Best dog foods for Great Danes
Great Danes grow quickly and need food that supports their large size.
Their diet should be rich in high-quality proteins, moderate in fat, and provide enough calories to sustain their energy without promoting obesity.
Puppy food should have more calories than adult food and should include glucosamine, chondroitin, calcium, and phosphorus to support joint and bone health.
Food should also contain probiotics, fiber, antioxidants, taurine, and L-carnitine to reduce the risks of bloating, heart issues, and cancer.
Top brands for Great Danes include Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, Orijen, Nutro, and Eukanuba. Prices range from $27 to $92.
The Best Dog Foods for Great Danes
- The best overall: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food- $ 56.99 for a 30-pound bag
- The best price-effective: Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken Dry Food- $ 33.99 for a 30pounds bag
- The best Breed-specific: Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food- $ 91.99 for a 30-pound bag
- The best for joint health: Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Health Chicken Meal & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food- $ 67.99 for a 30-pound bag
- Best for weight management: Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food- $ 59.99 for a 40-pound bag
Royal Canin Great Dane Adult Dry Dog Food
Maintain your Great Dane’s magnificence with this formula by Mars PetFood Company, launched on November 1, 2017.
Key ingredients: Chicken Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Tapioca, Brewers Rice, Corn. With 390 Kcal/cup, 21% protein, and 23% fat, it boosts energy.
Glucosamine and chondroitin support joints, while DHA, EPA, taurine, and L-carnitine enhance brain, vision, and heart health. Vitamin C and E boost immunity.
Specialized kibble aids digestion. Feed 110.2 lbs dogs 6 ¾ cups (normal activity) or 8 ⅛ cups (high activity). Suitable for Great Danes 24 months and older.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Food
Serve your dog Blue Buffalo for optimal nutrition, tailored for large breeds.
Deboned Chicken is the main ingredient, providing 21% protein for muscle. Other key ingredients include Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, and Barley.
With 352 Kcal/cup, 12% fat, 22% protein, 6% fiber, and 10% moisture, it promotes bone, muscle, and joint health. L-carnitine aids weight maintenance, while omega fatty acids and taurine support skin, coat, and heart health.
Antioxidants and beta-carotene protect against cancer. Ideal for Great Danes, it’s free from fillers. Feed 50-70 lbs dogs 3 ¼ to 4 ¼ cups daily.
Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro’s formula, crafted for large breeds since May 13, 2009, features Chicken and Chicken Meal for 22% protein, supporting muscle health.
Key ingredients include Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, and Whole Grain Barley.
With 350 Kcal/cup and 13% fat, it provides energy and lowers joint issues with calcium, phosphorus, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Omega fatty acids enhance appearance. Free from artificial additives, wheat, corn, soy, and peas. Ideal for sensitive stomachs and bloating. Feed 40 lbs dogs 2 ¼ cups; 50 lbs dogs 2 ⅔ cups.
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Health Adult Chicken Meal & Oatmeal Dry Food
Holistic Select, crafted for large breeds, offers premium nutrition for Great Danes.
Key ingredients: Chicken Meal, Rice, Oatmeal, Oats, Chicken Fat. With 453 Kcal/cup, 24% protein, and 14% fat, it supports energy, bone, muscle, and joint health. Probiotics and digestive enzymes enhance digestion.
Omega fatty acids, vitamin A, and antioxidants boost immunity and coat health. Suitable for dogs with sensitive digestion but avoid in grain-allergic dogs. Feed 50-60 lbs dogs 2 ⅜ to 2 ¾ cups daily.
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Dry Food
Mars Pet Care’s formula, launched on December 21, 2011, is ideal for large-breed puppies.
Main ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Wheat, Chicken Fat. With 357 Kcal/cup, 26% protein, and 14% fat, it supports muscle and energy.
Calcium and phosphorus promote bone health, while DHA aids vision and neural development.
Suitable for puppies up to 15 months, weighing over 55 lbs. Avoid grain allergies. Feed 3 lbs puppies 1 ¼ cups, and 5 lbs puppies 1 ¾ cups. Add warm water for finicky eaters.
Orijen Puppy Large Dry Food Recipe
Champion Pet Foods’ formula, launched on March 15, 2019, suits large puppies.
Main ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Flounder, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Liver. With 38% protein, 451 Kcal/cup, and 16% fat, it supports muscle growth, brain and eye development, and joint health.
Omega fatty acids enhance skin and coat. Freeze-dried for flavor, it’s ideal for grain allergies. Feed 11 lbs puppies 1 ⅓ cups, and 22 lbs puppies 2 ¼ cups daily.
Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Chicken Dry Food
Gentle Giants, crafted for all breeds, offers premium nutrition with non-GMO ingredients.
Key ingredients: Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Peas. With 358 Kcal/cup, 22% protein, and 9% fat, it supports muscle health and energy while reducing obesity risks.
Pumpkin and antioxidants boost digestion and immunity. Glucosamine and chondroitin promote joint health, and omega fatty acids enhance coat and skin.
Suitable for dogs with sensitive digestion. Feed ½ to 1 cup for dogs <15 lbs, and 2 cups for 15-30 lbs.
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breeds Natural Dry Food Puppy Recipe
Holistic Select, available since October 30, 2009, is ideal for large puppies, especially Great Danes.
Key ingredients: Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, and Barley. With 433 Kcal/cup, 25% protein, and 16% fat, it supports muscle growth, energy, and cardiovascular health.
DHA improves trainability, and antioxidants boost immunity. Feed 50-60 lbs dogs 2 ⅜ to 2 ¾ cups, and 70-80 lbs dogs 3 to 3 ⅜ cups. Suitable for sensitive digestion, but not for grain allergies.
Victor Senior Healthy Weight Dry Food
For senior Great Danes, this formula, crafted on April 4, 2015, offers balanced nutrition.
Main ingredients: Beef Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Millet, Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat. With 360 Kcal/cup, 27% protein, and 11.5% fat, it supports muscle, joint, skin, and coat health.
DHA aids memory, L-carnitine helps weight management, and antioxidants reduce cancer risk. Feed 10 lbs dogs ¾ cups for maintenance and ⅔ cups for weight loss. Suitable for senior dogs.
Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Senior Pate Wet Food
Nutro’s high-protein formula, launched on March 28, 2011, suits all breeds.
Main ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Spinach, Tomatoes. With 98 Kcal/tray, 8% protein, and 55% fat, it supports skin, coat, and muscle health.
Free from fillers, it’s ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies. Feed 3 ½ trays per 10 lbs daily. Transition over 5-10 days. Consult your vet before introducing new food.
What Should You Look for While Buying Dog Foods for Great Danes?
The best dog food for Great Danes should contain moderate to high protein from real sources like chicken or turkey, listed in the first five ingredients.
To prevent obesity, it should have low to moderate fat, with healthy fats from flaxseed or chicken fat, and include L-carnitine for fat breakdown.
For joint health and to prevent hip dysplasia, the food should have glucosamine, chondroitin, calcium, and phosphorus.
Antioxidants and taurine are essential to reduce cancer and heart issues.
To avoid bloating, the food should be free from wheat, corn, soy, and artificial preservatives, with added probiotics for digestion.
Carbohydrates should be limited, digestible, and come from wholesome sources.
What are the best dog foods for Great Danes with different health conditions?
Best Dog Foods for Great Danes With Itchy Skin
- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Formula. It is free from chicken, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs and has fewer ingredients to lower skin problems. It has glucosamine, calcium, and phosphorus for joint, bone, and muscle health.
Best Dog Foods for Picky Eater Great Danes
- The Honest Kitchen Turkey Formula Dehydrated Dog Food. It is crafted with cage-free dehydrated Turkey from a burst of flavors to appeal to your picky eater Great Dane.
The Best Dog Foods for Great Danes with Pancreatitis
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Formula. It is an excellent choice for pancreatic dogs as it has a low-fat value of 8.5%. It has taurine and DHA for heart, brain, and eye wellness.
Best Dog Foods for Great Danes with a Sensitive Stomach
- Wellness Core Digestive Health Dry Food. This recipe is highly digestible and has probiotics and digestive enzymes for smooth digestion and lower the risk of stomach problems. Papaya and pumpkin also support digestion
Best Dog Foods for Great Danes With Allergies
- Canidae Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Food. It has only 8 ingredients to lower the risks of allergic reactions. Having fewer ingredients will also help you easily identify an allergen for your dog.
What are the best dogs with different ingredients for Great Danes?
Best Dog Foods with Pumpkin for Great Danes
- Weruva Pumpkin Patch-Up Formula. The soluble and insoluble fiber supports digestion. It contains pumpkin and water for processing. The high water content hydrates dogs and removes poison from the body. Both water and pumpkin are essential ingredients; hence they are proper.
Best Chicken-Free Dog Foods for Great Danes
- Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-free Dry Formula. The main ingredients are Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, and Peas. all these are proper ingredients as they support the overall growth of your dog.
