What are the Best Dog Foods for Weimaraners?
Got energy to spare? The Weimaraner may be just the right dog choice for active lifestyles and big open yards. And the right nutrition can keep this energetic breed moving happily and healtfully. Here's what to consider when choosing a diet for a Weimaraner, and check out some of our top picks.
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Breed Info
Breed Group:Sporting | AKC Weimaraner Profile
Ideal Weight:Female Adult: 57 to 73 pounds
Male Adult: 70 to 90 pounds
Exercise Need:45 to 75 minutes per day
Breed Summary
The Weimaraner is known for his stamina, speed, and endurance. A breed used to hunt large game such as bear and wild boar, his human companions would tire long before this loyal dog. Always on alert and with fine, aristocratic features, this breed has long been respected especially after famous owners such as Grace Kelly and President Eisenhower raved about theirs back in the 1950s. It’s no wonder they got such great reviews as they are not only sleekly gorgeous but friendly, intelligent, and obedient as both hunting dogs and family pets. As a fun fact: the distinctive gray-silver color of the Weimaraner coat explains the breed’s nickname of Gray Ghost
Physical Traits
Active, elegant, shiny gray-silver coat
Personality Traits
Fearless, loyal, intelligent, friendly
Health Considerations
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The Weimaraners is a breed that enjoys overall good health. But with such an active nature, wear and tear on joints is a truth to keep in mind. Also, as a deep-chested dog, owners must be alert to the threat of gastric torsion or bloat. All of these issues can be addressed with a veterinarian and careful diet/feeding.
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Bloat/Gastric Tortion
As a deep-chested dog, Weimaraners are prone to bloat, or gastric torsion, so we recommend the following:
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 -
Cancer
One of the most common health problems experienced by Weimaraners is cancer. There are various different types of this disease that the breed can be predisposed to including mammary tumors, mast cell tumors, and lymphosarcoma. Cancer can't always be avoided, but the many benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle does include being able to prevent some cancer.
Recommendations:
Antioxidants (EPA, DHA in fish oils)・ Keep at a healthy weight・ Medium-chain triglycerides -
Joint Issues
The biggest worry with the Weimaraners breed is the susceptibility of joint conditions like hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis, sothe foods or supplements we recommend should contain:
Recommendations:
Antioxidants・ Chondroitin・ Glucosamine・ Green Mussel・ Methylsulfonymethane・ Omega-3 from Fish Oil・ Taurine・ Turmeric・ Vitamin E -
Skin Conditions
Similar to other breeds, skin allergies are common among Weimaraners. So, we like to see their food contain:
Recommendations:
ALA・ Antioxidants・ Flaxseed/fish oil・ GLA・ Omega-3 fatty acids・ Probiotics・ Vitamin E・ Vitamins and choline
Get a tailored nutrition profile for your dog
Our free nutritional assessment tool provides individualized recommendations based on your dog's breed characteristics, age, weight, body condition score, and activity level. It only takes 30 seconds to receive science-based insights to support your dog's lifelong health.
Are Fresh Food Diets Good for Weimaraners?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned Weimaraners 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 Weimaraners Puppies
How long do Weimaranerss need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old.
Weimaraners 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 Weimaraners is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
Find the best nutritional start for your puppy
Our recommendation tool evaluates your puppy’s breed, age, growth stage, lifestyle, and health needs to identify a scientifically appropriate diet from over 10,000 options. Obtain personalized guidance to help support healthy development and lifelong wellness.
Foods We Recommend for Weimaraners Adults
When should Weimaraners start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 12 to 16 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, Weimaraners 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 Weimaraner
Find the optimal nutrition plan for your adult dog
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, lifestyle, and health considerations to recommend a scientifically selected diet from over 10,000 options. Personalized insights to help your dog thrive through adulthood.
Foods We Recommend for Weimaraners Seniors
When should Weimaraners start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but large dogs like Weimaraners can start to benefit from senior food around 6 to 8 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 Weimaraners 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.
Support your senior dog's health with targeted nutrition
Our assessment analyzes your dog’s breed, age, and health considerations to recommend a science-based diet from over 10,000 options. Help maintain mobility, cognitive health, and quality of life.
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.