Wondering the best dog food for labs? If your furry companion is a Labrador Retriever, you are conversant with their affection and high-energy fun.
So, which dog food is best for labs? Which is the best dog food for lab puppies? And which is the best affordable dog food for labs?
Picking the best dog food for labs can be a daunting task. Like other canines, labs require a balanced diet to keep them well and loaded with life.
To make things simpler, we have come up with a rundown of the absolute best nutrition for labs that you ought to consider.
So let’s begin.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons.
10 Best Dog Food for Labs
Here is our best affordable dog food irresistible to puppies, adults, senior labs.
Puppies
Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy Dry
This is a special formulation aimed at maintaining the ideal weight for labrador puppies. It’s a 4.8 star rated dry food tailor-made to support a healthy immune system, growth, and digestions for puppies between 8 weeks-15 months.
Benefits
- Has digestible protein for optimal stool quality.
- Contains enhanced proteins for ideal weight support
- Formulated for lab puppies from 8 weeks to 15 months
- Suitable unique size, shape, and texture no puppy choke
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Chicken Byproduct Meal -Brewers Rice -Brown Rice -Corn Gluten Meal -Wheat Gluten | Lab puppies aged 8 weeks-15 months | $78.29-$95 |
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula with Probiotics Dry
Made with chicken as the number one ingredient, this premium 4.7 stars rated food is formulated to help grow large breed puppies. It’s packed with the required nutrients in the growth phase.
This food is enriched with DHA from omega-rich fish oils to help uphold your dog’s mind and advancement of vision.
Benefits
- High protein formula with chicken for lean muscle development
- Includes DHA vital for brain and vision improvement.
- Has live probiotics for digestive and immune wellbeing.
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Chicken-Rice -Corn Gluten Meal -Whole grain corn -Poultry Byproduct Meal | Puppies | $34.48-$60 |
CANIDAE PURE Puppy Recipe
Crafted with 9 real food ingredients, this 4.6 stars rated food presents a complete and wholesome meal for the health and wellbeing of your canine. It starts with chicken for a protein-rich, muscle-boosting feast.
Healthy veggies, a mix of probiotics, cell reinforcements, unsaturated fats, and nutrients are added for nourishment. This premium food has no wheat, corn, or soy hence easy on the canine’s stomach.
Benefits
- It’s grain-free thus highly digestible and suitable for sensitive stomachs
- Made with real food ingredients to support overall health
- No additives health plus in every bite
- Contains probiotics that enhance digestion
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Chicken -Menhaden Fish meal -Lentils-Peas -Potatoes | Puppies | $50-65 |
Adults
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey (Dry)
This is a 100% natural grain-free food designed with ingredients that support ideal health for adult dogs. It’s packed with premium proteins sourced from real chicken and turkey.
With a rating of 4.7, this food is further fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. A mix of fish and flaxseed omega is added for healthy skin and coat.
Benefits
- Protein-focused nutrition with real chicken and turkey for growth of lean muscles
- All-natural to support optimal health
- Contains Omega-3 fatty acids to help brain health
- Optimum fat and Calorie levels for a healthy heart
- Great hip and joint support for optimal activity.
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Deboned turkey -Turkey meal -Chicken meal -Peas -Potatoes | Adult Dogs | $50-70 |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free (Dry)
This is a premium 4.7 star rated formula containing tons of proteins, perfect carbohydrate quantities, and plenty of antioxidant rich-fruits designed to cater to the energy needs of adult dogs.
The recipe starts with delightful protein-packed chicken crucial for building and maintaining lean muscles.
Benefits
- Made with 100% natural food for a happy dog
- Grain-free food made with healthy carbohydrates for energy supply
- Packed with premium protein from real chicken to support muscle growth
- Contains Lifesource Bits that support immune health
- Contain oxidative balance for optimal health
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Boneless chicken -Chicken meal -Peas -Pea protein -Tapioca starch | Adult dogs | $50-70 |
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free (Dry)
Made with a blend of proteins, including roasted Bison and Venison, this 4.7 star rated formula offers incredible nutrition for your pooch.
This highly digestible grain-free diet presents a unique taste with a wild touch. Added vegetables and fruits provide antioxidants that support a healthy lifestyle. Prebiotic support from dried chicory roots helps with digestion.
Benefits
- Has ingredients from a trusted source no fillers added.
- Contains real buffalo meat necessary for muscle growth
- Natural food that is easy to digest for a firm stool
- Made in the US safety and quality guaranteed
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Buffalo -Lamb meal -Sweet potatoes -Egg product -Pea protein | -Puppies, Adult dogs, and pregnant/nursing dogs | $30-50 |
Senior
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Meal
Formulated specifically for aging dogs’ needs, this 4.7 stars rated food provides natural, easily digestible nutrition. It’s made with chicken and contains a synergistic mix that supports grown-up canine’s energy and activity levels.
It contains balanced minerals to uphold heart and kidney health, essential for grown-up canines. Unsaturated omega-6 fats and vitamin E are also added for a sparkling coat.
Benefits
- Has high-quality proteins for lean muscles development
- Balanced nutrients to support heart and kidney health.
- Contains omega-6 and Vitamin E that boosts memory
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Chicken meal -Pearled Barley -Brewers Rice -Whole Grain wheat -Whole Grain Corn | Senior Dogs | $30-50 |
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior
Made with premium quality protein from chicken; this 4.8 star rated wet food is made with all-natural ingredients.
Additionally, it contains kitchen veggies and fruits and is enhanced with vitamins and minerals, including chondroitin and glucosamine.
This delicious recipe tailored to enhance healthy muscles in aging canines does not contain wheat, soy, corn, or additives.
Benefits
- Contains wholesome grains to boost energy levels
- Made with natural, high-quality chicken to support muscle growth
- Has nutritious garden fruits and veggies labs delicacy
- Has no soy, wheat, by-products, or additives hence no gaseous stomach
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Chicken- Chicken broth -Chicken liver -Peas -Brown rice | Senior Dogs | $30-50 |
Budget choice
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula Adult (Dry)
This 4.5 stars rated recipe is formulated with real beef protein and figured from the best ingredients, it utilizes carefully decided levels of protein, fats, and other crucial supplements to help your companion remain dynamic and strong.
This wholesome, all-encompassing diet contains profoundly nutritious superfoods like kale, blueberries, chia seeds, and pumpkin alongside real fruits and veggies.
Benefits
- It features real beef protein for strong muscles
- Fully absorbable and nutrient-full recipe to support digestive health
- Contains omega-3 and 6 for smooth skin
- Has no artificial additives and fillers hence easy on the stomach
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Beef meal -Ground sorghum -Ground white rice -Dried Yeast -Egg product | Adult dogs | $35-40 |
Purina Beneful Originals Adult Dry
This is a 100% complete and balanced nutrition made with real farm-raised beef as the first ingredient. With an incredible taste and no artificial flavors, this 4.5 stars rated food contains 23 basic nutrients and minerals for your dog’s wellbeing.
It’s antioxidants-rich for boosting immune health and enhanced with real spinach, carrots, and peas for a completely balanced diet.
Benefits
- Contains no artificial flavors and preservatives hence healthy
- Made with real farm-raised beef for lean muscle development
- Completely wholesome and balanced for optimal health
- Rich in antioxidants great for the immune system
| Key Ingredients | Best For | Price Range |
| -Beef -Whole Grain Corn -Barley -Whole Grain Wheat -Rice | Adult Dogs | $14-30 |
About Labrador Retriever
A labrador retriever is a strong-built,short-coupled canine characterized by a short, dense weather-resistant coat. This high-energy dog built for sport is solid and athletic.
Labs are affectionate and loyal dogs that live well with families and friends. They are intelligent, easily trainable, and have endless love for food.
What are labs known for?
Labs are known for their boundless energy. Their high intelligence makes them great at hunting and fishing. Besides their triumphant character, their high energy is ideal for sporting and working, including service dogs.
Best Dog Food for Labs: Feeding Guide
Dogs used to hunt and scavenge to fill their tummies in the wild. But in the modern days, they have to solely rely on their owner to provide them with all they need.
So the provision of quality, nutritious, and balanced diets is the dog owner’s duty. For that reason, I have compiled a feeding guide for labs that will help you answer the common feeding questions.
Why are labs obsessed with food?
Labs have an immense craving for food as reported by the dog breeders and owners. This makes them prone to canine obesity. This inability to feel full can be biologically explained.
Labradors have a gene modification that makes them unable to turn off hunger after a meal. Lack of the POMC gene makes them obsessed with food.
Nutritional requirement for labs
Being high-energy dog breeds, a protein-rich diet is ideal for high-energy dog breeds. A 20-30% protein content range is perfect for these dogs, but growing puppies can accommodate slightly higher.
Fats and carbohydrates are also important considerations but should be kept low. Fat content of between 10-15% is perfect.
Chondroitin and glucosamine should be included to prevent joint problems and DHA & Taurine for optimal eye health.
A calcium level of 1%-1.5% is appropriate for puppies while fiber should be maintained at 4% for junior dogs and 5-9% for senior dogs. A low-calorie diet is ideal especially for less active labs
How to Feed a Lab
Feeding labs should not be complicated. You only need to understand what they love.
What are favorite foods for labs?
The two most popular foods for labs are dry kibble and raw meat and bones( BARF). Although BARF is gaining popularity, dry kibble is still the most preferred food option.
Dry kibble
This comes in the form of dried pellets.
Pros
- Convenient and easy to feed
- It’s easy to store
- Easy to feed
- Widely available
Cons
- Can cause bloating in dogs
- Smelly dog poop due to fillers
Raw Meat and Bones Food (BARF)
This is uncooked meat and bones.
Pros
- Grain-free diet great for dogs with allergies
- Enhances dental health
- Odorless poop
- Highly palatable
Cons
- It’s not easy to store
- Requires high preparation hygiene
Labrador Feeding Chart
| Age of puppy | Weight of puppy | Quantity per day | Meals per day | Quantity per meal |
| 0-45 days | Up To 25lbs(up to 12kgs) | 8 ounces | 4 | 2 ounces |
| 3-6 months | 26-50lbs(13-24kgs) | 8-12 ounces | 3 | 2-4 ounces |
| 6-15 months | 50-77lbs(24-34kgs) | 12-16 ounces | 2 | 6-8 ounces |
| 15 months onwards | 77-80lbs(up to 34kgs) | 3.5-4.5 cups | 2 | 1.75-2.25 cups |
| Senior labs | 80lbs(Up to 34kgs) | 4.5-5.5 cups | 2 | 2.25-2.75 cups |
Giving leftovers and scraps
Household leftovers and scraps are safe for adult dogs if they don’t contain toxic ingredients such as sugar, onions, garlic, etc. However, these are not recommended for puppies.
Dog feeding equipment
Go for the feeding bowls that are attractive, easy to handle, dishwasher friendly, and not easily breakable. Beware also of raised bowls as they have been linked to bloating.
Storing dog food
It should be stored in airtight resealable containers to keep dry dog food fresher for longer. Keep raw meat and bones refrigerated to keep them from contamination.
Labrador Dog Food FAQs
Does a lab have any specific dietary needs?
Being a large breed with high-energy dogs, labs require a diet rich in protein and fats.
Moreover, due to the enormous health conditions that labs often face, specific supplements are necessary.
Do labs need joint supporting nutrients in their diet?
Yes. Labradors are prone to joint conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, leading to chronic arthritis. As such, high-quality calcium and phosphorus are needed to help support bone and joint well-being.
How do I find out if my lab has food allergies?
Loose bowels, farting, vomiting, and lack of appetite are important reasons for food allergies. Wheezing, coughing, sneezing, irritated skin, and repeated ear infections are also possible symptoms of hypersensitivities.
What labs should not eat
Onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, almonds, chocolates, nutmeg powder, cinnamon, avocado, coffee, alcohol, grapes, and green tomatoes are foods you should not give labs.
Giving water to your labs
Kibble-fed dogs tend to take more water than those fed on raw food.
Dogs need water throughout the day. However, puppies should be given water at least an hour before bedtime.
When feeding problems needs vet help,
Sudden changes in your dog’s eating habits may indicate that it’s not well. If your dog completely refuses to feed, it’s appropriate to seek vet help.
Final Thoughts
Labrador retriever is a breed that’s loveable and enchanting that every dog owner loves to have around.
I know you care more about what goes through its mouth. It deserves the best dog food for labs to keep on cloud nine.
What else is missing in the list that’s yummy for labs? Let me know in the comment section.