Best Food for Golden Retrievers: What to Look For

What matters most in a golden retriever's food

Completeness first. Look on the bag for an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement saying the food is complete and balanced for your dog's life stage. Foods labeled for intermittent or supplemental feeding are not meant to be the whole diet.

The company behind it matters next. The WSAVA's guidance on selecting a pet food suggests asking whether a manufacturer employs a qualified nutritionist, who formulates its diets, and what quality-control and research it does. Its point is that the ingredient list says little about ingredient quality and can be misleading on its own. A company that will not answer those questions is a reason for caution.

Puppies: large-breed growth formulas

Golden retrievers grow into large dogs, and large-breed puppies are sensitive to how fast they grow. VCA explains that puppies cannot regulate calcium absorption as adults do, so excess calcium can cause skeletal malformations, and that large-breed puppy foods carry different calcium and phosphorus levels from standard puppy food.

Choose a label that says the food is formulated for growth including large-size dogs, meaning those expected to weigh over 70 pounds as adults. Do not add calcium or other supplements to a complete puppy food unless your vet advises it. VCA notes large breeds can take up to two years to reach adult weight, so ask your vet when to switch.

Adults: calories and weight

Goldens love food and many become overweight. VCA lists higher risks of osteoarthritis, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers in overweight dogs. Check your dog's ribs: they should feel like the back of your hand, not hidden under a layer like the palm.

Feed by measured cup or by weighing, starting from the bag's guideline for your dog's ideal weight and adjusting by body condition. Keep treats to about 10 percent of daily calories. A neutered, moderately active adult usually needs less than the bag suggests. A slow feeder bowl for large dogs or puzzle feeder can also slow a Golden that eats quickly.

Grain-free and boutique diets

Golden retrievers come up often in the FDA's investigation of a possible link between some diets, many labeled grain-free with peas, lentils or potatoes high in the ingredient list, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The FDA says report counts alone do not prove cause, and the investigation remains open. It also notes goldens may be genetically predisposed to taurine deficiency.

Given that uncertainty, there is no proven benefit to grain-free food for a dog without a diagnosed grain allergy, which is uncommon. If you are feeding a grain-free or pulse-heavy diet, talk to your vet, and watch for low energy, coughing, breathing difficulty or collapse, which need prompt attention.

Wet, dry, fresh or raw

Dry food is the most practical and economical way to feed a 60 to 75 lb dog and is fine when it is complete and balanced. Wet food adds moisture and palatability and can be mixed in. Fresh cooked diets can be good if formulated by a qualified nutritionist; check the AAFCO statement as with any food.

Raw diets carry risks of bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria for the dog and the household, and the WSAVA flags raw and homemade diets as harder to get right. If you want to feed homemade, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Changing food and when to call your vet

Switch gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old, to avoid an upset stomach. Keep the new food for at least a few weeks before judging it, unless your dog has vomiting or diarrhea.

Itchy skin, ear infections or loose stools can have many causes, and diet is only one. Talk to your vet before trying an elimination diet, and get same-day help for repeated vomiting, a swollen belly or refusing food. Your vet can also give a daily calorie target for your individual dog.

Feeding another large breed? See our guides to food for Labradors, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and Huskies.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.