Best dog food for Pitbulls: Make the right choice

Pitbulls are large and strong dogs. And, they have a lot of muscle mass, which means they need a lot of protein or meat in their diet. That’s why choosing the best dog food for Pitbulls is crucial for their health. But, how do you know what the best dog food is?

Well, answering that question isn’t easy. You really have to be careful what you feed any dog, not only Pitbulls. You can’t just toss them some of your table scraps and call it a day. So, put in thought and effort into finding the best dog food for the breed you own.

As we’ve already mentioned, the American Pitbull Terrier is a large and muscular dog, and they are very active. So, they need high-calorie food. To help you out, we wrote down for you what the best dog food for Pitbulls should be like.

While you’re here, read more about Pitbulls:

• Grey Pitbull: The breathtaking beauty
• Gator Pitbull Bloodline: There’s a lot to know!
• Teacup Pitbull: The Smallest Pittie
• Tri Color Pitbull: Unique And Beautiful
• White Pitbull: What Makes Them White?
• Blue Fawn Pitbull: How Rare Are They?
• Black Pitbull: Elegant And Fierce

Best dog food for Pitbulls – What they need

A dog’s health is fundamentally linked to diet. So, your dog’s food should have a high meat content, be breed-appropriate and balanced.

Now, when it comes to the right amount of food, that depends on age and activity. Generally speaking, Pitbulls are energetic and active, so they need a significant amount of food daily for their voracious appetite.

There is no right answer to how much food your Pitbull should eat. But a rule of thumb is that a healthy adult Pitbull needs 1,100 calories every day. This amount of calorie intake may go higher or lower depending on his activity level.

You should also know that a puppy should have 3 to 5 meals a day. Two servings a day are sufficient for the adult American Pitbull Terrier.

You can give them treats and chewing bones occasionally, especially as a small reward for in-between meals.

Just like we can’t tell you how much food your dog needs, we also can’t tell you what brand of dog food is the best dog food for Pitbulls. But we can tell you what ingredients should be in your Pitbulls food.

Protein

Proteins are essential for a healthy dog of any breed. Protein is so important because it gets broken down into amino acids which are then used in the formation or maintenance of blood cells, hormones, immune responses, muscle repairs, etc. Basically, protein and water are the two most molecules that are most present in our dog’s body. A protein-rich food is especially important for muscular dogs like the Pitbull.

The exact amount of protein your Pitbull needs usually depends on their activity level. Adult Pitbulls can function well with about 30 percent high-quality protein in their diet. For very active Pitbulls, 50 percent of protein must be the target to keep muscles strong and growing.

We recommend the following sources of protein for Pitbulls:

• Poultry – fairly lean meat, ideal for overweight Pitbulls
• Muscle meat – high-quality proteins but more expensive
• Intestines – packed with micronutrients and inexpensive
• Eggs – complete amino acid profile and inexpensive
• Fish – complete proteins together with high-quality fats

You can also give your dog dietary supplement protein powder, tabs, and capsules.

Lastly, it doesn’t matter if your Pitbull gets its protein out of a raw diet, or dry food. What’s important is that your dog gets the right amount of quality proteins every day.

Carbohydrates

Cheap dog food usually has some kind of carbs (wheat, corn, grains, and the like) as the first ingredient. This is because carbohydrates are much cheaper than protein or fats. But, as a responsible owner, please make sure you avoid dog foods that are high in carbohydrates. Foods that are rich in carbs are richer in calories but offer few health benefits.

Don’t get us wrong, all dogs need to have some carbohydrates in their diet, we call for a net goal of 20 percent for the majority of dogs. But, cheap dog food can be made out of more than 40 percent of carbs. That is simply too much.

Obviously, if your Pitbull is extremely active, he will need more carbs. But, even in that case don’t feed them the cheap carbs, make sure you get the good carbohydrates from good sources.

• Complex carbs – quinoa, sweet potatoes, whole grains, green and leafy vegetables
• Simple carbohydrates – fruits
• Dietary fiber – vegetables

Fats

For too long, fat has been demonized and accused of making dogs, cats, and people fat. Only recently have we got a better understanding of how carbohydrates could actually be more controversial than fats themselves. So, please don’t ban fats from your Pitbull’s dog food!

Good quality Pitbull dog food provides healthy fats as dogs use it as an important source of energy. In addition, fatty acids support all dogs with skin and coat health and, above all, with brain and cognitive functions.

Recommended sources of healthy fats for Pitbulls include:

• Omega-3 fatty acids – fish and fish oils (herring, salmon), flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil
• Omega-6 fatty acids – poultry fat, vegetable oils

Conclusion – Best dog food for Pitbulls

The American Pitbull Terrier is an athletic dog that, unlike other dog breeds, requires a certain diet that should be high in protein and fats but low in carbohydrates.

When picking the best dog food for Pitbulls make sure to choose the food that has protein as the first ingredient. Usually, cheap dog food brands put carbohydrates (wheat, corn, grains, and the like) as the first ingredient, but this isn’t good. Sure, carbohydrates are much cheaper than protein or fats, but you shouldn’t go overboard with it either.

Lastly, we know that it might not be easy to find the best dog food for Pitbulls, but stick to one rule: Your dog’s food should be rich in protein. You can also ask your vet for recommendations for your particular dog. That’s a great option because your vet knows your dog and its needs the best.