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In this guide we’ll take a look at the best dog food for Rottweilers.
We’ve compared the quality of ingredients, nutritional information, and value for money.
Our top recommended Rottweiler dog food is Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw.
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Rottweilers are an energetic, loyal, working breed. Their large size, powerful muscles and high energy levels mean they have unique nutritional needs.
Being a large breed, Rottweiler puppies benefit from a large breed puppy food until around 18 months of age. This supports a steady, healthy rate of growth.
As adults, a diet with a good quality protein source and appropriate protein content (ideally more than 20% crude protein) will help to support and maintain your Rottweiler’s powerful muscle mass.
Despite their high energy levels, Rottweilers are prone to being overweight. They often have a healthy appetite, and it’s not uncommon for them to wolf down their food!
Fast eating also increases their risk of bloat. Bloat is a life-threatening condition where the stomach twists on itself. It is more common in large breeds with deep chests, such as the Rottweiler.
To encourage slow eating and prevent obesity it’s a good idea to feed 2-3 small meals a day, rather than one large one. Choosing large kibble, or feeding bowls specifically tailored to encourage slow eating can help too. Large breed diets designed with weight control in mind are ideal.
Rottweilers are prone to ‘hot spots’ (acute moist dermatitis), which are patches of infected skin. Choosing a diet enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, can help to support the skin’s natural defences.
Omega-3 fatty acids, alongside taurine, can also help to support the health of your dog’s heart.
Alongside some other large breed dogs, Rottweilers are prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament damage. Although diet cannot change this, it’s sensible to choose a diet enriched with supplements to support healthy joints. Good examples include glucosamine and chondroitin.
Rottweilers are a powerful yet loving breed, who have a unique set of dietary and lifestyle needs. Since Rottweilers are prone to certain health conditions, including obesity, it’s important to speak with your vet about the right nutrition for your dog’s individual needs.
All of our dog food suggestions are carefully selected by professionals. We extensively research the products to check if they’ve been approved by governing bodies before making recommendations. You can read more about our stringent review standards here. And remember, always consult your veterinarian first, before changing your dog’s food.
Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food is a diet that is ideally suited to meet the needs of the highly active Rottweiler. This food includes both freeze-dried pieces of meat and dry food to increase its flavor profile for dogs to enjoy. Its primary ingredient is deboned salmon, a meat that is high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to encourage healthy skin and coat.
Merrick Backcountry, considered to be one of the best dog foods for Rottweilers, is free from all grains and focuses on easily digestible carbohydrates derived from locally sourced fruits and vegetables. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are included in this diet.
Glucosamine and chondroitin have been added to support healthy joints.
Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Adult Dry Dog Food is an excellent diet that offers Rottweilers the ideal blend of high-quality proteins and easily digestible carbohydrates to ensure optimal digestion. This food’s primary ingredient is whole chicken, and it is reinforced with the addition of chicken liver to provide extra protein.
The carbohydrates included in this formulation are a good source of antioxidants and fiber to promote excellent digestive processes as well as to provide disease-fighting properties. A proprietary supplement blend called DreamCoat has been added to this food to encourage the development and maintenance of healthy coat and skin, making Halo among the best dog foods for Rottweilers with sensitive stomachs.
Halo is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Health Dog Food provides Rottweilers with a highly palatable and easily digestible food to support their growth and development. Enriched with both taurine and l-carnitine, this diet is a vital help in encouraging cardiac health.
Holistic Select is a diet based on both whole grains and fruits and vegetables as important sources of carbohydrates. Each item included in this food formulation is easy to digest and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in the Rottweiler.
Glucosamine has been added to this recipe to reinforce proper joint health.
A diet that places a high emphasis on digestibility, Holistic Select is easily one of the best dog foods for Rottweilers.
I and Love and You Grain-Free Dog Food is a high-performance diet that is ideally suited to the needs of the powerful Rottweiler. A formulation that is rich in protein, this diet is grain-free. Whitefish is the first ingredient, a protein that is easily digestible and unlikely to cause skin issues in the sensitive Rottweiler.
I and Love and You Nude Food, one of the best dog foods for Rottweilers, is enriched with a proprietary supplement blend known as HAPPY TUMMEEZ™ PLUS. This powerhouse formulation includes digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics to promote optimal digestion.
FirstMate LID Grain-Free Dog Food earns high marks for its excellent nutritional value, making it a good choice for the hardy Rottweiler. This diet includes only one protein source: ocean fish meal. This emphasis on a singular protein ensures ease of digestibility and an unlikeliness for stomach sensitivities or skin issues.
FirstMate is a grain-free formulation and can be used in conjunction with elimination diets for owners trying to pinpoint a food allergy in their Rottweiler. This recipe is free from corn, wheat, and soy; plant-based proteins that can cause allergic reactions in some dogs.
FirstMate is one of the best dog foods for Rottweilers with sensitive stomachs.
Rottweilers are an incredibly beautiful breed known for their depth of intelligence, stamina, and power. A working breed, the Rottweiler is a dog that enjoys an active lifestyle and requires a high-quality diet to fuel its energy and daily performance.
Rottweilers can be prone to skin issues, and certain individuals may require a hypoallergenic novel protein/carbohydrate or hydrolyzed protein diet with limited ingredients. Your veterinarian should always be consulted in any cases of food sensitivity or allergy before changing the diet. The breed is also predisposed to bloat, and thus, care should be taken to select a diet with large kibble pieces to prevent the Rottweiler from eating too much or too quickly, two problems that experts believe may contribute to the development of the condition.
A breed that loves to eat, the best dog food for a Rottweiler should be carefully measured and all intake monitored to prevent weight gain. Obesity can be a big problem in the breed, and thus, free-feeding is strongly discouraged.
The Rottweiler requires a lot of calories per day to provide it with the energy it needs. Moderately active dogs should receive approximately 2000 calories with dogs that engage in highly vigorous activity each day receiving around the 2500 calorie mark. The individual calorie count will vary depending on factors like activity level and if the dog is spayed and neutered. The Pet Nutrition Alliance calorie calculator is an excellent guide but remember to consult your veterinarian for more detailed nutritional information. The easiest means to provide this number of calories for the Rottweiler is through the selection of a diet that is comprised of high-quality proteins. Calorie-dense food formulations are best for this breed.
The total amount of the best food for Rottweilers per day should be divided between two to three meals fed throughout the day to prevent the Rottweiler from becoming hungry. Feeding one large meal may also increase the risk of developing bloat. The ideal diet for a Rottweiler contains a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
The primary ingredient in any diet suited to the Rottweiler’s needs should be a high-quality protein. Meats in their whole form are the best choice; however, meat meals also provide a concentrated protein source.
Though grains can be problematic for some Rottweilers; in general, a diet that contains whole grains is perfectly acceptable for this breed. Carbohydrates can also come from easily digestible fruits and vegetables.
Healthy fats are an important component of any diet for the Rottweiler. The best sources for these items are from animals. Some of the most beneficial fats include chicken fat or oils from salmon, mackerel, or anchovies. Certain vegetable oils may also provide omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat.
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Rottweiler:
One of the first ingredients in any diet suitable for the Rottweiler should be a high-quality protein. Whole meats are the preferred protein option, but meat meals are also excellent.
Since no diet is complete on its own, supplements help a food to be complete and balanced. Some of the more beneficial supplements for the Rottweiler are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
All foods appropriate for the Rottweiler should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.
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