Good nutrition is important for a Great Danes. This breed cannot eat all types of dog food on the market. He is best suited to a specific recommended diet.
We understand that most pet parents feed their dogs, high-quality kibble (which is usually dry food). While others moisten the dry diet with water.
But that doesn’t mean you can just pick any high-quality kibble nutrition from the shelves and feed it to your canine friend.
We did detailed research, and we were able to find five top diets that will do well with your Great Danes. They contain nutrients that are vital for your pooch.
Top 5 Dog Foods for Great Danes
#1. Pro Plan Bright Mind Dog Food
Introducing the Pro Plan Bright Mind Dog Food, a high-quality diet that promotes mental sharpness and alertness for your senior Great Danes.
Key Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Poultry By-Product Meal
- Whole Grain Wheat
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Oat Meal
- Whole Grain Corn
- Vegetable Oil
- Fish Oil
- Dried Egg Product
- Pea Fiber
What We Like
This nutrition contains chicken as the first source of high-quality protein that your dog needs for building and maintaining muscle mass.
The poultry by-product meal is a great protein, minerals, essential vitamins, and fat source. This ingredient is highly digestible, which is great because it supports healthy digestion.
It contains whole grain corn, a wholesome, natural component that supplies your pooch with antioxidants, carbohydrates, proteins, and essential fatty acids.
Corn gluten meal is another excellent source of amino acids and proteins. It contains about seventy percent of protein per gram.
Pea fiber is a great supply of dietary fiber, which helps promote the growth of useful bacteria in your pooch’s intestine. It also helps prevent the proliferation of unhealthy bacteria.
Another great part of the diet is fish oil, which is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids for supporting a healthy immune system and brain health.
What We Don’t Like
This may not be a convenient diet for allergic Great Danes because it contains gluten and by-product meals.
Pros:
- Great source of protein without too many calories
- Larger kibbles, just what your large dog wants
- Botanical oils promote mental health and alertness
- Contains antioxidants, omega 3, and B vitamins
- Dietary fiber prevents the proliferation of unhealthy bacteria
Cons:
- Gluten may not be ideal for allergic dogs
#2. Instinct Limited Ingredient Dog Food
If your pooch has food sensitivities, Instinct Limited Ingredient Dog Food could be just what he needs to reach his full potential.
Key Ingredients:
- Lamb Meal
- Tapioca
- Peas
- Pea Protein
- Lamb
- Canola Oil
- Freeze dried Lamb
What We Like
The first ingredient is lamb meal, which is a good source of essential amino acids and quality protein. This meal helps to build as well as maintain lean muscle mass.
Freeze dried lamb is a good source of essential fatty acids and contains decent levels of amino acids. This ingredient supports brain health and boosts the immune system.
Another great supply of amino acids is pea protein, which is great because it supports healthy body function. It also contains lysine and iron for boosting muscle growth.
Tapioca contains resistant starch in small amounts for enhancing digestive health and help to alleviate allergic reactions, making it ideal for sensitive Great Danes.
Peas in this diet supply your pooch with a variety of compounds that boost overall health, including antioxidants, resistant starch, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, and proteins.
This nutrition also contains decent amounts of omega 6 fatty acids, which help with cell function and membrane structure.
What We Don’t Like
It is limited ingredient nutrition, which is great for sensitive dogs, but it misses some of the most important components, such as probiotics.
Pros:
- Grain free diet that’s suitable for sensitive Great Danes
- Supports brain health and boost the immune system
- Great for promoting muscle growth
- Resistant starch enhances digestive health
- Omega 6 fatty acids improve immune function and coat health
Cons:
- Limited ingredients nutrition doesn’t contain important nutrients
#3. Blue Buffalo Freedom Large Breed Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Freedom Large Breed Dog Food is grain-free nutrition that features the finest natural ingredients and it’s enhanced with minerals and vitamins.
Key Ingredients:
- Deboned Chicken
- Potatoes
- Chicken Meal
- Pea Starch
- Peas
- Flaxseed
- Dried Tomato Pomace
- Chicken Fat
- Turkey Meal
What We Like
Deboned chicken is a premium first ingredient that supplies your pooch with balanced nutrition that protein for muscle mass and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
Potatoes are an excellent source of minerals and essential vitamins. They also have high digestibility, making them ideal for alleviating digestive problem.
Pea starch is a high-quality addition to your Great Dane’s diet. It provides him with beneficial vitamins, dietary fiber and carbohydrates.
Flaxseed is a great plant-based source of nutrients, which supplies your pooch with good amounts of lignans, protein, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids.
Turkey is a rich source of amino acids, vitamin B6, niacin, and protein. This ingredient is also high in tryptophan and selenium, which boost immune health.
This nourishment also contains other antioxidant-rich ingredients, including blueberries, parsley, cranberries, and alfalfa.
What We Don’t Like
Chicken ingredients have a tendency of causing allergies in sensitive dogs in the long-run.
Pros:
- Builds and maintains muscle mass
- Suitable for alleviating digestive issues
- Contains lots of antioxidants for boosting overall health
- Chondroitin and glucosamine rich diet supports joint health
- It is free of soy, wheat, and corn
Cons:
- Chicken may not be ideal for sensitive dogs
#4. Royal Canin Large Adult Dog Food
Introducing Royal Canin Large Adult Dog Food, a diet that has been carefully formulated to address the nutritional and health needs of your canine friend.
Key Ingredients:
- Chicken By-Product
- Wheat
- Brewers Rice
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Chicken Fat
- Dried Plain Beet Pulp
- Brown Rice
- Fish Oil
What We Like
The shape and texture of the kibbles have been specially designed for the unique muzzle, jaw structure, and biting pattern of your Great Danes.
Royal Canin has included special nutrients, such as chondroitin and glucosamine for supporting healthy joints and help prevent unnecessary weight gain.
This diet contains healthy chicken by-product as the first ingredient, which supplies your Danes with decent amounts of proteins without introducing too many calories in the diet.
Another good source of important amino acids and quality protein is corn gluten meal, which helps boost energy and maintains muscle mass.
Dried plain beet pulp introduces quality fiber into the diet for improving colon health and a healthy stool. It is also a reliable energy source.
Another good addition in this diet is fish oil, which supplies your pooch with EPA and DHA for nourishing a healthy skin and coat.
What We Don’t Like
The packaging was not impressive. We noticed a hole on one of the bags we received. Also, chicken by-product may not be ideal for some Danes.
Pros:
- Highly digestible kibbles
- Supports joint and bone health
- Contains decent amounts of omega 3 for skin and coat health
- Quality fiber improves colon health
- Easy and quick transition
Cons:
- Chicken by-product and gluten may not be ideal for sensitive dogs
#5. Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food
Nulo Adult Grain Free Dog Food is power packed with meat protein. Over eighty percent of the protein in this formula comes from meat and not plants.
Key Ingredients:
- Deboned Turkey
- Salmon Meal
- Turkey Meal
- Chickpeas
- Sweet Potato
- Chicken Fat
- Yellow Peas
- Deboned Trout
- Pea Fiber
What We Like
Nulo first ingredient is deboned a turkey, which is an excellent source of amino acid, vitamin B6, niacin, and protein. This nutrient supports healthy growth and repair muscle tissue.
Salmon meal in the diet is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, selenium, potassium, B vitamins, antioxidants, and proteins. It is also good for weight control.
Chickpeas boost the levels of fiber, minerals, and vitamins in your Dane’s food. It supports healthy digestion and reduces the risk of disease.
Yellow peas are a great source of amino acid tryptophan, which helps to improve your dog’s mood and regulate his appetite.
Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and they are a good source of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. They support gut health, brain health, and a healthy immune system.
What We Don’t Like
Transition to this food may take a longer duration, which may not be ideal for some Great Danes parents.
Pros:
- Deboned turkey protein repairs muscle tissues and support growth
- Healthy carbohydrates provide long-lasting energy
- Patented probiotics support healthy digestion and immune system
- Grain free recipes are free of allergens
- Improves skin and coat health
Cons:
- Transitioning to this food may take a longer duration
Buying Guide
Great Danes need to be fed special nutrition simply because of their large size. This breed also needs to rest shortly after feeding.
According to our research, there are unlimited food options in today’s market, which is a big problem for novice pet parents.
Most manufacturers claim that their foods are ideal for all dog breeds and sizes, but that is not usually the case.
You must know what to look for in terms of calorie count per serving, ingredients (if your Great Danes is sensitive or old), and taste.
Having said that, here are the main factors that we considered during our research and shopping:
How Much Is Enough
Before we go any further, we would like to remind you that this is a large dog breed. So, expect them to consume more calories in a day.
Research states that the approximated amount of calories an adult Great Danes needs in a day is 2500 calories. But senior ones may require fewer calories.
An adult Danes that lives an active life may require more calories. The count can be as high as 3000 calories in a single day.
So, ensure you choose nutrition that can supply a high calorie content in order to be able to meet the caloric needs of your Great Danes.
Food Labels
We cannot insist enough, but food labels are basically your reference point when comparing food options on the market.
You can learn everything you need to know as a consumer from the food labels. There are a few that you should pay close attention to:
Ingredients List
Governing bodies, such as AAFCO requires dog food companies to list all the ingredients used to formulate the food. But companies are not required to list the amounts of ingredients.
Instead, companies claim that the most important ingredients in the diet are the ones near the top of the list, which are normally listed according to their quantity (from top to bottom).
To understand the significance of the ingredients list, we need to make a few assumptions:
- First, the most important sources of calories and protein are among the top ten to fifteen ingredients on the list
- Second, anything that is listed beyond potassium chloride or salt is likely to be present in small amount.
Make sure the first ingredient is something that your Great Danes is not allergic to. A food that has ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal and chicken by-product meal as the first few ingredients can be interpreted as a corn-based diet.
Corn-Based nutrition is not the most ideal choice of nutrition for sensitive dogs. So, you may want to expand your search to another food choice. But corn is not generally bad for every Great Danes.
Guaranteed Analysis (GA)
This is another panel on the dog food label that you can use to learn a few things about the food you are planning to buy for your Danes.
Unlike an ingredients list, a GA covers only a few nutrients, but each nutrient is listed with a percentage value.
A typical Guaranteed Analysis may contain the following nutrients (the top four are the most important in a GA):
- Minimum crude protein
- Maximum crude fiber
- Minimum crude fat
- Maximum moisture content
- Minimum linoleic acid
- Minimum EPA
- Minimum DHA
- Minimum calcium
- Minimum phosphorous
- Minimum selenium
- Minimum Vitamin A
- Minimum Vitamin E
- Minimum folic acid
- Minimum omega 3 fatty acids
- Minimum omega 6 fatty acids
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How Many Cups Should I Feed My Great Danes in a Day?
You are advised to feed adult males eight to ten cups and adult females six to eight cups in a day. Divide the servings at least two times in the day.
Give a male puppy four to eight cups and a female puppy three to six cups. Try to split the servings at least three times a day.
Q2. Is a Corn-Based Diet Safe for a Great Danes?
As long as your pooch is not sensitive, you can feed him a corn-based diet. It is rich in proteins, antioxidants, linoleic acid, and carbohydrates.
Q3. What is the difference between a senior and 7+ Great Danes?
You can best differentiate the two age-groups by consulting your veterinarian. But from the research we have conducted, a 7+ is an adult Danes and a senior is probably 10 years old.
Q4. Are Limited Ingredients Diets Good for Great Danes?
You can feed your Danes a limited ingredients diet, if she has a sensitive stomach or if she is allergic to corn.
Q5. When Can I Switch to Adult Food for Great Danes?
Great Danes are large dogs. So, the growth duration may extend through eighteen months before you can switch to an adult diet.
Final Words
Our overall best food for Great Danes is Pro Plan Bright Mind Dog Food. This is complete and balanced nourishment for your large dog.
It comes equipped with EPA, DHA, glucosamine, quality proteins antioxidants, and botanical oils for enhancing the overall well-being of your pooch.
This food contains the most nutritious ingredients and it does not have known allergens, such as bad chicken by-product, artificial preservatives and colors.
If you cannot find a suitable diet for your Danes, we recommend you consult your veterinarian for expert recommendations.
