Just like humans, dogs need proper nutrition to stay healthy and strong. For pit bulls, it’s important that they get enough supply of protein to sustain the growth of their stocky muscles. Since they are active and agile dogs, they should be fed with the best dog food for pit bulls packed with nutrients and minerals. Here we reviewed 2 of the best options we’ve tried and tested:
| DOG FOOD | PRODUCT NAME | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
 | Taste of the Wild Adult Dog Food | Check Price |
 | AvoDerm Natural Health Senior Dog Food | Check Price |
Nowadays, there are a plethora of options for pit bull dog food. There are also varying formulas that you can choose from. What’s important is you give your Pittie the best possible food you can find.
Why food choice is important for a pit bull
Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls are muscular and energetic. This means they need an abundant supply of both protein and carbs to keep up with their nutritional requirement. Low-protein food will make your pit bull lethargic and you will soon observe that its muscles are starting to wither.
Given this unique dietary requirement, it becomes challenging to get the right food for your pet. You first have to get a full understanding of what your pit bull needs. Take note that as much as pit bulls have general diet necessities, a specific doggo might have allergies and intolerances. A wrong ingredient can send him licking everywhere and worse, intense shedding.
Also, the food you will serve will affect the digestion of your doggo.
Since some pit bull breeds have deep chests, it’s imperative to avoid any intestinal problems.
Most of all, the right food choice contains the much-needed nutrition to sustain the health of your pooch. It ranges from a shiny coat, jolly movements, and lower risk of diseases.
Benefits of a healthy pit bull diet
There’s no contest that dogs need quality food. Although some of the best options nowadays are expensive, it’s worth it when it comes to the nutritional profile.
Remember that cheap food is made of substandard food items that are stripped off of vitamins and nutrients. It might be convenient for your pocket right now, but hefty vet bills will soon charge you for skimping in quality.
Keeping your pit bull healthy means they will require fewer visits to the vet. After all, it’s a win-win situation for you and your pet.
At some point, you might be tempted to purchase cheap dog food. If you do, put yourself on your dog’s shoes. What will happen if you keep eating junk food? How would the lack of nutrition impact your health? The best dog food for pit bulls is like guacamole of the canine world. If you’re willing to spend on avocados to be healthy, why not do the same for your doggo?
If your pit bull eats healthy, he will be happier, nice looking, and less grumpy. As far as I’m concerned, that’s what every pet owner wants.
Nutritional Requirements of pit bulls
As every dog has unique nutritional requirements, it’s important that you know what your pit bull actually needs. This part will depend on the activities of your Pit Bull Terrier. As your pup grows, the more he requires added energy supply. It will slowly tone down as he approaches the last stage of being a senior dog.
Generally, experts recommend the following portions for an adult pit bull. Take note, though, that this is a recommendation for a healthy dog:
-45% protein
-30% carbs
-25% fats.
*These percentages are just rough estimations and not a conclusive basis.
In customizing the diet of your Pitty, you have to consider a variety of factors. First, consider their age. Pit bull pups are balls of energy and they will keep burning lots of calories as they run, chase, and play all day. Speaking of energy levels, spayed or neutered pit bulls have lower energy requirements than an uncastrated one.
Lactating and gestating pit bulls and those who have special conditions would also require a tweaked diet. Your veterinarian will largely help here.
Top 2 Picks – Best dog food for pit bulls
Now that you have some idea about what to look for, here are two of the best pit bull foods I recommend.
⭐Taste of the Wild High Protein Adult Dog Food⭐
✔️Venison & bison-flavored ✔️Crude protein: 32%
✔️K9 strain proprietary probiotics ✔️No grain, fillers
✔️Blended with superfood and antioxidants ✔️Omega fatty acids
Aside from that, this dog food has chelated minerals that make it easy to attach to proteins. The result is easier digestion and faster absorption. Since Taste of the Wild also has salmon ingredients, it’s guaranteed to provide the much-needed Omega-3 fatty acids. It will support coat health and overall wellness.
The best part here is that the carbohydrate content of the dog food is fiber-rich. This means your pit bull gets optimal energy while staying full. Most of all, it’s grain and wheat free. Remember that some pit bulls tend to have allergic reactions to these ingredients.
This is an excellent choice for pit bulls that have itchy and scaly coats. Since this has healing oils and minerals, your dog’s coat will soon regain its shine.
The 30-pound bag is pretty affordable given the nutrient-packed formula. It’s also tasty so feeding won’t be a problem even for finicky Pitties.
⭐AvoDerm Natural Health Solutions Senior Dog Food⭐
✔️Natural chondroitin sulfate ✔️Crude protein: 28%
✔️Lamb flavor ✔️California avocados
✔️Glucosamine & DHA ✔️Grain & soy-free
The protein level of this dog food is toned down. Since your adult or senior pit bull is less active, there’s no use for excess protein. As you know, too much unused protein can damage the dog’s kidney.
Aside from that, the nutrient profile of this best dog food for pit bulls also helps improve eyesight and brain functions. Feed this to your doggo and they will have a healthier journey through seniority.
One of the interesting ingredients here is avocado. It’s not just for hoomans after all! This fruit is packed with essential fatty acids, folate, potassium, and niacin that support the overall wellness of your pooch.
As a dry dog food, this is free of any artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives. All the ingredients are natural in order to support dog aging.
Is the hypoallergenic dog food worth it?
Mostly, hypoallergenic dog food products are those that are grain, soy, and filler-free. Any dog food that doesn’t have any substantial artificial ingredient can be classified as hypoallergenic. So the question is this: does it really matter?
Grains aren’t the best sources of carbs for dogs. This is the reason why some dogs, like pit bulls, tend to be allergic to such food ingredient.
Even if a food product is grain-free, you should watch out for soy and eggs. These two aren’t really banes. It just happens that some dogs tend to experience harsh reactions, especially to soy. If your pit bull already has an acute allergy, stir clear to any grain-infused dog food. You simply can’t take chances since vet bills can get crazily expensive.
If you’re currently transitioning pup into kibble, let him take some time. Ask the advice of the veterinarian if symptoms like loose stool, drooling, and itching starts to show up.
Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
Even if you have a pit bull breed, no two dogs are the same when it comes to dietary needs. With that, it’s best to compute the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Pitty. Such a calculation determines how many calories your doggo needs to stay healthy at rest and in its normal environment. Somehow, this is close to the Resting Metabolic Rate of humans.
For example, if your pit bull weighs less than 2 kg or more than 45 kg, the RER formula will be like this:
70 x your dog’s weight in kilograms3/4
This part is tricky and I must say, brain-racking if you’re not a fan of arithmetic. Here’s a tool that might help for starters: http://tools.servicedogsupport.org/rer_calculator/
The calculation doesn’t end there. Pit bulls aren’t couch potatoes. They will romp, bark, run, and yank all day. So to get the needed calories based on your Pitties activities, multiple the RER with these possible values:
RER x 1.8 – If the pit bull is unspayed, healthy, and has no underlying medical issues
RER x 1.6 – If the pit bull is neutered or spayed
RER x 1.4 – If the pit bull is obese
RER x 3 – If the pit bull is less than four months old
RER x 2 – If the pit bull is more than four months old
Take note that these numbers aren’t exhaustive. Some pit bulls will require a different calorie count that’s not in line with this general practice. Even if pit bulls belong in an umbrella breed, each of them has unique needs. Again, a veterinarian will always be of help if you have doubts.
How often should I feed my pit bull?
Generally, pit bulls have to be fed two to three times a day to support the natural course of their metabolism. Remember that it’s not just about the frequency; it’s also about the amount per serving. Each dog food product comes with a serving recommendation based on their formula. If you want to be more precise, follow the RER computation above.
Again, this depends on a variety of factors. A pregnant adult female pit bull will need to eat more to support gestation. Since the mother pit bull is supporting the growth of multiple pups, it’s a no-brainer that she should eat more. Still, you shouldn’t risk making a pregnant pit bull obese.
We simply can’t give a defined pound per serving as to how much you should feed your pit bull. Besides, we’re not sure what exact breed you have. Is it healthy? Is it neutered? Are there undiagnosed medical conditions? All these will play important roles in determining food serving size and frequency of meals per day.
Be wary of allergies
Pit bulls may look like tough cookies, but they can also succumb to food allergies. This breed has a higher risk of allergies since they eat more protein. The source of this food component is usually the culprit. Again, we can’t tell exactly which one to avoid since each dog is unique.
Some pit bull owners avoid chicken and poultry since it seems to irritate the tummy of their doggo. With that, you can opt for the likes of venison, bison, lamb, and other exotic sources.
If you observe that your pit bull is experiencing scaly skin, patching coat, continuous sneezing, and incessant licking, you should go to the vet. These are tell-tale signs of food allergy.
There might be undiagnosed allergens you’re feeding your dog.
Also, watch out for bloating. This may seem like a mundane problem for humans, but not for deep-chested dogs. Too much food and liquid stuck in the stomach will cause their tummy to twist. This is life-threatening if not treated right away. The excessive pressure can puncture a hole on your pit bull’s stomach and the rest of the story will be a big nightmare.
Do you find the best dog food for pit bulls? Let us know what you think about these options!