The Best Food For Vizslas In 2023 | Adult And Puppy
All dog breeds have specific dietary needs, and that is particularly true for Vizslas. Vizslas are high-energy, lean, and susceptible to allergies and stomach sensitivities. When I got my Vizsla I spent a lot of time researching the best food for vizslas, so I decided to compile everything I learned in one place.
The best food for vizslas we recommend is Merrick Grain-Free for its stacked balance of protein, healthy fats, produce, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. For puppies, our pick is Solid Gold Wolf Cub Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food for its ingredients that focus on muscle growth and digestive support. For overweight vizslas, we recommend Wellness CORE Grain-Free Reduced Fat Dry Dog Food as a lower-fat option.
Best Food For Vizslas in 2023
Best Overall: Merrick Grain-Free
Best For Puppies: Solid Gold Wolf Cub Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
Best For Sensitivities: Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Best For Joint Health: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
Best For Overweight Vizslas: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Reduced Fat Dry Dog Food
What To Consider When Choosing The Best Food For Vizslas
Allergies And Sensitivities
Due to their careful breeding, vizslas have a pretty small gene pool. That puts them at an increased risk for allergies and stomach sensitivity, among other things. Although not all vizslas are affected by these sensitivities, it’s necessary to keep these factors in mind when choosing the best food for a Vizsla.
Ingredients that commonly cause food sensitivities in pets include:
• wheat
• corn
• dairy protein
• soy
An age-appropriate dog food for Vizslas
Vizsla is a lean and high-energy breed. That means puppies are fast-growing and burn through a lot of energy and calories, while older Vizslas are more susceptible to hip dysplasia and arthritis. Taking your pup’s specific age into account when picking a food will help ensure you’re choosing the absolute best food for your Vizsla.
How Active Is Your Vizsla?
Saying that Vizslas are a high-energy breed is an understatement. They do very well with a lot of off-leash running and exercise, but you’ll want to consider how active your Vizsla is when choosing a dog food. Older Vizslas are prone to being overweight as their metabolism slows and their joints develop issues. So a higher-protein food wouldn’t benefit them as well as a lower fat option.
What Goes Into The Best Vizsla Dog Foods?
High Protein
Vizslas were bred for hunting, so they’re built to use more energy than most other dogs their size. Good quality protein from real meat maintains your Vizsla’s lean muscles and supplies plenty of energy.
Healthy Fats
The emphasis here is on the word healthy. Fats are good for all dogs, as they help them keep their muscle mass and help protect their joints and support their nervous system. Since they’re at an increased risk of joint issues, healthy fats are especially beneficial for Vizslas. Fats from fish oil, flaxseeds, and natural meats are all great sources of healthy fats in dog food.
Carbs And Fiber
Since Vizslas are at an increased risk of stomach sensitivities, especially grain and gluten allergies, easy-to-digest carbs, found in potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, and chickpeas, are essential to their diet. Rich in prebiotics, complex carbohydrates will help your pup with easier digestion.
What To Avoid When Looking For The Best Food For Vizslas
• colors
• artificial flavors
• preservatives
• meat by-products
• wheat, soy, and corn are also ingredients to avoid if your Vizsla has sensitivities
Let’s Take A Closer Look At The Best Food For Vizslas in 2023
Best Overall
First 5 ingredients: deboned salmon, salmon meal, whitefish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
• 60% protein and healthy fat ingredients
• 40% produce, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
• Contains omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and shiny coat
• Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for dogs to help maintain healthy hips and joints
Best For Puppies
First 5 ingredients: Bison, ocean fish meal, brown rice, oatmeal, peas
• First ingredient is pasture-raised USA bison, which promotes muscle growth
• Non-GMO whole grains, including brown rice and pearled barley for digestive health.
Best For Sensitivities
First 5 ingredients: Deboned lamb, lamb meal, chickpeas, dried potatoes, dried sweet potatoes
• Grain-free
• Steers clear of ingredients that commonly cause food sensitivities in pets like wheat, corn, dairy protein, and soy.
Best For Joint Health
First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, peas
• 700mg of Glucosamine. Found naturally in cartilage, Glucosamine is one of the most well-studied supplemental remedies for arthritis.
Best For Overweight Vizslas
First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, lentils, peas
• High fiber and reduced fat for weight management
• 42% high-quality protein ingredients
• Omega fatty acids from ingredients such as flaxseed and salmon oil support healthy skin and coat
• glucosamine for strong joints
• probiotics for digestive health