6 Foods We Recommend If You Are Looking For The Best Bullmastiff Food
| The Scoop : Best Bullmastiff Food of 2023 | |||
| Rank | Product | Price | Rating |
| Human Grade |
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Varies |
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| #1 |
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$3.16/lb |
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| #2 |
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$1.73/lb |
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| #3 |
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$1.36/lb |
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Contents of Article
Descended from Mastiffs, the Bullmastiff was developed by British gamekeepers in the 19th century to keep poachers away. Today the Bullmastiff is a powerful but sensitive dog. They are natural guardians but with good training and socialization they can also become good family pets. Feed the best Bullmastiff food possible to provide the nutrition your dog needs.
Brave, affectionate, and loyal, the Bullmastiff is a physically imposing dog. They can weigh up to 130 pounds. Learn what foods to feed a Bullmastiff below.
Bullmastiff Diet & Nutrition
Since the Bullmastiff is a giant breed, it’s a good idea to feed a food that is formulated for large/giant breeds. These foods generally have slightly fewer calories to help big dogs stay slim. Carrying extra weight is particularly hard on the bones and joints of giant breeds and can lead to problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia. These foods also have the nutrients large/giant dogs need in the right amounts. Most of them also have some joint supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin that may help with problems like arthritis that can occur in very large dogs.
Bullmastiffs can have problems with allergies, including food allergies and sensitivities. If your Bullmastiff shows signs of a food allergy or sensitivity, we recommend that you talk to your veterinarian. Your vet may suggest an elimination diet and food trial to try to identify the allergens that affect your dog. If you think you know the items that trigger a reaction in your dog, you can try to avoid foods that contain those ingredients. Limited ingredient or hypoallergenic dog foods can sometimes help. If your Bullmastiff has a severe food allergy, ask your vet about prescription or veterinary diets.
Bullmastiffs are also one of the breeds prone to bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening conditioning when it occurs. We suggest that you feed your Bullmastiff several small meals per day instead of one large meal. A slow feed bowl can also encourage a dog to eat more slowly and not gulp in air when he eats. You can find out more about bloat here.
We would also recommend that Bullmastiff puppies eat a large breed puppy food. These puppies can grow fast; and they can grow for a long time. Large breed puppy foods can help encourage slow, steady growth which is better for their bones. Bullmastiff puppies can be prone to several developmental bone diseases such as HOD (hypertrophic osteodrystrophy), OCD (osteochondritis dissecans), and Pano (Panosteitis). Puppy foods that encourage slow growth can, in some instances, be helpful in avoiding these problems.
How Much Should You Feed Your Bullmastiff?
How much you feed your Bullmastiff depends on several factors:
- How active is your Bullmastiff?
- How much does your dog weigh?
- How old is your dog?
- Is your dog spayed/neutered?
- What food are you feeding
- What is your dog’s overall health like?
Just like people, different dogs have different metabolic rates. Large/giant dogs like Bullmastiffs usually need about 20 calories per pound of body weight per day. This is true even if your dog is only getting mild exercise at home. If your dog is more active he will need more calories.
After you have considered your dog’s specific requirements, you will still need to consider the food you are feeding him. In most cases, if you are feeding a premium dog food you can feed less food than if you are feeding a lower quality food. Better quality dog foods generally use better quality ingredients which means their nutrients are more bioavailable to your dog. “Bioavailable” simply means that the nutrients can easily be absorbed and used by your dog’s body. Poor quality ingreident to have fewer nutrients and/or your dog can’t use them very easily. For example, a rawhide has some protein, fat, and fiber, as well as calories, but it wouldn’t provide a very good diet for your dog.
Do pay attention to the the calories in your dog’s food, especially if you are changing foods. You may be used to feeding your dog three cups of one dog food but when you change to a new food, with more calories, if you continue to give your dog three cups, he will quickly gain weight. Check the calories on the label to see how many calories the food contains and figure out how much food your dog needs.
How Many Calories Does My Bullmastiff Need?
Adult male Bullmastiffs can weigh up to 130 pounds; and adult female Bullmastiffs can weigh up to 120 pounds. Based on recommendations from the National Research Council of the National Academies, the group that researches and make nutritional recommendations for dogs and cats, if your Bullmastiff weighs 125 pounds you would need to feed him about 2608 calories per day. If he’s neutered or very inactive, you would need to decrease his calories so he wouldn’t put on extra weight.
These are only suggested guidelines. You always need to observe your dog to see if he’s gaining or losing weight with the amount of food you’re giving him. You can adjust the amount accordingly. Dog food companies are now supposed to include calories information on food labels, though it can be hard to find this information sometimes. If you have trouble finding it, check the company’s web site. It is usually located with the recommended feeding information.
What To Look For In A Good Bullmastiff Food
Look for the following specifics in a good food for your Bullmastiff:
Good Sources of Protein – Like other dogs, Bullmastiffs need good sources of animal protein in their diet. Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are all good for your Bullmastiff. Protein helps build muscle, repair cells, and it keeps our dog’s skin and coat looking good. We recommend that you look for several sources of animal protein in the first few ingredients of a dog food.
Many dog foods today use a lot of plant protein such as peas and lentils. Some plant protein is all right in a food but animal sources are better. Dogs can absorb the nutrients in animal protein more easily than from plant protein.
Some people prefer whole meat, such as whole chicken, better than meat meals, like chicken meal. However, whole meats are mostly water. If the water were removed, these ingredients would be listed much lower in the ingredient list. If you like a whole meat in dog food, we suggest that you look for a food that combines the whole meat with a named meat meal, such as whole chicken followed by chicken meal. This way you make sure that the food has plenty of protein.
Good Sources of Fat – Your Bullmastiff also needs fat from good sources. Fat provides essential fatty acids (EFA) and helps distribute fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Your dog absorbs fat from animal sources like fish oil and chicken fat better than from plant oils.
Named Ingredients – Look for named ingredients in your dog’s food and avoid generic ingredients. With generic ingredients you don’t really know what you’re feeding your dog. The ingredient could be something undesirable. The more specific the ingredient is, the better. For example, chicken meal is better than “meat meal.” Chicken fat is better than “animal fat.”
Low to Moderate Carbohydrates – Many dog foods today are quite high in carbohydrates. This is true even with grain free foods since many of them use high-carb ingredients such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and tapioca to take the place of grains.
It’s not necessary to avid all carbohydrates but look for dog foods that are low to moderate in carbs.
Avoid Lower Quality Ingredients – Lower quality ingredients can include things such as meat digest or animal digest; unnamed meat by-products; and corn and wheat gluten. Other ingredients are debatable, depending on who you ask.
Avoid Artificial Preservatives, Colors, and Sweeteners – Artificial preservatives and colors/dyes have been linked to various health problems in humans and animals. You should avoid these ingredients in dog foods. Your dog doesn’t need any kind of artificial sweetener. Other sweeteners are sometimes added to dog foods to make the food more palatable to dogs.
AAFCO – AAFCO is the Association of American Feed Control Officials AAFCO sets voluntary standards for pet food labeling. Look for foods that have met AAFCO’s minimum standards. You can recognize these foods by the nutritional adequacy statements on the label such as “X Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.” Foods can also meet AAFCO standards by food trials. Other statements may say that the food is for “All Life Stages;” or for “Growth and Reproduction.”
Most dog food experts recommend that dogs need a diet that is relatively high in protein and moderate in fat. Healthy adult Bullmastiffs should be able to eat this kind of diet but remember that every dog is an individual.
Top 3 Best Foods To Feed An Adult Bullmastiff
| Rank | Product | Price | Rating |
| Human Grade |
|
Varies |
A+
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| #1 |
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$3.16/lb |
A+
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| #2 |
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$1.73/lb |
A
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| #3 |
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$1.36/lb |
A
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Now Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Adult Recipe
First 5 Ingredients : De-Boned Turkey, Whole Dried Egg, Potatoes, Peas, Potato Flour
Now Fresh Grain Free Large Breed Adult uses 100 percent fresh turkey, salmon, and duck. It has no grains, wheat, beef, corn, or soy, so it can also be a good choice for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities. It also has supplements for good hip and joint health. With 27 percent crude protein, 13 percent crude fat, and 363 kcal/cup, we think it’s a good choice for Bullmastiffs that need to be careful about their joints and weight.
Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Holistic Large Breed Dry Dog Food
First 5 Ingredients : Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat [Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)]
Best Breed formulas are made using only EU (European Union)-approved ingredients. This means they sometimes have to meet a higher standard than USDA ingredients. This large breed formula contain no animal by-products, cheap fillers, gluten of any kind, and no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. It has no corn or wheat. This formula is especially good for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. The first five ingredients are: chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, chicken fat [preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin e)]. It has 25 percent crude protein and 13 percent crude fat, with 456 Kcal/cup. We think this large breed food would be good for many Bullmastiffs, especially dogs with sensitive digestion.
Fromm Large Breed Adult Gold
First 5 Ingredients : Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley
Fromm Large Breed Adult Gold contains duck, chicken meal, chicken, oatmeal, and pearled barley as the first five ingredients. The food includes chicken cartilage as a natural form of glucosamine. It has moderate protein and fat and moderate calories – 378 kcal/cup. If you prefer a grain free food for your Bullmastiff, Fromm also makes Grain Free Heartland Gold Large Breed Adult.
Top 3 Best Foods To Feed A Bullmastiff Puppy
| Rank | Product | Price | Rating |
| #1 |
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$2.00/lb |
A+
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| #2 |
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$2.00/lb |
A
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| #3 |
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$7.40/lb |
A
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Precise Large & Giant Breed Puppy
First 5 Ingredients : Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Lamb Meal
Formulated for puppies of very large/giant breeds, Precise Large & Giant Breed Puppy has slightly fewer calories than some regular puppy foods so puppies don’t gain too much weight too soon. With three kinds of protein, this food helps build solid muscle and provides optimum calcium and phosphorus levels. The first five ingredients are: chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, oatmeal, and lamb meal. This food has 23 percent crude protein and 12 percent crude fat, with 400 kcal/cup.
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health
First 5 Ingredients : Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Meal, Dried Beet Pulp
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health has DHA to support good brain and eye development. The first five ingredients in the food are: lamb meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken meal, and dried beet pulp. This formula has 23 percent crude protein and 12 percent crude fat with 375 kcal/cup – these lower percentages and calories encourage slow growth in very large puppies. Holistic Select has lots of kibble and canned foods including a grain free puppy food with higher protein and fat percentages, if you prefer it for your Bullmastiff puppy.
Fromm Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy
First 5 Ingredients : Beef, Pork Meat Meal, Peas,Lentils, Chickpeas
Along with their adult large breed formulas, Fromm also makes Heartland Gold Large Breed Puppy. This formula is grain free and features red meat. It includes beef, pork, and lamb. It’s also has probiotics to aid digestion. The first five ingredients in the food are: beef, pork meat meal, peas, lentils, and chickpeas. The food has 26 percent crude protein and 14 percent crude fat, with 389 kcal/cup. This would be a good formula for your Bullmastiff puppy if you are looking for a grain free food that is careful with calories.
We hope this information helps you choose the best food for your Bullmastiff. Remember that the foods recommended here are only suggestions. Every dog is an individual. There are many good foods that your dog might be able to eat. You can use these recommendations as a starting point. Check our dog food reviews here on Pawster for more ideas.
