Pit bulls are strong, athletic animals that require protein and other nutrients to stay healthy. As a pit bull parent, you want the best for your canine companion, so you need to know which are the best dog foods for pit bulls.
How to choose the best food for Pit Bulls
- Make sure the kibble dry food or wet food comes with high-quality ingredients approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Good dog food should also be devoid of by-products or fillers.
- The best ingredients include sweet potatoes, real meat, and brown rice. You can also look for ingredients that provide extra vitamins and minerals, like fish oil and flaxseed.
- American pit bull terriers or American bully dogs sometimes have extra health problems or different nutritional needs, especially in their puppy food. Make sure each food you purchase has quality protein sources and is a top pick from veterinarians.
- Other good elements to target include omega fatty acids and healthy carbohydrates like whole grains for active dogs (though this depends on your pup’s activity level).
If you’re not sure where to start, read on.
Best for Healthy Ingredients: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 30-pound bag, chicken and brown rice flavor
Pit bulls are big dogs, so you’ll want to feed them plenty of healthy ingredients. This dog food can help you do just that, thanks to its ingredient composition, attention to quality, and overall nutritional content, which many pet parents will love.
Pros
If you want your pit bull to be healthy, consider these advantages:
- Excellent nutritional content overall with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Decent value for money
- Many different flavors to choose from if your pit bull is picky
- Meat is always the first ingredient
- Great for building muscle
- No chicken by-products
Cons
However, this might not be the best dog food for your pit bull for the reasons below:
- Can get expensive pretty quick
- Not ideal for puppies or elderly pit bulls
Best for High Protein Diets: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free Recipe with Roasted Bison and Venison Adult Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 28-pound bag, bison and venison flavor
Maybe you want to prioritize muscle growth and protein. This grain-free dog food option is packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals to help your pit bull grow big and strong.
Pros
Check out these benefits you’ll see when you buy this pet food:
- Lots of extra vitamins and minerals for hip and joint health and immune support
- Packed with animal protein for fast muscle growth for young pit bulls
- Options for adult, puppy, and ancient grain pit bull food varieties
- Made with real meat
- No artificial preservatives or fillers
Cons
- This food is pretty expensive compared to other pit bull food options.
Best for High-Energy Diets: Bully Max High Performance Super Premium Dog Food
Key specs: Five-pound bag, chicken flavor
This food is specifically meant for pit bull puppies since they tend to be very high-energy. Choose this if you want your pit bull to maintain its energy levels but also want to ensure that it has enough nutrients and vitamins to grow.
Pros
There’s a lot to appreciate about this dog food for pit bulls, as you can see below:
- Formulated specifically for pit bull puppies with easy-to-chew pellets
- Vitamins and minerals facilitate muscle growth, skin and coat health, stomach digestion, and much more
- Made with 30% protein and 20% fat for maximum satisfaction
- Available in multiple bag sizes
Cons
At the same time, there are some things that might give you pause. This food is:
- Pretty expensive compared to other dog food types
- Not suitable for pit bull adults or senior dogs
Best for Larger Pit Bulls: Royal Canin Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 35-pound bag, chicken flavor
What if you have a really big pit bull? In that case, you need to provide them with proper nutrition, which Royal Canin’s food can do. This adult dry dog food is tasty, nutritious, and perfect for massive canine companions that need a very digestible food option.
Pros
There are plenty of benefits with this large breed, adult dog dry food:
- Very easy to digest, so it’s good for dogs that eat a lot of food in one sitting
- Tons of natural vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins for bone and joint support
- Great for dogs that need a lot of calories, as well
- Optional weight choices
Cons
At the same time, it’s not a perfect choice for the below reasons:
- Flavor can be bland for some pups
- Not ideal for puppies or senior dogs
- 35 pounds cost well over $150
Best for Dieting Dogs: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 35-pound bag, chicken and barley flavor
Sometimes, pit bulls can be a little chunky, and if your dog is overweight, this diet dog food is just the ticket. It comes with healthy ingredients that will help your pit bull lose weight gradually yet consistently.
Pros
You might consider this dog food for your pit bull thanks to its nutritional content and more.
- Promotes healthy weight loss
- Packed with nutrients for muscle care and heart care, which is great for older pit bulls
- Recommended by veterinarians for weight loss overall
- Decent value for money since you get 35 pounds of food for $75 or so
- No artificial preservatives or fillers
Cons
You might prefer a different dog food, due to these downsides:
- Not the best food for pit bulls who are at healthy weights, as it may not contain enough calories
- Only appropriate for adults or senior pit bulls
Best For Grain-Free Feeding: Best For Grain-Free Feeding: Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry Dog Food, Pork, Beef & Lamb
Key specs: 25-pound bag, pork, beef and lamb flavor
Looking for something totally healthy and nutritious for your dog? This grain-free option is packed with protein and other nutrients, and it doesn’t come with any corn, wheat, soy, or fillers, so it’s healthy from start to finish.
Pros
This is a great pit bull dog food for a variety of key reasons:
- Recommended by veterinarians and nutritional experts
- Uses real vegetables, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and protein
- Free from poultry for maximum protein content
- Great for pit bulls of all life stages and all sizes
Cons
That said, some pet parents may wish to go with a different option, due to some possible cons:
- Value for money could be a bit better
- May need to be combined with wet food from time to time for complete nutritional support
Best for Complete Nutrition for Reaching a Healthy Weight: Pedigree Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food – Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Flavor
Key specs: 14-pound bag
If you’re looking to provide your adult pitbull with a balanced diet that can help them stay in shape, then this option is for you. The ingredient list of this dog food provides a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that helps your pitbull maintain a healthy weight.
Pros
You might prefer this premium dog food because of these major aspects:
- Low-fat and high-protein blend that helps keep your pitbull active and in shape
- Fair value for money, given the purchase price
- Whole grains and fiber blend support a healthy digestive system
- Vitamin E can also help support the immune system while omega-6 fatty acids support healthy skin and shiny coat
- Made without high fructose corn syrup, added sugar, or artificial flavors
Cons
- Not ideal for puppies or younger dogs
- Flavor can be a bit lacking depending on how picky your pitbull is
Best for Digestive Health: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dog Food With Probiotics for Dogs, Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
Key specs: 35-pound bag, chicken and rice flavor
Alternatively, your pit bull might need assistance with digestive health. The Purina Pro Dog Food is an excellent option, as it comes packed with healthy protein as well as probiotics to support your dog’s gut microbiome.
Pros
Check out these benefits of this dog food before deciding whether to purchase it:
- Comes with nutrients, in addition to probiotics, for overall digestive health
- Has the complete essentials for a healthy dog, so you don’t need to supplement the food whatsoever
- Tasty flavors to keep your dog interested
- Made with real meat and vitamins to nourish healthy skin and a shiny coat
Cons
Don’t forget to consider the flaws with this dog food, as well — t
- This option is somewhat expensive compared to other dog food options.
Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Purina ONE Dry Dog Food Lamb and Rice Formula
Key specs: 31.1-pound bag, lamb and rice flavor
Many pit bulls eat everything they can get their mouths on, so they can get upset stomachs. If your little pup has a sensitive stomach, this lamb and rice dry dog food could be what they need to settle down and feel better.
Pros
Check out these big benefits and advantages of this dry dog food:
- Variety of flavors and weight options to choose from
- Probiotics and prebiotics help with digestion and sensitive stomach support
- Made with real lamb as its number one ingredient
- No fillers or other potentially harmful ingredients to worry about
Cons
You can also consider the possible downsides you could encounter should you decide to purchase this food option:
- Unnecessary for dogs without sensitive stomachs
- Certain flavors can be difficult to find or may be unavailable when you want them
Best for Skin and Coat Health: Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat
Key specs: 15-pound bag, salmon flavor
Healthy pit bulls have shiny coats — and this dry dog food could be just what your pit bull needs to look healthier than ever, as it comes with nutrients to facilitate hair growth and skin health.
Pros
Read on to discover what you could benefit from if you choose this dog food option:
- Nutrient complex is formulated specifically for skin and coat health for maximum aesthetic attraction
- Also comes with proprietary probiotics to support digestion
- Appropriate for dogs and all life stages
- Uses plenty of real protein and amino acids for muscle growth, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids
- Great for growing pit bulls
Cons
Some pet parents stay away from this dog food thanks to the reasons below:
- Not ideal for senior pit bulls
- Only one flavor available
Best for Extra Nutrition: Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food – All Natural, High Protein, Grain Free and Limited Ingredient with Superfoods
Key specs: One-pound bag, mackerel and lamb flavor
This premium dog food is an excellent choice if you want to provide your pit bull with extra nutrients and as many vitamins as possible. It is available in many different flavors and comes with 96% whole seafood, lamb, and organs for as close to a natural diet as possible.
Pros
This dog food has so much to like that it will be a favorite for many pet parents:
- Plenty of different flavors available, including venison
- Made with almost completely pure and natural ingredients
- Great for all dog breeds and all life stages, including pit bulls
- Lasts for a long time since it is air-dried
Cons
However, the dog food’s main downside will prevent other pet parents from choosing it — t
- This option is very expensive, as you only get one pound of food for your purchase.
Best for Immune System Support: Wellness Core Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 26-pound bag, turkey and chicken flavor
If your pit bull is getting older and you want to make sure they don’t get sick, this dog food for immune system support could be an ideal choice. It’s tasty and comes with grain-free ingredients.
Pros
Check out these main advantages before deciding whether you want to purchase this pit bull dog food:
- Plenty of excellent nutrients and vitamins
- Recommended by veterinarians for long-term wellness
- Several different flavors are available
- Great for digestion, vitality, immune system support, and healthy joints and cartilage altogether
Cons
This dog food does also have some potential downsides:
- Pretty expensive overall
- Pellet sizes can be small, which could be an issue if your dog eats food too quickly
The Bottom Line
In the end, any of these dog foods for pit bulls could be just what you need. The ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Dog Food may be an ideal option if price is no object, while the Purina ONE Dry Dog Food Lamb and Rice Formula could be an even better choice if you want to settle your pit bull’s upset stomach. Pick what will work best for your pup, and aim to choose an option based on the recommendation of your veterinarian.
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