Best Dog Food For Irish Wolfhounds
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In ancient Ireland, where, unsurprisingly, the Irish Wolfhound originated, these dogs were used to hunt wolves. With their tall demeanors and strong bodies, they made the perfect opponent for wolves and other similar animals back in those days.
As the years passed, the Irish Wolfhounds earned themselves a new nickname, “the gentle giant.”.
Today, Irish wolfhound dogs have become some of the most beloved house pets. They make the perfect furry friend with their soft and sensitive yet fierce and protective nature. Just make sure you have room for them, both indoors and outdoors.
Compare Best Dog Food For Irish Wolfhounds
BEST FOR SENSITIVITIES  2. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food | ||||
Protein 32% Min | Protein 24% Min | Protein 23% Min | Protein 25% Min | Protein 23% Min |
Fat 12% Min | Fat 10% Min | Fat 11% Min | Fat 11% Min | Fat 15% Min |
Fiber 6% Max | Fiber 4% Max | Fiber 5.5% Max | Fiber 4.5% Max | Fiber 4.50% Max |
Calories 3,464 kcal/kg or 402 kcal/cup ME | Calories 350 calories per cup | Calories 3475 Kcal/kg or 368 Kcal/cup | Calories 328 calories per cup | Calories 3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup |
Our Criteria
In choosing the best dog foods for Irish Wolfhounds, we are looking for the following:
- Foods that are AAFCO-approved, preferably with food trials.
- Dog food brands that have good quality control.
- Nutrition is more important than ingredients that sound appealing to humans.
- Companies that employ staffs of veterinary nutritionists to develop their formulas.
- Companies that invest in nutritional research and testing.
We are also aware of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning from the summer of 2018 about a possible link between grain-free dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. This investigation is continuing, and the research has been expanded to include dog foods that contain exotic meat proteins.
We don’t recommend grain-free dog foods at this time unless your dog has a grain allergy or another health problem that has been diagnosed by your veterinarian. As a result, some of the foods we recommend are not the most popular dog foods. However, they are healthy foods for your dog, backed by research and science.
The 5 Best Dog Food For Irish Wolfhounds Reviewed
Your Irish Wolfhound deserves to have the best food that you can give it. Therefore, the first step in doing that is to know exactly what your dog needs. Lucky for you, we have already put together a list of recommended products with something for every stage of the dog’s life.
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Large Breed Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 32% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 6% Max
- Calories: 3,464 kcal/kg or 402 kcal/cup ME
- High levels of protein for lean muscles
- Added calcium for strong bones
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Some customers felt that their dogs didn’t like this food
The different substances in this blend promote healthy joint and hip health and optimal digestive health. Furthermore, the omega fatty acids found in this food ensure that your dog’s skin and coat are as healthy and shiny as can be. Finally, this dog food blend features specific vitamins and minerals in order to ensure your dog’s immune system health.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 350 calories per cup
- Does not contain corn, wheat, or soy
- Contains prebiotic fiber to promote healthy digestion
- Made in the USA
- Cost is above market average
In addition, the Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids found in this mix keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy. Finally, this mix doesn’t include any artificial ingredients, allowing you the confidence that your dog is constantly getting the best nutrition.
Fromm Family Foods Gold Nutritionals Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 11% Min
- Fiber: 5.5% Max
- Calories: 3475 Kcal/kg or 368 Kcal/cup
- Promotes digestive health
- Support for bones and joints health
- A number of customers reported that their dogs enjoyed the taste
- A few dog owners reported that their dogs hated the taste of this food
Moreover, this blend features L-carnitine in order to assist your dog on their journey of weight loss, making it easier for them to lose the excess weight. Finally, this blend is formed in accordance with nutritional guidelines set by the AAFCO, ensuring you that your dog always has the best quality ingredients and the most nutritious meal.
NOW! Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Senior Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 25% Min
- Fat: 11% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 328 calories per cup
- Added prebiotics and probiotics
- Promotes healthy digestion
- Contains healthy fats (Omega 6 fatty acids)
- Some customers found that their dogs had trouble chewing on the kibbles
In addition, the L-Carnitine found in this dog food helps assist your dog shed excess weight and improves cardiovascular activity. Finally, the prebiotics and probiotics infused into this blend help keep your senior dog’s digestive system healthy.
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 15% Min
- Fiber: 4.50% Max
- Calories: 3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup
- 0% fillers and artificial ingredients
- Made in the USA
- Contains real Lamb as the #1 ingredient
- A few dog owners complained of damaged bags of dog food
- Some dogs, according to their owners, simply didn’t like this food
Furthermore, this blend contains optimal levels of fat and protein in order to ensure that your puppy grows at a steady and healthy rate. Finally, this mix includes protease and amylase, in order to assist your puppy in the digestion process and ensure its healthy digestive health.
What Kind of Diet Should You Feed Your Irish Wolfhound?
Every dog needs to have good-quality, digestible protein in his diet. The protein should come from animal sources such as meat, fish, and poultry. Per AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials), adult dogs need a minimum of 18 percent protein in their diet.
Puppies and pregnant or lactating females need a minimum of 22 percent protein. If your Irish Wolfhound is very active and engaging in activities such as agility or hunting, he would need more protein.
All dogs need the following nutrients in their diet, including Irish wolfhounds:
Protein: Protein is essential for your dog. It’s the source of his hair, skin, tissue repair, muscle development, and other functions. Adult dogs need a minimum of 18 percent protein in their diet and 22 percent for growth and reproduction. Most good dog foods exceed these levels.
However, this doesn’t mean that your dog needs enormous protein percentages. It’s more important that your dog get protein that he can easily digest and use—called bioavailability. If the protein in a dog food is in a form that your dog can’t properly digest, it’s not useful to him.
We recommend feeding your Irish Wolfhounds a grain-inclusive dog food with moderate protein levels between 22 and 26 percent.
Fat: Dogs need a minimum of 5 percent fat in their diet and 8 percent for growth and reproduction. Nearly every dog food has more fat in it than these levels. Fat is one of the ingredients that makes dog food taste good to your dog. But if there is too much fat in dog food, you will find that your dog gains weight.
Irish wolfhounds can become overweight rather easily if you don’t watch their calories and exercise.
For this reason, we recommend moderate fat percentages for Irish wolfhounds. Look for foods that have a fat percentage between 12 and 16 percent.
Carbohydrates: Contrary to popular belief, carbohydrates are not filler ingredients or empty calories. They provide energy, fiber, and other nutrients. Your dog cannot live only on protein and fat. Sugar and starches from carbohydrates help your dog’s brain and other tissues function.
Fiber: Fiber is also important to your Irish Wolfhounds’s diet. You will find it in dog foods in both soluble and insoluble forms Soluble fiber attracts water and slows the digestive process. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your dog’s fecal matter and can speed the digestive process. Most dry dog foods have between 3 and 5.5 percent crude fiber.
Probiotics and prebiotics: Prebiotics and probiotics are also found in many dog foods today. Prebiotics are one kind of dietary fiber. They can encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in your dog’s gastrointestinal system. Common prebiotics used in dog foods include chicory and inulin.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are added to dog foods so they can colonize your dog’s digestive tract.
Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins and minerals are also added to most dog foods today. That’s because dog foods are cooked at high temperatures, which can strip away some of the nutrients in the ingredients. Adding vitamins and minerals back into the food after cooking ensures that your dog will get the nutrients he needs.
Irish Wolfhound Dietary Needs
Irish Wolfhound dogs are extremely large and active dogs. That requires them to have a good source of protein in order to keep them energized. However, it is also important to control the calorie level and protein intake of these puppies, as otherwise, these dogs grow fast in size. In order to ensure that your dog doesn’t develop joint issues during their growing years, it is best to keep them growing at a slower and more controlled pace. Moreover, it is important that the food you feed your Irish Wolfhound is of high quality.
That gives you confidence that your dog is receiving all the nutrients that it needs in order to lead a healthy and happy life.
How Much to Feed Your Irish Wolfhound According to Age?
Some dog owners adopt a feeding method called ‘free feeding’. This is when the dog owner leaves the food out and allows the dog to eat it as and when it feels hungry throughout the day. However, given the size and likeliness of an Irish wolfhound to gain weight, this is a bad method for them.
When it comes to an Irish Wolfhound, the best idea is to measure out their food and allow them a 30-minute time period to eat it. Anything left over after that should be taken away; this will keep your dog from snacking and developing bad eating habits.
- Adult: Adult dogs are prone to bloating, which can come from the excess ingestion of air. In order to prevent this from happening, it is best to serve your Irish Wolfhound a few small meals throughout the day.
- Puppy: Puppies should be provided with up to four meals throughout the day. This will keep them healthy, nourished, and full of energy. However, make sure not to overfeed your puppy as overweight puppies are more likely to develop joint pain in the future.
- Senior: As with all dogs, even the Irish Wolfhound Senior dogs need to have their diets adjusted to their new metabolism and activity level. That’s because dogs begin to gain weight in their senior years, which can further aggravate any health conditions that old age may bring.
Food Allergies And Food Related Health Issues
Irish wolfhounds are prone to a fair amount of health issues, like cancer and heart disease.
So while the food they eat generally can’t cure or be directly linked to most of their health problems, there has been some research done to prove that perhaps food can help prevent unwanted diseases.
If your dog is on a healthy diet with foods that don’t include chemicals, preservatives, or any other artificial ingredients, then they are more likely to remain healthy and happy. These dogs are also susceptible to conditions such as bloating, requiring you to come up with a healthy meal plan in order to keep your dog safe and healthy.
Final Thoughts
In the end, for generations, Irish wolfhounds were used as hunting dogs and also participated in wars. Around two thousand years ago, these dogs would fight alongside Celtic warriors. However, these dogs are no longer used as soldiers or warriors, but instead as loving home pets.
So with their new role, it is up to you to protect your dog from modern-day health issues. Finding your Irish Wolfhound the perfect food to keep them healthy, strong, and energized is your first step in protecting and loving them today, as they did us back then.
