The Best Food for Pits

Choosing the Best Dry Food for Pit Bulls

• Many brands of premium dry kibble are appropriate for pit bulls. Dry food is convenient, affordable and easily stored.

  To choose the best dry food for your dog, start by examining the list of ingredients for every brand and formula you're considering using. Avoid brands available at grocery stores or "big box" stores, as these formulas tend to contain low-quality ingredients like ground corn or even peanut hulls. Look for premium and super-premium brands found at chain pet stores or independent pet supply retailers. Many brands can also be ordered online.

  Choose a dry food with a source of quality animal protein as the first ingredient. At least two of the first three ingredients should be meat. Good sources of animal protein may include beef, chicken, lamb, venison, bison, duck and more. Look for foods that use ancient grains like quinoa or alternate carbohydrate sources like sweet potato, rather than the less expensive and more common corn, wheat, soy and rice.

  Brands to try may include Innova Evo, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Taste of the Wild, Wellness, Instinct and Artemis.

Choosing the Best Canned Food for Pits

• Canned foods, unlike dry food, don't need carbohydrates in order to stabilize the formula. That means many canned foods contain more meat than do dry foods. Some canned formulas are even 95 percent to 100 percent meat. This makes canned food a healthful choice for dogs like pit bulls that need extra lean protein to support a muscular body structure and high level of energy.

  Do not feed canned foods that contain added sources of sugar or empty carbohydrates. A small amount of a healthful carbohydrate source is desirable. Some foods even include whole vegetables like green peas or string beans. Ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup or molasses that add sugar to the dog's diet without providing nutrients should be avoided.

  Brands to consider include Evangers, By Nature Organics, Wellness, Innova Evo and Wysong.

Raw Diets for Pits

• A raw diet may be the best choice for your pit bull if you have the time to research and prepare raw meat, bones and organs. A whole prey model raw diet is intended to simulate the natural diet of a wild canine. A well-formulated raw diet will produce good dental health, lean muscle mass, glossy coats, healthy skin and good digestive health in most dogs.

  If you're considering a raw diet for your dog, start by researching whole prey model and BARF raw diets both online and in print. A raw-friendly veterinarian or canine nutritionist can help you find reliable resources for information about feeding raw. There are also numerous online communities dedicated to raw feeding dogs, cats and even ferrets.

  Pit bulls eating a raw diet should receive plenty of lean red meat and game meat whenever possible. Resist the temptation to give large, weight-bearing bones to them. Although pits do have powerful jaws, their teeth are as easily cracked as those of any other similar size dog. Instead, if your pit bull wolfs his food or is a problem chewer, feed partially frozen meals. This will slow the dog down and keep him busy.