1 dog food for pitbulls

The Best Dog Food for Pitbulls in 2022

Best Dog Food for Pitbulls Buying Guide

If youre still not sure which food is the best choice for your beloved Pitbull pup, read on for our full buying guide and FAQ to help you make the call.

Benefits of Feeding Your Pitbull a Healthy Diet

Feeding your Pitbull a diet with lots of protein, vitamins and minerals will ensure they have lots of energy to lead an active and healthy lifestyle enough for all the long walks and games of tug-of-war you have the energy for!

• Prevent or control health conditions

Just as in humans, a healthy diet can help prevent and manage a variety of health issues. For example, bone diseases such as hip dysplasia are common in Pitbulls, but a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce joint pain and swelling, whilst a calorie-controlled diet can help manage weight, relieving pain and other symptoms.

If your Pitbull suffers from food allergies, cutting the ingredients they are intolerant to out of their diet can make a huge difference to their health. Common allergens include beef, poultry, dairy and grains.

Pitbulls are prone to obesity, especially when fed a poor diet or given too many treats. Help to keep your pup a healthy weight by giving him a carefully controlled, nutritious diet that fills him up. Check out our guide on dog food for weight loss for more info.

A diet high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids will help maintain your pups skin and fur, alleviating skin conditions and and contributing to a glossy, healthy-looking coat.

A healthier Pitbull means fewer trips to the vet! This will save you time, money and a whole lot of worry, and most importantly means less stress and trauma for your precious pooch.

Nutritional Requirements for Pitbulls

Pitbulls are muscular, active dogs, and one of their most important nutritional requirements is a high protein content, which will give them plenty of energy. Food with 20% to 30% protein is ideal for fully grown adults. For puppies and senior Pitbulls (age 8 upwards), you should look for a protein content of up to 40%, as dogs in these age ranges dont digest protein as effectively as adults. A good high protein dog food for Pitbulls will be based around a fresh, lean meat protein source, such as venison, turkey or duck, with little to no meat by-products. You may also like our article on high protein dog food for more info.

Fiber is essential for good digestion, allowing your Pitbull to make the most of the nutritious food hes eating and keeping him regular. It is particularly important for senior dogs, who might struggle to digest and metabolize food effectively. Look for a food with plenty of fruit and vegetable ingredients such as sweet potato, kale and carrots to help aid your pups digestion.

Grains such as wheat and corn are often used as fillers in lower-quality commercial dog food, as a cheap way to bulk out the formula. Although dogs can digest grain, its nutritional value is low, and many people believe that as it is not part of a dogs ancestral diet, it shouldnt form a major part of a modern day dogs diet. Grain can also be a food allergen in some Pitbulls, causing symptoms such as skin rashes, vomiting and diarrhea. Try to find a grain-free formula that instead relies on fresh meat, fruit and vegetables as the main ingredients. Take a look at our review of grain free dog food for more info.

• Lots of vitamins and minerals

In order to be healthy, Pitbulls need a diet high in essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, which promotes growth and strong bones. Vitamins and minerals are mostly found in fruits and vegetables. Often the most nutritious veggies for Pitbulls are the same as those for humans look for superfoods such as sweet potato, blueberries, spinach and kale, which provide the highest nutrient content per quantity.

• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids

In order to support healthy bones, joints, skin and coat, your Pitbull needs a diet containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These can be obtained from sources such as oily fish and flaxseeds. Head over to our review of the best fish oil for dogs for more alternatives.

Finally, your Pitbull needs a certain amount of fat in his diet (although not too much, as this can lead to obesity). Look for food that contains 15 20% fat, from sources such as chicken fat.

Common Pitbull Health Problems

Skin allergies are possibly the most common Pitbull health problem, attributed to their short coats. Allergic reactions can be triggered by environmental factors, such as pollen or grass, or by certain foods, including beef, dairy, grain and wheat. Symptoms can include sore, red or itchy patches on the skin, runny eyes, ear infections, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhea.

Pitbulls are prone to certain bone diseases, including hip dysplasia, kneecap dislocation and degenerative myelopathy. Hip dysplasia affects your Pitbulls ball and socket hip joint. Symptoms include pain, an uneven gait, difficulty climbing stairs, decreased mobility, and, in extreme cases, lameness.

Cataracts in Pitbulls are not limited to senior dogs they can be genetic, and thus occur at all ages, including in puppies. Symptoms include clumsiness, eye rubbing, a cloudy eye, and irritation, discharge or redness around the eye.

• Heart defects and disease

Pitbulls can also suffer from congenital heart disease, heart murmurs, and irregular heartbeats. Symptoms for such conditions can include breathing difficulties, weakness, fainting, and weight or behavioral changes.

Obesity is a problem among all dog breeds, with approximately 56% of dogs in the U.S. being overweight or obese. Pitbulls muscular frames are prone to obesity, especially if theyre fed a high calorie diet and dont get enough exercise. Get your pup weighed by your vet regularly to monitor for signs of weight gain.

Our Top Pick

There are some delicious and nutritious foods on this list, but if we had to pit them against each other, our favorite food for Pitbull puppies has to be the Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein High Prairie Dry Puppy Food. This high quality dog food provides well-balanced nutrition based on the ancestral diet your pup would have followed in the wild. The high protein content sourced from real buffalo and venison meat is perfect for Pitbull puppies, who find it harder to digest protein than adults, but need plenty of energy for all their antics! There are lots of fruits and veggies to provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and the grain-free formula limits the chances of your Pitbull pup having an upset stomach although you should always monitor your dog closely for any signs of an allergic reaction when introducing them to a new food for the first time.

The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls

Choosing the best dog food for Pitbulls requires owners to understand this unique breed. From their nutritional needs to their health issues (e.g. allergies) to their playful, active nature as puppies, certain high-quality dry and wet dog foods are better formulated for Pitbulls.

To help save you time and money, weve created this guide to help you figure out what to buy your canine. Below, youll find details on Pitbull diet and nutrition, what makes a good dog food, some recommendations of the top-rated brands for your puppy as well as food just for Pitbulls with allergies.

Pitbull Diet & Nutrition

Pitbulls today can be mixed between several different breeds, resulting in dozens cross breeds like the Pitbull Lab mix. This means that they can vary in size between about 30 and 70 pounds. Regardless of your Pitbulls size, you can expect him to be strong, muscular, and agile. Many of these dogs are blocky or stocky in build. And Pitbulls usually like to eat so you will probably need to be careful about how much you feed your dog.

Furthermore, Pitbulls with allergies are not unusual, especially skin allergies if they are white with pink skin or if they have lots of white on their body. Some Pits may also have food allergies that are expressed with skin problems. Pay attention to your dogs behavior, including licking, scratching and unusual bowel movements, as well as irritations and rashes that may indicate a food allergy or stomach sensitivity.

Hypoallergenic and Grain-Free Dog Foods

If you do notice these types of health issues, check your Pitbulls food for bad ingredients like bone meal, by-products, corn, soy, wheat or other grains. Since Pitbulls tend to be allergic to grains, a hypoallergenic or grain-free dog food may be best.

How Many Calories Do Pitbulls Need To Have?

Adult Pitbull dogs weighing between 30 and 70 pounds can eat between 894 and 1688 calories per day. Expect your dog to eat more if hes very active. If your dog is spayed, neutered or very inactive, he will likely need fewer calories per day. Pitbull puppies always need more calories while they are growing than adult or senior dogs. For example, a growing Pitbull puppy weighing 30 pounds would need about 1000 calories per day.

How Much Protein, Fat and Carbs Do Pitbulls Need?

As with other dogs, food for Pitbulls needs to have good protein. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends a minimum of 22% protein for growth and reproduction (puppies, pregnant and nursing mothers); and 18% protein for an adult maintaining her weight. Virtually all good dog foods exceed these recommendations.

Dogs also require fat in their diet. AAFCO recommends 8% fat for growth and reproduction; and 5% fat for an adult maintenance diet. Again, nearly all quality dog food brands today have more fat than this on a dry matter basis.

Ultimately, youll want to buy a dog food made of the healthiest sources of protein, fats and carbs.

Feeding Your Pitbull

Pitbulls usually have a good appetite so you probably wont have to beg your dog to eat. For Pitbull puppies, we recommend feeding 3 to 4 small meals for the first few weeks after weaning. Soon thereafter, you can feed your puppy 3 meals per day. By the time your puppy is a year old, he should be eating two meals per day and you can switch him to a full adult diet.

We recommend feeding adult Pitbulls two meals per day. Bloat can occur in Pitbulls but its not a common problem. If you are more comfortable dividing your Pitbulls food up in more than two meals so he can eat smaller amounts at each meal, that would be acceptable. We would not recommend feeding just one meal per day.

We do suggest that you dont free feed your dog. Put your dogs food down for 30 minutes. This should give your Pitbull plenty of time to eat all he wants. Then remove the bowl or dish. Dogs that are free fed are much more likely to become overweight or obese, which can lead to serious health problems.

Pitbull Health Problems

Officially, the term Pitbull can refer to several different breeds or crosses. Breeds that are often considered to be bully breeds are the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier.

All of these breeds have been inter-related in the past. They have the same ancestry as modern Pitbulls. Similarly, Pitbulls can have some of the same health issues found in any of these breeds.

In addition to food and skin allergies, some Pitbulls, especially larger dogs, may have problems with hip dysplasia and other joint problems. If you have a very large Pitbull, you may want to feed a large breed dog food that includes joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Or add these supplements to your dogs food. Other joint supplements include SAMe and green mussels.

What Makes A Good Dog Food For Pitbulls

While every dog is an individual and Pitbulls have some health issues to watch for, there are some things that good dog foods have in common. Heres what to watch for when buying the best dog food for your Pitbull.

Your Pitbull Needs Good Protein

Weve already mentioned that food for Pitbull adults should have a minimum of 18% protein (by dry matter basis). Fortunately, most good dog foods have more protein than that, and because Pitbulls are such a muscular breed, we recommend a higher protein content of 25% to 30%. And if you have a particularly active dog that requires muscle growth and development, than you can increase the amount of protein a bit more.

However, you do need to check the ingredients to see the sources of the protein. Ideally the healthiest dog food will have several sources of animal protein in the first few ingredients. Dogs are able to digest animal protein more easily than plant protein. Look for animal proteins like chicken, beef, duck, salmon, eggs, and fish.

Look For Named Ingredients and Avoid Generics

This is true for all of the ingredients in the food but its especially important for animal ingredients. Meat meal is a vague, generic ingredient that you should avoid. Chicken meal can be a good ingredient with lots of protein from a named source. Ideally, chicken meal will accompany whole chicken to add more protein to the food.

You should be aware that whole meats, like whole chicken, are great but they are mostly water which evaporates during the cooking process, leaving a relatively small amount of protein and other nutrients. Likewise, chicken fat is better than animal fat.

Try To Keep Carbohydrates Low

This is not as easy as it sounds, even if you buy a grain-free dog food. Many grain-free products use potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables as grain substitutes that can be very high in carbs. Some of these foods have just as many carbohydrates as dog foods that contain corn, wheat and soy.

Unfortunately, dog food companies are not required to list the carbohydrates in their food. When possible, we suggest that you figure the carbs in any food you are considering or find them online. In some cases, low or ancestral grain formulas can have fewer carbs than some other foods.

Too Much Peas and Lentils

Many grain-free foods today use peas and lentils as a substitute for grains. Legumes have more protein than corn and they provide lots of vitamins and minerals, as well as some fiber. However, some dogs have problems digesting them. They have also become so common that some dogs have started developing allergies to peas.

Its also important to remember that legumes in dog food are used to boost the protein percentage. They are a primary source of plant protein in foods. So, if the dog food has 38% protein, you need to recognize that some of the protein comes from legumes, so the nutrients are not as bioavailable to your dog. Your Pitbull could be better off with a food that has a lower amount of protein if all of the protein comes from good animal sources.

Avoid Bad Ingredients

These ingredients include artificial colors and dyes, preservatives, flavors, and sweeteners. Look for brands that dont use these ingredients, some of which can trigger allergies in Pitbulls.

Organic, Human Grade, Holistic, and Natural

Things can get murky with some of these terms. Organic is a real term and there are regulations for organic labeling. The FDA is still wrestling with the term Natural so ignore this term as it is simply marketing for now. Holistic can mean anything pet food manufacturers want it to mean.

Human grade has a long history with pet food manufacturer. Basically, if a company wants to claim that their dog food is edible for humans, then everything from the ingredients to the facility that makes the food must pass inspection for making human food.

Expect to pay much more for these foods. Know your budget and decide if you can or should pay for some of these foods.

Foods That Are AAFCO-Approved

AAFCO does not conduct food testing but they provide guidelines for companies to meet. These are minimum requirements and not a guarantee of quality. Foods can be approved for all life stages, growth and reproduction, or adult maintenance. Some products are also approved for intermittent feeding (e.g. supplemental) but they should not be fed as a regular diet.

The Best Dog Foods For Pitbulls

Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Wellness CORE dog foods are grain-free and high in meat protein. This formula has lots of omega fatty acids that are good for your Pitbulls skin and coat. Fiber and probiotics help his digestion and glucosamine and chondroitin support joint health. Good protein helps build lean body mass. No corn, wheat, or soy. With 34% crude protein, 16% crude fat, and 421 kcal/cup, this product is one of the best dog foods for adult Pitbulls.

Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Merricks grain-free dog food with real salmon and sweet potato is another high-quality protein product made with real ingredients. For starters, the mix offers 34% crude protein, 14% crude fat, and 354 kcal/cup. Moreover, salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your dogs skin and coat, giving it a beautiful shine. However, the more popular choice is the real buffalo option, which owners can pick if they want.

Many pet owners choose Merricks grain-free formula (no corn, wheat, or soy) as a natural choice for Pitbulls who may have skin allergies. Lastly, it also has added glucosamine and chondroitin as joint supplements, and 55 % of the ingredients are fish and fat from salmon.

Canidae Grain-Free PURE Dry Dog Food

Canidae makes lots of good foods, including many grain-free dog formulas with ingredients limited to only the best. Almost all of their products are good enough for Pitbulls, and dogs with sensitive stomachs will appreciate the whole food ingredients that aid in gentle digestion.

This food has seven ingredients besides the added vitamins and minerals, and comes with no corn, wheat, or soy fillers. It has 25% crude protein, 15% crude fat, and provides 474 kcal/cup. Fresh bison is the first ingredient, a taste your Pit will love.

The Best Dog Foods For Pitbull Puppies

Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food For Puppies

Like the other Wellness CORE foods, this grain-free puppy formula is based on the philosophy that dogs thrive when they eat a meat-based diet. As a dog food designed for Pitbull puppies, this formula is high in meat protein and contains DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) to help with puppy brain and eye development.

It also has a good ratio of calcium to phosphorus for good bone development. Lastly, with 36% crude protein, 17.5% crude fat, and 417 kcal/cup, this dog food is AAFCO-approved for growth and gestation/lactation, particularly for large size dog breeds.

Canidae Grain-Free PURE Foundations for Puppies

This grain-free formula by Canidae offers fresh chicken as the first ingredient. Its a limited ingredient diet with just nine ingredients other than the vitamins and minerals. Its suitable for puppies who may have stomach sensitives or digestion problems as well as allergies. However, the food works just as well for pups who dont.

Because its a grain-free formula, expect no corn, wheat, or soy. At 520 kcal/cup, its packed with calories and nutrient-dense. Added DHA helps with puppy brain development. And with 30% crude protein and 12% crude fat, this recipe can help puppies grow big and strong while giving them the energy to be active and fit.

Precise Holistic Complete Large & Giant Breed Puppy Food

If you have a very large Pitbull puppy or you have reason to believe that your puppy will grow to be more than 50 pounds as an adult, we recommend that you consider feeding her a food formulated for large breed puppies.

Precise is known for making very good foods for large and giant breeds adults and puppies. Large breed puppies need slightly fewer calories and other, different nutrients while they grow to encourage slow growth. This formula contains chicken, lamb, and salmon as animal protein. And with 23% crude protein, 12% crude fat, and 400 kcal/cup, this is a great dog food for a Pitbull puppy who will grow to be large.

The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls with Allergies

Some Pitbulls with allergies, particularly skin allergies, may have trouble eating certain wet and dry dog foods. To avoid food or skin allergies, you may want to try feeding a grain-free dog food since some grains are considered allergens. Corn, wheat, and soy are common culprits. You may also need to avoid certain meat proteins if you know what triggers your dogs allergies.

Heres a good dog food specifically made for Pitbulls with different types of allergies.

Zignature Trout and Salmon Meal Formula

Zignature is well-known for making many good, limited ingredient dog foods with exotic proteins. These foods are especially good for dogs that have food allergies Pitbulls that cant eat some of the common dog foods containing chicken and beef, for example. We like this trout and salmon formula but you could also choose a Zignature formula with kangaroo, venison, duck, lamb, or another meat protein.

This food is also potato-free and the meat is hypoallergenic. Zignatures foods have no corn, wheat, soy, dairy, chicken, chicken eggs, or chicken by-products. This dog food is gluten-free and low-glycemic. Zignature is highly recommended for any dog with allergies.