Boxers are playful and affectionate dogs. To keep them healthy, it’s important that you only give the best dog food for Boxers in every meal. Take note that these doggos have high energy and it’s just right that their diet can keep up.
BOXER DOG FOOD | DOG FOOD BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
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Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Puppy Food | Check Price | ||
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe for Adult Dogs | Check Price | ||
Eukanuba Breed Specific Adult Boxer Dog | Check Price | ||
Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food | Check Price | ||
AvoDerm Natural Chicken & Rice Dog Food Formula | Check Price |
Here, I personally reviewed 5 of the best dog food for Boxers together with a buying guide. Check which one suits your doggo the best.
MY TOP PICK: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Puppy Food
Product Name: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Puppy Food
Product Description: If you have a pup, I recommend the Royal Canin Breed Specific Formula. It’s perfect for pups between 8 weeks to 15 months old. This contains 28% protein, 16% fat, 3.7% fiber, and 10% moisture. Among the main ingredients include chicken, brewers rice, oat groats, brown rice, chicken fat, and dried beet pulp. What I love the most here is the unique kibble shape that makes it easy for Boxers to munch. This formula is also good for the heart of your pooch.
Price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Formula Quality
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Palatability
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Nutrition
Overall
Summary
This food is infused with antioxidants and Vitamin E that help nourish a dog’s coat. For Boxers that are prone to excessive weight, the L-Carnitine content will help. It also has nutrients that support intestinal health and better digestion.
Also, this contains glucosamine which will keep your pup’s joints in check. Just remember that this dog food contains 361 calories per cup.
Pros
✔️Supports muscle development
✔️Custom kibble design for Boxers
✔️Reduces upset GI
✔️Help reduce excessive gas
Cons
❌Makes the stool of my poop too soft (but she does well on it, anyway)
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe for Adult Dogs
For adult and senior Boxers, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe is what I recommend. It’s made with red meat and contains the brand’s proprietary LifeSource Bits.
Every serving of this dog food contains 30% protein, 15% fat, 6% fiber, and 1.4% calcium. The number one ingredient is deboned beef paired with chicken meal and Menhaden fish meal. This is packed with nutrients since it also contains peas, chicken fat, deboned lamb, and sweet potatoes.
Overall, this is grain-free which is a champ for Boxers with very sensitive stomachs. It’s infused with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
The LifeSource Bits provide a dose of antioxidants and chelated minerals that serve as nutrition pills for your doggo. This has a healthy oxidative balance that will work for all dogs.
My only gripe is that my Boxers tend to skip the bits. With a small dash of fish oil, my pooch gobbled it down nonetheless.
Take note that this is a high-protein formula. If your pooch has kidney issues, I suggest that you consult a vet first.\
✔️Made with red meat
✔️Contains proprietary LifeSource Bits
✔️Grain-free
✔️High protein content for growing Boxers
❌The LifeSource Bits are less palatable
Eukanuba Breed Specific Adult Boxer Dog
Another breed specific formula that I recommend is the one from Eukanuba. It bears the brand’s proprietary 3D DentaDefense System that helps reduce tartar buildup in just 28 days.
Each serving of this Boxer dog food has 25% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, and 0.95% calcium. Its main ingredient is chicken along with whole grain sorghum, whole grain barley, chicken fat, brewers rice, and more.
The good thing with this dog food is it contains both glucosamine and chondroitin that supports the joint health of Boxers. It also has L-Carnitine that helps manage your doggo’s weight. The addition of Taurine makes it a heart-friendly meal.
My Boxer loves it and I like hearing the crunch of the kibble each time she will eat. The kibble also has the right size which makes it easy for Boxers to chew.
If your pooch has itchy skin, this dog food can help. It’s also much cheaper now compared to my previous purchase.
✔️Contains glucosamine and chondroitin
✔️Infused with Taurine and L-Carnitine
✔️Right kibble size
✔️Fresh and crunchy kibble
❌Contains chicken by-product which can be an issue for some
Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb Formula Dry Dog Food
If your Boxer is finding it hard to eat crunchy kibble, I recommend that you try serving this Purina ONE SmartBlend Formula. It has tender morsels that are easier to chew and swallow.
Its main ingredient is lamb meat that’s also rich in glucosamine. There’s also beef fat, dried peas, and loads of vitamins and minerals. My only warning is that this dog food contains soybean and corn. If your pooch has allergies to these ingredients, you might as well consider the other four products in this roundup.
Each serving of this yummy meal contains 26% protein, 16% fat, and 3% fiber. This is also infused with 1% calcium, 0.8% phosphorus, and other important minerals.
For added nourishment, Purina ONE also has Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. To add, it contains dual-defense antioxidant blend to boost your doggo’s immune system.
Each cup of this dog food contains 380 calories. Don’t forget to practice portion control.
✔️Contains glucosamine
✔️Contains real lamb
✔️Highly digestible
✔️Packed with minerals
❌Contains soy and corn
AvoDerm Natural Chicken & Rice Dog Food Formula
My last recommendation is the AvoDerm Natural Chicken & Rice Dog Food Formula. It contains the very healthy avocado that’s rich in monounsaturated fat and fatty acids that promote coat health.
Aside from that, this dog food has a chicken meal as the main ingredient. It’s paired with ground brown rice, white rice, oatmeal, chicken fat, avocado, and more. There are also superfoods like flaxseed and kelp on its ingredients list.
Each serving of this AvoDerm dog food contains 23% protein, 13% fat, 4% fiber, and 10% moisture. It’s also added peace of mind that AvoDerm meets the nutritional levels set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Overall, this has a wholesome savory taste that my Boxer can’t get enough of. It doesn’t have corn, soy, or wheat which makes it ideal even for dogs with food allergies.
I like that it has premium ingredients. My dog does well with this and I never had problems with him since.
✔️Contains the very nutritious avocado
✔️Packed with superfoods
✔️FREE from corn, soy, and wheat
✔️Infused with probiotics
❌None so far
Boxer Dog Food Buying Guide
Wondering what you should look for your Boxer’s food? Here’s my personal buying guide together with a comprehensive macronutrient breakdown:
Nutritional Needs of Boxer Dogs
Boxers will usually grow around 55 to 70 pounds. These are large canines that need to consume between 1,500 and 2,500 calories a day depending on their age, activity level, and health condition.
Much like its brachycephalic cousins, Boxers are prone to food allergies and stomach sensitivities. This is another reason why you to pay serious attention to their food choices.
Generally, you would want to avoid grains like corn, soy, and wheat. These can trigger allergies, not to mention its lack of important nutrients.
For Boxers, you might need to switch between different dog food products to find out what suits your pet perfectly. Just remember that there’s no one-formula-fits-all among dogs. You always have to consider the individual needs of each canine.
How much and when to feed a Boxer
The amount of food you’ll feed a Boxer dog depends mostly on its age. You also have to factor in your pet’s health condition, development, and activity level.
Here’s my personal recommendation for healthy doggos:
-Puppy Boxers that are around 2 to 6 months
At this stage, you need to give the pup higher protein content than what you’ll give an adult or senior dog. I also recommend that you split the day’s calorie allotment in 2 to 3 small meals.
For pups, the rule of thumb is 300 grams of food a day. If you’re going to feed the pooch three times, it would be 100 grams for each meal.
You can slowly introduce a twice a day schedule. If your pup tends to develop bloating and gas when feeding twice a day, you might need to revert back to the thrice a day setup.
-Adult Boxer dogs
During this stage, your Boxer would be weighing at least 50 pounds. Most of the time, adult Boxers would be amenable to eat twice a day. There are no specific grams per day here since it will vary based on your dog’s weight and activity level.
Generally, I’d say that 4 to 5 cups of kibble each day would suffice. Just make sure that you split it into two to three meals.
In case you have a bigger or more active boi, you might need to add another cup to keep up with its needs. If you are in doubt, I suggest that you consult the vet or a pet nutritionist for an exact prescription.
-Senior Boxers
Once your pooch reaches seniorhood, you’ll likely need to cut down on calories. Most Boxers will become less active during this phase. If you feed the same number of calories, your senior pooch might grow fat over time.
Pet nutritionists might recommend a high protein diet, but you have to be careful if your dog has kidney problems.
The extra protein will keep the doggo’s muscles in check. Since they don’t move as much as they do during their younger years, their muscle tissues can dwindle along the way without proper nutrition.
Macronutrient breakdown
Here’s what you generally want to look for a Boxer’s dog food:
-Protein
Dogs need animal protein as a major part of their diet. In fact, puppies need at least 35% of protein during their first months. This should be trimmed down slowly as they grow older.
The amino acids in protein will help build muscles and support organ functions. Although you can give a plant-based protein source to your pooch, you should stick to animal sources for the most part.
The best choices are salmon, lamb, venison, turkey, and chicken. I personally don’t recommend beef as the main ingredient since it’s a notorious allergic trigger. Unless your Boxer doesn’t have food sensitivities, there shouldn’t be an issue with beef.
-Carbs
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy of your pooch. Puppies would need around 25% and will likely increase as they acquire more activities.
This is a matter of personal preference, but I recommend that you avoid too many un-whole grains. when I say ‘un-whole’, those are the likes of corn, soy, and wheat. I’d prefer brown rice, quinoa, flaxseed, peas, and more.
-Fats
Contrary to common belief, fats aren’t always a bane. Healthy fats like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids aid the coat, skin, and nail health of your Boxer.
Still, keep fats in a low to moderate level. The right amount can be a good source of concentrated energy for your Boxer. Just take note that the higher the carb content, the lower the fat should be.
Remember, too much fat can result in an overweight Boxer.
-Vitamins and minerals
Staple vitamins A, B, C, D, and E are excellent in supporting the overall health of your doggo. Also, you should get the right balance of calcium to avoid overgrowth for pups. Too much calcium might interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.
-Joint vitamins
For large breeds like Boxers, chondroitin and glucosamine are very important. This will keep their joint cartilage healthy to delay the onset of arthritis and to prevent other osteoarthritis conditions.
-Live cultures
If there’s one thing you need to be careful about, it’s Boxers’ tendency to become bloated. Their case of gas can be really nasty. If possible, look for food with gut-friendly organisms like probiotics which can thrive on the GI tract.
Conclusion
Have you found the best dog food for Boxers? Remember that each dog will have different needs. It pays to consult a veterinarian before switching your pet to a new diet. Also, observe for possible allergies and intolerances that may occur along the way.
The 5 products I reviewed give the best bang for the buck. It’s up to you to choose which suits your Boxer well.