12 Best Dog Foods for Dalmatians 2023 (Premium & Budget)

Last Updated on April 26, 2023

Dalmatians are a unique and special breed. These spotted dogs sometimes require higher levels of care, and choosing the right food for your Dalmatian can be difficult.

You need to consider the nutritional needs of the breed, the size of these dogs, and their elevated energy levels.

With so many dog food options out there, finding the perfect one for your pet is nothing short of challenging.

That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you and examined the pros and cons of the top twelve dog foods on the market for your Dalmatian pup:

Quick Top Picks: Best Dog Food For Dalmatians Review

1. Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice
Type: Dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.99 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food is a holistic blend ideal for medium-sized adult dogs such as Dalmatians.

The recipe offers your pet lean protein from chicken with a formula of 25% protein, 14% fat, and 4% fiber.

For $0.99 per day, it also contains plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies and whole grains to supply optimal nutrition to your pet.

Advantages:

• Alongside farm-raised chicken as the primary protein, pasture-raised lamb and salmon are also included as supplementary proteins to help your dog build strong muscles
• This recipe has naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin to support your dog’s joints and mobility
• It is free from any fillers, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

Disadvantages:

• Some dogs simply refused to eat this pet food

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2. Nature’s Logic Canine Pork Meal Feast

Our rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Pork Meal, Millet, Pork Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
Type: Dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $1.09 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Nature’s Logic Canine Pork Meal Feast is a premium dog food offering your pet 36% protein, 15% fat, and 5% fiber with USA-raised pork being the first ingredient and primary source of protein.

For just $1.09 per day, this food offers your pet a 100% natural, nutrient-rich, and highly palatable recipe.

Advantages:

• Each kibble is coated with digestive enzymes and plasma protein which is rich in vitamins and minerals
• This food contains no corn, wheat, soy, rice, peas, potato, lentils, chemical additives, or any other common canine allergens
• This food, and its packaging, is made with 100% renewable energy sources

Disadvantages:

• Some pet owners noticed that their dog’s stool was very dry and crumbly on this diet

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3. Royal Canin Dalmatian Adult Dry Dog Food

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Wheat, Corn
Type: Dry Dog Food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.99 per day
Best for: Dalmatians

Royal Canin Dalmatian Adult Dry Dog Food is made specifically with Dalmatians in mind. It offers your pet 20% protein, 16% fat, and 3.5% fiber.

For just $0.99 per day, you get a breed-specific kibble packed with all the essential nutrients your dog needs. 

Advantages:

• The shape of this kibble is specifically designed for the Dalmatian’s jaw and bite
• Includes added DHA and EPA to support the Dalmatian’s joints and bone health
• This recipe includes a liver-enriched inhibitory protein to support your Dalmatian’s health and help avoid common problems with this breed

Disadvantages:

• The first three ingredients include brewer’s rice, wheat, and corn, and not a protein source

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4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Water Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes
Type: Grain-free dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.95 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Taste of the Wild High Prairie is a grain-free dry dog food that offers your pet a diet similar to what its ancestors may have eaten.

It features water buffalo as the main ingredient and novel protein source while lamb, chicken, bison, venison, and beef all help bulk up the protein content of this food.

For a cost of $0.95 per day, your dog is getting 28% protein, 17% fat, and 5% fiber.

Advantages:

• Dried chicory root provides prebiotic support which aids in digestion
• Chicken fat, ocean fish meal, and salmon oil supply your pet with essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for keeping the skin and coat looking and feeling great
• The recipe contains several essential minerals chelated with amino acids to ensure maximum absorption and nutrient value

Disadvantages:

• Contains peas which are not good for dogs with kidney disease

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5. American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Grain-free dry dog Food
Daily Feeding Cost: $1.14 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe features real, deboned salmon as the first ingredient, offering your pet 32% protein, 14% fat, and 5% fiber.

For a cost of $1.14 per day, this dog food features highly digestible carbs like sweet potato and chickpeas, alongside a long list of wholesome fruits and veggies such as carrots, dried kelp, and blueberries.

Advantages:

• The formula is packed with fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants
• This food contains good levels of omega-three fatty acids, including DHA, to support the development of your dog’s vision and cognitive abilities
• This grain-free recipe contains no corn, wheat, or soy, which is good for Dalmatians with food sensitivities.

Disadvantages:

• Some dogs refused to eat this food

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6. Holistic Select Adult Health Chicken Meal & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food

Our rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Rice, Oatmeal
Type: Dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.79 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Holistic Select Adult Health Chicken Meal & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food is a high-quality dry dog food that contains 24% protein, 14% fat, and 4% fiber.

This tasty recipe has been designed with picky eaters in mind.

For just $0.79 a day, it offers your pet a recipe packed with tasty ingredients like chicken, papaya, pumpkin, and oatmeal.

Advantages:

• This formula includes glucosamine to support your dog’s joint health
• It’s rich in omega fatty acids to build healthy skin and coat
• This recipe is made in the USA

Disadvantages:

• Some pet owners complained that this kibble just crumbled and fell apart

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7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Fish Meal, Peas
Type: Grain-free dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $2.25 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe features deboned beef as its primary protein source. This grain-free dog food offers your pet 30% protein, 15% fat, and 6% fiber. 

For a price of $2.25 a day, you get a high-quality recipe packed with delicious fruits and veggies to keep your dog lean, sharp, and alert.

Advantages:

• This food has no hormones or preservatives
• It contains essential supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin which act to support your dog’s mobility and strengthen joints
• It’s added with L-Carnitine which helps your dog burn fat

Disadvantages:

• With too many peas

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8. Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Dry Dog Food
Daily Feeding Cost: $1.81 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe provides your pet with excellent nutrition from premium ingredients.

This recipe features protein from chicken and turkey with a crude protein content of 34%, crude fat of 17%, and fiber of 3.5%.

For just $1.81 a day, you will be providing your dog with a carefully thought-out formula of whole foods.

Advantages:

• The main carbohydrate used in this formula is sweet potato, offering your dog a number of beneficial micronutrients
• It contains glucosamine and chondroitin to help your Dalmatian maintain healthy hips and joints
• This recipe is rich in essential fatty acids to support your dog’s skin and coat

Disadvantages:

• Some picky pups were not fans of this food from Merrick

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9. Solid Gold Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Dog Food

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Chickpeas
Type: Dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.97 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Solid Gold Leaping Waters Sensitive Stomach Recipe is specifically designed for dogs with a sensitive digestive system.

It features protein from salmon and ocean fish alongside several highly digestible carbohydrates such as pumpkin, chickpeas, and potatoes.

For a price of $0.97 a day, this food offers your dog 26% protein, 15% fat, and 4% fiber.

Advantages:

• This gluten-free recipe is free from any fillers, wheat, corn, soy, artificial colors or preservatives, or any other common canine allergens
• The recipe contains a variety of delicious non-GMO fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, apple, spinach, cranberries, and beets

Disadvantages:

• As this food is fish-based some pet owners complained of the foul smell 

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10. Health Extension Chicken & Brown Rice

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Organic Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice
Type: Dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $0.84 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Health Extension Chicken & Brown Rice is made by a USA-owned family-run company that is very transparent about where its ingredients are sourced.

At a cost of $0.84 per day, this food offers your pup 24% protein, 18% fat, and 4% fiber. 

The protein comes from a variety of chicken sources including organic free-range deboned chicken, chicken meal, and chicken fat.

The recipe contains a unique blend of wholesome ingredients including lamb, oatmeal, brown rice, and flaxseed.

Advantages:

• A range of superfoods are also included in the formula such as astragalus, blue-green algae, ginger, ginkgo biloba, and primrose oil
• This food contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support your dog’s joints and mobility
• This is a hypoallergenic, anti-hypoglycemic formula with no added sugar, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, by-products, and artificial preservatives or colors

Disadvantages:

• This made some dog’s poop very runny

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11. Wellness Core Puppy Deboned Chicken & Turkey Recipe

Our rating: 4.5
Top Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal
Type: Grain-free dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $1.96 per day
Best for: Puppies

Wellness Core Puppy has been formulated specifically for puppies with higher levels of proteins and fats to support growth and activity. It has 36% protein, 18% fat, and 5% fiber.

For a price of $1.96 per day, you will be getting highly digestible dog food crafted using a great blend of fruits and vegetables as well as animal proteins like chicken, and turkey.

Advantages:

• This food is free from legumes which is great for Dalmatian owners looking for a low-purine diet
• The recipe has been fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, glucosamine, taurine, and omega fatty acids, including DHA to support your puppy’s brain and eye development
• This food features a smaller kibble size for easier eating by small puppies

Disadvantages:

• Some dogs just didn’t seem to like the taste and smell of this food

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12. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food

Our rating: 4
Top Ingredients: Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potato
Type: Grain-free dry dog food
Daily Feeding Cost: $1.09 per day
Best for: All adult dogs

Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Dog Food offers a fantastic nutritional profile for your Dalmatian. It includes a whopping 32% protein, 18% fat, and 3.5% fiber.

For a cost of $1.09 per day, your dog gets a protein-rich diet full of turkey, chicken, white fish, and plenty of delicious fruits and vegetables.

Advantages:

• This food is free from any grain and gluten or by-products
• The formula contains high levels of omega three and six fatty acids to boost your dog’s immune system and help maintain healthy skin and coat
• A variety of antioxidant-rich ingredients are included in the recipe such as apples, blueberries, carrots, peas, and spinach

Disadvantages:

• On March 26, 2021, the manufacturer announced a recall of the Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food due to Salmonella

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What is the Dalmatian Dog Breed?

The Dalmatian breed has existed for hundreds of years. Historically, these dogs were used as coach dogs but are now popular companions.

They especially rose to fame thanks to Disney’s hit 101 Dalmatians. 

These dogs are easily distinguished by their characteristic black and white spotted coat.

That said, these black spots only develop a few weeks into a Dalmatian puppy’s life, with the pups being born pure white.

The Dalmatian is a very energetic breed of dog, largely thanks to their past training where they had to run alongside carriages for long distances. 

What illnesses are Dalmatians prone to?

Dalmatians are susceptible to several health problems including urinary stones, allergies, and deafness. A healthy, breed-specific diet can help avoid some of these common problems.

Here are some of the common health issues that affect this breed:

1. Urolithiasis

Dalmatians struggle to get rid of excess waste and protein from their body. This is a hereditary condition and can result in high uric acid buildup in the dog’s urine.

If left untreated, this can lead to the formation of urate stones in the kidney and bladder which can block the urinary tract and cause kidney failure.

High purine diets can create crystals in the urinary tract and so it’s important with this breed to limit the number of purines your dog consumes.

2. Skin Allergies

Dalmatians are known to have very sensitive skin. This can cause many Dalmatians to suffer from allergies.

These allergies can be caused by blankets, shampoos, fleas, ticks, mites, or the food your dog eats. Allergies can cause skin rashes and irritations for your dog.

For this reason, you may want to consider hypoallergenic dog food for your pet or at least one that avoids most of the common canine allergens.

3. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia is another common health condition that affects Dalmatians.

This disease, which can be caused by genetics, the environment, or inadequate nutrition, is a form of chronic joint disease.

The period of high growth when your dog is still a puppy is especially important as it’s during this time that the incorrect food can lead to malformations of the joints and bones.

Also, senior dogs may need food that has supplements to protect the hips and joints as these dogs are prone to developing painful arthritis in their elder years.

4. Deafness

Dalmatians frequently suffer from deafness in one or both of their ears. Up to 30% of newborn Dalmatians suffer from either complete or partial deafness.

Unfortunately, what you feed your dog will not influence their hearing. This trait is genetic and thus good breeders will test their dogs for this condition. 

What is the Best Diet to Keep Your Dalmatian Healthy?

As you can see, Dalmatians are known to suffer from several health conditions. Some of these problems can be lessened or avoided by taking a close look at what you feed your pet.

Here are some things to look for when choosing food for your pet:

• Low-purine proteins: It’s best to feed your Dalmatian a diet that consists of low-purine proteins. Low-purine protein sources include chicken, turkey, lamb, eggs, and fish whereas purine-rich recipes will include meat by-products, organ meat, sardines, mussels, and whole wheat grains.
• Grain-free diets: Some Dalmatians may have difficulty digesting grains, leading to inflammation, rashes, and gastrointestinal distress. These dogs may need to go on a grain-free and gluten-free diet. That said, grain-free diets often include peas which are high in purines.
• Easily digestible: You should avoid any ingredients that are hard to digest or could lead to problems with your pet, including any artificial additives, fillers, unidentified by-products, and preservatives.
• Low-calorie diets: When your Dalmatian is a puppy he should be given a low-calorie diet. This is to prevent your dog from growing too quickly which can cause hip and elbow dysplasia and various other joint problems. 

Do Dalmatians eat a lot?

No, Dalmatians are medium-sized dogs so won’t eat you out of house and home. Dalmatians should eat between one and a half and two cups of food a day, split between two meals.

The exact amount you feed your dog will depend on his energy levels, age, and weight. 

That said, always refer to the feeding instructions on the specific food brand you choose.

Be sure not to overfeed this breed. Dalmatians that develop obesity are also susceptible to other diseases such as diabetes and thyroiditis.

Also, puppies that grow too quickly due to overfeeding are at risk of developing musculoskeletal problems. 

Your dog should have puppy food until he reaches about 75% of his adult size. Puppies may also need to eat more small meals each day.

When your dog reaches his senior years and isn’t as active you may consider switching over to a low-calorie food.

What are Dalmatian’s nutritional requirements?

Above, we have selected twelve of our favorite foods for your dog. The best food for your Dalmatian should have the following qualities:

1. High protein content: All dogs, Dalmatians included, need a protein-rich diet to support their muscles and give them energy.

While this protein can come from both plant and animal sources, a good-quality animal protein should preferably top the ingredients list.

This can include chicken, bison, beef, lamb, salmon, or any range of whole proteins.

The best dog foods for your Dalmatian will contain a protein content of at least 18%, while puppies need at least 22% protein.

2. Essential fats: Dogs need fat in their diet. Essential fats help keep your pet’s skin and coat looking healthy and promote a good immune system.

Healthy fats include fish oil and seed-based oils like flaxseed. 

Deficiencies in these omega-3 and 6 fatty acids can lead to numerous health problems with the nervous system, vision, and cognitive ability.

Puppies should eat food that contains at least 8% fat.

3. Carbohydrates: While you don’t want your dog’s food to be packed full of innutritious filler ingredients, healthy carbohydrates will help supply fiber and energy to your dog.

Grains like barley or oatmeal are great choices as are vegetables like pumpkin and sweet potato.

Healthy carbs packed with fiber will also help with digestion and promote good gut health.

4. Micronutrients: The best dog foods are packed full of micronutrients like Vitamin A which strengthens the immune system and helps with eyesight, Vitamin C, which helps reduce inflammation and prevent aging, and Vitamin D which helps maintain healthy bones and joints.

Your dog’s food should also contain B Vitamins which help with energy production and growth, Vitamin E which promotes cell function and metabolism, and a variety of minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

So What is the Best Dog Food For Your Dalmatian?

Choosing the best food for your Dalmatian can be challenging. Both puppies and adults of this breed have very specific dietary requirements.

In addition to meeting their dietary needs, you need to consider your dog’s life stage and health conditions. 

The best food for your dog should contain high-quality, natural ingredients and provide an adequate balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

You should also look for dog food that bears an AAFCO stamp, as this means that it meets all the nutritional requirements your dog needs.

The list above gives you our top twelve picks of the best dog foods for Dalmatians. Do you have a favorite not included here? Let us know in the comments below!