Top Dog Food Brands for Happy, Healthy Saint Bernards

Saint Bernards, with their imposing size and gentle demeanor, require a diet that adequately supports their substantial nutritional needs. Choosing the right dog food can significantly impact their health, energy levels, and overall well-being. Some of the top brands renowned for catering to large breeds like Saint Bernards include Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Nutro. These brands are praised for their high-quality ingredients and specialized formulations. To find out which options best suit your Saint Bernard's unique needs, check out the comprehensive guide below.

Illustration of dog food for saint bernards

Best brands of dog food for saint bernards in 2025

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is a renowned brand that excels in producing high-quality dog food, particularly for giant breeds like the Saint Bernard. Their Giant Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is tailored to support the health and well-being of these large dogs, containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and EPA/DHA to maintain healthy bones and joints. The formula also includes an exclusive complex of antioxidants to support cellular health and heart-healthy nutrients like taurine. This food is designed for adult giant breed dogs over 18/24 months old and weighing more than 100 pounds, ensuring they receive complete and balanced nutrition. With its extra-large kibble, it encourages proper chewing and digestion.

Hill's Science Diet

Hill's Science Diet is a highly recommended brand for Saint Bernard nutrition, offering formulas specifically designed for large and giant breeds. Their Large Breed Adult Dog Food contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, with a protein content of 28% and fat content of 12%. This food is formulated to support optimal weight and healthy muscles, and it includes fish meal and oil for mobility and joint health. Hill's Science Diet also features prebiotics to nourish the gut microbiome, enhancing overall health. The brand is U.S. veterinarians' #1 recommended brand, reflecting its high quality and scientific approach to pet nutrition.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo is a highly recommended brand for Saint Bernard dog food, known for its high-quality, natural ingredients and tailored formulas for large breeds. Their Large Breed Dry Food, for instance, contains deboned chicken, chicken meal, and fish meal, with a protein content of 32% and fat content of 13%, along with essential vitamins and minerals to support strong bones and joint health. This formula is designed to encourage proper digestion and reduce the risk of bloating, making it an excellent choice for Saint Bernards. Blue Buffalo also offers a Life Protection Breed Senior formula specifically for older Saint Bernards, ensuring they receive the necessary nutrition for their life stage. Since its inception, Blue Buffalo has maintained a commitment to using real meat as the first ingredient and avoiding fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.

Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro Plan is a renowned brand that offers high-quality dog food tailored for Saint Bernards, ensuring they receive the nutrition they need to thrive. Their Adult Large Breed formulas, such as the Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Canned Dog Food, are designed for dogs weighing 50 pounds or more, providing a high-calorie count and essential nutrients like fish oil for joint health and sweet potato for healthy digestion. These formulas often feature real meat as the first ingredient, along with added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support immune and digestive health. For example, the Pro Plan Essentials formulas include 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs, with crunchy kibble and tender shredded pieces, and are fortified with guaranteed live probiotics. This brand's commitment to advanced nutrition makes it a trusted choice among dog owners and breeders.

Nutro Ultra

Nutro Ultra is a premium dog food brand that stands out as an excellent choice for Saint Bernards, offering high-quality recipes that meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for all life stages. This brand features a trio of proteins from chicken, lamb, and salmon, along with 15 superfoods to enhance nutritional value and taste. Nutro Ultra recipes are formulated to provide essential antioxidants, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and natural fiber for healthy immunity, digestion, and a shiny coat. The brand is committed to sustainability, using 100% clean electricity from wind farms and fully recyclable aluminum cans. With over 22 wet and dry food recipes available, Nutro Ultra caters to various life stages, including large breeds like Saint Bernards.

Merrick

Merrick is a highly regarded brand for dog food, particularly suitable for Saint Bernards, due to its high-quality, grain-free formulas. Their Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Real Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe, for example, features real deboned lamb as the first ingredient, ensuring a minimum of 23% crude protein, 14% crude fat, and essential Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. This diet is also enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, making it an excellent choice for large breeds like Saint Bernards. Merrick dog foods are crafted in USA facilities and are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. This formulation helps in maintaining lean muscle mass and healthy energy levels.

Orijen

ORIJEN is renowned for producing high-quality dog food, making it an excellent choice for Saint Bernards. Their recipes are formulated with 85% quality animal ingredients, including fresh or raw poultry and fish, providing a strong source of essential protein, vitamins, and minerals. The ORIJEN Original Dog Food features a calorie distribution of 39% from protein, 20% from carbohydrates, and 41% from fat, aligning with the natural diet of ancestral carnivores. This biologically appropriate nutrition supports immune health, skin and coat health, and digestive health. Despite recent changes in ownership to Mars Petcare, ORIJEN has maintained its reputation for using high-quality, fresh, and raw ingredients.

Wellness Core

Wellness Core is a highly regarded brand for dog food, particularly for Saint Bernards, due to its high-quality, nutrient-dense products. Their Bowl Boosters, such as the Digestive Health and Bare versions, are made with 100% fresh chicken or beef and include probiotics and healthy fruits and veggies to support gut health and digestive regularity. These toppers are free from preservatives, meat by-products, and artificial ingredients, making them ideal for sensitive stomachs. Wellness Core products are prepared in state-of-the-art USA facilities using wholesome, non-GMO ingredients. This brand is a reliable choice for maintaining the overall health and well-being of Saint Bernards. For a comprehensive guide to choosing the best dog food toppers, visit iHeartDogs.

Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild is a highly regarded brand for dog food, particularly for Saint Bernards, due to its high-protein content and grain-free formulas. The High Prairie Canine Recipe, for example, contains 32% protein from sources like roasted bison and venison, along with vegetables and fruits that provide antioxidants and fiber. This diet has been praised for its ease of digestion and the inclusion of species-specific probiotics, which support healthy digestive and immune systems. Many owners have reported significant improvements in their dogs' health and appetite after switching to Taste of the Wild, with some dogs showing improved coat health and reduced allergy symptoms. The brand's limited ingredient recipes, such as the PREY Angus Beef formula, are also popular for their simplicity and effectiveness.

Eukanuba

Eukanuba is a highly regarded brand for dog food, particularly suitable for Saint Bernards due to its scientifically formulated recipes that cater to the specific needs of large and active breeds. Their dog food provides a balanced nutrient profile, including 26% protein, 14% fat, and 52% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis, ensuring optimal energy and health for these gentle giants. Eukanuba's products are free from plant-based protein boosters and include high-quality ingredients like fish oil, which is rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. With a 4.5-star rating from Dog Food Advisor, Eukanuba is a reliable choice for pet owners seeking premium nutrition for their Saint Bernards. The brand's commitment to quality and nutritional balance makes it an excellent option for maintaining the health and well-being of these large breed dogs. For more information, you can visit their official website.