- Meaty protein. As with all dogs and most active breeds, a Labrador retriever needs a generous amount of protein in its diet.
- Omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids are commonly found in fish and other seafood. Fish such as mackerel are good for lab puppies to boost their heart health.
- Vegetables and fruits. Greens are important for puppies as well because they will help with their overall digestion and their immune system.
- Organ meat. You may also want to add organ meat to your puppy food, especially if you are feeding raw. ...
- Foods with glucosamine. As mentioned above, joint problems are often experienced by labs when they grow up. ...
What food can Labradors eat?
When feeding your Labrador human foods, there are a few important safety rules you should follow:
- Human foods that you feed your Labrador should be in moderation. ...
- Introduce different foods gradually. ...
- Cook all meats – unless your Lab is familiar with a safely prepared raw diet. ...
- Avoid processed meats such as ham, sausage, and bacon as they contain high amounts of salt or seasoning.
- Dogs with lactose intolerance should not consume dairy products. ...
How to make homemade dog food for Labradors?
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Treat
- Ingredients
- Directions. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon. ...
- Nutritional Info (per 1 biscuit serving): Protein: 1.3 g Carbs: 2.8 g For even more Labrador Retriever food recipes and cooking options, be sure to check out Home Cooking for ...
What is the best food for a Labrador puppy?
What is the Best Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers?
- Top Pick: Sport Dog Food Active Series Field Dog
- Second best: Halo Holistic Adult
- Third best: Gather Free Acres Organic
- Recommended: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free
- Recommended: Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Adult
What to feed a Labrador?
What are the different types of food available?
- Kibble or dry food. Many people regard kibble as the best food for puppies. ...
- Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) or raw food. ...
- Wet food (cans and pouches) A puppy might prefer wet food over kibble as it looks and tastes way more appetizing. ...
- Home-cooked puppy food. ...
What do you feed a lab?
What to feed a Lab? You have three basic food options: cooked food, raw food and kibble. While there’s a lot to be said for cooked and raw foods, labs will also thrive on good kibble. It’s quick, it’s convenient, you can take kibble anywhere you take your dog, and a good brand will include the necessary nutrients.
How do you know if your dog is eating kibble?
For busy pet owners, kibble remains a popular choice. Signs that your dog’s food doesn’t agree with him include bloating, itching, constipation, or diarrhoea. But remember, whenever you change a dog’s diet, it takes a little time for your pet to get used to the new food. Expect funny-looking stools for the first couple of days.
Can dogs eat leftovers?
Although feeding your dog leftovers is often frowned upon, most dogs certainly won’t frown if you give them a few leftovers. As long as you do your homework and avoid foods that are bad for dogs (even though they’re fine for humans), and don’t give them leftovers as an important part of their diets, they should be just fine.
Choosing the Right Food to Feed Your Labrador
Wondering whether to get your Lab dry food or wet food is a question that most pet owners have to ask themselves before deciding what dog food to buy. Although both types of food give your dog the nutrition they need, they also have their pros and cons.
So, Which Dog Food Is Best?
It is up to you. After all, both types of dog food can give your dog the nourishment they need, as long as you get them the kind that gives them the right nutrients.
When and How much to Feed your Labrador
The frequency and amount of feeding your Labrador depend a lot on how old they are. Let’s break it down into two main sections: puppies and adults.
Other Information for Feeding Your Labrador
Prizes for good behavior or training purposes are often treats. However, these bite-sized biscuits should not take the place of meals, so you should use them sparingly. For overweight dogs, you can even eliminate them. After all, they are just add-ons and snacks for your dog.
How long does it take for a Labrador to become an adult?
However, a larger dog breed like a Labrador will need another 4 to 6 months to become an adult. At this time, you should switch your puppy’s food from puppy food to adult food. You also have to reduce the amount of food you give to your dog as it will not need as much food as an adult as it is needed as a child.
How many meals should a puppy eat a day?
Since their growth rate is the fastest as it’s ever going to be, they need the necessary calories to keep up with the growth. A puppy will need about 3 or 4 meals a day.
Why do puppies like wet food?
A puppy might prefer wet food over kibble as it looks and tastes way more appetizing. However, as in the case of dry food, if you choose a cheap brand, it will not have the essential nutrients your puppy needs. So choose high-quality brands that will ensure the nutrition that your puppy needs. An advantage of wet food, compared to dry food, is that it contains a higher percentage of liquid, which helps hydrate the dog and make it feel fuller.
Do puppies eat more when they are eating?
It is a proven fact that puppies tend to eat more when they are eating in a group, and generally eat less when they are eating less. Hence, for the first few days that your puppy spends without its brothers and sisters, it may not eat as much and have a reduced appetite.
Is raw dog food bad for dogs?
The subject of BARF or raw food is very controversial, some specialists say it is dangerous while others say is the best option to feed your dog. Despite criticism, this type of dog food has some benefits. By feeding your raw dog food, your dog’s poops become less smelly. This makes cleaning after your dog much easier for you.
Is kibble good for dogs?
Kibble is also good for your puppy’s teeth. It is convenient, cost-effective in the long run, and comes in a wide range of flavors. However, dogs can become bored of kibble, and they will never be as excited to eat dry food as to eat actual meat. Image by Chiemsee2016 from Pixabay.
Can dogs eat meat?
Dogs enjoy eating meat more than they enjoy eating dry food. Many people also say that after switching to raw food, their dogs’ allergies and skin conditions become less frequent. However, there are some cons to a completely raw diet. Sharp bones can harm the inside of the dog’s body.
Why is quality food important for a Labrador?
Why Quality Food Matters for Your Labrador Retriever. Labs are prone to joint and skin issues as well as excess weight. Nutrient dense food gives your Lab enough protein and complex carbs to last all through the day, but it won’t add a bunch of empty calories to your Lab’s diet.
What is grain free dog food?
Formulated with novel proteins including real smoked salmon, this grain-free recipe includes peas and sweet potatoes that deliver the highly-digestible energy your active pup needs, along with natural antioxidant support.
What is Nutro Natural Choice?
Nutro Natural Choice is another limited ingredient food that uses deboned lamb as the first ingredient. It has naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin to support growing joints, and a precise mix of carbs and proteins help puppies grow at a healthy rate.
What is the formula for a dog's coat?
It is grain-free but enriched with omega-3 and 6 to help keep your pet's coat flawless.
How much protein is in American Journey dog food?
Using beef as its main source of animal protein, this formula contains 32% protein and 14% fat.
Why is it so hard to choose dog food?
Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a dog food because there are so many options out there. When you just can’t make a choice, consider a trusted brand like Taste of the Wild.
Is brown rice good for labs?
It's a limited ingredient so that your Lab has a better chance of problem-free digestion. Brown rice provides an excellent source of fiber while omega fatty acids help keep skin and coat healthy.
Labrador Retriever Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Labrador Retriever. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Labrador Retriever.
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Labrador Retriever
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
How Much Food to Feed the Labrador Retriever
You should feed your 16-week-old Labrador Retriever puppy 4.2 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Best Food for Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retriever Feeding Guide
The Labrador Retriever has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Labrador Retriever at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
Feeding Guide for the Labrador Retriever Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Labrador Retriever: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Labrador Retriever should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Labrador Retrievers: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Labrador Retriever food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Important things you need to consider when it comes to how much to feed your Labrador Retriever
First off, there is no clear-cut definition as to how much you should feed your Labrador.
How much to feed your Labrador
While how much to feed your Lab is a question that has an open-ended answer. There are some metrics that we can base on. Note that these suggestions are applicable only for adult Labradors.
How much and how often to feed a Labrador puppy
The amount of food to feed a Lab puppy is considerably different. Their diets have to be curated specifically to assist them with growing properly and healthy.
How much to feed an overweight Labrador?
For an overweight Lab, you should definitely not feed them more than they can burn off in a day. You should check with your vet for a suggested diet plan if your Labrador is overweight.
How much to feed a senior Labrador?
Like an overweight Lab, there is no hard rule for how much you should feed a senior Lab.
How much raw food to feed a Labrador?
If you do decide to raw feed your Lab, a good basis to start with how much to feed them is around 2-3% of their body weight.
How much wet food to feed a Labrador?
Generally, feeding your Lab wet food will mean a greater quantity of food for the same amount of calories than kibble.
The Best Dog Food for Labs
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s best dog foods for Labrador retrievers for January 2022.
The Best Puppy Food for Labs
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s best dog food for Lab puppies for January 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are 8 of the most frequently asked questions we get about feeding Lab puppies and adults.
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
Important FDA Alert
The FDA is investigating a potential link between diet and heart disease in dogs. Click here for details.
How much macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs?
Every dog is different with respect to the toxic effect of these nuts. The toxicity range is anywhere between 2 grams to 64 grams of the toxin per kg body weight of the dog. As the range is very large, it is difficult to access the toxicity effect of eating macadamia nuts in your dog.
Can dogs eat yeast dough?
This is a dangerous condition which is fatal for any dog. Secondly, raw yeast dough can cause alcohol poisoning in your dog. The yeast present in the food gets fermented and produces alcohol in this process. This alcohol produced is easily absorbed into the bloodstream which can be dangerous for your dog.
Can a Labrador eat tea?
Your Labrador usually has some natural resistance towards eating some foods. For example, when my Lab smells a cup of tea and backs off, it doesn’t even taste it. Dogs have the natural capability of choosing foods to eat and foods to avoid.
Is avocado bad for dogs?
The avocado fruit, the pits, its leaves and the plant are all toxic to dogs. Avocados contain a toxin called persin which is very poisonous to dogs. Consumption of this toxin can lead to accumulation of fluid in the dog’s lungs and causes breathing difficulty, and sometimes even death.
Can dogs eat ice cream?
Dogs have taste buds and they are attracted to sugars and foods like ice creams just like us. But firstly, your dog does not need sugar for its body. Secondly, ice cream contains milk and your dog cannot diges t it properly. Hence feeding ice cream may cause stomach upset in your dog. It may also lead to diarrhea, vomiting and gas formation.
Can dogs drink caffeine?
You may need some caffeine for a little boost in your daily routine, but your dog doesn’t need it at all. Your dog doesn’t require it and can be harmful if taken.
Is nutmeg bad for dogs?
It enhances the flavour of many foods but not suitable for your dog. Nutmeg has a compound called Myristicin that is toxic to your dog. If you have a large dog and if grabs a cookie with nutmeg in it, there might not be any severe consequences.
Choosing The Right Food to Feed Your Labrador
So, Which Dog Food Is Best?
When and How Much to Feed Your Labrador
Other Information For Feeding Your Labrador