Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Reviewed: Pros, Cons, & Recalls

Written by Austin S.
Updated: May 27, 2024
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Your dog’s size significantly affects its nutritional requirements. Large dog breeds are more prone to developing bone and joint issues as they grow older. This makes it crucial to get them on a high-quality nutritional diet early on. This will help them develop strong muscles and bones that will support their large bodies throughout their lives. And at the same time, you don’t want to sacrifice taste. Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food combines the best of both worlds.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food is strictly for large breed puppies. It is a portion of high-quality dog food for puppies between 2-15 months old with an expected adult weight of about 56-100 lb. It is rich in protein, such as chicken by-product meals which aid the optimal development of your puppy’s bones and joints.

There’s an outstanding balance of nutrients, but you should skip this formula if your puppy has grain allergies. It also takes about 7-9 days to switch from your old dog food to this large breed puppy formula. It has both dry and wet recipes.

Summary

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food contains proteins and minerals that support your dog’s healthy joints and bone development. This is important because large dog breeds are prone to developing bone and joint issues as they grow older. It has a unique kibble design that makes chewing easy and contains prebiotics that promotes healthy digestion. This also improves your puppy’s stool quality.

This dry dog food facilitates your fluffy friend’s optimal immune system development. But this product is not suitable for every dog and contains some controversial ingredients. We’ll delve into all you need to know about this product, its features, pros, cons, and the manufacturer. This will help you make the best decision for your canine companion.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Benefits and Features

  • Quick and healthy digestion.
  • Good stool quality.
  • Exclusive kibble design.
  • Strictly for large breed dogs.
  • Contains antioxidants and added vitamins.
  • Rich in protein.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food: Pros & Cons

Pros!Cons!
Contains a balanced blend of minerals that support optimal joint and bone development.Not for puppies with gluten allergies or grain sensitivities.
Made in the USA and the ingredients are also sourced from the country.Contains controversial ingredients.
Unique kibble design that helps puppies to chew thoroughly.The manufacturer has a recall history.
Contains prebiotics and digestible proteins that aid healthy digestion and improve stool quality.The company has a lawsuit history for ‘overcharging’ consumers for its prescription pet food.
Added vitamins and antioxidants that boost immune systems.Not all-natural.
The company uses research to produce its dog food recipes and formulas.

Where is Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Made?

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy is made in the USA in Royal Canin’s Missouri plant. The Mars PetCare company owns Royal Canin. The company has manufacturing sites in Missouri and sources ingredients from farms in the state and South Dakota. So, we believe that all products sold in the US, such as Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy, are being manufactured by Royal Canin USA. However, the company also has production plants worldwide.

The company has facilities in the USA, UK, France, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Poland, Canada, Russia, China, and South Korea. This means some of their formulas could be from other countries. Mars PetCare Company is a well-known company that owns other popular brands such as Sheba and Pedigree.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Ingredients

The primary ingredient in Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy is chicken by-product meal. This ingredient is derived from the leftovers of a slaughtered chicken after removing the choice cuts. Besides prime skeletal muscle, it can include beaks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and other parts.

Below is a rundown of all the other essential ingredients and why they’re in this product:

  • Chicken by-Product Meal: By-product meals are meat concentrates that contain almost 300% more protein than a fresh chicken. This makes Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy highly rich in protein.
  • Brewers rice: This is a cereal grain by-product made up of little pieces that remain after milling whole rice. It is a good source of caloric energy for puppies.
  • Wheat: This is a cereal grain that has good energy content. But asides from this, wheat is a controversial dog food ingredient. This is because it is linked with dietary intolerance in dogs.
  • Brown Rice: A complex carbohydrate that is relatively easy to digest once cooked.
  • Chicken fat: This is a high-quality ingredient gotten from rendering chicken. It is a great source of linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for life.
  • Corn Gluten Meal: Gluten is the rubbery residue left after washing most of the starchy carbohydrates out of corn. Corn gluten meal has a protein content of 60%.
  • Fish oil: Another high-quality ingredient that is rich in the highly-rated EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Beet Pulp: A great source of fiber with good blood sugar and intestinal health benefits.

It also contains chelated minerals. This ingredient is primarily found in high-quality dog foods and makes protein absorption easier.

Which Types of Dog is Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Best Suited for?

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food is for large breed puppies. If you have a puppy that could grow to 100 lb and no less than 56 lb, this is a good food choice. More specific examples of dog breeds that this dog food is suitable for include German Shorthaired Pointer, Standard Goldendoodle, and Old English Sheepdog.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Recalls

Although the large breed puppy formula has no recall history, Royal Canin has had a few notable recalls for some of its other products. It is essential to know this before you decide to buy.

Specific recipes of Royal Canin dry dog and cat foods were recalled because of probable melamine contamination in April and May 2007. This was part of the substantial Menu Foods/melamine recall that rocked the US. Royal Canin Canada and Royal Canin South Africa also issued recalls during this period.

Earlier in February 2006, Royal Canin recalled thousands of canned pet meals marketed only through veterinarians due to high Vitamin D3. Reports confirm that several dogs and cats were sick. The company blamed a vitamin premix from a third-party supplier for this.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy: Where to Buy

Are you wondering where to buy Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy? You can order this maxi-puppy meal on Amazon. It’s also available in the following places:

You could also get free shipping for this product on Chewy.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Specs

Are you thinking about buying the Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy dog food? Here are some things you should expect:

Design

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food comes in beautiful packaging. Each bag is appealing, but it is also airtight and packaged. The hermetically sealed package preserves the freshness and nutritional value. Also, the bags are durable, reducing the risk of leakage or any damage. This dog food’s packaging is in handy foil pouches that keep the constituents intact.

Safety

The Royal Canin company assures that it follows food safety protocols. Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food has no recall history. It is not safe for dogs with gluten allergies and grain sensitivities, but it is safe for other large breed puppies. It is also easy to digest and contains proteins, minerals, and caloric energy that improves your dog’s growth, supports the immune system, provide a shiny coat, and improves poop quality.

Durability

Royal Canin Large Breed has excellent durability. Dry diets remain palatable and at their best, even one month after opening the bag. It will still be acceptable for consumption for up to two months as long as you store the bag in a cool, dry, and airtight container. You should refrigerate and ensure your dog consumes wet food within two days of opening it.

Price

Compared to other dog foods, Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy is expensive. This product comes in three sizes; a 6-lb bag, an 18-lb bag, and the 36-lb bag. They cost about $24.99, $53.99, and $86.49, respectively.

This is expensive compared to a similar product like Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Dog Food, which costs about $61.99 for a 35-lb bag and $36.99 for a 15-lb bag.

The company claims it formulates each dog food for each pet’s specific needs, and it uses research to manufacture its products. We believe this and the presence of some high-quality ingredients may be the reasons for the high price.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy vs. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Dog Food

Similarities:

  • These products are for large dog breeds.
  • Both products contain Omega-6 fatty acids that nourish the skin.
  • Their respective companies produce the products in the US.

Differences:

  • Price is a major factor. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Dog Food has high-quality ingredients but is not as expensive as Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy.
  • Royal Canin has a specific formula and its major ingredient is chicken by-product meal. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Dog Food’s major ingredient is real chicken.
  • They’re manufactured by different companies.

Bottom Line

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food is an excellent choice for large breed puppies and comes highly recommended by vets. The brand’s recall history doesn’t look good, but this particular product has had no such case. The price may be on the steeper side, but the quality of the food and the benefits it offers your four-legged friend justify the price. Ensure that you don’t feed this food to a puppy with grain sensitivities or gluten allergies.

Products for This Review

About the Author

Growing up in rural New England on a small scale farm gave me a lifelong passion for animals. I love learning about new wild animal species, habitats, animal evolutions, dogs, cats, and more. I've always been surrounded by pets and believe the best dog and best cat products are important to keeping our animals happy and healthy. It's my mission to help you learn more about wild animals, and how to care for your pets better with carefully reviewed products.

Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Reviewed: Pros, Cons, & Recalls FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food Grain-Free?

No, this product is not grain-free. It contains ingredients such as corn, brewer’s rice, and flour.

Is Royal Canin dog food AAFCO approved?

Yes. Royal Canin dog food meets the AAFCO standards.

Is chicken by-product meal used in Royal Canin dog food?

Yes. Royal Canin’s formula has a macronutrient profile. So, using chicken by-products ensures they stick to this profile while staying true to their sustainability goals. Although considered a controversial product by many, chicken by-product meal doesn’t reduce your dog food’s quality. This ingredient is also good for the environment because it reduces food waste.

Chicken by-product meals should not impact the quality or safety of dog food. So far, the nutritional content of the food matches the guaranteed analysis of the formula. It is also an excellent source of protein and minerals.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.