- 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 is the best food to feed a Labrador?
The Best Dog Food for LabsCanidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula.Wellness Core Large Breed Adult.Nom Nom Fresh.Taste of the Wild High Prairie.Nutro Ultra Adult Dog Food.American Journey Large Breed Adult Dog Food.Orijen Original Dog Food.Gather Free Acres Organic Free Run Chicken.More items...
What do you feed a Labrador dog?
Check out this list and pick a pack of dog food that suits the needs of your pet labrador.Royal Canin Labrador Adult. ₹7835₹8940(12% Off) ... Drools Chicken and Egg Adult Dog Food. ... Drools Labrador Puppy Premium Dog Food. ... IAMS Proactive Health Adult Labrador Retriever Dog Food. ... Boltz Dog Food for Labrador Retriever Adult.
What should Labradors not eat?
Toxic food for dogsOnions, garlic and chives. The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. ... Chocolate. ... Macadamia nuts. ... Corn on the cob. ... Avocado. ... Artificial sweetener (Xylitol) ... Alcohol. ... Cooked bones.More items...
How much should I feed my Labrador?
For a 50-pound Lab feed 2-1/2 to 3 cups daily. For a 60-pound Lab feed 3 to 3-1/2 cups daily. For a 70-pound Lab feed 3-1/4 to 3-3/4 cups daily. For an 80-pound Lab feed 3-1/2 to 4 cups daily.
Is rice good for Labrador?
But can dogs eat rice? The answer is yes. You may not even realize it, but rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog foods. In fact, if you ask many pet owners what they feed their dog when he's sick, they'll likely tell you that white rice is a part of their pup's diet.
Can we give milk to Labrador?
Milk is a safe treat in small quantities. A few tablespoons of cow's milk or goat's milk on an occasional basis can be a nice reward for your dog without the side effects of overindulgence.
Is chicken Good for Labrador?
Cooked chicken is a healthy food that is safe for most dogs to eat. Chicken is one of the most common ingredients used in dog foods, as it is an excellent source of protein, which your dog needs to stay healthy. You can feed your dog chicken on its own or combine it with his regular food (38, 39 ).
What vegetables can Labradors eat?
Dog-Friendly VegetablesKale. Benefits: Kale's key vitamins like K, A and Iron provide bone health, proper vision and immune function, fetal development and energy metabolism. ... Spinach. Benefits: Spinach contains potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6, B9 and E. ... Carrots. ... Green Beans. ... Broccoli. ... Beets. ... Celery. ... Cucumber.More items...
Can we feed fish to Labrador?
To make a long story short, yes, dogs can eat fish, and fish can be a part of a healthy diet for your dog, provided it is fully cooked without any additional oils and seasonings, does not contain any bones, and is not a species prone to high levels of mercury such as tuna.
Why are Labradors always hungry?
A new study found Labrador retrievers are more likely than other breeds to beg for treats and generally be obsessed with food. That's because they have a specific gene mutation that sets them apart from the rest. It's the first of its kind that has been directly associated with canine obesity.
Which color Labrador is the smartest?
The short answer is no. A dog's intelligence is based on breeding, not coat color. If people have been exposed to a gray matter-challenged dog of any color they tend to think that dogs of that particular color have less intelligence than those of other colors.
Can Labradors eat raw meat?
Raw meat is likely to contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli and more. Cooking meat to a safe temperature kills off those harmful bacteria. By feeding uncooked meat, there's a higher risk your dog will develop a foodborne illness or other type of bacterial infection.
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.
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.
What is the best food for a Labrador puppy?
The best puppy food in this category that we’ve found is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food. Because it comes from Blue Buffalo, it contains LifeSource Bits which contain a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for complete and balanced nutrition. It is also made with plenty of lean animal protein from fresh chicken and supplemental protein from menhaden fish meal. This recipe is highly digestible, featuring whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. It also contains fresh fruits and vegetables to provide supplemental fiber and essential nutrients. Overall, it provides 26% protein and 15% fat with 386 calories per cup. It is uniquely formulated to support healthy development in large-breed puppies while controlling growth.
When should I feed my Labrador puppy adult food?
In a large breed like the Labrador, however, your dog may not be fully grown at 12 months. You should plan to fed him a large breed puppy food for 12 months to control his growth and switch to a large breed adult food when his growth starts to slow down.
How to keep a Labrador healthy?
The key to keeping your Lab healthy in his old age is to provide him with a healthy and balanced diet made with plenty of lean protein but limited in fat and calories. The best option is Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Senior Weight Management Recipe Dry Food. Not only is this recipe formulated for large-breed senior dogs, but it is also designed for weight management. This recipe features fresh turkey as a lean source of animal protein with digestible grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes and tapioca. This recipe contains plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients with green-lipped mussels included as a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin. This formula provides a full 25% protein with just 11% fat and 328 calories per cup, making it a nutritious diet for large-breed senior dogs like your Lab.
What is the best food for a large breed dog?
If you’re looking for a healthy, balanced diet for your large-breed dog, this Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a great option. It features fresh chicken as a lean source of protein with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates like brown rice, barley, and oats. It offers moderate fat content with optimal protein to help your dog maintain a healthy body weight as well as lean muscle mass. This recipe promotes joint health in dogs thanks to glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, not to mention chicken meal which is a natural source of joint-supporting nutrients. This formula also contains a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients with vitamins and chelated minerals to ensure nutritional balance. Overall, it provides 26% protein and 12% fat at 340 calories per cup.
How many calories are in a Labrador's protein shake?
This recipe provides 24% protein with just 13% fat at 335 calories per cup, making it a protein-rich but moderate-fat and -calorie recipe perfect for your Labrador.
How many calories are in a cup of lamb?
Overall, this recipe provides 20% protein with 13% fat at 475 calories per cup. Pros: Made with 10 main ingredients, fresh lamb main ingredient, digestible carbohydrates, rich in fiber for digestion, contains 20% protein, blend of omega fatty acids for skin and coat support.
How long does it take for a Labrador to grow?
These dogs can grow up to 80 pounds, so it may take 18 to 24 months for a puppy to fully mature. Even when your Lab is fully grown, however, he may still retain some of his puppylike tendencies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What is the best food for a Labrador?
If you are looking for a budget food that is still great for your Labrador, Diamond Naturals might be the choice for you. Despite the very affordable price-tag, it still starts with a named meat, chicken, as its first ingredient and is topped up with chicken meal and chicken fat.
What is the main component of a Labrador's diet?
Protein is the core of a Labrador’s diet. It’s the most important component and should be the main basis of the entire formula. It is essential for repairing tissue and building muscle and also a healthy source of energy.
What are some good foods to feed a dog with hip dysplasia?
There are lots of fruits and vegetables added to the recipe as natural sources of vitamins and minerals including broccoli, carrots, apples, blueberries, and kale. The recipe has also been topped up with glucosamine and chondroitin, which protect joints, so it is important for Labs, a dog breed prone to hip dysplasia.
What is semi moist dog food?
Semi-moist dog food is typically considered as dog food treat. This type of dog food are least nutritional and should not be considered as diet food for your puppy. This may come in shaped like burgers, pork chops, or other meaty foods.
What is the most commonly used type of dog food?
These are mostly packed in bags. This is the most widely used type of dog food because it is economical, easy to administer and it can lasts longer compared to other types. It has low moisture content like shaped pellets (kibble), biscuits (mixers), and flaked cereals. Dry foods still have meat contents in it.
Can Labradors eat human food?
Labradors have the same food intolerances as all dogs, which is why it is a good idea not to feed them human food. Many of the ingredients common in human foods, such as garlic, are toxic to dogs. They also shouldn’t eat chocolate, ice-cream, or other treats.
Where do fats come from in dogs?
Fats are an essential role of energy for dogs, and active pups like Labs actually need quite a lot of it. If possible, these fats should come from a named source , such as chicken fat, and should compose around 15% of the nutritional value of the recipe.
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.
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 cinnamon?
Keep cinnamon in powdered form away from your dog. In case your dog inhales it, it might cause respiratory difficulty for him. Even though not toxic, cinnamon is not suitable for your dog.
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.
Choosing The Right Food to Feed Your Labrador
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. Bear in mind, though, that the choice you make should also depend on how much time or money you can put into feeding your dog. If your schedule is quite busy, and you aren’t home for the whole day, then kibble is the mor…
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
- Treats
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. - Water
When talking about feeding your Lab, water should also be part of the conversation. Be sure to always have fresh water available for your Labrador at all times. Clean their water bowl regularly to keep the water fresh and clean.