A Mastiff can be compared to a gentle giant with eyes that are enough to melt your heart. Talk about “puppy dog eyes”! They love to eat and are moderately active, so to maintain their energy and sustain good health, they need a lot of calories.
To help you make the right decision, we have a few recommendations of high-quality dog foods for mastiffs.
First, let’s review their calorie and nutritional requirements, health issues and other characteristics.
The Best Dog Food For Mastiffs in 2023
We’ve reviewed some of the best brands on the market with pros, and cons and some additional features. You read on and pick the right food that matches with your canine friend’s nutritional need.
#1. Canidae Life Dry Dog Food for Puppies, Adults & Seniors
Canidae Life Stages tops our list. It’s one of the popular on the market these days. In fact, it’s recommended by Mastiff breeders themselves.
First, this product contains a multi-protein formula where the protein comes from multiple ingredients such as chicken, turkey, lamb and fish meals, making the food a very dense source of protein.
Second, it has added glucosamine and chondroitin, which are good for your Mastiff’s bone health. Also, they add probiotics to every kibble in order to ensure easy digestion.
The recipe contains antioxidants that are good for your Mastiff’s immune system and added omega fatty acids that take care of their skin and coat.
They use only premium ingredients and it’s is free from corn, wheat, and soy.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
#2. Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Dog Food
Second on our list is Now Fresh Grain-Free Large breed dog food, which is an optimal balance of proteins and fats that will support and nourish your Mastiff.
The ingredients include fresh salmon, turkey, and duck, which are rich sources of protein, canola and coconut oils, which are healthy sources of omega-3 and omega-6.
It also contains antioxidants that support the immune system, glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy bones and L-Carnitine that helps turn fat into lean muscles.
What more could you ask for a Mastiff, especially if you are looking for something that will support the bones and heart health? The answer: nothing—this is pretty complete.
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#3. NUTRO ULTRA Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro Ultra is an excellent choice for Mastiffs: it offers complete support for their joints, weight, and skin.
The brand’s main ingredient is chicken and it contains 12 superfoods and nutrients.
The glucosamine and chondroitin help strengthen your Mastiff ’s they start to age.
The brand also uses chia, coconut, and kale in the mix which helps with your dog’s digestive system.
As Mastiffs are prone to bloating and gas, this exceptional balance of protein and vegetables eliminates the problem. Nutro also avoids all sorts of artificial preservatives, chemical colors, and flavors making this a must-have for Mastiff owners.
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#4. Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
This formula from Wellness is grain-free and is specifically designed for large breed dogs.
It is rich in protein from good quality protein sources like deboned chicken, turkey meal and chicken meal. The fat content is also relatively low with only 12% crude fat.
The glucosamine and chondroitin have been specifically added for hip and joint support. The kibble is designed to be larger-sized and is coated with probiotics in order to support a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
Green vegetables are added for the extra dose of antioxidants and also nutrition.
The omega fatty acids support your Mastiff’s skin and coat.
It does not contain any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and is a healthy holistic formula to feed your dog.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
#5. Eagle Pack Natural Dry Dog Food
Probably one of the finest dog foods for Mastiffs available on the market, this protein comes from real lamb, chicken, and fish, so you know it’s high quality.
The added DHA, a fatty acid, is good for your dog’s brain and vision, especially for puppies. The antioxidants also support your dog’s health, the effect of which is strengthened with vitamins and minerals supports the immune system of your dog.
Moreover, the kibble size is big enough so that large breeds can comfortably munch on them. The mineral and caloric is balanced and helps support proper muscular and skeletal growth. In addition, this formula also helps with bloating issues (again, a really common problem for Mastiffs).
It does not contain any artificial colors or preservatives.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Average Weight & Size of Mastiffs
At first glance, you might be taken aback by a Mastiff’s size; males are approximately 30 inches or more and females are about 27.5 inches and up.
A male mastiff weighs approximately 160- 130 pounds and a female would weigh about 120 to 170 pounds. Yes, they are very heavy dogs and need a lot of protein in their diet!
Caloric Needs for Mastiffs
An average 200-pound adult active mastiff requires about 3710 calories. While puppies require more calories to keep up with their growth and development needs, a senior mastiff requires fewer calories.
The caloric intake is to be calculated depending on the weight, activity, and age of the mastiff, so, you and your dog are actually the best guides to figure out how much food your Mastiff needs.
How You Should Feed Your Mastiff Dog
You can feed your adult or young mastiff two meals per day, but a puppy requires three meals.
Please remember that mastiff loves to eat, so measure carefully and only leave the food out for thirty minutes, otherwise they will likely end up eating everything.
Possible Health Issues Affecting Mastiffs
Though Mastiffs are usually healthy, they are prone to various health issues. Some of them are:
Cancer: This breed suffers from most of the forms of cancer, especially lymphoma. Although It can be controlled with chemotherapy, it leaves the Mastiff completely weak. It’s best to try to avoid it in the first place—nutritional support is essential
Cystinuria: Causes kidney stones in males
Gastric dilation: Like most giant breeds, Mastiffs can easily develop bloat which can result in serious consequences—even death—if not treated. It is important you understand the symptoms of the bloat because a dog that is bloating lives about three hours if they don’t receive proper medical intervention.
Mastiffs are also prone to eye problems, hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, Von Willebrand’s disease (abnormal bleeding because of improper clotting), heart disease, etc.
When choosing their food, it is important to pick the right dog food for mastiffs; do it carefully to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need and maintaining good health.
What to look for when feeding a Mastiff?
Make sure your Mastiff’s diet contains a lot of protein and fat from healthy sources. The ideal dog food for Mastiffs would have two to three protein sources, especially meat.
Good sources of fat include fish oil and chicken fat. The fatty acids help maintain healthy skin and coat. DHA helps the development of the brain and benefits vision, especially in puppies.
Try to avoid wheat, soy, corn and other sources of grain as they commonly lead to allergies.
Most importantly, keep the percentage of carbohydrates low and take your Mastiff out for regular exercise so they don’t gain excess weight. For this breed, being overweight may lead to joint and bone problems, as well as problems with their structural tissue.
So there you go, we’ve reviewed the top brands and now you can go ahead and choose the perfect dog food for your Mastiff from the list. We hope you find this guide useful.
Please keep in mind, you and your dog are the best judges of your dog’s nutritional needs. And consult a vet or pet expert just to be sure.