What are the Best Dog Foods for Cane Corsos?
Cane Corsos are big, seemingly intimidating dogs with fairly standard health concerns associated with larger breeds. Because of their size and strength apartment life might be challenging but they can thrive with experienced pet parents providing frequent walks and proper nutrition.
AKC Classification: Working Group
Exercise Required: 40+ minutes/day
Ideal Weight
Healthy Male: 100-110 lbs
Healthy Female: 88-100 lbs
Breed Summary
As a Cane Corso owner, you’ve got yourself a bodyguard! No, seriously, the term ‘Cane Corso’ translates to ‘Bodyguard Dog’ (Latin: canis – dog; cohors – bodyguard) and it is easy to see why they’ve earned the title. The muscular, deep-chested Cane Corso has a large and imposing head with dark almond shaped eyes. A descendent of the now extinct Molossus, a breed of dog from Ancient Greece, these working dogs are most closely associated with the Mastiff. Today’s Corsos can be traced back to southern Italy where they became nearly extinct in the mid-twentieth century. A concerted revival of the species took place in the 1970’s and an appreciation for the breed has grown since.
Don’t underestimate your Corso’s strength, especially when they’re bored. They tend to get destructive when going stir crazy so keep your pup busy! Get them involved in working sports or outdoor activities. Ultimately, the more you wear them out the better behavior you’ll see.
Your Corso is loyal and affectionate when it comes to you and your family but isn’t really looking for new friends anytime soon. Cane Corsos are fierce protectors which is great for you but can be scary for others and its important to keep that in mind when out and about. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are great with children and with some firm dedication will respond well to training.
Physical Traits
Sturdy, strong, muscular, athletic
Personality Traits
Majestic, affectionate, intelligent, loyal
Health Considerations for Cane Corsos
Those big Cane Corso bodies are bound to experience wear and tear as they age, and there are some potential genetic issues to look out for as well. Vets agree: proper nutrition is the most important thing we can do as pet parents to keep pets healthy and happy, so here are some considerations that our PhD nutrition team factors in when recommending the best dog food for Cane Corsos.
Bone and Joint
Bone and joint issues are common in Cane Corsos and can be genetic or develop over time with wear and tear. Common problems include Hip Dysplasia or Elbow Dysplasia and Arthritis. In any case it’s important to keep your Corso’s body weight in a healthy range to help avoid or minimize pain. We look for diets that contain these joint supportive ingredients:
Gastric torsion and Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Bloat is a serious, sudden and life threatening stomach issue that has been known to affect Cane Corsos more frequently than most other breeds. It's important to recognize signs of bloat, but there are some things we recommend to hopefully avoid this dangerous condition.
Eye
Cane Corsos do seem fairly prone to eye issues, like Entropion, Ectropion, and Cherry Eye. These issues can't always be prevented, but regular veterinary checkups can help identify potential issues, and we do like to see their diets contain these eye-supportive ingredients:
Foods We Recommend: Cane Corso Puppies
How long do Cane Corsos need puppy food?
Until they're 12-18 months old
Cane Corso puppies are very high-energy and need plenty of physical activity (although don’t push them too much as they’re still growing!) Keep walks short, but the protein high! For young, growing Cane Corsos, our nutrition team really likes these diets:
Foods We Recommend: Cane Corso Adults
When do Cane Corsos become adults?
12-18 months old
Once your Corso has grown into a full-sized bodyguard, you’ll want to make sure they stay in the ideal weight range. Weight management is the most important part of a healthy diet. You can do this by preventing overfeeding, providing the right balanced diet and working in proper exercise. Of the foods on the market today, these are some of our favorites:
Foods We Recommend: Cane Corso Seniors
When do Cane Corsos become seniors?
Around 7 years old
As your Cane Corso enters their golden years of older age their metabolism will slow down and joints might show more wear. The right diet can help keep them feeling like they’re in their prime. The Petabolix nutrition team recommends these senor Cane Corso foods: