Eukanuba Adult Large & Giant Breed Chicken: Review for Big Dogs
PawPicked is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from links on this page.
A 15kg bag looks like a lot of food until a 40kg dog is on the receiving end of it. Eukanuba Adult Large & Giant Breed Fresh Chicken is built for exactly that kind of dog, and the listing gives enough detail, including a feeding table, to do some practical arithmetic before you buy.
What the listing says it is for
The listing describes a complete dry food for adult large and giant breeds, naming German Shepherds, Labradors, Rottweilers, Mastiffs and Golden Retrievers as examples. It makes five broad claims: calcium and glucosamine for bones and joints, L-carnitine to help metabolise fat and support weight management, a kibble shape with "DentaDefense" minerals for teeth, prebiotic FOS and beet pulp for digestion, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat. It also says there are no artificial flavours, colours or GMOs. Those are the maker's claims. The listing shows 4.6 out of 5 from 366 ratings on Amazon.co.uk at the time of writing.
One thing the listing does not give is a kibble size. It says the shape is "unique" but there is no measurement, so if your dog has a small mouth or a habit of gulping, check the pack or ask the maker.
What the ingredients show
The list begins with fresh chicken (20%) and dried chicken and turkey (19%, of which chicken is 13%). After that come maize, wheat, barley, oats and sorghum, so this is a cereal-heavy recipe, with several grains together making up a large part of the food. The rest includes poultry fat, dried beet pulp (2.5%), chicken gravy, maize grits, minerals, fructooligosaccharides (0.25%), dried whole egg, brewer's dried yeast and added glucosamine (0.04%).
The analytical constituents are listed as protein 24%, fat 13%, fibre 2.4%, ash 6.2%, calcium 1.2% and phosphorus 1%. The additives include 50mg of L-carnitine per kg. The listing does not give a calorie figure, which is the number you would most want for a heavy dog.
On the joint claims: the listing says the chicken and turkey are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, and that glucosamine is also added. Dogs differ, the quantities are small, and a food cannot replace a vet's assessment of a dog that is stiff or lame.
The feeding table, and what a bag lasts
The listing's guidelines, which it says are rough and to be adjusted to keep an ideal body weight, run from 25kg to 50kg. The final column is our own arithmetic: 15,000g divided by the daily amount.
| Dog's weight | Grams per day (listing) | Roughly how many days a 15kg bag lasts |
|---|---|---|
| 25kg | 285 to 330 | 45 to 53 |
| 30kg | 325 to 380 | 39 to 46 |
| 35kg | 365 to 425 | 35 to 41 |
| 40kg | 405 to 470 | 32 to 37 |
| 50kg | 480 to 555 | 27 to 31 |
To work out cost per day, divide the pack price by the number of days it lasts, and check the current price on Amazon. A dog at the top of the range will get through a bag in under a month, so it is worth knowing before you commit. Also note the table starts at 25kg. If your dog is a lean 22kg Labrador or similar, you are outside the range the listing's guide covers.
The weight-management caution
"Weight management" on the listing is a feature, not a licence. Extra weight puts extra load on the joints of big dogs, and most vets advise keeping large breeds lean throughout adulthood. L-carnitine is listed as an additive, but a bag of kibble does not control weight, the person with the scoop does. Weigh the portions rather than guessing, count treats into the daily amount, and use the table as a starting point. If your dog's waist disappears over a few weeks, reduce the amount rather than assuming the label has it covered.
Who should choose something else
This is a poor fit for dogs with a known chicken, wheat or egg problem, since all three are in the ingredients. It is also an adult recipe, so growing large-breed puppies need a different food; large and giant breed puppy food explains why. Owners who prefer a grain-free recipe will want to look at the Fresh Chicken recipe against Eukanuba's grain-free fish option. And if you are shopping across brands, our roundup of large-breed dry foods puts this food in context.
If you do switch to it, change over gradually; how to switch your dog's food has a schedule. This article is general information rather than veterinary advice, and a dog with joint or weight problems should be seen by a vet.
Our view
Eukanuba Adult Large & Giant Breed Fresh Chicken is a sensible, fully described recipe for a healthy adult dog of 25kg or more that tolerates chicken and cereals. The published feeding table and ingredient percentages are a real advantage over thinner listings. The drawbacks are the lack of a calorie figure, the heavy cereal content, a bag that goes quickly for the biggest dogs, and joint claims that are modest and unproven on the page. Buy it if your dog fits that profile, then adjust the amount to the dog in front of you.
Featured product
Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.