best dog food for pitbulls 1 year old
Best Dog Food for Pitbulls
Chicken is one of 4 fresh recipes evaluated in our review of the Ollie product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver
- Type: Grain-inclusive (rice)
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best for: All puppies including large breeds
This fresh-cooked recipe draws most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 11% fat and 44% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 30%.
Read our review of the full Ollie Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 37% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at MyOllie.com"Bama loves his Ollie food, & won't eat anything else now! We've tried all 4 flavors, but beef & lamb are his faves. He LOVES the Jerky treats too! Which really surprised me because he usually won't eat dog treats!"
Fresh Pork is one of 4 fresh recipes evaluated in our review of The Farmers Dog product line.
This Farmers Dog recipe acquires the majority of its animal protein from fresh pork. Dry matter label analysis confirms the recipe contains 36% protein, 28% fat and 28% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 78%.
Read our review of the full The Farmers Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients USDA Pork, sweet potato, potato, green beans, cauliflower Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Puppies and adults (including large breeds) Annamaet Ultra is one of 8 recipes included in our review of Annamaet dog food.
Annamaet Ultra derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal and dry eggs. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 22% fat and 34% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 63%.
Read our review of the full Annamaet Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, whole dry eggs, herring meal Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I switched my 9 year old pittie to this food and she loves it. It was a little too dry for her so i add a tiny bit of chicken broth and it fixed the issue. Her allergies have gotten better on this food, her coat is so shiny and soft, and she has so much more energy. People cant believe shes 9 years old because of how active she is!"
Bully Max High Performance is featured in our review of Bully Max dog food.
Bully Max High Performance derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal and fat. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 22% fat and 36% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 67%.
Read our review of the full Bully Max High Performance Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, ground grain sorghum Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 33% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies Turkey Fare is one of 4 fresh human-grade recipes included in our review of Nom Nom dog food.
Nom Nom Turkey Fare derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh ground turkey. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 18% fat and 39% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of 50%.
Read our review of the full Nom Nom Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Ground turkey, brown rice, eggs, carrots, spinach Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies Dr. Tims Kinesis formula is one of 8 recipes included in our review of Dr. Tims dog food.
Dr. Tims Kinesis formula derives most of its animal protein from chicken meal and fat. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 62%.
Read our review of the full Dr. Tims Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, brown rice, pearled barley, whole oat groats, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 29% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies High-Protein Adult Chicken is one of 4 dry recipes included in our item-by-item review of Crave Dog Food.
Crave Adult Chicken derives most of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken meal. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 19% fat and 35% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 50%.
Read our review of the full Crave Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, split peas, lentils, pork meal Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 38% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult Pitbulls only (not for puppies) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I believe my dog is the pickiest fussiest dog in the world.. After approximately $2000.00 and 4 years later, I have found a dog food he will now eat!! Crave, yes, Crave.. My dog was so sick for so long until he started eating, Crave!! No more vet bills and a very healthy, happy and content, dog.. Crave, I am forever indebted to you!!"
Taste of the Wild Wetlands recipe is one of 9 recipes included in our review of Taste of the Wild dog food.
Taste of the Wild Wetlands recipe derives most of its animal protein from duck, as well as duck and chicken meals. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 20% fat and 36% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 56%.
Read our review of the full Taste of the Wild Grain-Free Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Duck, duck meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Getting my dog to eat her kibble playing without any treats or food put in her kibble has been such a hard thing for us to do as a family. This dog food gets my puppy excited to eat kibble again would highly recommend."
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages is one of 13 recipes included in our review of Diamond Naturals dog food.
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages derives most of its animal protein from chicken and chicken meal. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 62%.
Read our review of the full Diamond Naturals Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 29% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult Pitbulls and all puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Good quality food that my dogs love. I usually buy the large breed chicken and rice, also a great food (lower protein & fat)."
Wellness Complete Health Adult recipe is one of 13 recipes included in our review of Wellness Complete Health dog food.
Wellness Complete Health Adult recipe derives most of its animal protein from deboned chicken and chicken meal. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 13% fat and 52% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 50%.
Read our review of the full Wellness Complete Health Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 27% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult Pitbulls only (not for puppies) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"So far, so good. Our pit mix seems to love the taste, and there are no issues with digestion. I'm hopeful that this will be a worthy replacement for our big name brand that she seemed to lose interest in."
Nulo Freestyle Turkey and Sweet Potato is one of 9 recipes included in our review of Nulo Freestyle dog food.
Nulo Freestyle Turkey and Sweet Potato derives most of its animal protein from deboned turkey and both turkey and salmon meals. Label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 20% fat and 35% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of 55%.
Read our review of the full Nulo FreeStyle Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 37% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult Pitbulls only (not for puppies) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I switched to Nulo about 4 years ago and never looked back. My senior dog loves the food and I find her to be in fine health. Her previous food was supposed to be top quality but started to have recalls that concerned me. This line so far has lived up to my expectations. I love that the food is not filled with fillers and items that an older or more sensitive dog cant tolerate."
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.
