In the quest for the ultimate dog food, sometimes we stumble and fall. Perhaps you’re here because your Cane Corso isn’t reacting so well to a dog food you tried. Maybe you’re here because you have a beautiful puppy on the way and you want to set them off on the right foot.
Regardless of your reason, finding the best food for Cane Corsos is a challenge because this breed is high-energy, big, and a bit picky.
This guide will clear up any concerns you may have and even help you design a meal plan that works best for your dog.
Nutritional Needs of a Cane Corso
Cane Corsos are typically healthy dogs and a lot of the potential issues you run into with your dog could be due to the breeder. As long as your dog has come from a responsible breeder, you won’t run into anything outside of the norm.
Common Health Issues of Cane Corsos
This breed commonly runs into issues such as:
- Hip dysplasia
- Idiopathic epilepsy
- Demodex mange
- Eyelid abnormalities
- Bloat
Again, many of these issues are things that you could experience with any large dog breed and keeping them at a normal weight can help you avoid most of these problems. It’s also important that Cane Corso’s have their ears checked on a regular basis to prevent infection.
One interesting issue that a lot of dog owners don’t realize when they get a Cane Corso is that they’re known for their poultry allergy. Many Cane Corsos deal with chicken and turkey intolerance.
Since poultry is one of the most common sources of protein in a lot of dog foods, it’s easy to encounter this issue without realizing it.
Continuing to feed this to your Cane Corso can actually lead to an issue called Pyoderma which is a unique skin condition leading to a bacterial infection and fungus that can cause painful pus-filled wounds.
Nutritional Needs
You want to make sure you’re always feeding your dog a healthy diet of high-quality dog food specific to the breed. While there are thousands of options out there, not everything works for every dog.
Your Cane Corso can become overweight if you feed them too much and this will lead to a variety of issues down the road. Be sure to watch their calorie intake, adjust as necessary, and have dedicated feeding times throughout the day. For a healthy coat you’ll also want a diet that is high in omega fatty acids. For healthy immune system and joint health you’ll want food with antioxidants and essential vitamins.
Puppy
A Cane Corso puppy will eat between 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups of dog food per day. You’ll want to spread this out into multiple meals and try to be as consistent as possible. Make sure to feed them a dedicated puppy food formula because it will contain the extra calories and nutrients they need to grow and develop strong muscles and bones. Complete and balanced nutrition is vital for cane corso puppies and not something you want to skimp out on.
Adult dogs
As an adult, the Cane Corso eats between 6-9 cups of dog food per day. This is a large breed dog that consumes a lot of dog food and requires a lot of calories. It’s recommended that you spread these meals out into 3-6 feeding periods per day and be sure not to leave the dog food out all day.
Senior
There are no right or wrong answers to feeding a Cane Corso senior and you want to develop habits based on your specific dog.
Every Cane Corso as they age will change and you can decrease the amount of dog food you feed them based on their own preferences. Specialized senior formulas help with joint and bone health to prevent arthritis and other similar problems that are common to large breeds.
Best Cane Corso Dog food: Product Reviews
Now let’s take a look at some of the best foods to feed your Cane Corso. These dog foods are some of the best on the market right now and there is a large variety of options to choose from based on your specific dog.
Front of the Pack Air-Dried Chicken
Best Overall Cane corso Food
4.8 out of 5
- 100% natural ingredient scientific recipe
- Completely organic made in the USA
- Includes natural prebiotic to support digestive health
- Supports muscle growth and immunity
- Contains healthy fatty acids
- No meat by products
First 5 Ingredients:
Organic cage free chicken, organic sweet potato, antarctic krill, organic whole eggs, organic oats
As you can tell by the first five ingredients, this formula is all organic and designed to be one of the healthier options for a cane corso’s diet. The chicken air-dried recipe is a great option for picky dogs that don’t like to eat kibble or give a hard time when you change their dog food.
Since the food is made using a “low and slow” process, it retains more of the nutrients while also preserving the flavor so your dog will enjoy their food.
The recipe is backed by science, formulated by veterinarians, and combines years of research and expertise. It’s not made by a businessman or large manufacturer that makes a number of other products. This dog food is designed by dog experts for dog lovers. It’s cage free organic chicken is a high quality protein which is essential for large breed adult dogs.
Keep in mind that the price is a bit steep on this food and with the amount of kibble your Cane Corso eats, you’ll want to understand that it will be expensive to feed your dog this food alone. I may recommend supplementing traditional kibble with a little bit of this for added nutrients and flavor.
Wild Earth
Best Plant-Based food for Cane Corso breed
4.4 out of 5
- Developed by veterinarians
- Contains a large number of super foods and beneficial supplemental ingredients
- Uses clean plant-based proteins
First 5 Ingredients:
Dried yeast, chickpeas, peas, oats, pea protein
At first glance, this ingredient list is subpar by our standards. These are the types of ingredients we like to avoid because we consider them to be fillers. In the case of a plant-based food, this is what your dog will eat to get protein.
So, why go plant-based for your dog and is it healthy? Research doesn’t really show a positive for one side or the other. Choosing to feed your dog a plant-based diet won’t hurt them and if it’s a moral choice for you, then go right ahead!
You’ll be surprised to find that the recipe actually has a 31% crude protein analysis which is more than a lot of dog foods containing meat so your dog is still getting plenty of protein. I also love the fact that the food contains a number of great complimentary ingredients like berries, spinach, sweet potato, and pumpkin.
We Feed Raw
Best Raw Dog Food
4.7 out of 5
- Canine nutritionist formulated and vet approved
- Sourced only from human-grade meats
- Great for high energy pups
First 5 Ingredients:
Your choice
The cool thing about We Feed Raw is that you get to design a formula of your own that works best for your dog based on their weight, health, and level of activity.
This is what makes the barrier of entry into a raw diet so easy. The company takes a lot of the heavy lifting of having to come up with raw protein and they basically tell you what you should feed your dog. They then design the box for you based on the questionnaire.
The objective is to provide you with the best ingredients free of fillers, preservatives, colors, and flavors. When you go to the store and you pick up a bag of kibble off the shelf, you really have no idea how it’s been made and what types of procedures have gone into preparing it.
With raw food, you simply get the food shipped to your house in a box, thaw it out, and feed it to your dog. You should be able to identify everything your Cane Corso is eating.
The company also uses the most minimally processed foods that were never cooked or heated in any way which preserves as much of the naturally occurring benefits possible.
The big question is, “should you feed your cane corso raw meat”?
These diets are controversial but the benefits of raw are clear. Much research shows that raw diets lead to better coat health, healthy skin, more energy, and cleaner teeth.
But, there are also risks. There can be a lot of bacteria in the meat and there is always the risk of bones causing internal damage.
That said, all of these factors make it that much more important to shop raw food from a reputable supplier that ensures your dog receives a whole health diet that is always safe for them to consume right out of the box.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection
Best Dry Dog Food for Cane corso
4.5 out of 5
- Affordable option for a hungry Cane Corso
- Contains no corn, wheat, or by-products
- Uses glucosamine for joint health as your dog ages
First 5 Ingredients:
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal
Let’s face it, a lot of the raw, plant-based, or specialty dog foods are too expensive for the average consumer. With all the expenses we face today with our dogs, we simply cannot bear the cost.
That said, we do not want to neglect our dogs’ health simply because of monetary reasons. Blue Buffalo is here to help by providing everyone with affordable dog food of the highest quality and sustainability.
This is a grain-inclusive formula with real chicken as the first ingredient. It’s designed as a complete health recipe containing everything your Cane Corso needs to grow up big and strong.
Blue Buffalo has 24% crude protein and 14% crude fat so you can be sure that your dog is receiving all of the nutrition they need.
I also like the fact that the Life Protection formula contains glucosamine which is super important for large breed dogs like the Cane Corso. These dogs are prone to developing joint issues as they get older and this is a pivotal ingredient in preventing that.
ACANA Puppy Recipe
Best Cane Corso Puppy food
4.7 out of 5
- Real poultry as the first two ingredients
- High protein content for growing pups
- Great complimentary ingredients
First 5 Ingredients of puppy food:
Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken meal, whole green peas, whole red lentils
This may be one of the best recipes for puppies that I’ve ever seen in terms of overall ingredient quality. There isn’t a bad thing in this bag and it combines raw and freeze-dried ingredients with traditional kibble which is awesome.
Chicken, turkey, peas, and lentils make up the majority of the formula which are all great options in terms of protein and allergy resistance. The only thing that concerns me is the added salt on the recipe list and how high up it is.
Most dogs should not have any more salt than is naturally occurring in the food and it’s usually added to improve the flavor. This can make a Cane Corso puppy prone to craving that salt and if the concentration is enough it can even lead to dehydration and excessive drinking.
The formula contains 31% crude protein and 19% crude fat (including chicken fat) so it has everything your Cane Corso puppy is looking for to make sure they grow big and strong.
One last thing about this puppy food is that it also uses a number of healthy cultures and bacteria to help with gut health. This is super important for Cane Corso puppies as they get older because it will aid in digestion so they can have healthy bowel movements to further regulate their weight and prevent joint abnormalities as they reach adulthood.
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipes
Best Wet Dog Food for Cane corso
4.3 out of 5
- Comes with 8 12.5 ounce cans
- Great as a complimentary treat
- No by-products or fillers
First 5 Ingredients:
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, peas
Wet foods are so known for being lower quality and containing harmful ingredients like corn syrup and artificial flavoring. This is part of the reason why I love Blue Buffalo and have fed my dogs and cats these recipes for years.
Even their canned food is high quality and uses the best ingredients. Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, peas, sweet potatoes, brown rice, barely, and oatmeal are the top ingredients and they’re all good for your dog.
In addition to those ingredients you get great supplemental things too like berries, amino acids, and a ton of vitamins.
While you could probably feed your dog an entirely wet food diet, it’s not usually recommended. There are many things about kibble that are important for your dog’s health and an entirely canned food diet is likely to lead to weight problems in Cane Corsos.
That said, this food serves as a great treat once in a while and also as a topper to add some flavor and texture to the dry food that they’re used to eating.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie
Best Grain Free Dog Food for Cane Corso
4.6 out of 5
- Unique protein sources leading to 32% crude protein
- Real fruits and superfoods as complimentary ingredients
- Made in the USA by a family-owned company
First 5 Ingredients:
Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas
Here is a great grain free food option for Cane Corsos that might be a bit sensitive to the gluten. A lot of dogs develop gluten allergies over time and it’s what leads to upset stomach and frequent vomiting.
This is one of the cases where a grain-free diet actually comes in handy. There is still little to no research showing that one is better than the other but if it makes your dog feel better, it’s the right choice and your vet can help you make that decision.
The recipe uses water buffalo and lamb meal as the main sources of protein. These are lean options which also helps with regulating your dog’s weight. Down the list there are a number of other great lean protein sources like chicken and venison. The recipe also contains healthy bacteria for gut health and digestion.
The main selling point is the high 32% crude protein analysis. This is a protein-heavy recipe for an active dog that gets a lot of exercise. Keep in mind how this food could impact your dog’s weight if they spend a large portion of their day sitting around.
This breed tends to succeed when they’re active and up and moving around as much as possible. Cane Corsos are not known to be lazy dogs that like to spend the day snoozing.
Choosing the Best Dog Food for a Cane Corso
Now that you’ve seen plenty of examples of some of the best food you can get for your Cane Corso, let’s talk about the factors that went into choosing these. Your dog deserves to eat the best food and I know you want that for them as well.
Here is some information that can help you choose the right recipe and also get your dog into the right eating habits.
How Much Food Should a Cane Corso Eat?
An adult Cane Corso will eat between 6-9 cups of food per day broken down into 3-4 meals. As an adult, they will weigh over 100 pounds so they need a high calorie diet that is rich in protein and nutrients.
It’s typically recommended that this breed eat a high protein food that doesn’t contain a lot of fat because they struggle with weight issues as they get older. You want to avoid feeding them too much at a time because they will continue to eat until the food is all gone and this can lead to bloat.
Do Cane Corsos Have Sensitive Stomachs?
This breed isn’t known for having any specific issues leading to a sensitive stomach but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to it. Any dog can suffer from gastrointestinal issues so you’ll want to keep that in mind when determining what food to feed them.
While it’s important to consult your veterinarian if you notice your Cane Corso not eating, vomiting, or having loose stools; there are some things you can do at home to help.
Consider feeding your dog less food and spacing it out into multiple feedings. Purchasing a “slow eat” dog bowl can also slow them down, force them to chew more, and possibly prevent vomiting.
Observing the protein sources that make your dog sick are also a factor. In many cases, dogs are allergic to certain types of foods and when the list of ingredients is so long, it’s difficult to figure out what is causing the allergy.
A potential idea could be switching foods to an alternative protein like switching from chicken to lamb. Your dog could be allergic to poultry and you don’t even know it.
What Meat Can a Cane Corso Eat?
Your Cane Corso can eat pretty much anything they like. When it comes to kibble, you can try out a variety of different options to see what is most palatable for them. It’s important to understand that there is no right or wrong answer and we never know what our dogs will like until we try it.
When I switched my dogs a few years ago to a lamb-based diet upon recommendation from the vet, there was no way I thought they’d go for it. In reality, they loved it and have been eating it ever since. You never know until you try.
Are Cane Corsos Allergic to Chicken?
One thing Cane Corsos are known for is a poultry allergy and a lot of large breed dog food contains chicken or turkey. If you find that your dog is scratching a lot, chewing at their paws, or acting lethargic; it could be due to this issue.
Of course, you want to consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to their diet but it could be a nice indication of what has to happen. Consider trying an alternative protein like many of the options we mentioned in this guide.
Also, even if chicken or turkey isn’t in the first few ingredients of a dog food you’re trying, don’t forget to continue looking down the list. In some cases, chicken meal or by-products could be found towards the bottom of the ingredient list and this could be what is making your dog sick.
Final Thoughts on the Best dog food for cane corso
Choosing the best dog food for your Cane Corso pup requires you to understand the individual health and nutritional needs of your breed. This is true with any dog or pet of any kind. We care so much about our animals and we want to set them up to live, run, and jump with as much energy and happiness as possible.
The best dog foods for cane corsos like Front of the Pack and Blue Buffalo Life Protection will help them do this. If you’re keen on a raw food diet or simply feel like giving it a try, consider checking out We Feed Raw to ensure you’re feeding your dog a safe diet free of bacteria. The best food for large breed puppies is the ACANA Puppy Recipe.
All of these foods contain the necessary protein and nutrients your Cane Corso needs to succeed and live happily!
