Nutrition for a Golden Retriever

The right nutrition for a golden retriever helps maintain its health and longevity. Dog owners have a choice between commercial and home cooked food. In either case, the food should provide all-round nutrition. Golden retrievers are prone to putting on weight, which is detrimental for their bone structure and heart. However, they need some essential vitamins and minerals. A balanced and well-planned diet helps take care of all the nutritional needs of your pet.

  1. Golden Retriever Nutrition

    • Protein is extremely important for a retriever. It is vital for the development of bones, muscles, coat and the immune system. Protein is available from several sources but you need to pay attention to the quality of the protein. Protein that comes from meat is more beneficial than protein derived from plants. The meat-derived protein also contains fat.

      Most commercial dog foods have high amounts of carbohydrates. Pay attention to the list of ingredients while shopping for commercial dog food. The dog's digestive system is not equipped to handle excessive amounts of carbohydrates. Rice-derived carbohydrates are best for golden retrievers.

      Fiber is necessary to keep the digestive system healthy and maintain regular bowel movement. Giving too much fiber can result in diarrhea or high volume stools.

      Fat helps to keep the coat healthy and prevents drying up of the underlying skin.

    Commercial Dog Food

    • Commercial foods have high amounts of preservatives and are processed. They are not fresh and tend to contain large amounts of carbohydrates. Some dog owners consider them unhealthy.

      The advantage of commercial food is that it can provide well planned meals and has adequate amounts of protein, fats and vitamins. Also, its convenient, as it requires no preparation time.

    Homemade Dog Food

    • The advantage of home cooked meals is that they are always fresh. Dogs seem to like them more and they are easily digestible. Home cooked meals cause fewer stomach problems and help keep the dog's weight in check.

      The disadvantage is that they are not well-planned diets and may be deficient in some nutrients. The food needs to be prepared fresh on a daily basis and this means more work.

    Feeding Golden Retrievers

    • Make sure the food has all the important nutrients and is derived primarily from animal sources. The protein level should be 20 percent. If the dog is underweight, pregnant or older, feed it 22 percent protein. Golden retrievers require 8 percent fiber and 5 percent fat in their diet.

      Do not allow your dog to self-feed, especially if the food is wet. It could get spoiled and lead to over-indulgence. Instead, have a fixed time to feed your golden retriever and then remove the feeding bowl after 15 minutes.

      Feed your pet once a day or divide the portion into two and feed twice a day. Feed puppies between 3 months and 6 months three times a day and thereafter twice a day.