The Best Kibble For Pitbulls: 5 Top Rated Dog Foods
Looking for the best dry food for your pitbull?
Though they often get a bad rap, the Pitbull is one of the gentlest, most people-oriented dog breeds out there.
These dogs have strong, muscular bodies and a powerful jaw, but they don’t have an aggressive bone in their bodies – they are quick to bond with people and they make great family pets.
If you have a Pitbull of your own, you need to provide him with the best dog food that meets his nutritional needs.
Keep reading to learn about your Pitbull’s nutritional requirements and to receive recommendations for the best kibble for Pitbulls.
Quick Review - Recommended Pitbull Foods
The Nutritional Needs of Your Pitbull
The American Pitbull Terrier, more commonly known as the Pitbull, is a medium-sized dog that stands between 17 and 21 inches tall, weighing 30 to 60 pounds at maturity.
If you want your Pitbull to live a long and happy life, you need to provide him with a high-quality dog food that meets his nutritional needs.
All dogs require a diet that is rich in meat and protein, supplemented with digestible carbohydrates for energy, and fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance.
It is important to realize that not all dog foods are created equal – many of the most popular brands on the market don’t provide these things so you need to learn how to identify a dog food that does.
You should also remember that there's a difference between feeding a senior dog and feeding a pit bull puppy. Make sure you are feeding your pit bull correctly.
When it comes to your Pitbull’s most basic nutritional requirements, he needs a diet that provides:
Protein
Your pitbull needs at least 18% crude protein.
Pitbulls are a very active breed, so they need a diet that is rich in protein to support their lean muscle mass.
Look for a dog food that starts with a high-quality source of animal protein like poultry, meat, or fish and remember, the more protein the better.
Fat
Your pitbull needs at least 5% crude fat.
Fat plays an important role in your dog’s diet. In addition to providing him with essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, fat also acts as a concentrated source of energy for your dog.
Carbs
As a carnivore, your dog has a limited ability to digest plant products, but certain digestible carbohydrates should be included in his diet as a source of energy and nutrients. Many dogs can digest whole grains, but there are also grain-free options like sweet potatoes, beans, legumes, and various gluten-free grains.
Other
Essential vitamins and minerals are important as well, plus your dog could benefit from probiotics for digestive support.
Key Takeaway
Your pitbull's diet needs to be rich in protein(at least 18%) to support their lean muscle mass with enough fat(at least 5%) to provide the calories they need to support their metabolism.
Look for a dog food that starts with a high-quality source of animal protein like poultry, meat, or fish.
It is best to avoid dog foods made with corn, wheat and soy ingredients as well as those that rely heavily on by-products, fillers, and artificial additives.
The Top 5 Dog Dry Foods for Pitbulls
Shopping for a high-quality dog food for your Pitbull is not as difficult as you might imagine.
The easiest way to evaluate the quality of a dog food product is to check the ingredients list.
You’ll want to see plenty of quality animal protein as well as digestible carbohydrates, healthy fats, and natural sources for key nutrients.
The easiest way to ensure that your Pitbull’s needs are met is to find a high-quality dog food formulated for medium-sized dogs or, because the Pitbull has a fast metabolism and high energy levels, an active breed formula.
Here are some of the top-rated dog food formulas that would be a great choice for your Pitbull:
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Snake River Grill - Review
When it comes to the best kibble for Pitbulls, Blue Buffalo is definitely a brand you want to consider.
Not only is Blue Buffalo one of the biggest names in the dog food industry, but they only use the freshest, most high-quality ingredients available.
This Blue Buffalo Wilderness Snake River Grill with Trout, Venison & Rabbit is a great example of a meat-rich formula made with wholesome ingredients to provide your Pitbull with the protein and energy he needs to thrive.
PROS
- Contains a minimum of 30% crude protein and 16% crude fat.
- Lists high-quality animal proteins as the top two ingredients.
- Made with grain-free, complex carbohydrates like sweet potato and peas.
- Supplemented with LifeSource Bits for complete and balanced nutrition.
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy as well as artificial additives.
CONS
- Not specifically formulated for medium-sized breeds.
- Contains some plant protein (pea protein), though it is mostly animal protein.
2. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dog Food - Review
If you are looking for the best grain-free dog food for Pitbulls, this Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dog Food might be a good option to consider.
The Taste of the Wild brand is known for using premium roasted meats in all of their recipes as well as fresh, grain-free carbohydrates.
This particular recipe is made with roasted lamb and lamb meal as well as eggs for supplementary protein.
It is supplemented with dried fermentation products for probiotic support as well as chelated minerals for maximum nutrient absorption.
This might be the best affordable dog food for Pitbulls.
PROS
- Contains both fresh lamb and lamb meal for 25% minimum crude protein.
- Gluten-free, grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and peas.
- Contains a limited number of ingredients to reduce the risk for food allergies.
- Made with fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients.
- Supplemented with dried fermentation products for probiotic support.
CONS
- Contains tomato pomace for dietary fiber, some consider it a questionable ingredient.
- The main source of fat is a plant oil rather than an animal-based fat.
3. Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active Dog Formula - Review
Though the Dr. Tim’s brand of dog food is not the most well-known brand out there, it specializes in recipes made for active and working breeds.
The Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active Dog Formula is a great example of a high-protein, high-fat formula that might be a good choice for your Pitbull.
It features 86% animal protein from quality sources like chicken, herring, and eggs as well as healthy fats and gluten-free grains.
This recipe is supplemented with chelated minerals for maximum nutrient absorption and it is rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
PROS
- Contains a minimum of 30% crude protein and 20% crude fat.
- Lists a highly-concentrated source of animal protein as the first ingredient.
- Includes digestible complex carbohydrates like brown rice and whole oat groats
- Rich in animal fats like chicken fat and salmon oil for concentrated energy.
- Slow cooking method preserves the nutritional integrity of raw ingredients.
CONS
- Contains grains which might be a problem for some dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Includes dried beet pulp for supplementary fiber, some consider it a questionable ingredient.
4. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Venison Meal, Brown Rice & Oatmeal Adult Recipe - Review
The Nutro dog food brand offers three different product lines but the Wholesome Essentials line always starts with meat as the first ingredient.
This Nutro Wholesome Essentials Venison Meal, Brown Rice & Oatmeal Adult Recipe starts with venison meal, a concentrated source of animal protein that provides 22% crude protein.
This formula is made with gluten-free whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal as well as legumes for carbohydrate energy and essential nutrients.
It is also supplemented with chelated minerals and a balance of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
PROS
- Starts with a concentrated source of animal protein as the first ingredient.
- Doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy ingredients & free from artificial additives.
- Contains natural antioxidants for immune support and for whole-body health
- Made with a novel source of protein that may benefit dogs with food allergies.
CONS
- Contains some pea protein, but most of the protein comes from animal sources.
- Doesn't contain dried fermentation products for probiotic support.
- Contains several plant-based oils, though chicken fat is the main source of fat
5. Castor and Pollux Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe - Review
One of the best dry dog foods for Pitbulls is this organic chicken recipe.
Made with organic free-range chicken, this Castor and Pollux Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe dog food offers 27% crude protein and 14% crude fat.
In addition to being rich in protein, it also contains complex carbohydrates like brown rice and barley as well as organic fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance.
PROS
- Made with real organic chicken as the number-1 ingredient.
- Contains complex carbohydrates like barley, brown rice, and millet.
- Relies on chicken fat as the main source of fat.
- Supplemented with chelated minerals for maximum nutrient absorption.
- No corn, wheat, and soy, GMO and artificial additives.
CONS
- Contains one gluten-containing grain, may be a problem for some dogs.
- Contains pea protein, though the main source of protein is animal-based
Wrapping Up
If you are looking for the best dry dog food for Pitbulls, the best place to start is with a reputable brand.
Once you’ve chosen a trustworthy brand, you can look for a product that is well-suited to your dog’s need – a medium-sized breed formula or an active breed formula.
Your Pitbull can also do well on a regular adult dog formula as long as it is rich in protein and fat and made with high-quality ingredients.
