Best Dog Food for Medium Sized Dogs [Reviewed 2021]

Last Updated on 01/23/2021 by Veronica Jones

Medium-sized dogs, such as the Siberian Husky, Labrador Retriever, Australian Shepherd, Poodle, Collie, Akita, and the like, tend to have 20 to 50 pounds of weight. Many of these dogs are also mixed breeds so feeding them can be tricky.

With that said, we’re here to help if your pet is a mid-sized dog. We’ll introduce some of the best dog food for medium-sized dogs to help you get started to pick the right food and nutrition for your dog. Compared to small and large breeds, choosing food for them, however, is a bit easier.

Best Medium Sized Dog Food Reviews

Here are our top picks for the best dog food for medium-sized dogs:

1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food

As a wheat-free and soy-free product, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food is ideal for those who are looking for a good protein source since chicken is the first ingredient. It is a chicken and brown rice recipe so it is ideal for dogs that are looking for sufficient amounts of protein. It also has crunchy Life Source bits for antioxidants.

Available in 6, 15, and 30-lb. packs, this dry dog food has Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to promote a shiny coat for your dog while its inclusion of cranberries, flaxseed, peas, carrots, and blueberries will help your dog get a balanced diet.

If your dog is a picky eater, they might love this one due to the balance of ingredients and flavor. Also worth mentioning is that it has sweet potatoes to complement the brown rice as the source of energy. f Moreover, it has no by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives so your medium-sized dog only gets healthy food.

Pros

• Wheat-free and soy-free
• Has omega fatty acids for skin and coat
• A mix of fruits and veggies
• Chicken is the first ingredient
• No chicken by-products

Cons

• The 30-lb. bag is difficult to unpack
• A bit on the pricey side

 

2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Fish and Brown Rice

Your vet might recommend the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Fish and Brown Rice if your dog needs to be on a chicken-free diet since this one contains whitefish as the first ingredient. Whitefish is also a healthy source of protein and it also has omega fatty acids to help your dog get a shiny coat.

This medium-sized dog food is also free from wheat and soy while it also doesn’t contain artificial flavors, chicken by-products, or preservatives to keep your dog healthy and strong. Moreover, it has other quality ingredients, such as sweet potatoes, cranberries, peas, carrots, blueberries, and flaxseed, which will help with your dog’s immune system due to the antioxidants. It also has crunchy Life Source bits containing the said nutrient.

Likewise, it also has tomato and alfalfa within its mix of veggies so your medium-sized dog has good amounts of nutrients to complement the protein source (whitefish). Like the above-mentioned pick, it is also available in different bag sizes.

Pros

• Has omega fatty acids for a shiny coat
• Ideal for dogs with a chicken-free diet
• Has veggies and fruits
• Whitefish is the first ingredient
• Has Life Source bits

Cons

• Minor packaging issues
• A bit on the pricey side

 

3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Dry Dog Food

If your dog is often outside for sports and activities, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Dry Dog Food is a great energy source. This one contains chicken as the first ingredient and will help in building muscle mass for active dogs. As for the protein content, it is at 34% so it is ideal for such dogs.

Moreover, it has omega 3 & 6 fatty acids for coat and skin health, which is ideal for dogs that have skin allergies and the like. To keep your medium-sized dog healthy, it has no artificial flavors, corn, wheat, soy, or by-products.

Three sizes (4.5, 11, and 24-lb. bags) are available for your different needs. What we like is that it contains 1.4% calcium, which will help with your dog’s bone strength, plus the glucosamine at 400 mg/kg, which is ideal for dogs that are prone to hip dysplasia. For sensitive tummies, it has 6% crude fiber.

Pros

• High in protein
• Omega fatty acids for skin health
• Glucosamine for joints
• Calcium for bones
• A good amount of fiber

Cons

• Some may not like the smell
• Some dogs might not like the Life Source bits

 

4. Royal Canin Medium Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

Yet another vet-recommend brand you will see in most pet stores is the Royal Canin Medium Breed Adult Dry Dog Food. This one is ideal for dogs 1 to 7 years of age and weighing 23 to 55 pounds. It has EPA and DHA as part of the omega fatty acids which both help the medium-sized dog’s coat health and brain development.

Moreover, it has proteins that are easy to digest due to the amount of fiber included. There are 3 different bag sizes for this dry dog food, which can be combined with any wet or home-cooked meal. Because it also has biotin, it will help your dog get a shiny coat aside from the omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to that, this dog food contains 23% protein so it’s okay for dogs that aren’t very active. Because it has a unique kibble design, it will be easily chewed by dogs that are picky eaters.

Pros

• Has EPA and DHA for brain development
• Omega fatty acids for coat health
• Biotin for a shiny coat
• Has fiber and easy-to-digest proteins
• Vet-recommended

Cons

• Not grain-free
• Packaging issues

 

5. Amazon Brand – Wag Dry Dog Food

If you prefer a higher-protein mix, why not try the Amazon Brand – Wag Dry Dog Food? This one contains real beef as the first ingredient so it is okay for medium-sized dogs that are on a chicken-free diet. It has a high amount of protein, which is at 35%, and it has no added grains for those that are allergic to such.

It is at 30 pounds in one bag and is made in California for its ingredients. Likewise, this dry dog food contains nutrients, such as vitamin E, zinc, and selenium for immunity while the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids will contribute to your dog’s shiny coat and healthy skin.

Aside from the protein, it also has 4.5% fiber so dogs with digestive upsets will easily digest this dog food. Moreover, the inclusion of probiotics within the formula will help dogs to have a healthier GI tract when fed properly.

Pros

• No added grain
• High in protein
• Beef is the first ingredient
• Made in California, USA
• Has probiotics and fiber

Cons

• Not for dogs with egg allergies
• Might slightly crumble/powdered during shipping

 

6. Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Fish

Yet another fish diet we would like to recommend for your medium-sized dog is the Taste of the Wild High Protein Real Fish. Made with smoked salmon as the first ingredient, this one packs a lot of protein that is okay for active dogs.

To protect your dog from digestion problems, it even has the K9 strain of probiotics, which is ideal for canines that have sensitive tummies. Moreover, the salmon is sustainably-forced so you will feel less guilt. We like that this dog food is gluten-free as well.

It is also worth noting that it is an egg-free recipe for dogs that have allergies. The fiber that’s included in this dog food mix comes from the dried chicory root, which also helps your dog’s digestive system to stay healthy. Some antioxidants coming from fruits and veggies, such as sweet potatoes, peas, tomatoes, raspberries, and blueberries will help strengthen your dog’s immune system.

Pros

• Gluten-free
• Egg-free
• Has probiotics
• Smoked salmon is the first ingredient
• Has fruits and veggies for antioxidants

Cons

• Might smell bad for some
• Minor packaging issues

 

7. NUTRO Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

The NUTRO Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food might be recommended by your vet if your medium-sized dog is not responding well to chicken diets. Lamb is the first ingredient on this one and the small bites make it ideal for medium-sized dogs that are slightly on the smaller scale. It is also wheat-free for those that have grain sensitivities.

In addition to that, it has sweet potato as the source of its carbohydrates in place of grain, soy, corn, and wheat. Likewise, it is made with non-GMO ingredients so you won’t have to worry about your dog’s health in the future.

Australian and New Zealand lamb are used for this recipe, which makes it a source of high-quality protein if your dog wants to try different meat sources. The biotin and vitamin E will help with your pet’s coat and skin problems. This food will also benefit dogs that are allergic to peas.

Pros

• Limited ingredients for sensitive tummies
• Lamb is the first ingredient
• Grain-free
• Non-GMO
• Will help your dog’s skin and coat problems

Cons

• On the pricey side
• Might smell bad for some

 

8. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food

If you have an older medium-sized dog, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food is a good choice for them. As a wheat-free and soy-free formula, this chicken and brown rice recipe have glucosamine that will help senior dogs with their hip and joint problems.

This formula also has Life Source bits that will support your dog’s immune system. Likewise, it contains no preservatives, soy, corn, or artificial flavors. Among the other healthy ingredients included are sweet potatoes, cranberries, flaxseed, peas, carrots, and blueberries that will help support your dog’s health due to the number of antioxidants.

You can choose between 30, 15, and 6-lb. bags for this dog food. The protein and fat content are low (18% and 10% respectively) so it fits well to senior diets that are limited or as advised by your vet. It also has omega fatty acids that will keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy and shiny.

Pros

• Wheat-free and soy-free
• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Has antioxidants
• Glucosamine for joints
• Low-fat

Cons

• Some dogs might not eat the Life Source bits
• On the pricey side

 

Things We Considered Before Buying

Before choosing the best dog food for medium-sized dogs, here are some criteria you need to consider:

1. Ingredients. In general, dogs require a lot of protein to keep their muscles strong and carbohydrates for energy. However, they can also use some other nutrients, such as calcium for bones, DHA for the brain and eyes, and glucosamine for joint health.
2. Free from fillers. If your vet advised your dog to go grain-free, look for a dog food that doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy, and similar fillers. It will also help if you choose a dog food that has no by-products, preservatives, artificial colors, and the like.
3. Your dog’s health concerns. Research about your breed and know what possible health problems they might have.

• For hip dysplasia and similar joint problems, look for foods rich in glucosamine.
• For skin problems, consider omega fatty acids from fish oil.
• For puppies, look for DHA for brain development.
• For those with obesity tendencies, look for low-fat dog food.
• For dogs with chicken allergies, look for alternative meat sources such as beef and fish.

4. Your dog’s age. Puppies, as mentioned above, will benefit more from dog foods with DHA for brain development. Seniors will easily digest the food that has fiber or is easy to chew. Adults aren’t usually sensitive or picky with food, however.
5. Canned vs. dry dog food. Consider whether you want to give them canned (wet) or dry (kibble) food or a mix of both.

 

Conclusion

In the long run, the best dog food for medium-sized dogs depends on the breed that you have and many other factors, such as age and lifestyle. Not all dogs are equal so they need to have nutrition that is tailored to them. We hope that you find the ideal dog food that your dog deserves or as advised by your vet!