Best Large & Giant Breed Puppy Food Review
Choosing the best large and giant breed puppy food is no joke and nutritional related health problems associated with improper diet are definitely not funny. Our recommended large breed & giant breed dog food formulas will assure slow and healthy growth for your "soon to be" BIG dog.

Best Large & Giant Breed Puppy Food Recommendations
I hate to joke about something so important so let's not kid ourselves, what you feed your large or giant breed puppy is crucial. Being involved with giant breeds for over a decade, I've witnessed first hand the dastardly health issues caused by improper nutrition in large & giant breed dogs. Hopefully, via the text on this page and best large and giant breed puppy food formulas we recommend, you'll never experience such problems.
TIP: Additional dry dog food related articles on our Feeding Dry Dog Food section offer a wealth on information about kibble.
How can nutrition affect growth of a large breed dog one may ask? What first comes to mind are developmental orthopedic diseases (DOD). Albeit more common to giant breeds, large breeds are not immune so playing it safe with large breeds is also your best bet. Conditions like HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy), Pano (Panosteoitis), OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans), bowed or deformed front legs, knuckling over and swollen carpals. In addition, proper nutrition can reduce or delay the onset of diseases such as wobblers syndrome or hip displasia, even in breeds that are prone to such maladies.
Bottom line is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to growing large and giant breed puppies. To achieve the most healthful outlook for our BIG dogs, the best large and giant breed puppy food should be selected to provide regulated nutrition. We've hand picked the best of the best, in our opinion, for nourishing and growing large and giant breed dogs.
All foods listed contain quality ingredients, correct protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus ratio, plus additional nutrients in the proper amounts and ratios to provide slow steady growth for large & giant breeds.
BEST LARGE AND GIANT BREED PUPPY FOOD SELECTION CRITERIA
- Only quality ingredients, see our Ingredient Analysis Page for more info.
- Moderate calorie content, 350 to 400 calories (Kcal) per cup.
- Main protein from a named meat source.
- A secondary named meat protein source.
- Ideal protein content between 23% & 29%.
TIP: Don't be surprised to see "ADULT" formulas as some of our picks. While there are "LARGE BREED PUPPY" formulas now on the market, many "ALL LIFE STAGES" formulas have correct nutritional make up for our large breed puppies.
- Ideal fat content ranging between 12% to 18%.
- All important calcium levels best for large breeds, between 1% to 1.3%.
- Phosphorus levels from 0.8% to 1.3% and calcium to phosphorus ratio between 1:1 and 1.4:1.
- Carbohydrates typical (for grain inclusive formulas) about 45%.
- Essential fatty acids (EFA's), digestive enzymes, probiotics & trace minerals.
Best Large and Giant Breed Puppy Food - Grain Based Formulas

Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy Duck & Chicken Additional Info

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy More Info

Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Info

Horizon Complete Large Breed Puppy Formula Additional Info

Castor and Pollux Organix Large Breed Recipe More Info

Blue LP Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy Info

Life's Abundance Large Breed Puppy Formula More Info

Precise Holistic Complete Large Breed Puppy Additional Info

Nutri Source Large Breed Puppy Formula More Info
Best Large and Giant Breed Puppy Food - Grain Free
Caveat: Grain free formulas contain about half the carbohydrates but are higher in protein. Be cautious with young puppies as certain dogs with immature digestive systems can be sensitive to calorie dense, high protein foods and suffer gastrointestinal issues.

Orijen Puppy Large Grain Free Kibble Additional Info

Blue Wilderness Large Breed Formula Additional Info

Earthborn Holistic All Life Stages Grain Free More Info
Dry Dog Food Alternative
Believe it or not, a raw dog diet works awesome for feeding large & giant breed puppies! There are misconceptions about raw that nutrients like protein and calcium are way too high. To learn more about this wonderful way to nourish your large or giant breed puppy, take a look at our Raw Feeding Dogs section and related "raw feeding puppies" article.
Don't forget, go easy on activity, exercise and rough play when growing your pup. Ironically, our baby large breed dogs are fragile while growing as they're prone to injury leaving damage that can affect their lives as adults. Physical care, what we feed and yes, genetics, are the three most confirmed factors affecting the health giant breed dogs. Hopefully the tips provided here, plus our best large and giant breed puppy food recommendations offer leaps and bounds towards a lifetime of health for your new number one pal!
Up Next.. Best Dry Dog Food for Medium Breeds
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