The best dog food for American Staffordshire terriers will meet AAFCO nutritional standards and feature wholesome natural ingredients without fillers or additives. An american staffordshire terrier’s age, weight, and health issues also play a factor in determining which dog food is better for them.
In this blog post we’ll look the best dog food for american staffordshire terriers based on health issues, diet, and other factors. But before we dive into our top recommended dog foods let’s take a closer look at the nutritional needs of the American Staffordshire terrier throughout each of its life stages.
Nutritional needs of American Staffordshire terriers
American staffordshire terriers are on the larger side of dog breeds. An adult American Staffordshire terrier can weigh anywhere from 59 to 83+ pounds. The breed is also lively and energetic meaning that you’ll need a steady supply of quality dog food on hand to keep your American staffy going.
The right diet for an american staffordshire terrier puppy
In the puppy phase it’s important that your dog’s food contains a high amount of protein and features calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Due to its size an american staffordshire terrier puppy will grow faster than smaller dog breeds.
A protein rich puppy food will help your dog’s muscles grow and develop. Calcium is important because it will help support healthy bone development.
A good rule of thumb for the ratio of protein to fat in a puppy food is that 30% of the food’s calories should come from protein and 9% from fat. By twelve months of age your American staffordshire terrier pupppy should transition to adult dog food.
Nutritional needs of an adult american staffordshire terrier
Because of their size american staffordshire terriers are more affected by health issues such as obesity, orthopedic disease, and canine hip dysplasia. The breed is also known to develop food sensitivities and allergies. These health risks can be mitigated by a diet of complete and balanced nutrition.
American staffordshire terrier owners should avoid dog foods that are high in fat. Quality protein is still important at this life stage, but the ratio of protein to other nutrients an adult American staffordshire terrier will need will be less than a puppy’s.
Dogs foods that have omega fatty acids and antioxidants help support joint health, and help with canine hip dysplasia.
A premium adult dog food should be enough to meet your American staffordshire terrier’s nutritional needs.
Nutritional needs of senior American staffordshire terriers
Senior large breed dogs are susceptible to two common health concerns: obesity and loss of their protein reserves. You’ll want a dog food formulated to address these issues. To keep your senior dog at a healthy weight avoid foods high in fat.
The lack of protein reserves comes because older dogs naturally start to lose their muscle mass overtime. However senior pups still need protein rich dog food to help support their immune health. Look for a dog food whose calorie content is at least 25% protein if you have an older American staffordshire terrier.
What dog food is best for American Staffordshire Terriers?
Front of the Pack Vet Formulated Air Dried Dog food
Best dry food for american staffordshire terrier & best overall
- Vet formulated
- Contains organic vegetables and cage free chicken
- Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements
- Non-GMO and grain free
- All ingredients are 3rd party tested
Front of the Pack’s Air Dried Dog food is our top overall pick for the best dog food for american staffordshire terriers. There are several reasons for this. The first is that this recipe was formulated by a team of veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and even a board member of the National Animal Supplement Council.
The result of this rockstar pet health collaboration is a dog food that is 86% meat and free of everything but the essential nutrients an American staffordshire terrier needs to live a long healthy life. There’s no grain or dairy in this recipe, and certainly no artificial flavors or additives.
The bulk of the food comes from American sourced cage free Chicken. The recipe also includes some added vegetables to balance out the vitamin and mineral profile of the food. All of the vegetables in Front of the Pack’s food are organic.
Another added benefit of this dog food is that it’s air dried. This gentle preperation process kills off harmful bacteria and pathogens while still preserving valuable nutrients that are usually eliminated from the raw ingredients with the kibble making process. All of Front of the Pack’s dog food ingredients are tested by a third party to ensure safety and quality.
The final thing I love about this dog food is that you can try it for free. The company has a free taster pack available on their website. If you’re looking for the best american staffordshire terrier food you should definitely check it out.
Wild Earth Complete Protein Dog Food
Best plant based dog food for american staffordshire terrier
- Vegan and cruelty free
- Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements
- Includes natural fiber and prebiotics to support digestion
- Produced sustainably
Wild Earth is the most successful brand in the plant based dog food space, and for good reason. Their complete protein dog food provides all the essential nutrients an American staffordshire terrier will need will still staying plant based. Their recipe contains over 30% crude protein and has a low 10.5% crude fat content.
In addition to providing necessary protein, this dog food goes above and beyond and includes natural fiber and prebiotics to help support your American Staffordshire terrier’s digestive health. The recipe also includes omega fatty acids to support coat and skin health.
Wild Earth also offers dog owners a no questions asked 30 day money back guarantee, which means you and your American staffordshire terrier can try it out risk free.
We Feed Raw
Best Dog food for american staffordshire terrier raw diet
- Meets AAFCO nutrition standards
- Minimally processed pet food means high digestibility
- Uses only USDA human grade meats
- Made with a cold pressure process to help neutralize harmful bacteria
Citing benefits such as improved joint health, healthy digestion, and smaller stools, pet parents are increasingly turning to raw diets for dogs. If you want to make the switch for your American staffordshire terrier, or you’re already on the raw diet and want a safer more convenient option that doesn’t comprimise on proper nutrition, then you should check out We Feed Raw.
All of We Feed Raw’s recipes were developed by a PhD animal nutritionist and every meal contains the exact ratio of meaty meat, organ meat, and edible bone needed to give an American Staffordshire terrier the balanced nutrition they need.
If you and your dog tried the raw diet before you know that getting the right ratios of meats and bone for every meal can be a lot of work. We Feed Raw cuts out the hassle and makes it easy to feed your American Staffordshire terrier the optimal raw diet.
We Feed Raw uses a cold pressure process on all of their foods. This process helps neutralize harmful pathogens and bacteria, while still preserving the natural nutritional value of the meats. We Feed Raw meals feature meats such as beef, chicken, duck, turkey, venison, and lamb.
The company also offers free cold shipping.
American Journey Active Life Formula Large Breed Puppy food
Best puppy food for staffordshire terrier
- Calcium to help support bone growth and development
- Especially formulated for active large breed puppies
- Includes antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
- Omega fatty acids to support vision and brain development
Not all puppy foods are created equal. Given that the average American Staffordshire terrier puppy is a fast grower and a ball of energy, it’s important to feed them the natural dog food they need as they grow into adulthood.
The Active Life Formula includes a high amount of quality protein in addition to a load of other vitamins and minerals to make every meal one of balanced nutrition.
This dog food recipe by American Journey does just that. It is specifically formulated for large and active dogs like the American staffordshire terrier. Every aspect of a large breed puppy’s development was considered in this dog food’s formulation.
This recipe is also free of wheat, corn, soy, and chicken meal, chicken fat or other meat byproducts. Real deboned chicken is the first and main ingredient.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potatoes Dry Dog Food
Best Dog Food for american staffordshire terrier food allergies
- Salmon is the main ingredient and provides essential protein and amino acids
- Made with only high quality ingredients
- No soy, gluten, grains, or artificial colors and flavors
- Recipe designed for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies
American staffordshire terriers are known to suffer from food allergies. More often than not those allergies are triggered by a specific protein like chicken or beef though sometimes grains can be the culprit).
When trying to help alleviate your American staffordshire terrier’s allergy or sensitive skin symptoms it’s best to pin point the ingredient that’s triggering the allergic reaction. This is why limited ingredient dog foods are one of the best dog foods for pups with allergies. They make it easier to determine what exactly is bothering your dog.
Natural Balance’s Limited Ingredient dry dog food is great for this because, while the ingredients are limited, the nutrition is not. Salmon is the main ingredient and provides all of the necessary protein and amino acids. In addition to Salmon this dog food also includes flaxseed, sweet potatoes, and other natural ingredients to support your dog’s health.
If your American staffordshire terrier suffers from food allergies, you can feed them this food and you won’t have to comprise on complete and balanced nutrition for your pup.
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Best Dog Fod For American staffordshire terrier stomach issues
- Contains naturally occurring prebiotic fibers to support healthy digestion
- Oat meal provides calories that are easy on your dog’s digestive system
- Antioxidants to support immune health
This filler free limited ingredient dog food is formulated for large dogs with sensitive stomachs. This recipe is completely free of chicken, chicken meal, or other poultry byproducts. While the corner stone of this recipe is Salmon, this dog food also includes ingredients that help with easy digestion such as oat meal. This dog food also includes glucosamine and omega fatty acids to support healthy joints.
A quick look through customer reviews on this recipe and you’ll see that many dog owners claim that their vet or vet tech recommended this dog food when other alternatives didn’t work for their pup’s sensitive stomach.
ORIJEN Senior Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Best Dog food for Senior American staffordshire terriers
- High in protein and fiber
- Great for a Grain free diet
- Supports lean muscle mass and weight maintenance
As your American staffordshire terrier gets older, your once muscular dog will start naturally losing his or her lean muscle mass. Another common concern for senior American staffordshire terriers is weight gain. With age your dog’s metabolism will slow down and they will become less active. This often leads to older American Staffordshire Terriers becoming overweight and in some cases obese.
Orijen Senior Grain free dog food was made with these health issues in mind. This recipe’s five main ingredients are fresh and raw animal protein and will help support strong and healthy muscles. This dog food is also low in fat content helping your American staffordshire terrier to maintain a healthy weight.
In addition Orijen Senior Grain free dry dog food is 8% crude fiber, helping promote healthy digestion in older dogs.
American Staffordshire Terrier Feeding Guide
How do you feed an american staffy?
American staffordshire terriers are known for their large appetite. The odds are that your dog isn’t a picky eater. Simply fill a bowl with a premium dog food and place it in a convenient place for your American Staffy to gobble it up!
How much to feed an american staffordshire terrier
How much you should feed an american staffordshire terrier depends on the dog’s age and weight. Below is a feeding chart for American staffordshire terriers to give you estimates on how much you should feed an adult dog.
American staffordshire terrier feeding chart
| Body Weight | Cups of food |
|---|---|
| 5-10 lbs | ½ – 1 |
| 10-20 lbs | 1 – 2 |
| 20-30 lbs | 1 ½ – 2 ½ |
| 30-50 lbs | 2 ½ – 3 |
| 50-70+ lbs | 3 – 4 |
Homemade dog food for american staffordshire terrier
Homemade dog food can be a great way to ensure your dog gets the best food possible, especially if you’re not a fan of commercial food. There are a plethora of homdemade dog food recipes on the internet. Just be sure that whatever recipes you chose for your American staffordshire terrier include the following ingredients for complete nutrition:
- Carbohydrates such as brown rice or other whole grains
- High quality animal protein
- Fresh vegetables
- Fish oil or plant based oils (like flaxseed for instance)
You also want to be wary of any recipes that include human food, as not all foods people eat are healthy for dogs.
Are Staffies prone to food allergies?
American staffordshire terriers like other pit bull breeds are known to contract food allergies and skin problems.
What are American Staffies allergic to?
Common food sensitivities among pit bull breeds include
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
Common Allergy symptoms
Common symptoms of food allergies can include
- Itchy or dry skin
- Dandruff
- Hair loss
- Excessive scratching, licking, or biting
- Trouble breathing
- Diarrhea
If your dog displays any of these symptoms or if you think they have an allergy it’s best to consult your vet for a recommended course of action. It may also help to switch your dog to a limited ingredient dog food.
