Best Dog Food for Rottweilers

Rottweiler Feeding Requirements

Just like any other dog breed, Rottweilers are carnivores. As a result, their diet needs to consist mainly of meat.

In general, Rottweilers require a diet filled with 22 to 26 percent of protein. The protein should come from whole protein sources such as:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Lamb

This will help your Rottweiler maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass.

Fat should make up a small portion of your Rottweiler’s diet.

Too much fat will cause your Rottweiler to become overweight. 12%-16% of fat should be the target percentage.

It should also come from chicken or beef fat. Ingredients like brown rice, sweet potatoes, and corn wheat are also vital parts of your Rottweiler’s diet. Vitamin minerals, including vitamin e, are also an integral part of your Rottweiler’s diet.

If you decide to feed your Rottweiler commercial food rather than making it yourself at home, you have a variety of options to choose from. These are some of the best dog foods for Rottweilers on the market.

• Taste of the Wild Wetlands: This premium, grain-free dog food is built to mimic the diet that wild dogs feed on. It contains a total of 32% protein from chicken, turkey, and ducks. With omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidant rich fruits, and vegetables, the Taste of the Wild Wetlands provides the vital amount of nutrition needed for your Rottweiler.
• Nutro Max Large Breed Dog Food: Designed for large dog breeds like Rottweilers, Nutro Max Large Breed Dog Food offers a high protein dish fit for their unique needs. Nutro Max also contains whole brown rice, which is also known to be good for Rottweilers.
• Wellness CORE Large Breed: Absolutely no grains are included in this dog food, making it one of the best brands on the market. Like the other dog foods mentioned, it also has a high protein content. 
• BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe: This commercial dog food brand contains 34% of protein. All of it comes from chicken meal, deboned chicken, and turkey meat.
• Fromm Gold Nutritionals Large Breed: Because of its protein-rich recipe and lack of grains, Fromm Gold Nutritionals Large Breed dog food also tops the list.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Rottweiler

Rottweilers love their food. But that doesn’t mean that everything they are eager to gulp down is necessarily healthy for them. Please be aware of foods that are known to be unhealthy, or even toxic, for Rottweilers.

Avoid feeding your Rottweiler anything that contains chemical preserves, sugar, or artificial color.

These ingredients do not contain any nutritional value, and can even be harmful to your Rottweiler. For instance, Xylitol, a sweetener used to replace sugar in sugar-free foods, can cause your dog’s blood pressure to drop rapidly.

Make sure you keep your Rottweiler away from these foods in particular.

• Chocolate: You may have already heard that chocolate is bad for dogs. At worst, it can cause seizures, irregular heartbeats, or even death. This is because chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to dogs. Therefore, the darker the chocolate, the higher the toxicity. White chocolate is the least toxic while dark chocolate is the most toxic.
• Bread or Dough: Due to the live yeast inside the bread, the dough can cause bloat, and in the most extreme cases, intoxication in your dog. Bread dough can also cause your dog to experience seizures. In some cases, it can even kill your Rottweiler.
• Grapes or Raisins: In the past, grapes and raisins have induced kidney failure in Rottweilers. If your Rottweiler has ingested either of these foods, watch out for signs of toxicosis such as vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea. Researchers still aren’t sure why a Rottweiler’s immune system is so vulnerable to these fruits.
• Onions or Garlic: Keeping your Rottweiler away from onions or garlic is also important. These foods contain compounds that can damage your dog’s red blood cells. While they do need to ingest a large portion of onions and garlic to experience damaging effects from them, you should still keep them away from your dog.

Foods including corn, wheat, soy, and spices are also known for triggering food allergies in Rottweilers.

It is important to maintain a sense of awareness over where you place your foods. Rottweilers can be sneaky and they will try to steal a bite of your food whenever possible. Don’t let any of these foods out on the counter or the dinner table.

You would be surprised at what Rottweilers will do to grab a bite of your lunch or dinner.

One of the best ways to keep your Rottweiler healthy is by maintaining a firm awareness of everything they eat. Failing to keep your food stowed away will make this difficult. Make it a habit to throw or stow away leftovers as soon as possible.

Best Food for Rottweilers with Sensitive Stomachs

Are you worried that your Rottweiler might have a sensitive stomach? Before you search for a new dog food brand, you will need to determine what is causing your dog’s stomach problems.

Some Rottweilers are simply sensitive to specific ingredients. Others may have a more serious underlying health problem.

To rule out any serious health issues, you need to bring your Rottweiler to the vet. Once they rule out conditions such as stomach cancer, you can investigate what ingredients are causing your Rottweiler’s stomach to get upset.

Symptoms of a Sensitive Stomach

Watch out for these symptoms. They may signal that your dog is allergic to something in its diet.

• Vomiting
• Loose stools
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence

Best Dog Food for Rottweilers With Stomach Problems

A diet that works for one dog might not work for another. Maybe you just need to switch out your Rottweiler’s protein choice for a new one. Or your dog just needs a little more fiber in their diet. 

There are some statements you can look out for on commercial dog food labels. First, you should make sure the food is labeled “complete and balanced.” This means that the brand contains all the necessary nutrients for a well-balanced diet. Double-check the food label for protein and fiber sources. Check the fat content too. 

How to Transition Your Rottweiler to a New Food

Start small. Your dog’s first meal should be comprised of 80% to 90% of the old food and 10% to 20% of the new food. You should slowly change the ratio over the course of 10 days. 

If you have any questions, you can contact your vet for help. He or she can provide advice that is tailored to your dog’s specific health needs.

3 Homemade Food Recipes for Rottweilers

If you have time to make food for your Rottweiler, great!

Many owners choose to make their own food so they have better control over their Rottweiler’s diet. Some Rottweilers may even be allergic to ingredients found in commercial dog foods.

Owners who wish to feed their Rottweilers organic meals will find that making them at home is much cheaper than purchasing them at the store. For whatever reason you choose for making your Rottweiler homemade food, you will find that some of the best dog food for Rottweilers comes from your own kitchen!

Here are some fun recipes you can try for yourself.

1. Turkey and Vegetable Meal

This meal is great if you are just starting out. It’s pretty simple. The turkey provides protein to help your Rottweiler maintain its muscle mass. The vegetables offer vitamins and minerals that satisfy your Rottweiler’s nutritional needs. This dish is also a good choice for Rottweilers who need to lose a little weight.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water
• 1 pound of ground turkey
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 1 cup of chopped green beans

Instructions

1. Cook the ground turkey in a skillet until it is cooked through.
2. In a separate pot, add the cooked turkey, brown rice, and water. Bring the pot to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low for fifteen minutes or until the rice becomes soft.
4. Add the carrots and green beans. Cook for an additional five to 10 minutes.
5.  Let the dish cool for a little before serving. Voila. You’re done!

2. Chicken Casserole

Chicken casserole contains a high amount of protein content. The meal is also great for your Rottweiler’s immune system. Ingredients like green beans, oats, and carrots can help your dog feel full.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• ½ cup of chopped green beans
• ½ cup of chopped carrots
• ½ cup of chopped broccoli
• ½ cup of rolled oats
• 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

1. Remove the extra fat from the chicken breasts before cutting them into small nickel-sized chunks.
2. Cook the chicken in a non-stick skillet.
3. Add all of the ingredients in a large pot. Cook them over medium heat until the carrots turn tender.

3. Beef Stew

This high protein dish including ingredients like beef, vegetables, and gravy is a good choice for Rottweilers who want something savory. It is also a great alternative to wet commercial dog foods.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of beef stew meat
• 1 small sweet potato
• ½ cup of diced carrots
• ½ cup of diced green beans
• Premade gravy

Instructions

1. Cook the sweet potato in the microwave for five to eight minutes. It should be tender, but firm. Dice the sweet potato and set it aside.
2. Slice the beef into small chunks before cooking them over a skillet.
3. Cook the remaining ingredients in a large pan with the pre-made gravy.

Best Vitamins for Rottweilers

Many owners give their Rottweilers supplements to support their joint health.

Due to their large size, they are prone to developing hip dysplasia. Along with closely monitoring their Rottweiler’s physical activity, owners need to make sure they are properly feeding them.

Vitamins aren’t going to completely heal hip dysplasia, but they are useful for alleviating any pain or discomfort associated with it. We suggest feeding your Rottweiler these supplements before they show any signs of joint discomfort. Feeding them later will still help alleviate pain, but it will take a couple of months.

The best supplements contain glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine is effective in pain and inflammation reduction. It is also known to increase joint mobility. Chondroitin also promotes joint repair.

Before you purchase any vitamins, you need to perform some light research. Some supplements do not contain enough vitamins to make a significant impact on your Rottweiler’s health.

For instance, Rottweilers need 20mg of glucosamine for each pound they weigh. If your dog has any food allergies, you will want to choose a hypoallergenic supplement.

Rottweiler Feeding Schedule by Age

Puppy

When your Rottweiler is a puppy, you should feed it three times a day.

As it continues to grow in size, you can slowly increase its portion size from 1 and ¾ cups to 8 cups of food each meal. A Rottweiler is considered to be a “puppy” until he is around 18 months old.

Adult

Make sure you feed your adult Rottweiler at least twice a day.

Feeding should take place in the morning and in the afternoon before 6 PM.

Senior

Rottweilers reach their senior years at around 6 years old. You should still feed it twice a day.

During these years, your Rottweiler begins to grow more susceptible to food allergies and digestion issues.

Related Questions

Related Reading

• Are Rottweilers Safe?
• Can Rottweilers be Service Dogs?