Top 10 Dog Food Brands for Medium Dogs

Medium-sized dogs need kibble designed to meet all their nutritional requirements. Most of the famous dog breeds all over the world are medium-sized. These include breeds like the American Water Spaniel, Beagle, Labrador Retriever, Dalmatian, etc. These dogs weigh between 20 to 50 pounds. However, keep in mind that some smaller dogs also fall in that weight category, such as the pug.

In this blog post, I will review the top 10 best dog food brands for medium dogs and share everything you should know. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Nutrition for Medium Dogs: What You Need to Know

As I mentioned in the introduction, dogs that fall in 20 to 50 pounds are considered medium-sized. This range can include dogs that are smaller or larger than deemed acceptable for the breed, like the English Setters that generally weigh between 55-75 pounds, but some dogs weigh 45-50 pounds. So, you should feed these individual dogs the dog foods mentioned in this post.

The National Research Council of the National Academies estimates that the caloric intake of an active medium-sized dog of 30 pounds is 922 calories. Dogs with a faster metabolism have been spayed or are older and may need fewer calories. Puppies need more calories than adults as they grow and their bodies develop. They grow, and their bodies produce. It is an excellent idea to consult your vet to determine the proper caloric intake for your dog to ensure that you’re feeding him just the right amount. Underfeeding, as well as overfeeding, can have adverse consequences for your dog’s health.

The 80-20 Rule and Why You Should Follow It

Calories from treats also count! Many people feed their furry friends the right amount of kibble but forget to factor in the goodies! Dogs love treats as much as they love food, but you shouldn’t give your furry friend treats all day. Instead, follow the 80-20 rule.

According to this rule, 80% of your dog’s daily caloric intake should come from the kibble and the rest from treats. If your dog needs 1000 calories daily, 800 should come from the kibble, and 200 can be allotted to treats.

How to Feed Your Medium-Sized Dog

You must ensure that your furry friend gets all the nutrients he needs from his food. It is best to avoid cheaper foods as they contain filler ingredients, artificial flavors, and low-quality protein sources. It is a good idea to leave the kibble sitting for 30 minutes before you take it to let your dog eat as much as he wants to. Free feeding can lead to your dog nibbling on the food whenever he wants to and gaining those few pounds.

Puppies should be fed thrice daily, and adult dogs should be fed twice daily. You can start feeding your dog once a day, but your furry friend won’t be able to absorb as many ingredients as he would when you provide the food twice a day. It is always a good idea to consult your vet for the best advice.

It is always a good idea to call your vet before making any tweaks or adjustments to your pup’s diet, as they know what’s best for your furry friend. Some dogs have medical conditions that require special monitoring of the dog’s diet.

So, keep that in mind before switching to any dog foods mentioned in this post.

Best Dog Food Brands for Medium Dogs

In this blog section, I will briefly overview all the top dog foods available for medium dogs and share all essential details. I’ll cover each dog’s food in the following section and review them in detail.

Take a peek at the top 10 dog food brands for medium dogs:

Food Name	Protein	Fat	Carbs	Our Rating	Prices
Nutro Lite and Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food	21	33	46	4.6 Stars	Check Prices
Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food	38	13	41	4.5 Stars	Check Prices
Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food	33	17	42	4.5 Stars	Check Prices
Taste of the Wild, Canine Formula	44	17	31	4.4 Stars	Check Prices
Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food	27	16	50	4.4 Stars	Check Prices
Nulo Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food	33	18	41	4.4 Stars	Check Prices
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food	28	12	52	4.4 Stars	Check now
Eukanuba Adult Dry Dog Food	28	18	46	4.3 Stars	Check Prices
Orijen Original Dry Dog Food	43	21	28	4.3 Stars	Check Prices
Nature’s Variety  Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe	41	22	29	4.3 Stars	Check Prices

 

Let’s take a detailed look at these dog foods and determine which is the best for your furry friend.

Nutro Lite and Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro Lite and Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food is a good choice for dogs that have gained a few extra pounds. The kibble contains pasture-fed lamb and rice. The ingredients are easy to digest, and the meal is nutrient-rich.

The brand is partnered with good farmers and suppliers and ensures that all ingredients meet a certain standard and are of high quality. The meal contains no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, etc.

When you judge this kibble by its ingredients’ quality, it is an average dry dog food.

Let’s take a look at the macros.

This dog food contains:

• 21% of protein, which is near-average
• 33% of fat, which is near-average
• 46% of carbohydrates, which is above-average

This dry dog food also has a moderate amount of meat in it.

Let’s finally weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?

Pros	Cons
●      Made of high-quality and premium ingredients ●      Contains a moderate amount of meat ● Doesn’t contain additives, artificial colors, flavors, etc.	●      The dog may find it to be tasteless ●      Can cause an upset stomach during the initial period

Moving on…

Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Wellness Core is one of the most reputed brands. This grain-free kibble provides balanced and complete nutrition for your furry friend. The kibble is made with all-natural ingredients and doesn’t contain soy, corn, etc.

The dog food contains premium protein sources, including herring, whitefish, and salmon. It also has added vitamins and nutrients.

When we assess the kibble by the quality of ingredients used to make it, it appears to be an above-average kibble.

Let’s have a look at the macro nutritional breakdown.

This dog food contains the following:

• 38% of protein, which is above average
• 13% of fat, which is near-average
• 41% of carbohydrates, which is below-average

This kibble also has a significant amount of meat, which is great for highly active dogs.

Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?

Pros	Cons
●      Free from corn, soy, rice, etc. ●      Contains premium ingredients such as herring, whitefish, and salmon ●      Contains added vitamins and minerals ●      Has a significant amount of meat	●      May cause an upset stomach ●      Can cause allergic reactions like rashes

Moving on to the next one…

Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food

Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Dog Food is rich in the quantity of meat used and is grain-free. The kibble contains added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your pet healthy and happy. This kibble is a good choice for active and younger dogs. It has premium ingredients such as bison, lamb, deboned beef, etc., and doesn’t eat chicken or poultry.

This dog food comes out to be an above-average kibble compared to others regarding the quality of ingredients used to make it.

Let us take a look at the macronutrients!

This dog food contains:

• 33% of protein, which is above average
• 17% of fat, which is near-average
• 42% of carbohydrates, which is below-average

This kibble also contains a notable content of meat in it, which is a good thing—especially for dogs that are fussy eaters.

Now, let’s finally look at this kibble’s pros and cons so that you know what you’re getting into.

Pros	Cons
●      This dog food contains a notable amount of meat in it ●      Contains added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants ●      Made from premium ingredients	●      Can cause stomach upset and bloat ●      May cause heartburn ●      Contains chicken meal

Moving on…

Taste of the Wild, Canine Formula

Taste of Wild Canine Formula is made from roasted bison, has an optimal amino acid profile, and is rich in protein, which helps build lean and strong muscles. The natural dog food contains added vitamins and minerals.

This grain-free dog food is easily digestible for medium-sized dogs and sprinkled with probiotics that help maintain gut health. Kibble comes out to be above average regarding the quality of ingredients used to make it.

Let’s take a peek at the macros…

So,  this dog food contains:

• 44% of protein, which is above average
• 17% of fat, which is below average
• 31%of carbohydrates, which is near-average

This kibble also contains a significant amount of meat, which is fantastic for highly active dogs, fussy eaters, and those who need a protein-rich diet.

Now, let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?

Pros	Cons
●      Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids ●      Easily digestible ●      Contains added vitamins and minerals ●      Contains probiotics	●      Can cause stomach upsets ●      Allergic reactions such as redness, itching, sores, etc. ●      Has a short shelf life

Moving on to the next one…

Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food

This protein-rich dog food is a delicious choice for fussy eaters. The kibble is made of deboned chicken and brown rice, which makes it of premium quality, and has fruits, whole grains, and vegetables.

Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food has no wheat, soy, or corn and is made with the best ingredients available.

When judging this dog food by the quality of ingredients used to make it, it is an above-average dog food.

Let’s look at the macros.

This dog food is known to contain the following:

• 27% protein, which is near-average
• 16% fat, which is a below-average
• 50% carbohydrates, which is above average

This dog food also contains a moderate meat content, suitable for less active or senior dogs.

Following are the pros and the cons:

Pros	Cons
●      Contains chicken and brown rice, which are healthy and premium ingredients for dogs ● Doesn’t contain any filler ingredients ●      Soy, wheat, corn, etc., among other low-quality ingredients, are not used	●      This dog food is inconsistent and differs from one batch to another ●      Can cause gastrointestinal disturbances in dogs

 Moving on…

Nulo Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Nulo Adult Grain-free Dry Dog Food is made with natural ingredients and helps provide a balanced meal for medium-sized dogs. Dog food doesn’t contain any allergens, is a good source of protein, and contains omega-3 and six fatty acids.

The kibble promotes the growth of lean muscles and helps maintain the dog’s skin and coat. The dog food is free of artificial colors, flavors, etc.

When judging this kibble by the ingredients’ quality, it comes out to be above average.

Let’s take a look at the macronutrients this kibble contains.

So,  this food contains:

• 33% protein, which is above average
• 18% fat, which is near-average
• 41% carbohydrates, which is below average

This dry dog food contains a notable amount of meat, making it one of the best foods for medium dogs that are highly active or those that need a protein-rich diet.

Pros	Cons
●      It is made with premium ingredients ●      Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids help keep the dog’s skin and coat shiny ●      Contains added vitamins and minerals  ●      Contains a smaller amount of fat ●      Made in USA	●      May not be suitable for particular breeds

On to the next one…

Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food

Wellness Natural Pet Foods is one of the best dog food brands available. This kibble provides a complete and balanced meal and contains high-quality ingredients.

The healthy weight formula is a good choice for overweight or less active dogs. The all-natural dog food contains only premium ingredients and is free of meat by-products, wheat, soy, and corn.

This is an above-average dog food if you judge it by the quality of ingredients used to make it.

Let’s take a look at the macronutrients.

Wellness Complete Health Dog food contains:

• 28% protein, which is near-average
• 12% fat, which is near-average
• 52% carbohydrates, which is near-average

This kibble also has moderate meat suitable for older, less active dogs.

Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?

Pros	Cons
●      Made from all-natural ingredients ●      Promotes weight loss ●      Contains high-quality ingredients ●      Free of corn, chicken by-products, wheat, and soy ●      Provides the dog with energy	●      May cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset ●      Needs to be introduced slowly

Moving on to the next one on the list…

Eukanuba Adult Dry Dog Food

This dog food is specially made for active adult dogs. This dog food contains a high quantity of protein and fat that help provide your furry friend with energy and balanced nutrition. Made from the highest quality ingredients, the Eukanuba Adult Dry Dog Food contains no filler ingredients and has calcium-promoting solid bones. The Dentadefense system also helps reduce tartar buildup.

This dog food is above average compared to all the others available in the market regarding the quality of ingredients used.

The following are the macros:

The food contains:

• 30% protein, which is near-average
• 20% fat, which is above average
• 50% carbohydrates, which is near-average

The dog food also contains a notable amount of meat suitable for more active dogs. This is also a good thing for fussy eaters.

Following are the pros and cons of this kibble:

Pros	Cons
●      Dentadefense system also helps reduce tartar buildup ●      Provides balanced nutrition and energy ●      Contains calcium that promotes strong bones ● Doesn’t contain filler ingredients	●      Can cause stomach upset initially ●      Contains corn

Moving on…

Orijen Original Dry Dog Food

The Orijen Original Dry Dog Food is grain-free and an excellent pick for medium-sized dogs. The dog food contains limited ingredients and has one source of protein. The dog food keeps your dog strong, happy, and healthy.

The dog food is freeze-dried to lock all the nutrients and flavor in, and the food remains fresh. The kibble provides your dog with all the benefits of a raw diet and is a good pick.

Orijen Original Dry Dog Food is an above-average dry dog food if we judge it by the quality of ingredients used to make it.

Let’s take a look at the macros.

• 43% Protein, which is above average
• 21% Fat, which is above average
• 28% Carbohydrates, which is below average

This dry dog food contains an abundant amount of meat in it, which is a good thing.

Let’s weigh the pros against the cons.

Pros	Cons
●      This dog food has an above-average amount of protein ●      This also has below-average amount of carbohydrates ●      Abundant amount of meat	●      May cause constipation initially ●      Needs to be slowly introduced

Moving on…

Nature’s Variety  Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe

This kibble is a good source of protein and contains all essential nutrients to ensure your dog’s development. The Nature’s Variety Raw Boost Grain Free Dog Food promotes your furry friend’s health and is made from natural ingredients.

The dog food has Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that promote skindog’scoat health and help build your dog’s immune system.

This dog food is an above-average kibble regarding the quality of ingredients used.

Let us go over the macronutrients.

• 41% Protein, which is above average
• 22% Fat, which is above average
• 29% Carbohydrates, which is below average

This kibble has an abundant amount of meat in it, which is fantastic and much-needed for active dogs.

Let’s weigh the pros against the cons.

Pros	Cons
●      Good source of Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids ●      Promotes and boosts the immune system ●      Contains an abundant amount of protein ●      Made of natural ingredients	●      Known to be inconsistent in terms of consistency ●      May cause a gas bloat

 

Summing Up: Top 10 Dog Food Brands for Medium Dogs

The needs of medium breeds regarding food are entirely different from those of medium breeds regarding nutrition, utterly separate from those of large or small species. A dog should weigh between 20 to 50 pounds to be included in this category. However, some smaller or larger dog breeds can also fit this criterion.

Every medium breed has different nutritional needs, and to determine the proper caloric intake and macros for your furry friend, it is always a good idea to consult the vet as it depends on a lot of factors like:

• High
• Weight
• Metabolic rate
• Activity level
• Genetics
• Medical conditions

Keep in mind that you also factor in the treats you give! Your dog should ideally get 80% of his nutrition from his kibble, and the rest 20% should come from the joys.

I hope this blog post helped you find the best dog food for your furry friend. Let me know in the comments which one you picked.

Do you agree with the top 10 dog food brands for medium dogs on my list? Let me know in the comments section.