Feeding a 90-pound dog isn't just feeding a small dog's food in bigger portions. Large and giant breeds have their own set of nutritional priorities, particularly around growth and joint health. Here's what matters, and how to think about choosing food for a big dog.
Why Large Breeds Are Different
A few things set large breed nutrition apart:
- Growth rate matters more than total size. Large and giant breed puppies are prone to skeletal problems if they grow too fast, which makes controlled growth — not maximum growth — the goal during puppyhood.
- Joint health is a lifelong priority, not just a senior-years concern, since the sheer weight a large dog's joints carry makes them more prone to wear over time.
- Calorie needs don't scale linearly with size. A large dog doesn't necessarily need proportionally more food than a small one relative to their weight, since bigger dogs often have somewhat lower metabolic rates per pound of body weight.
Protein Needs for Large, Active Dogs
Large breed dogs, especially active working or sporting breeds, often benefit from a higher-protein diet to support muscle maintenance. Open Farm's Epic Blend Chicken & Superfood recipe, a grain-free, high-protein formula, is worth considering for larger, more active dogs — though as always, your vet can help confirm it's the right fit for your specific dog's activity level and any health considerations.
Adding Raw Nutrition Without Overdoing Portions
For a large dog, feeding a fully freeze-dried raw diet can get expensive fast, simply because of how much food a big dog needs. Open Farm's RawMix Front Range recipe — a kibble coated in freeze-dried raw and bone broth — is one way to get some of that raw-food benefit into a large dog's diet without the cost of a fully raw feeding plan.
Large Breed Puppies Specifically
If you're raising a large or giant breed puppy, growth rate control is especially important — overfeeding or feeding an inappropriately calorie-dense diet during the growth phase has been linked to a higher risk of skeletal development issues. This is a conversation worth having directly with your vet, who can help you determine an appropriate feeding plan and growth trajectory for your specific breed. Open Farm's Salmon & Ancient Grains Puppy recipe is formulated for growing puppies broadly, but portion and growth-rate guidance for large breeds specifically should come from your vet.
Watching Weight as Dogs Get Bigger
Because large dogs carry more weight on their joints, keeping them at a healthy body condition matters even more than it does for smaller breeds — extra weight puts disproportionate strain on hips, knees, and elbows over time. Regular weigh-ins and adjusting portions as your dog matures are worth the effort.
Shop for Your Large Breed Dog
You can find Epic Blend, RawMix, and the Salmon & Ancient Grains Puppy recipe at The Hungry Puppy, along with our full dog food selection. Since large dogs go through food quickly, auto-delivery is worth setting up — it saves you 6% on every order and takes reordering off your plate entirely.
We've been helping Farmingdale-area owners of big dogs get their feeding plans right since 1987. If you want help sizing up the right recipe and portion for your large breed dog, call us at 732-938-4470.