Golden Retrievers can be notorious food hoarders. They will eat nearly anything they find – paper, crayons, toys – so it is crucial that they receive quality nutrition.
Make sure your dog food features cage-free chicken as the first ingredient and includes antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for overall wellness. Check out Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice as a good option.
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Protein
Golden Retrievers require a diet rich in protein to maintain optimal metabolic function, aid in muscle growth and enhance skin and coat health. Unfortunately, protein alone cannot meet all their nutrient needs; to provide optimal care to their Goldens it’s crucial that the food you choose also contains sources such as grains, fruits and vegetables as well as healthy fats.
Your Golden Retriever’s ideal diet depends on numerous factors, including their age, weight, allergies and nutritional needs. A general recommendation would be selecting food with high-quality proteins from real meat or meat meal as its primary protein source and is labeled balanced or complete.
Feed your Golden Retriever a raw diet as another great option. Companies such as Instinct offer freeze dried raw food pieces the size of kibble pieces for you to add as an extra source of protein in their kibble, frozen raw meals, and “Raw Boost” recipes which resemble stew.
Fat
Golden retrievers require a diet with moderate levels of fat to ensure proper skin and coat care and optimal nutrition absorption. Our food includes an exclusive combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as antioxidants designed to support their immune systems and increase overall wellness.
This food boasts an abundance of protein to build and support their large bodies, as well as joint-supportive ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, healthy fruits and vegetables and LifeSource bits for extra vitamins and minerals.
Protein is an integral component of a golden retriever’s diet and their food should include at least 18%. Protein sources should include poultry meat, fish meal and eggs; healthy fat sources include avocados and olive oil; Omega-6 fats found in oils such as sunflower and sesame are also crucial; they help synthesize essential components needed for eye and brain development.
Vitamins & Minerals
The best golden retriever food contains essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A (retinol) which promotes cell growth and regeneration at a molecular level as well as aiding vision, skin health and immune system function.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that works to improve eyesight and liver health, while calcium and phosphorus strengthen bones. Minerals like magnesium, potassium, copper and selenium also play an integral part in this regard.
High-quality dog food should include vitamin D, which optimizes calcium and phosphorus absorption to help avoid bone deformities and kidney complications. In addition, EPA and DHA improve heart health and brain function; other essential vitamins include iodine, zinc and vitamin E as antioxidants to protect against free radicals while supporting muscle growth and tissue repair; these can all be found naturally within food such as vegetables or supplements.
Fiber
Fiber is an essential nutrient for maintaining regular bowel movements in dogs. It also aids their overall colon health by reducing fatty stool and supporting heart health by controlling blood sugar levels, while helping prevent weight gain while supporting physical exercise programs.
Golden Retrievers need food that supports them maintaining a healthy weight while still having enough energy to play, in addition to protecting against heart disease, joint issues and cancer prevention as well as supporting their beautiful coat. Providing them with quality nutrition is vitally important.
Make sure your pet’s diet meets their nutritional requirements by looking for foods with a nutritional adequacy statement on the back. This will ensure that it contains adequate amounts of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals as well as checking ingredients lists to avoid those containing meat by-product meals, wheat fillers or any harmful additives.
