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Last Updated on March 22, 2024
As a dog parent, going through different dog foods to find the best one can be a lot of work. So, to help you out, we have spent the time to find the best dog food for Great Danes.
If you’re looking for the best dry dog food, then look no further! Below, we have listed down the best dry dog food for Great Danes.
In the article, we will be reviewing the following Great Dane dog food:
- Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food
- Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
- PURINA ONE Plus Large Breed Adult Dog Food
- IAMS Adult High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan High Protein, Digestive Health Large Breed Dry Dog Food
- Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food Giant Breed Adult
All of the above listed dog food recommendations feature the following premium ingredients: Real meat (as a premium protein source), natural sources of glucosamine, probiotics, and fatty acids. Furthermore, these recommendations are all easy to digest.
In a hurry and just want to know what our top Great Dane dog food recommendation is? Then try Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food.
What to look for In Your Great Dane’s Food
Choosing a high-quality dog food can make a huge difference in your dog’s well being and quality of life. So, when choosing the best dog food for Great Danes, there are a few things you should consider.
- Look at the ingredients that are present in the food and make sure the nutrients your dog needs are all present. It is also significant to find out the vitamins and minerals present in the food you choose.
- When selecting dog food, look at the level of protein and fat content, as well as moisture content. The protein content of your Great Dane’s food should be at least 25%. While you’ll want to avoid feeding too much protein, too little of it can also lead to obesity issues. When it comes to the fat content present in your Great Dane’s food, look for a minimum 35% fat content.
- Their diet should have high amount of protein. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that the first ingredient in your Great Dane’s food is chicken or fish.
- Since Great Danes also need fibers in their diet, ensure that the dog food contains cereal grains such as corn, wheat, barley, and soy because these are good sources of fiber. While you don’t need to feed your Great Dane a rice product for every meal, it can be an important component of his diet.
- In addition, make sure that the food you choose is complete and balanced. A complete and balanced dog food means food that provides all the essential nutrients required for optimum health and wellness. Make sure that the food you select contains at least 80% meat, chicken or fish, with the rest being high quality carbohydrate source like carrots or peas.
Great Dane Food Requirements
Great Danes are known for their intimidating size, paired with a loving and social personality. And as puppies, they can grow at an incredible rate!
Great Dane puppies tend to grow from 5-8 pounds at four weeks to about 100 to 200 pounds in about 15 to 18 months.
So, you can imagine how much food it needs to sustain such growth! For a dog like the Great Dane, a high-protein and low-fat diet is recommended.
You have to make sure they have the right kind of diet and the correct amount of food. Why? Because Great Danes are prone to joint and bone problems.
Giving growing Great Danes too much food can negatively affect the dog’s bone and joint development that will later develop into medical problems such as hip dysplasia.
Regardless of what Great Dane dog food brand you choose, you have to be extra careful with how much you feed your pooch.
How much should a Great Dane eat?
Male Great Danes should eat at least 12 cups divided into two meals at 2 years old. Whereas female Great Danes should eat at least 10 cups divided into two meals at the same age. However, if your Dane is too lean, you can increase its food intake by half a cup or a whole cup.
How much should a Great Dane puppy eat?
A Great Dane puppy’s food requirement depends on the puppy’s growth stages. But generally, they need more food than adult Danes to sustain their growth. Furthermore, a 2-month-old Great Dane puppy needs around 2 to 4 cups a day, divided into 3 to 4 meals while a 9-month-old puppy needs 7 to 10 cups a day, divided into two meals.
Here’s the general feeding guidelines of a Great Dane puppy:
- 2 month old Great Danes: 2 to 4 cups a day, divided into 3 or 4 meals.
- 3 to 4 month old Great Danes: 3 to 6 cups a day, divided into 3 meals.
- 5 month old Great Danes: 5 to 7 cups a day, divided into 2 meals.
- 6 to 8 month old Great Danes: 6 to 9 cups a day, divided into 2 meals.
- 9 to 12 month old Great Danes: 7 to 10 cups, divided into 2 meals.
How much calories does a Great Dane need?
An adult Great Dane that weighs around 100-180 pounds need at least 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day. To be precise, an adult Great Dane weighing 120 pounds (average), needs 2507 calories per day.
6 Of The Best Dog Food For Great Danes
Now, without further ado, here are our top six best dog food for Great Danes!
1. Best dog food: Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food
The best dog food for Great Danes for us is Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food. This dry dog food recipe is tailor-made for the breed to meet the Great Dane’s nutritional needs. It helps support the breed’s specific needs in order to maintain optimal weight throughout their life.
Another reason why we love this dog food brand is because of its unique kibble size and shape. Because of these, the dog won’t have a hard time biting and chewing into the food. Furthermore, the size also helps Great Danes chew food slowly.
In addition to these, the Royal Canin dry dog food recipe is also made with highly digestible proteins and fibers that support healthy digestion, causing less chances of loose stools.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food, 30 lb bag | $109.99 | Buy on Amazon |
2. Best for maintaining a lean body: Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
For Great Danes, having a lean body is crucial. But not all food recipes can ensure this like the Eukanuba Adult Dry Dog Food does.
This is our pick for the best dog food for Great Danes that can enhance joint health and proper muscle development. It helps Danes develop and maintain a lean body that is ideal to the breed.
It also contains the right amount of fats and carbohydrates that can help fuel an active lifestlye. In addition to that, it also contains DHA and vitamin E that helps keep your pooch sharp.
Another thing we’d like to note is the shape of the kibbles, referred to as 3D DentaDefense, that helps reduce tartar buildup for clean teeth and healthy gums.
With a whole lot of superior quality ingredients, this dog food recipe is also suitable for dogs with food allergies. Thus, also making it the best dog food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dog Food Dry, Lamb 1st Ingredient, Dog Food Dry Formula for Large Dogs... | $86.99 | Buy on Amazon |
3. Best for healthy joints: PURINA ONE Plus Large Breed Adult Dog Food
Purina One is a highly recommended dry dog food for adult Great Danes. And it makes it in our best dog food for Great Danes list due to its high-quality recipe that fits the needs of the breed.
This dog food recipe is made with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed to help support strong muscles and healthy joints.
The recipe has a unique combination of tender, protein-rich meaty morsels and crunchy kibbles that is sure to deliver the taste and texture your Gentle Giant will absolutely love.
Furthermore, it also includes antioxidant sources and calcium that also help support a strong immune system and healthy teeth.
If you’ve tried countless dog food brands that failed to match your dog’s taste, you can give PURINA ONE Plus Large Breed Adult Dog Food a try.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Purina ONE Plus Large Breed Adult Dog Food Dry Formula - 40 lb. Bag | $60.48 | Buy on Amazon |
4. Best protein source: IAMS Adult High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food
If you’re looking for the best protein source, then you might want to try IAMS Adult High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food.
This dog food recipe is 100% complete and balanced. Its #1 ingredient is real, farm-raised chicken and also contains wholesome grains that not only provide essential nutrients but also healthy energy — perfect for active dogs!
Aside from supporting bone and joint health, it also promotes healthy digestion in Great Danes. And it contains omega-6 fatty acids that help supports healthy skin and coat.
Furthermore, the large chunks and kibbles of this dog food recipe is also perfect for large dogs like Great Danes, something a lot of Dane parents appreciate!
Preview | Product | Price | |
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IAMS Proactive Health Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken, 40 lb. Bag | $61.98 | Buy on Amazon |
5. Best for skin allergies: Purina Pro Plan High Protein, Digestive Health Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Giant breed dog food is our best dog food for Great Danes with skin allergies. And what we love about it is that it’s available in both dry and wet types.
Thus, giving you the freedom to combine the two recipes together for your pooch to enjoy. Or you can simple pick one according to your Dane’s taste! Since both types have all the ingredients necessary to sustain a Great Dane.
This dog food recipe is great for Great Danes with skin allergies as it includes ingredients that keep the coat shiny and the skin healthy.
It also has all the ingredients needed for healthy joint and bone development. And Great Danes find it easy to digest and is also perfect for those with stomach problems. Furthermore, a lot of veterinarians recommend this dog food.
6. Best for sensitive stomachs: Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food Giant Breed Adult
Holistic Select dry dog food is the best dog food for Great Danes with sensitive stomachs.
If your Great Dane has a sensitive stomach and suffers from loose stools, then you might want to switch to Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food Giant Breed Adult.
It is formulated to support extra-large dog breeds like Great Danes. And it contains a healthy and balanced combination of active probiotics, healthy fiber, and digestive enzymes for a healthy digestive and immune system.
Not only that, but this dog food recipe contains all the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy and lean body. Furthermore, it contains no wheat, fillers, and preservatives.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food, Large & Giant Breed Adult Recipe, 30-Pound Bag | $77.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Our Pick For Best Dog Food For Great Danes
If you still can’t seem to figure out the best dog food for your Great Dane, then we highly recommend the Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food.
Aside from the flavor that Great Danes love, it also contains premium ingredients and a formula that is suitable for all Great Danes, even those with sensitive stomachs.
Furthermore, since this dog food is specifically tailored for the Great Dane breed, you won’t have to worry if your pooch is getting the right nutrients for optimal growth or not.
And although we have reviewed and recommended some of the best dog food for Great Danes, it still pays to check the packaging of the product to check their nutritional value. This is because these dog formula recipes can be improved and therefore, their ingredients can change.
Also, we’d like to remind that when choosing the best dog food for Great Danes, bear in mind that puppies should not be given adult dog food, and vice versa.
Great Dane puppies and adults have different nutritional needs and their growth and development are not the same.