Best Dog Food For Great Danes
PETE DECKER / JANUARY 6, 2019 / DOGS
A Great Dane is an amazing dog breed. These large dogs are famously called the “gentle giants.” They are also said to be the Apollo of Dogs, after the Greek God Apollo, which is said to be the brightest fixture in the sky. The dog’s affectionate and noble characteristics make it a favorite among pet lovers.
If you own a Great Dane, it’s essential that you know the proper way of feeding the dog and the best dog food to feed them. Remember that different breeds of dogs have different nutritional needs. When choosing the best dog food for Great Danes, choose something that can provide your dog’s dietary needs, so your dog stays active, healthy, and full of energy.
Here’s a list of some of the most recommended dog foods for Great Danes.
- Table of Contents
- #1: Top Pick - Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
- #2: Budget Conscious Pick - Nutro Ultra Dry Dog Food
- #3: Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed
- #4: Purina Beyond Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food
- #5: Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Large Breed Formula
- #6: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Dog Food
- Dog Food For Great Danes Buyer’s Guide
- Nutritional Needs of Great Danes
- Issues To Be Aware Of
- Other Potential Health Issues
- Conclusion
Top Pick - Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞If you want to give your Great Dane the proper nutrition that it needs, then the Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food is what we would recommend. We consider this product our top choice simply because we believe that it’s the perfect dog food for Great Danes. This dog food is specially formulated for those large breeds of dogs weighing 50 pounds or more. Its grain-free recipe includes some levels of phosphorous and calcium, which leads to stronger bones. It also contains chondroitin sulfate that makes the joints and hips healthy and strong, as well as prebiotics and natural fiber that aid in proper digestion.
Your Great Dane will surely love the nutritious and delicious taste of the Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food. Its ingredients include natural fruits and vegetables such as cranberries, pumpkin, blueberries, and pomegranate. These ingredients provide the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs while also supporting your dog’s immunity.
Key Features
- Aids digestion and promotes intestinal regularity
- Features a grain-free recipe
- Made in the United States
- Provides a healthy balance of nutrients supporting 70% of your dog’s overall immune system
- Specially formulated for large breeds of dogs, including Great Danes
What do we like about it?
We love that this dog food features a grain-free recipe that contains phosphorus and calcium for bone strength. It also contains chondroitin and glucosamine that makes the joints and hips healthy and strong.
Budget Conscious Pick - Nutro Ultra Dry Dog Food
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞For the budget conscious, we would recommend the Nutro Ultra Holistic Superfood Blend, which contains the right combination of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy oils, and whole grains. Indeed, this dog food has everything that your pet needs to be at his best.
The protein sources of this food come from holistic high-quality and natural ingredients that ensure an optimal level of amino acids. This dog food is designed specifically for ultra large breeds, such as the Great Dane. It contains glucosamine and chondroitin that help promote healthy joints, keeping your furry friend vibrant and active.
Key Features
- Doesn’t contain soy, wheat, or chicken by-product meals
- Includes three of the best sources of protein - lamb, chicken, and salmon.
- Made from high-quality natural holistic ingredients
What do we like about it?
This dog food doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, such as additives, flavoring or preservatives. It’s made from high-quality natural ingredients that are safe for your dog to consume.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞The Hill’s Science Diet’s Large Breed Dry Dog Food is another dog food that we would recommend for Great Danes except if your beloved pooch is allergic to corn and wheat. Both grains are included in this recipe.
However, if your dog is not allergic to these grains, then you should give this product a try. This food is made specifically for large dog breeds. And although it contains the lowest amount of crude protein, this is something that shouldn’t alarm you because it’s still within the ideal protein recommendation for these breeds of dogs. Also, this dog food contains a right amount of amino acids, and therefore, your dog is sure to receive the most essential building blocks needed for your dog’s optimal development.
Key Features
- Contains antioxidants and vitamins E & C supporting a healthy immune system.
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
- Has Omega-6 fatty acids that nourish your Great Dane’s skin
- Ingredients are natural and high quality
What do we like about it?
The Hill’s Science Diet’s Large Breed Dry Dog Food is made of chondroitin and glucosamine, two of the most essential ingredients of dog foods. These ingredients keep your pet’s joints healthy and strong. It’s also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals to maintain your dog’s optimal health.
Purina Beyond Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞The Purina Beyond Grain-free Adult Dog Food is another grain-free dog food that we would recommend for your pooch. It provides complete nutrition so there’s no longer a need to add supplements. This protein-free recipe includes eggs, which is a highly digestible source of protein and nutrients.
Each of the natural ingredients used for this dog food is thoughtfully selected to provide a healthy balanced diet to keep your pooch healthy. It doesn’t contain any artificial grains and additives. The product’s number one ingredient is the Real North American beef, which is a natural and grain-free food ideal for dogs.
Key Features
- Contains high-quality carbs
- Includes eggs for added protein and an essential fatty acids
- Made in the US
- Doesn’t contain any poultry by-product meals
What do we like about it?
One of the great things about this dog food is that it doesn’t contain any poultry by-product meals. Furthermore, it has no artificial flavoring, colors, or preservatives. It’s made only from pure natural ingredients so you’ll feel confident feeding your pup with this food.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Large Breed Formula
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞Feed your pup with this Purina One SmartBlend Natural dog food, which contains a perfect blend of nutrients ideal for your pooch. This dog kibble features a unique combination of tender and protein-rich meat morsels including real chicken meat. These ingredients are easily digestible for your pup’s delicate tummy.
This dog food from Purina is formulated specially for the large breed of puppies, which is why it’s perfect for your Great Dane. It’s the best dog food to help maintain your pooch’s ideal body and support his joints. Containing natural glucosamine, the Purina SmartBlend Natural Large Breed formula will keep your pet healthy and strong.
Key Features
- Contains Omega-6 that gives your dog a radiant and glowing skin
- Formulated for large breeds of dogs
- Made of ingredients that the dogs need to thrive
- Natural sources of glucosamine that helps support healthy joints
What do we like about it?
We like this dog food simply because it’s made of easily digestible nutrients including rice, which is ideal for the delicate tummy of your pup.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Dog Food
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON ＞The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Dog Food is another dog food that deserves to be in this list. This high-protein and grain-free dry dog food is made specifically for larger breeds of pups in your house and can perfectly complement your pooch’s healthy appetite. It contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which are essential in keeping the joints of your Great Dane healthy and strong.
This dry dog food features Blue’s exclusive LifeSource Bits formula, which is a perfect combination of vitamins and minerals, along with natural antioxidants, that have been selected carefully by animal nutritionists and veterinarians.
Key Features
- Contains healthy carbs consisting of potatoes and peas
- The grain-free recipe is ideal for pets that have sensitive stomachs
- Made from the finest natural ingredients that include antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits
- Made with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that keep your dog’s coat healthy and shiny
What do we like about it?
This high-protein dry dog food contains red meat that can help to satisfy your dog’s high level of energy while helping adult dogs to maintain and build lean muscles.
Dog Food For Great Danes Buyer’s Guide
The Great Dane certainly holds a significant stature in the dog world. Although this giant dog might look scary, in reality, they are among the gentlest dog breeds. These dogs are very affectionate, sweet, and a true man’s best friend. They are fond of playing around and are very gentle with the kids.
If you have a Great Dane, then it’s absolutely vital that you know how to choose the right dog food for your pooch. You cannot just feed it with any dog food out there. It should be something that’s specially formulated for Great Danes. So read on to find out how to choose the right dog food for your beloved pet.
Be sure to avoid these potentially toxic foods for your Great Dane.
Nutritional Needs of Great Danes
First of all, you need to understand the dietary needs of your dog. While the Great Danes may have almost similar nutritional needs with other dog breeds, these dogs require a significantly large amount of food for every serving given their massive body size. They usually need oversized canine accessories, such as large dog crates or large dog beds.
On the other hand, while the other breeds would prefer to follow a high-protein diet, the Great Dane has some specific nutrient requirements that you must address.
So take note of the following:
Moderate To Low Amount Of Protein
Great Danes must only receive a moderate to low amount of protein. Generally, it shouldn’t be more than 24% of its overall diet.
Since protein is used mainly for building tissues most especially the muscles, feeding your Great Dane with more proteins could lead to weight issues. This is not due to fat or excess amount of carbs, but mainly because of the significant muscle mass. Remember that too much weight could strain your dog and affect the development of its joints and bones.
Excessive muscle mass is also said to be the most common cause of hip dysplasia among Great Danes. It is for this reason that animal nutritionists always advise pet owners to go slow on proteins.
Low Fat
Great Danes should have about 12% to 20% of fat on their diet. But there are others that think that it shouldn’t be more than 14%.
Moderate Amount Of Calories
Great Danes should consume a moderate amount of calories. Originally, these dogs were used for hunting wild boars. But it’s important to understand that Great Danes don’t really require a high level of energy.
They prefer to simply lie all day long on their bed, which is why they are also a great choice for apartment dwellers. Thus, you have to feed your dog with a moderate amount of calories because too much of it could make them suffer from diabetes and hyperglycemia. If your Great Dane is overweight, do consider these dog food that are specially formulated for weight loss.
There’s also an option of getting an automated dog feeder & dispenser, so that you are able to regulate the feeding of your Great Dane even more.
Issues To Be Aware Of
While Great Danes might be considered the “giants” in the dog world, they are also prone to some health issues.
Here are some of the main ones:
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
This condition happens when the muscles of your pooch’s heart grow relatively thinner. This could lead to insufficient pumping of the heart that would eventually lead to oxygenation problems in the various parts of the body.
Gastric Torsion
This is usually a result of frequent bloating. This issue requires a veterinary emergency because there’s a tendency that the stomach could twist onto itself and will potentially cut-off blood circulation. There are no medications prescribed for gastric torsion. However, surgery may be the best option to cure your dog of this condition. But this issue must not be taken lightly since it is said to be the number one killer of Great Danes.
Hip Dysplasia
This condition will happen if your pup grows at a faster rate. This is why you should moderately feed your dog. Otherwise, it could suffer from hip dysplasia, which causes unnecessary strain on their hip joints.
There are certain supplements such as fish oil and multivitamins that can be beneficial to your Great Dane’s health.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
This happens when the bones of your puppy grow unusually fast and could lead to a painful bone as a result of the pressure that the surrounding tissues exert. To avoid this condition, the dog must be given only a moderate amount of proteins.
Other Potential Health Issues
Aside from the conditions above, Great Danes are also at high risk of developing Wobbler syndrome, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and elbow dysplasia.
One of the most common mistakes that pet owners make is to overfeed their beloved dog believing that giant dogs like the Great Danes need to be fed regularly. Unfortunately, this can only jeopardize the health of your dog. Overfeeding can lead to a wide range of health issues, so be very careful with this.
Getting a slow feed dog bowl is a quick and easy solution to curb overfeeding of your canine buddy.
Conclusion
We have chosen the Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food as our top pick because we believe it has everything that your beloved gentle giant needs to grow healthy and strong.
First of all, this product is specially formulated for large breeds of dogs such as Great Danes. Secondly, its grain-free recipe contains calcium and phosphorous that can make your pet’s bones stronger.
Furthermore, it contains the right amount of nutrients to keep your pooch healthy and free from diseases. If you truly care about your Great Dane, then this is the dog food that you should buy.
The Review
Best Dog Food For Great Danes
