Best Dog Food for Cane Corsos : 15 Healthy Options + Helpful Answers to Feeding FAQs
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In This Article...
- What is the Best Cane Corso Dog Food?
- Understanding a Cane Corso’s Diet Requirements
- Special Dietary Considerations for Cane Corsos
- Cane Corso Feeding Chart
- The Best Dog Food for Cane Corsos: Our Top 15 Picks for 2023
- Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed Adult Recipe
- Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Food
- Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food
- NomNom Fresh Food Delivery Service
- Nutro Grain-Free LID Lamb & Sweet Potato Large Breed Recipe
- Halo Holistic Chicken Large Breed Adult Recipe
- 3 more Top Rated (5 Star) Cane Corso Adult Foods
- 3 More Top Rated (5 Star) Cane Corso Puppy Foods
- 2 More Picks for Senior Cane Corso Foods
- Our FAQ and Cane Corso Feeding Guide
- Cane Corso Dog Food – A Final Word
The best way to ensure your Cane Corso experiences a long, healthy life is to feed them quality food with real meats and nutritious fruits and vegetables while limited limited fillers and artificial ingredients.
That means choosing a recipe suited to your dogs fast growth, allergic tendencies, and predisposition toward obesity.
Though, not everyone has the budget for the best available options, there are still distinguishing features of more affordable food that Cane Corso owners should consider – and for good reason.
Consider This
Studies conclude: Dogs who are fed a high protein, biologically appropriate, and human-grade formula experience better bowel movements including less waste and firmer stools. Skin allergies and stomach sensitivity are also less common with these highly digestible meals – resulting in less diarrhea, gas, and itchiness.
Owner survey: Cane Corso (and other giant breed) guardians confirm that their dogs enjoy meal time more, have more energy, a shinier coat, and brighter eyes when fed the healthiest dog foods. They also report feeling more pride in providing their dog a tastier, more nutritious diet.
Between the lines: After looking at the tangible benefits Cane Corsos experience from eating a high quality recipe it’s fair to assume that better dog food leads to fewer serious health issues. Assuming that’s true, you could also expect a reduction in vet visits over the course of your dog’s life – resulting in substantial cost savings.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:
What is the Best Cane Corso Dog Food?
Understanding a Cane Corso’s Diet Requirements
Like all dogs, your Cane Corso requires a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in his diet. Protein provides the foundation for lean muscle mass and it is best when it comes from animal sources. Animal proteins like meat, poultry, and fish are considered complete proteins which means that they contain all 10 essential amino acids your dog needs in his diet.
Fats provide a concentrated source of energy which is important for your Cane Corso but should be controlled to prevent your dog from gaining too much weight. These too should come from animal sources like chicken fat and salmon oil, though plant oils can help ensure the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Your Cane Corso doesn’t have specific requirements for carbohydrates in his diet, but they can provide lean energy, fiber, and essential nutrients. The most important thing is that they be digestible. Whole grains, vegetables, beans, and legumes are the most digestible sources for dogs. For fiber, look for a recipe with between 3% and 5% crude fiber.
- Puppy Cane Corso Diet – As a puppy, your Cane Corso needs a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat in his diet to fuel his growth and development. High levels of protein are required to build strong muscles with moderate to high fat content to fuel healthy growth. A large-breed puppy recipe should provide these but look for a ratio of around 25% to 30% protein and 8% to 12% fat.
- Adult Cane Corso Diet – When your Cane Corso reaches his full size, the focus becomes maintaining lean muscle mass and a healthy body weight. Look for a large-breed adult recipe with 20% to 30% protein (or more) but keep the fat controlled around 8% to 12%.
- Senior Cane Corso Diet – As your Cane Corso gets older, his metabolism will slow down, and he won’t be burning as many calories. Switching to a large-breed senior or healthy weight formula should help prevent obesity and the added glucosamine and chondroitin will be good for his joints.
In addition to meeting your dog’s basic needs for protein, fat, and carbohydrates, a high-quality dog food for giant breeds will contain natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support. Calcium and phosphorus are also important to support healthy bones and teeth. Other beneficial supplements may include prebiotic fiber and probiotics for healthy digestion, chelated minerals as a biologically valuable mineral supplement, and fresh fruits and veggies for antioxidants.
Special Dietary Considerations for Cane Corsos
The Cane Corso is a massive dog that weighs up to 120 pounds at maturity. With all of that mass, it should come as no surprise that the breed is prone to musculoskeletal issues, but that isn’t all. These dogs are also at-risk for eye problems, skin problems, and problems related to their size.
Here is a quick list of the health problems to which the Cane Corso may be prone:
- Cherry Eye
- Demodectic Mange
- Entropion
- Ectropion
- Gastric Dilation
- Hip Dysplasia
- Obesity
Let’s take a closer look at some of these health problems.
Some of the eye problems to which the Cane Corso is prone include ectropion, entropion, and cherry eye. Entropion is a condition in which the eyelid rolls inward, causing irritation to the eye. Ectropion is the opposite – the eyelid rolls outward. Cherry eye occurs when the third eyelid gland prolapses, causing a pink protruding mass to form in the corner of the eye.
Some of the size-related health problems commonly seen in the Cane Corso breed include hip dysplasia and obesity. Hip dysplasia is an inherited malformation of the hip joint which allows the femoral head to slip in and out of the socket. Over time, this leads to inflammation of the joint which can progress to joint damage and eventual lameness. Maintaining a healthy body weight and including joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin in your dog’s diet can help manage or prevent this condition.
Obesity is also a significant concern with the Cane Corso breed. Large breeds have a higher risk for obesity in general because their metabolisms are slower than that of a smaller breed. The Cane Corso may only burn 20 calories per pound of body weight per day, so you need to be careful about how much you feed him. Choosing a large- or giant-breed dog food with low to moderate fat content will help.
In addition to these health problems, most large and giant breeds are prone to gastric dilation or bloat. This is a condition in which the stomach fills with air and twists on its axis, cutting off blood flow and causing a life-threatening condition. It happens when your dog eats too much, eats too fast, or swallows too much air while he is eating. The risk is particularly high in deep-chested breeds and you can reduce your dog’s risk by making sure he eats slowly and by avoiding raised dog bowls.
Cane Corso Feeding Chart
When it comes to feeding your Cane Corso, your priority is to help him achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. If your dog gains too much weight too quickly as a puppy, it could increase his risk for musculoskeletal issues as an adult. If he gains an unhealthy amount of weight as an adult, it could increase his risk for a whole host of health problems. Feeding your dog a large-breed recipe formulated for his life stage is the best way to help him stay healthy.
As a puppy, your Cane Corso will grow very quickly so he needs a steady stream of energy to fuel that growth with plenty of protein to develop lean muscle mass. Some puppies do well with three meals a day, though you need to be careful of overgrowth. A large-breed puppy will contain controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus to protect your dog’s bones. When he reaches 18 months of age, you can start thinking about switching to an adult recipe as long as his growth is slowing down. If he’s still growing quickly, consult your veterinarian to make sure his body weight and condition are still healthy.
The Best Dog Food for Cane Corsos: Our Top 15 Picks for 2023
Now that you have a better understanding of your Cane Corso’s nutritional needs, you’re ready to start shopping for a healthy giant-breed dog food! Remember, the best Cane Corso food will be formulated specifically for large or giant breeds to ensure the right balance of nutrients. It should be rich in lean protein with low to moderate fat content and digestible carbohydrates. Here are our top 15 picks:
| Our 2023 Picks: Best Cane Corso Food Recommendations: | |||
| Rank | Dog Food | Price | Rating |
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Overall Best | $3.02/lb |
A+
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Most Affordable | $1.15/lb |
A+
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Most Popular | $1.58/lb |
A+
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Super Premium | Varies |
A+
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Allergies | $2.50/lb |
A
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Sensitive | $2.90/lb |
A
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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed Adult Recipe
Overall Best Food for Cane Corsos: If you want the best of the best for your Cane Corso, you can’t go wrong with this Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed Adult Recipe. This recipe features high-protein kibble mixed with freeze-dried raw pieces, so you get the nutritional benefits of raw food without sacrificing the convenience of dry food. This formula features deboned chicken as the first ingredient which is a lean source of protein with grain-free carbohydrates for maximum digestibility. It contains plenty of omega fatty acids from salmon oil for healthy skin and coat with added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
- Pros: High-protein kibble infused with freeze-dried raw pieces, deboned chicken as the main ingredient, grain-free carbohydrates for digestibility, rich in omega fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables
- Cons: Contains some plant protein (potato protein), expensive to feed as a staple diet
Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Food
Most Affordable Food: If you’re looking for an affordable dog food that contains the right balance of protein and fat for your Cane Corso, try this Chicken Soup for the Soul Large Breed Adult Dry Food. This recipe features chicken and turkey as lean sources of protein with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates for energy and fiber. It contains a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat but maintains a moderate fat level to control calories. This recipe contains fresh fruits and vegetables to provide a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with dried fermentation products to support healthy and regular digestion. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
- Pros: Affordable but decent quality, lean sources of animal protein, digestible whole-grain carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in omega fatty acids, chelated minerals, probiotics
- Cons: Not a grain-free recipe (some dogs may be sensitive)
Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food
Most Popular Food: If you’re stuck when it comes to choosing a dog food for your Cane Corso, why not go with a popular choice like this Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food? This recipe features real lamb as a novel source of protein as well as other wholesome natural ingredients such as sweet potatoes, lentils, salmon oil, and more. It contains fresh fruits and vegetables to provide biologically valuable sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with synthetic vitamins and chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutritional balance. It also contains probiotics for healthy digestion as well.
- Pros: Novel source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in omega fatty acids, chelated minerals, prebiotics and probiotics
- Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)
NomNom Fresh Food Delivery Service
Super Premium Food: If you want to provide your dog with the best dog food money can buy, consider a fresh food company like NomNom. This company creates fresh, custom meals for your dog and delivers them right to your door in automatic monthly deliveries. Each recipe is prepared with wholesome natural ingredients of the highest quality to ensure optimal digestibility and absorption of nutrients. It is particularly great for giant breeds because each recipe will be customized to your dog’s caloric requirements based on his breed and size. Choose from several recipes featuring lean proteins and healthy fats with fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional support.
- Pros: Made with the freshest ingredients, custom meals for your dog, delivered fresh to your door, perfectly portioned pouches, automatic shipments
- Cons: Limited number of recipe options, very expensive to feed, delivery restrictions in some areas
Nutro Grain-Free LID Lamb & Sweet Potato Large Breed Recipe
Best Food for Cane Corsos with Allergies: If your Cane Corso suffers from food allergies, you need to switch to a recipe made with a limited number of ingredients including a single source of novel protein and digestible carbohydrates. This Nutro Grain-Free LID Lamb & Sweet Potato Large Breed Recipe fits the bill perfectly because it contains 10 main ingredients including lamb as the sole source of protein. It contains plenty of fat for lean muscle mass with moderate fat to control calories. It is supplemented with grain-free carbohydrates for fiber and lean energy as well as chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutritional balance.
- Pros: Made with a limited number of ingredients, single source of lean protein, grain-free carbohydrates, supplemental sources of fiber, chelated minerals, rich in essential fatty acids
- Cons: Contains some plant protein (potato protein), most fat is plant-based
Halo Holistic Chicken Large Breed Adult Recipe
Best Food for Cane Corsos with Sensitive Stomachs: For dogs with sensitive stomachs, the quality and digestibility of dog food is extremely important. This Halo Holistic Chicken Large Breed Adult Recipe is a great option for your Cane Corso because it is made from wholesome natural ingredients in a holistic recipe designed specifically for large breeds. This recipe features whole chicken as the main ingredient and a lean source of protein with non-GMO fruits and vegetables to provide fiber as well as natural sources for key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This recipe contains an ideal blend of protein and fat to maintain a healthy body weight with supplemental glucosamine for joint support. Plus, it comes in larger kibbles to control your dog’s eating.
- Pros: Holistic natural recipe, formulated for large breeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, glucosamine and chondroitin, calcium for strong bones, probiotics for digestion, large kibble size to control eating
- Cons: Contains some plant protein (pea protein), contains soy ingredients
3 more Top Rated (5 Star) Cane Corso Adult Foods
| Rank | Dog Food | Price | Rating |
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Adult Food | $1.64/lb |
A+
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Adult Food | $1.95/lb |
A
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Adult Food | $1.86/lb |
A
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Nutro Ultra Large Breed Dry Food
Packed with superfood ingredients and lean proteins, this Nutro Ultra Large Breed Dry Food would be a great choice for your Cane Corso. This recipe features chicken, lamb, and salmon to help your dog maintain lean muscle mass while also providing omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support with probiotics for digestion.
Blue Buffalo Basics Healthy Weight Turkey & Potato Adult Recipe
If you’re concerned about your Cane Corso’s weight, you might consider a healthy weight formula like this Blue Buffalo Basics Healthy Weight Turkey & Potato Adult Recipe. This recipe features turkey as a lean source of protein with digestible carbohydrates like potato. It contains L-carnitine to support lean muscle with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
AvoDerm Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Large Breed Adult Recipe
Developed specifically for large breeds, this AvoDerm Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Large Breed Adult Recipe would be a great option for your Cane Corso. This recipe features chicken meal as a concentrated source of lean protein as well as a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin. It contains 26% protein and just 10% fat to maintain lean muscle mass while meeting your dog’s energy needs.
3 More Top Rated (5 Star) Cane Corso Puppy Foods
| Rank | Dog Food | Price | Rating |
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Puppy Food | $1.06/lb |
A+
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Puppy Food | $3.11/lb |
A
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Puppy Food | $1.88/lb |
A
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Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Recipe
If you’re looking for an affordable option for your Cane Corso puppy, this Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Recipe is a good one. Not only is it affordable, but it is made from wholesome natural ingredients and formulated specifically for large breeds. It also contains fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants with probiotics for digestion.
Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Recipe
If you’re worried about food allergies or sensitivities in your Cane Corso puppy, a grain-free recipe like this Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Recipe might be a good option. This recipe features 100% fresh turkey, salmon, and duck as the main ingredients with a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It also contains taurine for heart and eye development.
Wellness Complete Health Chicken, Brown Rice, & Salmon Meal Large Breed Puppy Recipe
To get your Cane Corso started on the right foot, try this Wellness Complete Health Chicken, Brown Rice, & Salmon Meal Large Breed Puppy Recipe. This recipe features real chicken as a lean source of protein with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates and omega fatty acids. It also contains DHA for brain development and is uniquely formulated for large breeds to control growth.
2 More Picks for Senior Cane Corso Foods
| Rank | Dog Food | Price | Rating |
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Senior Food | $1.97/lb |
A
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Senior Food | $3.15/lb |
A
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Healthy Weight Large Breed Recipe
For a protein-rich source of nutrition for your senior Cane Corso, consider this Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Healthy Weight Large Breed Recipe. This recipe features deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal to provide the protein your dog needs to maintain lean muscle mass. It also contains LifeSource Bits which are made up of a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Weight Management Senior Recipe
To help your Cane Corso maintain a healthy body weight in his senior years, try this Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Weight Management Senior Recipe. This recipe features deboned turkey as a lean source of protein with grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes and peas for maximum digestibility. It also contains plenty of dietary fiber as well as dried fermentation products for healthy digestion.
Our FAQ and Cane Corso Feeding Guide
Not only do you need to pick a high-quality giant-breed dog food for your Cane Corso, but you also need to think about practical things like choosing a dog bowl and keeping your dog’s food fresh. When it comes to feeding your dog, you need a big enough bowl to hold at least two cups of food, but you also want to prevent your dog from eating too quickly. A slow-feed bowl spreads out the food, so your dog can’t scarf it all down at once. If your dog doesn’t have a problem with eating too fast, a stainless steel or ceramic bowl would be a good option. Whatever you choose, just make sure you clean it often so it doesn’t harbor dangerous bacteria.
Keeping your dog’s food fresh is important because it starts to lose some of its nutritional value as soon as you open the bag. Because your dog will be eating up to 6 cups of food per day, you’ll probably be buying it in large quantities which can be a challenge if you want to put the bag in an airtight container. Keep in mind that the inside of most dog food bags is treated to keep the product fresh so, depending how quickly you go through the food, you may not have to worry. Just try to roll it up tight and clip it between meals to keep it sealed.
And now, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about feeding a Cane Corso:
How much food should I feed my Cane Corso?
Your dog’s needs for calories will depend on his age and body weight. Generally speaking, however, giant breeds have slow metabolisms and only need about 20 calories per pound of body weight. To determine how much to feed your Cane Corso, choose a high-quality dog food formulated for large or giant breeds and refer to the feeding recommendations according to your dog’s age and weight to determine his daily portion. As an estimate, you’ll be feeding your Cane Corso somewhere between 4 and 6 cups of food per day, divided in two meals.
How many times a day should I feed my Cane Corso?
When it comes to feeding large and giant breeds like your Cane Corso, you need to avoid feeding them too much at once to limit their risk for gastric dilation, also known as bloat. Most dogs do well with two meals per day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Take the daily feeding recommendation from the package and divide it into two meals.
What kind of food do Cane Corsos eat?
The best dog food for any giant-breed dog is made from high-quality, natural ingredients and formulated to meet his calorie and nutrient needs. If you want the best for your dog, consider dehydrated, freeze-dried, or fresh food for your Cane Corso. All of these options offer superb nutritional quality and digestibility, both of which are important if you want to keep your dog healthy and maintain a healthy body weight. If these are too expensive, you can choose a high-quality dry food made with lean animal proteins, low to moderate fat, and digestible carbohydrates.
What vegetables are good in a Cane Corso food?
All dog foods contain vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure balanced nutrition, but your dog can still benefit from the inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables in his diet. These provide natural sources for key nutrients which are always more biologically valuable than synthetic supplements. Here are some of the best vegetables for Cane Corsos:
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumber
- Green beans
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
- Sweet potato
- Zucchini
Even if your dog’s food does contain fresh vegetables, it isn’t a bad idea to give him a few bites as a healthy snack. In fact, fresh veggies are a low-calorie snack that work great for giant breeds who need to be on a calorie-controlled diet. Just make sure that the vegetables you choose are safe for dogs to eat and that you clean them well before feeding. You should also feed small amounts to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach from an overload of fiber.
Do Cane Corsos need grain-free dog food?
Whether or not your Cane Corso needs a grain-free diet depends on the individual dog and his digestive system. Before you decide, you should know that there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the long-term safety of grain-free recipes for dogs. The fact remains, however, that there is no conclusive evidence as of yet so, unless your dog is allergic or sensitive to grains, a grain-free diet may not be necessary. If your dog develops recurrent ear infections or skin problems, it might be a sign of a food allergy and grains could very well be the problem.
Cane Corso Dog Food – A Final Word
Also known as the Italian Mastiff, the Cane Corso’s name translates to “protector” which is exactly what he is. Prized in Italy as a companion and guard dog, this breed is the definition of a giant breed.
The Cane Corso is descendant from the Roman Molosser, developed to guard livestock and property. He has also been used by carters, drovers, and night watchmen. In more modern times, the Cane Corso is typically kept as a family pet which may be surprising due to his massive size and somewhat intimidating appearance. In reality, however, he is very calm and loyal, satisfied to sit by your feet all day long. He even gets along well with children and is moderately dog-friendly.
As a giant breed, the Cane Corso stands 23.5 to 27.5 inches tall and weighs anywhere from 90 to 120 pounds. These dogs have a lifespan of 10 to 11 years which is consistent with his size. The best way to ensure that he lives a long and happy life is to provide him with a healthy and high-quality diet.
Remember to look for a product that is formulated specifically for large or giant breeds to ensure the right balance of nutrients. It should be rich in lean protein with low to moderate fat content and digestible carbohydrates.
