Best Dog Food for Mastiffs (Top 10 in 2022)
The Mastiff is a massive, muscular dog that exhibits immense patience and loyalty in all that it does. As with all giant-breed dogs, they also run a serious risk of developing a myriad of health issues if their diet does not meet their specialized nutritional needs.
These issues can range from skeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy to serious diseases such as heart disease, bloat, obesity, and various types of cancer. In addition to choosing dog food with optimally balanced nutrition, dog owners also need to verify that their selected food is appropriate for their dog’s current life stage.
Among other factors, giant-breed puppies should have kibble with plenty of calcium and phosphorus to promote healthy bone development during their rapid growth phases, as well as added DHA to support healthy brain development.
Meanwhile, older dogs should have food designed with higher levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to keep their joints from deteriorating. Good dog food can be difficult to track down, but we’re here to help with our top picks for Mastiff food; which you can easily order through online retailers like Amazon and Chewy!
Best Dog Food for Mastiffs (Top 10 in 2021) – Overview
Here are the top 5 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 6-10).
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Canidae All Life Stages Premium Dry Dog Food for All Breeds, Chicken, Turkey and Lamb Meals
| 10 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies  | ORIJEN Dog Grain-Free Puppy Recipe Turkey and Wild Caught Fish
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Best for Senior Dogs  | Diamond Naturals Senior Real Meat Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food With Real Cage Free Chicken
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Superfood Blend  | NUTRO ULTRA Adult Large Breed High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food with a Trio of Proteins from Chicken Lamb and Salmon
| 9.7 | Check Price |
Best Grain-Free  | Merrick Large Breed Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken + Sweet Potato
| 9.6 | Check Price |
Best Overall
1. Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein Formula
Canidae All Life Stages Multi-Protein dry dog food is high in protein from a variety of animal sources, including chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish.
- Special multi-protein formula formulated for all life stages
- Tasty blend of chicken, turkey and lamb meals
- More nutrients per cup than other brands
It’s also packed with nutritious, easily digestible grains like oatmeal and barley that are high in dietary fiber to keep your dog’s digestive tract healthy. Omega-rich additions like chicken fat, flaxseed, and salmon oil also make this kibble an excellent choice for dogs that struggle with skin and coat maintenance.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, brown rice, white rice
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, millet, oats, rice)
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “We have a 12 year old Mastiff/Sheepdog that is very picky about dry food, and also seems to have developed a sensitive stomach. For the past few months, we have tried a number of high end dog foods that either she wouldn’t eat or she vomited after eating them. The Canidae is a dry food that she likes, and it stays down. This food also contains antioxidants, probiotic cultures, and omega-3 fatty acids that are good for her. This food also meets the AAFCO nutritional standards which, in my research, is something to look for in choosing a dog food. In addition, the percent of fat is 60% of the level of protein. If the percentage of fat as compared to the protein is more than 70% – 80% you are feeding your dog too much fat and not enough protein. I am very happy with the quality of this dry dog food, and more importantly my girl will eat it.”
Best for Puppies
2. Orijen Grain Free Large Breed Puppy Food
Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food combines free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs in a grain-free kibble perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Nutritious and varied diet for your growing puppy
- Includes raw animal ingredients
- Poultry, organs and fish recipe provide a wholeprey diet
In addition to these fresh and raw animal ingredients, this dry food is rich in calcium and phosphorus to help your dog build strong bones while maintaining a healthy growth rate.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “I bought this food at a local pet store after a friend recommended it to me. My 10 week old German Shepherd/Doberman puppy was having very runny poops and didn’t seem to like his food, so I took a friend’s advice and bought this; not even two days later his poos are vastly improved and he downs this food like there is no tomorrow. He likes it so much I use individual pieces to train him instead of treats, and he is more than happy. I’ll never give my little buddy another dog food brand as long as he lives.”
Best for Senior Dogs
3. Diamond Naturals Senior, Chicken, Egg, & Oatmeal Formula
Diamond Naturals Senior formula is specially designed to maintain your senior dog’s muscle mass with high-quality, cage-free chicken protein and their joint health with glucosamine and chondroitin additions.
- Contains various oluble and insoluble fibers for healthy digestion
- Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements help with healthy joints and cartilage
- Rich in phytonutrients from vegetables and fruits
This nutritious, balanced kibble also features a proprietary mix of probiotics to support tricky senior digestive systems.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, ground white rice, egg
- Type: Grain-inclusive (oats, rice)
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “This food has turned my 10 year old lab’s life around. She began to develop some pretty bad skin & ear problems as she aged. I wasn’t sure what was causing the issues but spoke with someone who recommended this food and it has made a huge difference. Her skin has cleared up almost completely and the constant scratching has stopped. Her coat looks better than ever and she has a bit of her puppy self back. Also put my 6 year old male lab on the same food since he has a bad hip and he no longer needs glucosamine since it’s already in his food. It was a great recommendation and I will pass my blessing along to the next person trying to find an excellent food for their furry family.”
Best Superfood Blend
4. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Formula
Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult kibble offers high-quality protein from real chicken ingredients, as well as omega-rich chicken fat and sunflower oil to support your dog’s skin and coat health.
- High-protein trio of chicken, lamb and salmon
- Contains superfoods such as chia seeds, coconut and kale
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Nutro brand dog food is also notable for its commitment to making food without animal by-product meal, soy, wheat, or artificial colors or preservatives, as well as for their included immune-supporting blend of antioxidant-rich superfoods like kale and blueberries.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), whole brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran
- Type: Grain-inclusive (oats, rice)
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “I have used this dry dog food for 11 years. I originally began using it with my pit bulls who were allergic to beef, and Nutro Ultra Large Breed dog food contains no beef or beef by products. We started the dogs on Nutro Puppy food at 10 weeks. After a year of using the adult food, I realized how good it was for my other 2 dogs that did not have beef allergies. All the dogs had beautiful coats, lots of energy, a healthy weight, and smaller stools that prior to using Nutro Ultra. Although I lost both pits to bone cancer (inherited trait) , the other two large mix-breed dogs are now 13 and 14 years old and doing well for senior large breed dogs. My new rescue pit is also thriving on the Nutro. I will continue to use it with all my future dogs as long as the formula produces the same results. I highly recommend it to anyone with large breed dogs, especially if they have food allergies.”
Best Grain-Free
5. Merrick Grain Free Large Breed, Real Chicken & Sweet Potato
Merrick Large Breed grain-free dog food provides high-protein, balanced kibble perfect for dogs with food allergies or sensitive digestive tracts.
- Protein-rich deboned chicken is the #1 ingredient
- Contains 40% produce, fiber, vitamins and minerals
- Omega fatty acids support healthy skin and shiny coat
This dry pet food is specifically formulated with leading levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to help prevent the joint issues that larger dogs like Mastiffs often face.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “I switched all three of my doodles to Merrick because of skin, ear and odor issues. I am happy to say that I have seen a huge improvement in their skin. They have stopped scratching and chewing their feet, and I rarely need to spray doggie deodorizer.”
6. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy Formula
Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy dry food is formulated with a medley of quality ingredients like chicken, lamb, and salmon to supply your growing pup with the muscle support that they need.
Additionally, this specialized large breed formula features plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin to promote healthy joint development and a blend of antioxidant-rich superfoods to help your dog develop a strong immune system.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), whole brown rice, brewers rice, whole grain oatmeal
- Type: Grain-inclusive (oats, rice)
- Best for: Mastiff Puppies
- Sample buyer review: “I have used this product for over a year. I did loads of research on different dog foods that suited my pups needs, received high grades for being healthy, and wouldn’t break the bank. My original puppy at the age of 6 months went from eating 5 cups of another brand of food and still acting starved to hardly finishing 2 cups of Nutro Ultra and being very content. My second puppy loves the food as well!”
7. Fromm Family Gold Large Breed Puppy
Fromm Family Gold Large Breed Puppy food is made with high-protein duck and chicken ingredients and a mix of healthy grains like oatmeal and barley to keep your dog healthy and regular.
This recipe also features fish oil and flaxseed rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote skin and coat health and carrots, which are rich in essential beta-carotene.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, chicken meal, chicken, oatmeal, pearled barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, oats, rice)
- Best for: Mastiff Puppies
- Sample buyer review: “I researched many high-quality, large breed puppy foods, and landed on this one. Fromm has ingredients that are real meat, and nothing I can see that is harmful in the ingredients. Additionally, this brand has appropriate calcium:phosphorous ratios for growing large and giant breed pups. My Great Pyrenees puppy loves the taste, too! Very happy so far.”
8. Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult Dog Food
Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult is designed to support healthy muscle development through high-quality, real duck and chicken protein and is packed with probiotics to encourage healthy digestion.
Fromm customers also adore how this product’s omega-rich inclusions like chicken fat and salmon oil keep their dogs’ skin healthy and their coats shiny.
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, chicken meal, chicken, oatmeal, pearled barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, oats, rice)
- Best for: Adult Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “I’ve fed the Fromm Large Breed formula for several years to my Great Danes and Mastiff. I’m very particular about the quality of food I feed, and this is, by far, the best. I show my dogs and get compliments on how nice their coats are all the time. Also the fact that it is family owned here in the USA made my choice to feed my dogs this brand even easier.”
9. Nutro Ultra Senior Formula
Nutro Ultra Senior dry dog food is formulated with your senior dog’s overall health in mind and is an excellent, affordable choice to keep them in great shape for years to come.
This food is made with a variety of animal proteins sourced from trusted suppliers, with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in the mix.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), whole brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran
- Type: Grain-inclusive (oats, rice)
- Best for: Senior Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “We have a purebred golden retriever and she has previously been on a healthy weight management name-brand food. We noticed that, after eating, she would rub her face all over the carpet and her eyes would water. After doing some research, I found that this food had high ratings for senior-age dogs. We have been using it for the last week or so and our dog no longer has any sort of reaction to the food. She does not itch, scratch, or have watery eyes after every meal! We were so happy to finally find a food that our dog did not react poorly too, and at her age, it is important to us that she has the highest quality of life until the end, as possible. I am very impressed by this food, and the ingredients in it.”
10. Orijen Grain Free Senior Dog Food
Orijen Senior grain-free recipe uses protein from free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs to keep your dog’s aging muscles strong.
Additionally, this dry kibble is made with chelated minerals for easier protein absorption and natural fermentation products for gut and digestive support.
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Type: Grain-free
- Best for: Senior Mastiffs
- Sample buyer review: “From the considerable research I’ve done seeking the (near) perfect commercial dog foods, Orijen kept making the top of the list. No grains, no junk filler, no significant allergens, & no trouble getting my four-footed friend’s interest.”
Final Thoughts
Giant-breed dogs like Mastiffs are renowned for their impressive strength, but they’re not the only powerful pups around. Check out our article on the world’s strongest dog breeds to learn more about these impressively muscular breeds.
