10 Best Dog Foods for Labrador Retrievers in 2024

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Dogs are a part of the family, and just like any other family member, you want to ensure they’re eating the best food possible. We’ve compiled a list of the best dog foods for Labrador Retrievers. Whether your Lab is a puppy or a senior, we’ve got the perfect food for them!

Best Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers – Our Top Pick

Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food

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What are the best dog foods for Labrador Retrievers?

  1. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food
  2. Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food
  3. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
  4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula
  5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free
  6. Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe
  7. Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
  8. Merrick Classic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
  9. CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food
  10. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

The benefits of feeding your Lab the best food

As any dog owner knows, feeding your Lab the right food is essential for their health and well-being. And when it comes to Labs, there are a few things to remember when choosing the best food.

Labs are active dogs, so they need food high in protein and fat to help them maintain their energy levels.

They are also prone to weight gain, so it’s crucial to choose a food that is lower in calories. In addition, Labs have sensitive stomachs, so it’s essential to choose a food that is easy to digest.

Considering these things, you can be sure that you’re giving your Lab the best possible chance at a long and healthy life.

10 Best Dog Foods for Labrador Retrievers – Reviews

Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food

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Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of purebred Labrador Retriever puppies eight weeks to 15 months old. The kibble is specially designed to help quick eaters chew their food slowly. The exclusive complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E, helps protect a puppy’s development of the immune system and natural defenses. This formula also supports bone and joint health with specific mineral content and aids digestion with high-quality proteins and prebiotics to promote optimal stool quality.

Pros:

  • Designed explicitly for Labrador Retriever puppies
  • Kibble helps quick eaters chew their food slowly
  • A complex of antioxidants helps protect puppy development
  • Supports bone and joint health
  • Aids digestion with high-quality proteins and prebiotics

Cons:

  • Some puppies may not be able to transition to this food

Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food

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Care for your senior dog with this delectable dry food from Wellness.

Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food is formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for dogs aged seven and up.

Made with carefully chosen ingredients, including premium proteins, wholesome grains, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, and beta carotene, this balanced and healthy recipe is designed to encourage healthy brain development and optimize energy levels while promoting whole body health.

You’ll love the peace of mind of knowing this food is developed without any GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives. Keep your furry friend happy and healthy into their golden years with Wellness Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food.

Pros:

  • Formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for dogs aged seven and up.
  • Made with carefully chosen ingredients, including premium proteins, wholesome grains, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, and beta carotene.
  • Designed to encourage healthy brain development and optimize energy levels while promoting whole body health.
  • GMO-free, meat by-product-free, filler-free, and artificial preservative-free.

Cons:

  • May not be suitable for some older dogs.

Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

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NUTRO ULTRA Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food premium dog food kibble is made with a trio of high-quality proteins from chicken, lamb, and salmon. It’s specially formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for large breed adult dogs in every bowl. NUTRO ULTRA Dry Dog Food is also rich in protein. It features our blend of 15 vibrant superfoods, like coconut, chia, kale, blueberries, and other quality ingredients. Plus, it’s made with no chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, or wheat, and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Give your large breed adult dog the nourishing food they deserve with NUTRO ULTRA Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food.

Pros:

  • It contains a trio of high-quality proteins from chicken, lamb, and salmon.
  • It is specially formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for large adult dogs.
  • Rich in protein and features our blend of 15 vibrant superfoods, like coconut, chia, kale, blueberries, and other quality ingredients
  • It is made with no chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, or wheat, and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Cons:

  • It may contain possible trace amounts of GMO.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula

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Are you looking for a dry puppy food that is nutritious and delicious? Look no further than Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula! This unique formula has natural bison and venison as the first ingredients. It is high in protein to help support bones, joints, and muscles. It also contains vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and species-specific probiotics to help your puppy thrive! Plus, it’s made in the USA by a family-owned brand that uses only the highest quality ingredients. Give your puppy the best start in life with Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula!

Pros:

  • Made with natural bison and venison
  • High in protein to support bones, joints, and muscles
  • Contains vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and species-specific probiotics
  • Made in the USA by a family-owned brand

Cons:

  • It May is not suitable for some puppies

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free

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Looking to give your Lab a taste of the wild? Blue Buffalo created Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Rocky Mountain Recipe to do just that!

Made with natural bison, vegetables, and fruit, this grain-free food is free of chicken, by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy. High in protein, it’s perfect for keeping your pup happy and healthy. Plus, it’s specially formulated for large breed dogs with glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health. Give your furry friend the best of the wilderness with Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Rocky Mountain Recipe.

Pros:

  • Made with natural bison, vegetables, and fruit
  • Grain-free food is free of chicken, by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy
  • High in protein
  • Specially formulated for large breed dogs with glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health

Cons:

  • Some dogs may be allergic to the ingredients.

Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe

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Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe is a high-protein food that supports strong, lean muscles. 

This recipe starts with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient. 

It features 70% natural animal ingredients and nutritious oils, plus 30% fruits, vegetables, and other wholesome ingredients. Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe is also grain free, potato free, corn free, wheat free, soy free, and contains no by-product meal. It’s made in the USA using premium ingredients from around the world and is GMO-free. Plus, it has guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural omegas, and antioxidants to support digestive health, healthy skin and coat, and immune health.

Pros:

  • Starts with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient
  • Features 70% natural animal ingredients and nutritious oils, plus 30% fruits, vegetables, and other wholesome ingredients
  • Grain-free, potato-free, corn-free, wheat-free, soy-free, and contains no by-product meal
  • Made in the USA using premium ingredients from around the world and is GMO-free

Cons:

  • May be too high in protein for some dogs.

Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food

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Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food is formulated to provide your dog with the protein and nutrients they need to stay healthy and active. Made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient, this formula is highly digestible and helps promote nutrient absorption. With 26% protein and 12% fat in every serving, it is designed to help maintain your large breed dog’s ideal body condition. Every ingredient is carefully chosen for its nutritional or functional purpose, so you can be confident that your dog is getting the wholesome goodness they need from a trusted pet food brand.

Pros:

  • Made with real chicken as the first ingredient
  • Highly digestible and helps promote nutrient absorption
  • Formulated to help maintain your large breed dog’s ideal body condition
  • Every ingredient is carefully chosen for its nutritional or functional purpose

Cons:

  • Some dogs may be allergic to chicken.

Merrick Classic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

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Merrick Classic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is made with real deboned chicken as the first ingredient. It also includes whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This grain-free food is also formulated to be highly digestible and is free of corn, wheat, soy, and gluten. Plus, it contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Keep your best friend happy and healthy with Merrick Classic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.

Pros:

  • Made with real deboned chicken as the first ingredient
  • Includes whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
  • Formulated to be highly digestible and is free of corn, wheat, soy, and gluten

Cons:

  • Some dogs may be allergic to chicken.

CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food

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CANIDAE All-Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of all dogs at every stage of life. This formula is made with high-quality ingredients and features three top protein sources – chicken, turkey, and lamb. It also includes whole foods like sweet potatoes and peas for added nutrition. CANIDAE All Life Stages Chicken, Turkey & Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food is free of corn, wheat, soy, and gluten and is formulated to be highly digestible. Keep your best friend happy and healthy with CANIDAE All-Life Stages Dog Food.

Pros:

  • Designed to meet the nutritional needs of all dogs at every stage of life
  • Made with high-quality ingredients and features three top protein sources – chicken, turkey, and lamb
  • Includes whole foods like sweet potatoes and peas for added nutrition
  • Free of corn, wheat, soy, and gluten and is formulated to be highly digestible

Cons:

  • Some dogs may be allergic to chicken or turkey.

Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

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If you’re looking for nutritious and delicious food for your dog, look no further than Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This food is made with high-quality ingredients and processing technologies to ensure excellent digestibility and nutrient absorption. And it’s packed with protein from turkey meal, chicken meal, and whitefish meal to help develop and sustain energy and muscle function. 

Plus, carefully-chosen vegetables and fruits like peas, blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach provide essential antioxidants for optimal everyday health. L-carnitine helps convert body fat into muscle and energy, supporting lean muscle mass and overall body conditioning. And balanced Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in establishing the skin’s lipid barrier, supporting healthy maintenance of your dog’s skin and coat. So give your dog the nutrition he needs to thrive with Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.

Pros:

  • Made with high-quality ingredients and processing technologies to ensure excellent digestibility and nutrient absorption.
  • Packed with protein from turkey, chicken, and whitefish meals to help develop and sustain energy and muscle function.
  • Carefully chosen vegetables and fruits like peas, blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach provide essential antioxidants for optimal everyday health

Cons:

  • May be more expensive than some other brands.

How to choose the best food for your Lab

When choosing the best food for your Lab, it’s essential to consider their age, activity level, and any health issues they may have. Puppies and seniors, for example, have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. And if your Lab is overweight or has allergies, you’ll need to find a food that meets their specific needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best food for your Labrador Retriever:

Age: Puppies need food high in calories and nutrients to support their rapid growth. Senior dogs, on the other hand, need food that’s easy to digest and packed with antioxidants to help their aging immune systems.

Activity level: Active dogs need food high in protein and fat to help them maintain their energy levels. On the other hand, less active dogs may do best with a food lower in calories to help them avoid weight gain.

Health issues: If your Lab has any health issues, such as allergies or joint problems, you’ll need to find a food specifically designed to meet their needs. For example, there are foods available that are hypoallergenic or made with joint-supporting ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin.

No matter what your Labrador Retriever’s needs are, there’s dog food out there that’s perfect for them. So take the time to find the best food for your furry friend and give them the nutrition they need to thrive.

What To Look Out For When Buying Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers

When it comes to finding the best dog food for your Labrador Retriever, there are a few things you need to look out for:

Meets all Daily Nutritional Requirements

This is a must for any dog food, but especially for one going to a lab. The daily requirements are higher for labs, so make sure the food you’re buying covers those (we’ll get into what those are in a bit).

No Artificial Ingredients

You want your dog to eat as natural of a diet as possible. That means no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. These can all lead to health problems down the line.

Healthy Carbs

While carbs get a bad rap these days, they are essential to a dog’s diet. Just ensure that the carbs in the food you’re buying are healthy, like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and similar.

Lower Amounts Of Fat

Labs are prone to obesity, so you want food that has lower amounts of fat overall. This will help keep their weight down and maintain their health.

High-protein Foods

Labs need a lot of protein in their diet, so make sure the food you’re buying has at least 22% protein content; This will help them maintain their energy levels and keep their muscles healthy.

Lower Calories

Labs are prone to obesity, so you want to ensure that the food you buy has fewer calories than average. Look for foods that have around 3,000 calories per pound.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Amino Acids

Amino acids are essential for muscle health, and omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain and heart health. Both of these are important for labs, so make sure the food you’re buying has enough of them.

Chondroitin And Glucosamine

These are both important for joint health, and since labs are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, it’s vital to ensure they’re getting enough of these in their diet.

The Presence Of Phosphorus And Calcium

These are both important for bone health, and since labs are prone to joint problems, they must ensure they’re getting enough of these in their diet.

Probiotics

Probiotics are essential for gut health. Since labs are prone to digestive issues, they must ensure they’re getting enough of these in their diet.

Best Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers – FAQs

Q: What is the best food for a Labrador Retriever puppy?

A: The best food for a Labrador Retriever puppy is one that’s high in calories and nutrients to support their rapid growth. Puppy formulas are typically higher in protein and fat than adult dog foods, so they can help your pup maintain their energy levels. Just be sure to choose a formula specifically designed for large breeds, as they have different nutritional needs than smaller breeds.

Q: What Nutrients Do Labrador Retrievers Need?

A: Labrador Retrievers need food high in protein, fat, and calories to support their active lifestyle. They also need plenty of healthy carbs for energy, glucosamine, and chondroitin for joint health. Omega-3 fatty acids are also crucial for brain and heart health, while probiotics can help with digestive issues.

Q: How Many Calories Does a Labrador Retriever Need?

A: A typical adult Labrador Retriever needs around 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day, but this will vary depending on their age, activity level, and weight. Puppies and senior dogs will need more or fewer calories than an adult dogs.

Q: Does a Labrador have any special dietary needs?

A: Yes, Labrador Retrievers have a few unique dietary needs you should be aware of. They’re prone to obesity, so they need food that’s lower in calories and fat than average. They’re also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, so they need plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin in their diet. And since they’re active dogs, they need plenty of healthy carbs for energy.

Q: How many calories does a Labrador puppy require in a day?

A: A typical Labrador puppy needs around 500 to 1,000 calories daily, depending on age and activity level. Puppies are growing rapidly and need plenty of calories and nutrients to support their growth. Just be sure to choose a puppy formula specifically designed for large breeds, as they have different nutritional needs than smaller breeds.

Q: Should I Only Feed Him Dry Food?

A: No, you don’t have only to feed your Labrador Retriever dry food. Some dogs do better on a diet that includes dry and wet food. Be sure to choose a high-quality food that meets your dog’s nutritional needs.

Conclusion

Labrador Retrievers are a beloved breed of dog, and we know that you want to ensure they’re eating the best food possible. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the teen best dog foods for Labs, no matter what their age. We hope you find the perfect food for your furry friend! And don’t forget to let us know which food you choose in the comments – we love hearing about our readers’ dogs!

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