Best Dog Food For Mastiffs in 2024
I’m sorry, but you haven’t provided any text to rephrase. Could you please supply the content you’d like rewritten?
If you are lucky enough to have one of these gentle giants in your life, you probably know that they require both thought and care to live a long and healthy life. Mastiffs need quality nutrition in order to grow strong enough to effortlessly carry their own weight, and it can sometimes be a challenge to find that perfect wet or dry food for your very large furry friend. This is what we are here for! This is a list of some of the best adult and puppy food options for Mastiffs and other giant breeds, complete with a handy buyers guide to teach you what to look for and what to avoid.
Table of Contents
Our team has spent hours researching products to find the best dog food for Mastiffs, read our in-depth reviews below. Learn more about our 10 point inspection checklist.
Best Dog Food For Mastiffs
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food
Subscription dog food has been gaining in popularity, and Farmer’s Choice should also be your choice for your large fur baby. Every recipe is made from real food, human-grade food that would even be safe for you to eat.
We believe that our dogs deserve the best, much like we do and Farmer’s Choice is exactly that. All the food is prepared in USDA kitchens that have passed stringent quality checks. They are made fresh, delivered to your door for convenience and vet approved.
Why We Like It – Farmer’s Choice subscription dog food is catered to your pet. Whether you have a giant mastiff or a teacup poodle, they take everything into account.
Fresh dog food is the better, healthier option for your fur baby.
The Farmer's Dog a service that delivers balanced, freshly made pet food with simple recipes, guided by science, and driven by love.
It's loaded with quality human-grade meat, fruits, veggies and superfoods in a vet-approved recipe.
Pros:
+ Made Fresh
+ Human-grade ingredients
+ Made in USDA approved kitchen
+ Delivered to your door
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free
Choose between chicken (with chicken meal) and salmon when you get this dry food, and let your Mastiff experience quality kibble at its absolute best. It has enough calories per serving to keep your large breed adult friend at a healthy weight, with protein from real meat and meat meal, rather than low-quality by-products which is what you often find in low-quality brands. The recipe is adapted to better suit giant dog breeds, and it is one of those dog foods that gives your Mastiff everything he or she needs to stay healthy.
Why We Like It – Once you are done with your Mastiff puppy food, it is a good idea to switch your fur friend over to a healthy and protein-rich recipe like this one here, and you get LifeSource Bits packed with antioxidants and vitamins.
Pros:
+ Glucosamine and chondroitin
+ Chicken or Salmon protein
+ With LifeSource Bits
3. Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast
According to many holistic veterinarians, this is the best dog food you can feed to both an English Mastiff and any other type of Mastiff, thanks to the healthy protein coming from lean, red meat, with just the right mix of fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 to keep that Mastiff coat looking shiny and eye-catching. There are no potatoes, no grains, corn, wheat and no gluten added to this recipe, and the packaging is free from BPA and other toxins to make sure your dog’s food stays as fresh as possible.
Why We Like It – Everyone wants to be able to feed their dog the best dog food possible, and here you also get packaging that is free from anything that could potentially jeopardize the quality of the food.
Pros:
+ Protein from lean, red meat
+ No gluten, potatoes or grain
+ BPA-free packaging
4. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Dog Food
Rachael Ray is known for making dog food with ingredients she herself would be happy to use in her kitchen, and all meat found in this food comes from U.S farm-raised animals. There are no low-quality protein or animal by-products, no fillers and no wheat, corn, etc. etc. This food for your Mastiff will have him or her thriving thanks to the added vitamins and minerals, along with healthy Omega fatty acids, and it also contains everything your dog needs to maintain a nourished skin and coat.
Why We Like It – Not only does this brand use quality ingredients, but they also donate a percentage of the profits to animal rescue organizations nationwide.
Pros:
+ U.S farm-raised beef
+ Added vitamins and minerals
+ No animal by-products
5. Wellness Complete Health Natural Large Breed
This is a dog food designed to provide the ultimate nutrients for large breed dogs and to keep your Mastiff at a healthy weight with the best food possible. It contains a balanced number of calories per cup of kibble, and a mix of fresh meats and chicken meal to guarantee a high protein content. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been incorporated to help prevent bone, joint and hip problems, to protect breeds like the English Mastiff from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Why We Like It – Wellness will support healthy weight in an English Mastiff, and make your Mastiff’s diet complete, nutritious and delicious, to convince even those Mastiffs that might normally get tired of always eating the same food.
Pros:
+ Rich in quality protein
+ With fresh meat and chicken meal
+ Adjusted amount of calories per cup
6. NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Adult Lamb & Rice
If you prefer to feed the best dog food to your Mastiff while still not cutting out the grains, you can go straight for this nutritious recipe which uses only quality grains like brown rice. The protein comes from lamb – a meat that is great for building and maintaining lean muscle, and there is added fiber to boost the metabolism and set your English Mastiff up for a long life with improved digestion.
Why We Like It – Protein plays a big roll in a dog’s life, and here you get just the kind larger breeds needs to keep those extra kilos away and to stay at a healthy weight.
Pros:
+ Fiber for healthy digestion
+ Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids
+ Protein rich lamb listed first
7. Diamond Naturals Adult Large Breed
Here we have a company that is family owned and fully run in the United States, and they use only quality ingredients when making their kibble and wet food products. This food is made with fresh lamb and lamb meal, and every ingredient has been added with a purpose, to adapt it to larger dogs with nutritional needs that are a little different from those of smaller canines.
Why We Like It – The metabolism plays a big role in keeping a large dog healthy, and to keep them at a good weight, and this recipe contains proprietary probiotics which will help improve digestion.
Pros:
+ Tailored for large breeds
+ With real lamb meat
+ Proprietary probiotics
8. Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Large Breed
Blue Buffalo makes kibble packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and it is all carefully infused in the little LifeSource Bits you can find among the regular kibble. This recipe is made for large dogs, and there are no grains, corn, wheat, soy, tapioca or other fillers. They have also chosen to use only
Why We Like It – After using a larger breed puppy food, it is convenient to switch your Mastiff over to a kibble like this that has balanced nutrition and a source of quality protein.
Pros:
+ Free from grains
+ No animal by-products
+ Antioxidants and minerals
9. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Large Breed
Some Mastiffs are known to have skin issues and allergies, and then it is a good idea to switch them over to a limited ingredient recipe like this once they are ready to leave the giant breed puppy food behind. It has all the necessary ingredients to promote strong muscle, and the brand uses quality grains like brown rice that are rich in fiber – essentially bettering the metabolism which will help your dog process his or her food better. The protein comes from a single source to better prevent food-related allergies and irritation.
Why We Like It – If you have a Mastiff with food allergies or sensitivities, this is the type of kibble you will want to feed, where the protein comes from one single type of animal.
Pros:
+ Promotes stronger muscle
+ Brown rice rich in fiber
+ For healthy skin and coat
10. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Adult
Crave has created a recipe packed with nutrition, where the high protein content comes from real salmon and other types of fish, with the total amount of protein being an impressive 34%. There are no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and no grains or pointless fillers. It is without doubts one of the best dog food products you can get for your Mastiffs, and they are sure to love the fresh and meaty taste found in every kibble.
Why We Like It – Dog foods like these are designed to somewhat mimic what dogs would have eaten in the wild, which makes this a very nutritious blend especially for a giant breed like the Mastiff.
Pros:
+ 34% quality protein
+ Real salmon and fish
+ Free from artificial flavors
11. Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Dry
Purina is a brand you can find all over the world, and they have several different products to make sure there is something for every dog. This large dog recipe is made with real chicken, which you will find listed first, and it contains a prebiotic fiber known to benefit the digestion of larger dog breeds, along with a healthy dose of glucosamine and fatty acids like EPA.
Why We Like ItI’m sorry, but you haven’t provided any text to rephrase. Could you please supply the content you’d like rewritten? – This is a very easily accessed dog food sold by many pet stores, veterinarians and online, and it is a good budget option for someone who is trying to keep the cost low.
Pros:
+ Real chicken listed first
+ With prebiotic fiber
+ Glucosamine and EPA fatty acids
12. Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food
Next up is another subscription dog food service – Nom Nom Dog Food. Feel at ease when feeding your fur baby NomNom because their top chef is a vet! They know exactly what goes into the food and what is best for your dog considering his age, weight, breed, etc.
The food is healthy and natural and comes in flavors your dog can’t resist! Even if you’re not sure which one your dog would like, you can choose samplers to figure out his palate. Every meal is freshly made and delivered to your door for your dog to receive well-balanced nutrition.
Why We Like It – Food formulated by a board-certified vet? Sign us up please! You can be sure that you are giving your giant breed the best with every mouthful of NomNom Dog Food.
Want to learn more about Nom Nom Dog Food? Read our in depth Nom Nom Dog Food Review.
Fresh dog food is the better, healthier option for your fur baby.
Nom Nom a service that delivers balanced, freshly made pet food perfectly balanced with fresh, whole natural ingredients.
The formula is carefully developed by Dr. Justin Shmalberg DVM so you can trust your dog is in good hands.
Pros:
+ Freshly made
+ Delicious flavors
+ Delivered to your door
+ Formulated by a vet nutritionist
Best Dog Food for Mastiffs Buyers Guide
A Mastiff is an impressive sight, especially if you have never seen one before, but that feeling of astonishment almost never goes away even after having been an owner for many years. They are powerful, huge in size, generally very friendly and just something you might not see every day, and it is not hard to fall in love with the breed. This means that there are many new Mastiff owners only just learning everything they need to know about the breed and one thing you need to know about Mastiffs the best dog breed according to many is what they benefit the most from eating so that you can make sure your dog gets the wet or dry food he deserves. Learn more about the Mastiff breed here.
When it comes to large breed adult and puppy food, it can be a little thicker to find the right one and the options will sometimes seem more limited than when you are shopping for a small pooch or a medium-sized dog, but once you learn what to look for – it gets a lot easier! This is a quick guide to help you become an expert when it comes to finding the best dry dog food for Mastiffs living under your roof.
Large Breed Dog Food vs. Regular Dog Food
As you might have noticed, the pet stores and online stores are full of different types of dry dog food, and it can be hard to know what would work best for your dog. There is, for example, both regular dry dog food and large breed dry dog food, so the question is – does it matter what you choose? This depends on the dry food you are considering, as some premium brands have formulas made for all dogs that still contain enough of what large dog breeds need, but a good rule of thumb is that if the brand you are looking at offers both a regular food for adult dogs and one for adult large breed dogs, it is usually better to go with the latter if you have a Mastiff. Mastiffs are, after all, one of the absolute largest dog breeds in the world, and they deserve the best possible food to cover their nutritional requirements and to keep them strong and healthy.
Bone & Joint Care
The best way to look after a Mastiff’s bones and joints is by providing quality dog food, preferably from that they are puppies (the puppy food matters more than what many dog owners think), as this will help their bones and joints develop properly, as well as their bodies to grow strong enough to carry their own weight. Caring for bones and joints in Mastiffs comes down to more than just food, with preventing very young puppies from running too much on hard surfaces or from taking high or long jumps unless necessary being examples, but the food plays a big role. You can start looking for food with glucosamine and chondroitin already while the dog is younger, as it is never too early to start providing large breeds with bone and joint care.
Importance of Protein
Many low-quality dog food brands use fillers like corn, wheat, and soy in their dog food products, all which have little to no nutritional value for dogs, and are used simply because it is cheap and allows the companies to keep their prices down. A cheap dog food can end up leading to expensive veterinary bills, though, and it is worth it to spend a little bit extra on kibble or wet food if possible. A named meat product should always be listed first among the ingredients, and this tends to be a clear sign of a premium product. Look for any meat like beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck or similar, and see if you can find one that has a meat meal (like chicken meal or lamb meal) listed as ingredient number two. Meat meal is a processed ingredient where the water content of the meat has already been removed, which means that it contains roughly 300% more protein than fresh meat.
That said, you should try to avoid animal by-products due to the questionable protein content in these products, as large breeds like Mastiffs need quality protein to grow up strong and healthy. Dogs are debated to be either carnivores or omnivores, but in both scenarios – they are made to consume protein-rich meat, and it is a need that should be met unless your veterinarian says otherwise.
Keeping the Dog at a Healthy Weight
An overweight dog is always a problem, and any responsible dog owner knows how important it is to keep adult dogs at a stable and healthy weight, but this is even more true for giant breeds. Imagine how much weight they carry around and how much effort goes into carrying their own weight, and then add some extra pounds to that! Sounds like a good combination? It isn’t. Some may think that a chubby mastiff puppy or adult dog is cute, which it isn’t, and obesity and excess weight could significantly shorten your dog’s lifespan and overall life quality. With this in mind, feed quality dog food to lower the risk of weight gain, follow the feeding instructions and monitor your pup’s weight closely throughout his or her life.
Food for Mastiff Puppies
So, “what should I feed my Mastiff puppy” is probably a question that has gone through your mind, especially if you are about to welcome a young Mastiff dog into your life, and it is a very justified question! Many dog food brands advertise dog food for all life stages, which supposedly means that both puppies, adult dogs and seniors can eat it and benefit from its nutrients, but it is important to remember that this is only recommended for small- and medium dog breeds, and not for large, giant breed puppies, like the Mastiff. Large and giant breed dogs are prone to certain health problems and their bones support a lot more weight than for example a Chihuahua, and this is why it is important to skip All Lifestages dog food for this breed (when they are puppies), and to preferably choose a large breed puppy formula for a Mastiff puppy instead.
Senior Mastiff Food
As a dog gets older, the natural production of Glucosamine starts to slow down, which can leave the bones and joints even more unprotected than before. This is an issue especially for large breed dogs, as they have a lot of weight to carry. Many Mastiff owners opt for giving Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements, which is a great idea for these dogs, but it is also a smart move to provide senior Mastiffs with a senior dog food, as these tend to be a good source of everything an aging dog needs. Senior dog foods are often recommended for dogs over the age of 7, but considering the fact that the larger the dog is, the earlier these issues might set in, it is recommended that you talk to your veterinarian to see when would be a good time to switch your older Mastiff over to a senior dog food.
What do you feed your English Mastiff?
This review article was put together with all Mastiff types in mind, including English Mastiff, so take your dog’s age, size, preferences, and energy level into consideration when you make your choice.
Can Mastiffs eat chicken?
The quick answer is that yes, a Mastiff can eat chicken, as it is a meat type that is considered safe for not only this breed, but for all dogs. However, it is not unusual for a Mastiff (English Mastiff and others) to suffer from food allergies, and some dogs can be sensitive to chicken in particular, so as to whether they can eat it – it will come to depend entirely on the dog.
How much do you feed a Mastiff dog?
If you are familiar with the breed, then you have probably noticed that not all Mastiff dogs are the same size, so this is something you will need to take into consideration. Check the feeding guidelines on the dog food of your choice and feed in accordance with your dog’s weight, and should you notice an undesirable weight gain – reduce the amount, and increase amount if your dog is not gaining enough weight. Consult with your veterinarian if unsure.
Conclusion
With large dogs comes a big responsibility, one might say, as you need to make sure you are providing your big dog with the correct mix of nutrients to keep their bodies strong enough to carry their own weight. They need glucosamine and chondroitin for their bones and joints, quality protein sources and vitamins, and you will only find this in quality dog food. Giant breeds like the Mastiff can live a healthy life, but it requires effort on behalf of the owner, and in this case you. A dog this size will also eat a lot, so you need to consider the food costs before you consider welcoming one into the family, and make sure you have the funds to provide your new fur friend with a quality dog food diet.
Expert Tip
Large breeds need proper nutrition from that they are puppies, but a healthy diet will not make them immune to health issues and injuries, so make sure you bring up any concern with a trusted veterinarian.
Did You Know?
Zorba, an English Mastiff, is the largest Mastiff ever recorded at this point in time, and Zorba also holds the record for being the heaviest canine currently on record.
