior Formula for that time in our dogs lives.
It is perfectly balanced to keep your senior dog healthy and functional while maintaining weight. The recipe calls for chicken meat to maintain your dog’s muscles and oatmeal and barley to fuel daily activity.
It also provides glucosamine and chondroitin to address joint issues very common in older dogs, especially in retrievers.
Probiotics are added to the food to improve gut health while also promoting gut flora and destroying free radicals. It is an American food of the highest quality that contains no wheat, corn, or soy.
Main Ingredients – Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Peas
Guaranteed Analysis: 22% Crude Protein, 10% Crude Fat, 4.25% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
Caloric Content: 416 kcal/cup
Type of Product: Seniors
Labrador Retriever Dog Food – Buyers Guide
Your dog needs high quality food to live his best life. Especially if your dog is active. They need to regroup, refill and replenish.
When it comes to your Labrador buyer guide, you should look for the following.
High Protein
Dogs require both animal protein. In order to live their best and healthiest lives, your dog needs this protein. These meats offer everything from healthy coat maintenance to muscle building and maintenance.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials recommends that dog food contain at least 22 percent protein, but larger, more active dogs, especially Labrador Retrievers should aim for at least 25%.
Fats
Fat gets such a bad rep in todays day and age but the truth is, your dog needs it. Fat should be consumed in moderation.
Fat allows your dogs food to have plenty of benefits like of taste and results in them enjoying there dish even more (when more fat is included.) Fat has hidden benefits that most people are not even aware of like, the fact that it can even speed up your dogs metabolism.
Now the taste benefits are important and all but the real important factor here is the fact that fat is crucial for your dog.
This fat is necessary for your dog to have energy throughout the day. If your dog does not have any fat in there diet, you will notice them being more fatigued and lethargic throughout the day. You will want more fat for your dog if he or she is more active than if they are not. Again since Labs are super active, you’ll want a good amount of fat in there diet.
Another healthy fat to look to include in your dogs diet is fish oil, which contains the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. This support your dog’s skin and coat’s long-term health.
Another healthy fat to look for is fish oil, which contains the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They might support your dog’s skin and coat’s long-term health.
DHA, another omega-3 fatty acid, is well known for promoting healthy brain and eye development in puppies. Oils like flaxseed and coconut contain these.
A food item with no additional fat beyond that found in animal meats is preferred. Keep the amount of fat in your Labrador’s diet in the low- to moderate-range.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates aid in supplying energy. Your dog’s diet also needs to include carbohydrates. But it’s crucial that you choose complex carbohydrates. These are made up of a variety of ingredients, including oats, brown rice, peas, barley, and sweet potatoes.
Because they have a lower glycemic index than simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates help keep your dog’s energy levels high throughout the day rather than in short bursts. Despite the fact that carbohydrates are necessary for Schnauzers, their intake should be moderate. Corn and soy are some other less-than-ideal options. They can be hard on your dog’s stomach and may speed up their energy crash.
Fiber
Fiber supports the good bacteria in your dog’s gut.
It helps them go to the bathroom and will help the absorption of all those nutrients, vitamins and all the other stuff your dog is getting from there diet.
Antioxidants & Vitamins
Antioxidants help your dog’s body get rid of harmful free radicals and maintain a healthy immune system. The DNA in your dog’s cells is thought to be protected by antioxidants as well, which aids in the fight against cancer and other serious health issues (although more research is still needed in this area).
Choosing a food that is rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to ensure that your dog is getting antioxidants. Foods that are great include leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, collard greens, carrots, blueberries, and bananas, to name a few.
Vitamins help your dog stay strong and healthy. They help with many things from bone health (Vitamin K) to eye sight and vision, (Vitamin A) and so much more.
Things to Consider Before Deciding Your Labrador’s Food
It’s important to know that the following medical conditions are more common in Labrador Retrievers: hereditary myopathy (muscle weakness), elbow and hip dysplasia (joint issues and arthritis), heart problems, and eye problems. As they get older, they are also more prone to obesity brought on by poor diet, overeating, or reduced exercise.
Feeding your Labrador Retriever premium dog food that contains well-balanced minerals will help to protect his heart. Vitamin A, fruits, and vegetables should also be included in his diet because they may help to ward off certain eye diseases. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight will reduce stress on his joints and heart, so be sure to give him breed-specific dog food in the right amounts.
Focus on formulas that are high in lean proteins and don’t have any fillers and are loaded with vitamins, nutrients and omegas.
Grains are an excellent source of nutrients and are high in carbohydrates, fats, and antioxidants, all of which aid in the maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and immune systems.
Although obesity is a common cause for concern, it shouldn’t be an issue if grains are consumed in moderation.
Labrador Retrievers Diet and Health Issues
When selecting the best dog food for your Labrador Retriever, you must take into account the risk for specific health problems.
Despite the fact that Labrador Retriever behave like superhero’s and look unstoppable, all breeds are susceptible to health issues and father time.
The good news, a lot of the health problems you might experience with this breed can be resolved with good nutrition and care.
The most common health issues in labs are:
- Joint Issues – Arthritis
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Epilepsy
- Osteochondrosis
- Cataracts
Bloat is another thing to watch out for because it could be fatal for your dog. This typically happens when your dog’s stomach is overly air-filled, which can cut off blood flow. When your dog eats too quickly, consumes too much food, takes in a lot of air while eating, or eats a meal and then immediately goes outside to play, it can occur.
You can use a special slow-feed bowl to prevent your Labrador from eating too much or too quickly. You can also slowly feed them there whole meal, and try to never feed your dog right after or immediately before an exercise session.
Lastly, even though Labs are super active for the most part, they’re extremely prone to obesity. They love to eat and this puts them at risk for gaining weight in an unhealthy way.
Along with choosing a nutritious food, you must also heed your veterinarian’s advice and feed them in accordance with their weight, size, age, and activity level.
Things to Consider Before Deciding Your Labs Calorie Intake
Life Stage
Labs require more calories to maintain their high levels of energy and activity. Puppies consume more dog food than older dogs do. Dogs require food that is rich in calories and nutrients to grow and be healthy. Due to their activity level, Rottweilers should eat 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dog food twice daily.Activity Level
The more active your dog is, the more food they will need. If you have a very active dog, look for high protein, fat and carb formulas. These of course will be higher in calories as well, but this will help your dog replenish those nutrients their bodies lose throughout the day.
Allergies
If your dog has been diagnosed with a food allergy of any kind, you should get your dog a diet plan so you can avoid those ingredients.
When Can I Safely Switch My Labrador Retriever To Adult Food?
Labrador Retriever puppies continue to grow from anywhere from 12-24 months, so it’s ideal to wait until this time before you switch them to adult food.
By introducing adult food to your puppy too soon, you run the risk of server health issues.
Labrador Retriever Dog Food FAQ
Do Labradors get bored of the same food?
No. Compared to humans, dogs actually have fewer taste receptors. This implies that they are less compelled to try new foods every day. Meaning, your dog won’t get sick of eating the same thing every day.
Do labs need joint-supporting nutrients / ingredients in their diet?
Yes, your Labrador needs a number of ingredients like phosphorus and calcium to help support bone and joint health. We also recommend giving them specific supplements for dogs that develop arthritis that you can see here.
How many calories does a Labrador Retriever puppy need in a day?
To figure this out, multiply your puppies weight (in pounds) by 40 calories per pound.
20lb puppy = 800 calories a day.
Conclusion
The health of your Labrador Retriever depends on giving them the right nutrition and making sure they’re getting the proper exercise. Your dog will have the energy he needs to live a healthy life if he or she eats food that is high in protein, good amount of fat and carbohydrates, and has nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants they need.
The dog foods on the list we’ve provided come highly recommended from our team. We sincerely hope that the information provided here helps you choose the best food for your Labrador Retriever.
If you have a Labrador Retriever puppy, read our article on the Best Puppy Food For Labrador Retrievers or feel free to read the full review for each kind of dog food. Below each listing are links to the complete reviews for each product.
Don’t have a Labrador Retriever but need dog food recommendation for your dogs breed? Then you need to check out our dog food by breed section.
