If you ask a group of people what they think is the best Labrador dog food, each person’s answer will be different. Some people will share top brands like Spot & Tango, and others may tell you what brand of dog food they have been using over the years.
Some may even tell you to buy the cheapest brand since “Labrador Retrievers are high-energy” or because “Labradors eat a lot!” You should be asking how they chose the dog food they recommend and consider if it’s really a viable option for your dog in particular.
While you cannot blame people for sharing this information, one thing you need to be aware of is that you cannot feed your Labrador Retriever just any food.
Of course, as a pet parent, you only want what’s best for him or her, and that’s why it’s essential to investigate what the best food for Labradors is, based on their nutritional needs. Your Labrador puppy should receive the best diet possible!
Before you start planning your Labrador’s diet, you should know that the best dog food for Labrador Retrievers won’t be the same for each dog in the breed.
Best Dog Foods for Labrador Retrievers
Here’s a list of our best dog food picks for a Labrador Retriever in 2022.
Our Top 3 Wet Dog Foods
- All Around Favorite: Turkey & Red Quinoa
- For Allergies: Lamb & Brown Rice
- For Seniors: Beef & Millet
Our Top 3 Dry Dog Foods
Let’s find out what are the best dog foods for Labrador Retrievers in 2022. These recipes are top quality, and you can be 100% sure that all ingredients mentioned are safe products for your dog to consume.
Best Wet Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers
If your dog seems like the “average” dog in terms of good coat condition, healthy weight, medium-active lifestyle, and of middle or senior age, you can opt for a good all-rounder meal from the Spot & Tango range.
The following recipes are rich in proteins, vitamins and fat, adequate to each dog’s condition and age. Also, due to the wet texture, these meals are soft and easy to chew, making it very appealing for Labrador Retrievers of all ages.
If you prefer, click here to scroll down and find the best wet dog food recipes for Labrador Retrievers in 2022.
Our pick for the best dog all-rounder favorite food for a Labrador Retriever:
Spot & Tango – Turkey & Red Quinoa
Ingredients: |
Turkey, Red Quinoa, Spinach, Apple, Eggs, Peas, Parsley, Carrots, Safflower Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Vegetable Stock, Vitamins and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- Free from gluten, grain, wheat, soy, and corn
- Non-GMO
- Packed with vitamins and minerals: calcium phosphate, salt, calcium carbonate, magnesium, kelp, potassium, zinc, vitamin E, iron, vitamin D3, manganese, copper, selenium, iodine, vitamin B12, and folic acid
- No preservatives, artificial additives, or growth hormones
Spot & Tango Turkey & Red Quinoa wet dog food only contains 100% human-grade ingredients. Each portion offers perfectly balanced nutrition for pups and adult Labrador Retrievers.
Just like for humans, quinoa is a superfood for dogs. With plenty healthy carbohydrates, Spot & Tango Red Quinoa combination, helps to fuel the energy on your canine friend.
The recipe also contains fresh apples, which are full in antioxidants and phytochemicals. These are proved to help the brain function of dogs.
The Turkey & Red Quinoa blend is also perfect for dogs who suffer from chicken allergy and turkey is full in high protein and fat, which helps the dog’s coat to be shiny and healthy.
Also, if you study the list of ingredients, you will notice no meat meals or meat meal by-products are included in the food.
Spot & Tango also uses a slow-cooking and flash freezing method that locks in the nutrients without drying out the food or destroying the goodness.
Best Wet Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers with Allergies
Spot & Tango – Lamb & Brown Rice
If your Labrador Retriever suffers with allergies, here are some recipes that will be ideal for your dog’s needs:
Ingredients: |
Lamb, Brown Rice, Blueberries, Carrots, Spinach, Eggs, Peas, Parsley, Safflower Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Vegetable Stock, Vitamins and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- Free from chicken, turkey, and onion
- No artificial additives, preservatives, and growth hormones
- Gluten-free
- Free from soy, corn, and wheat
Spot & Tango Lamb & Brown Rice wet dog food is our top pick for wet dog foods for Labrador Retrievers with allergies. The ingredients are nourishing, exclude common allergens and are vet developed for absolute peace of mind.
The Spot & Tango Lamb & Brown Rice wet food contains USDA certified ground lamb. Lamb is an alternative to other meats, it’s full of protein, and you’ll be happy to know this lamb is ethically sourced.
On the other hand, brown rice is easy to digest, helping your dog to avoid tummy troubles. Meanwhile, the addition of blueberries adds a high vitamin C content which promotes healthy skin and heart. All ingredients are human-grade and contain natural vitamins and minerals for the health of your Labrador.
Best Wet Dog Food for Senior Labrador Retriever
Spot & Tango Beef & Millet Wet Food
Clean ingredients combined with the most popular protein on the market.
Ingredients: |
Beef, Millet, Cranberries, Carrots, Spinach, Parsley, Peas, Eggs, Safflower Oil, Vegetable Stock, Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamins and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- Top choice for picky eaters
- No preservatives, artificial additives, or growth hormones
- Free from wheat, soy, gluten, and corn
- 100% human-grade ingredients
If you want to give your senior pal the best nutrition for his stage of life, spend time carefully reading senior dog food formulas. Careful attention to ingredients will provide you with a good idea of what type of goodness you’re providing your dog.
As a dog gets older, his joints and bones become worn – it is all part of the process.
By feeding your dog the correct nutrition, you can alleviate possible cognitive function issues and help rebuild an impaired immune system.
As your dog ages, he may become a picky eater. The Spot & Tango Beef & Millet wet food is a firm favorite for picky eaters.
The vet-developed food is designed to provide your Labrador with an improved quality of life through good nutrition.
This particular formulation includes cranberries which are great antioxidants and can reduce the symptoms of arthritis and inflammation. Apple cider vinegar is also good for aiding the digestion process and helps to regulate blood sugar.
And, if you are not familiar with millet, it is yellow seed that is also a healthy carbohydrate. This recipe is therefore grain-free and gluten-free.
All the ground beef included is USDA certified, and all ingredients are approved for human consumption.
Best Dry Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers
So far we covered wet food only, which is important to give an extra hydration lift to your four-legged best friend.
However, dry food is also an option to add to your dog’s diet. It makes their teeth sharper and healthier. Additionally, these recipes have plenty of proteins and vitamins for a nutritional plan that sets your dog’s health as a priority.
Check out below the best dry dog food recipes for Labrador Retrievers.
Labrador Retrievers with a High Protein Diet
Spot & Tango – Duck & Salmon
If your dog needs a high protein diet due to a specific condition or because he/she is extremely active, you should take a look at the recipes below:
Ingredients: |
Duck, Salmon, Apples, Carrots, Spinach, Flax, Sweet Potatoes, Parsley, Chia Seeds, Kelp, Salt, Tapioca, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamins, and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- Contains 29.68% crude protein
- Grain-free formulation
- 100% human-grade quality ingredients
- Vet developed
When it comes to highly active dogs, Labrador Retrievers are on the top of the list. As such, a Labrador Retriever can benefit from dog food that’s high in protein simply because he needs the protein for energy.
A dog food rich in protein promotes developing muscle mass and supports the energy demands of a highly active Labrador Retriever.
Furthermore, the calories in high-protein dog food are more efficiently used by a highly active dog like the Labrador Retriever. In fact, dogs that don’t receive enough protein can experience muscle loss and see a noticeable drop in energy levels.
Lastly, high-protein dog food that’s ideal for a Labrador Retriever is typically low in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a non-essential component of a healthy diet for most dogs, but it is especially true for a highly active Labrador Retriever.
Spot & Tango’s Duck & Salmon Unkibble is the highest protein option in the range. It provides balanced nutrition for both puppies and adult Labrador Retrievers. All ingredients are human-grade, and there are no artificial additives and hormones included.
Duck is a complete protein and excellent for your dog’s health as the amino acids present help build and maintain healthy muscles and fuel the immune system.
Salmon, too, is an excellent protein source packed with Omega-3 fatty acids to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote a shiny coat.
Since puppies need high protein in the development stage of life, this is also the best dry food for a Labrador puppy.
Best Dry Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers with Sensitive Stomachs
Spot & Tango – Chicken & Brown Rice
Does your Labrador Retriever dog have a sensitive stomach? The following recipes are indicated for the ones who suffer from that condition.
Ingredients: |
Chicken, Brown Rice, Apples, Chicken Liver and Gizzard, Carrots, Ginger Root, Sweet Potatoes, Sunflower Seeds, Mixed Tocopherols, Kale, Kelp, Salt, Vitamins, and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- Contains L-Tryptophan, which can ease stress (stress can lead to a sensitive stomach)
- Has a high protein content of 26.5%
- Gently dried to lock in goodness while maintaining nutrition
- Contains no powdered meat, meat meals, or artificial additives
If you think that your Lab has a sensitive stomach, you can do things to help him. The best way to determine the best foods for your Labrador Retriever with a sensitive stomach is to use the elimination diet.
This is where you cut out just one type of food at a time until you notice a change in the symptoms.
It can be done with ease, assuming you’re not letting your pet get into uncontrolled food items or areas. Like humans, most Labs are allergic to a few common foods.
Here are some of the most common allergies: dairy, eggs, gluten, soy and other animal proteins. Of course, if you suspect your dog of having food allergies or a sensitive stomach, the ideal thing to do is consult with your local veterinarian.
The Spot & Tango Chicken & Brown Rice Unkibble is perfectly balanced even for the most sensitive stomach. Chicken is generally easy to digest, and ginger’s inclusion may help settle an upset stomach.
In fact, ginger, which is perfectly safe for your dog in small doses, has many antioxidants that can reduce motion sickness, gastrointestinal problems, nausea and bloat. It’s also a great natural anti-inflammatory.
Best Dry Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers on a Overweight Labrador
Spot & Tango – Beef & Barley
If your dog is slightly overweight, he will have special dietary requirements.
Here are the best dog foods for overweight Labrador Retrievers.
Ingredients: |
Beef, Barley, Beef Liver and Heart, Beets, Green Beans, Carrots, Cranberries, Green Beans, Rosemary, Kelp, Mix Tocopherols, Salt, Vitamins, and Minerals. |
Why we love it:
- High protein content of 26.58%
- 100% human-grade ingredients
- Packed with vitamins and minerals
- Developed according to AAFCO’s nutritional standards
Labrador Retrievers are often chosen for their love of learning and playing and easy temperament.
They are often great partners for hunting and sporting and also excel as therapy dogs and detection dogs.
Recent studies prove that Labrador Retrievers are highly successful at learning to become guide dogs. In fact, they are the top breed to play this role in society.
This provides sufficient evidence that Labrador Retrievers are designed for energetic tasks and for being active.
Suppose your Labrador Retriever gains weight due to inactivity and over-eating (or eating the wrong diet). In that case, it’s time to change your dog’s diet and introduce some light to moderate activity.
The Beef & Barley recipe is perfect for dogs with weight issues, since barley is a healthy grain soft in cholesterol, but heavy in fiber.
Chat with your veterinarian about switching your dog to low-calorie dog food, and then spend some time considering the various low-calorie options on the Spot & Tango range.
We source locally produced ingredients and offer both vet and pet nutritionist approved meals along with USDA approved options.
All Spot & Tango Unkibble products are vet-developed to be low calorie and nutrient-dense. Each portion served to your pup is a serving of goodness.
The fact that the ingredients have nothing artificial included means that your dog gets only healthy components out of each scoop.
Skip the bad stuff that contributes to unnecessary calorie intake and choose a vet developed Unkibble that supports healthy nutrition without weight gain!
Final Thoughts
All Spot & Tango wet and dry food is made with 100% fresh, human-grade ingredients. That means it’s good (and safe) enough even for you to eat. Our company takes nutrition seriously, which is illustrated in every vet-developed meal.
Plus, all meals are never extruded and contain no powdered meat, artificial additives, or meat meals. In addition to this, all products are complete and balanced for both adult dogs and puppies, taking the AAFCO’s nutritional standards into account.
When planning your Labrador Retriever’s diet, it is essential to consider your dog’s specific body and situation.
This is the very reason why the Spot & Tango website offers a meal planning feature that allows you to input your dog’s information and have specific foods recommended.
The service also allows you to customize meal plans for your pet so that you’re providing the very best nutrition for your dog and not just the average dog.
Creating a Labrador Retriever diet needs to take several things into account. You will need to consider your dog’s exact weight and any health conditions he might have.
If you’re looking for dry and wet food for a Labrador Retriever that is active, sensitive, overweight, allergic, or getting old, there’s a Spot & Tango meal plan just for you!
What’s great about Spot & Tango food is that it’s direct to the public, cutting out the extra costs of buying from a retailer.
Start planning your Labrador Retrievers meal plan with Spot & Tango today.