What are the Best Dog Foods for Saint Bernards?
The sweet-natured Saint Bernard is truly a gentle giant that thrives in the company of those it loves most. To maintain optimal health and wellness in this giant breed, it is important to select a diet that has been designed to support the requirements of dogs of this size. Whether your Saint Bernard is a puppy, an adult, or a senior, you will be sure to find the right diet to meet your dog’s every nutritional need on our list of the top foods for this beloved giant breed.
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Breed Info
Breed Group:Working | AKC St. Bernard Profile
Ideal Weight:Female Adult: 114 to 146 pounds
Male Adult: 141 to 179 pounds
Exercise Need:15 to 25 minutes per day
Breed Summary
The gentle, kind Saint Bernard was originally put to work by monks in the Swiss Alps rescuing travelers who had lost their way in the cold and snow. Intelligent and sweet by nature, the Saint Bernard is a giant dog whose size is rivalled only by the magnitude of its heart. The Saint Bernard comes in two different coat types: long haired and short haired.
Though the Saint Bernard has a coat that has well prepared it for the cold, the breed does best indoors close by the side of its family. This dog type is naturally calm but does requires regular daily exercise to remain physically and mentally content. Not typically a high energy breed, the Saint Bernard still is not well suited to life in an apartment. The ideal home environment for this breed is a house with a fenced yard.
Saint Bernards tend to do a lot of drooling and shedding, meaning families must be prepared to deal with a fair bit of mess. Loyal and willing to protect its family from perceived harm, the Saint Bernard possesses a sharp bark that is sure to scare any would be intruders away. The breed is a loving family companion and is especially kind with children.
Unfortunately, as with most giant breeds, the Saint Bernard has a short life expectancy. A good diet can help keep this gentle giant in excellent health and prevent the development of diseases common to the breed.
Physical Traits
Strong, sturdy, muscular, giant, substantial
Personality Traits
Gentle, affectionate, quiet, calm, sweet-natured
Health Considerations
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As with most giant breeds, the saint bernard has a short life expectancy and can be prone to developing a number of different health problems. A high quality diet can help stave off the effects of any illness or injury that can be common to the breed. Supplements added to a food can provide a vital help for preserving cardiac, eye, and joint health, a very important component of attaining health and wellness in the saint bernard.
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Gastric torsion and Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Giant breed dogs are particularly at risk for developing the life threatening condition known as bloat. It is believed that eating too rapidly and too much are contributing factors to the development of this problem. Feeding a giant breed food formulation can help the saint bernard learn to eat more slowly and thoughtfully thus preventing this condition in the breed.
Recommendations:
Avoid elevated feeding・ Avoid feeding just one meal per day・ Encourage slow eating・ Feed large bites or kibble・ Feed probiotics and prebiotic fibers・ Restrict activity after eating -
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Larger dogs often struggle with joint issues, particularly as they age. Hip dysplasia is a condition that occurs when the joint does not rest properly within the socket. Over time, the rubbing of bone against bone causes deterioration of the bones, leading to lameness and pain. The same can happen in the elbow. Excess weight can further exacerbate a pre-existing condition, so it is important that the saint bernard not be allowed to become overweight.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Chondroitin・ Glucosamine・ Green Mussel・ Methylsulfonymethane・ Omega-3 from Fish Oil・ Taurine・ Turmeric・ Vitamin E
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Are Fresh Food Diets Good for St. Bernards?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned St. Bernards parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets
✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists・ ✓ Customized portions for weight control・ ✓ Superior digestive and immune health ・✕ More expensive than standard dog food
Foods We Recommend for St. Bernards Puppies
How long do St. Bernardss need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 24 months old.
St. Bernards are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young St. Bernards is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
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Foods We Recommend for St. Bernards Adults
When should St. Bernards start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 12 to 24 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, St. Bernards become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a St. Bernard
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Foods We Recommend for St. Bernards Seniors
When should St. Bernards start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but giant dogs like St. Bernards can start to benefit from senior food around 5 to 6 years old
Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior St. Bernards slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.
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Affiliate Disclosure:
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.