Top 10 Best Affordable Dog Foods for Pitbulls
The terrific Pitbull is a medium-sized, solid, and muscular dog breed that if socialized and positively trained during puppyhood makes for one of the best companion dogs. The American Pit Bull belongs to the UKC Terrier group and has a long history of being a physically active dog breed.
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The American Pitbull Terrier is athletic, strong, and has many talents. As an adult, this breed does well with regular exercise, positive dog training, lots of mental and environmental stimulation, dog sports, as well as lots of human interaction. This is a dog breed that should not be left alone at home all day.
This intelligent dog breed loves being around people and children, and pet parents should try to avoid common mistakes of thinking that this dog breed should be a guard dog breed. Visit dog parks and dog beaches throughout puppyhood, enjoy coffee shops with your Pitbull, and start positive dog training during puppyhood so that you’ll end up with a well-balanced and well-liked Pitbull that’s easy to be around.
The UKC adds the following “Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Lure Coursing, Dock Jumping and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.” They also explain that the Pitbull’s desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds, and the desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds.
Because this breed is energetic and physically active, and may be prone to hip dysplasia, heart problems, luxating patellas, and possible thyroid problems, it’s important to find the best dog diet that is also affordable.
Keep in mind that medium-sized Pitbulls become adult dogs between 12-14 months, so you’re going to have to switch formulas, and that if you have a large breed Pitbull, he may only become an adult at around 24 months. Consult with your veterinarian when it comes down to feeding correctly for all life stages so that you can prevent hereditary issues like hip dysplasia, obesity, bloat, and so forth. Prevention is key when it comes to keeping all dog breeds healthy.
The most important tip with dog food is to feed for the correct life stage and to follow the guidelines for feeding Pitbull puppies, adults, seniors, lactating females, and so forth. Your best bet is to work with your veterinarian, so as to ensure that your Pitbull has no underlying health issues and that if you’re thinking of switching dog food, you do so gradually with a well-balanced formula.
We’ll share our top 7 choices for the best affordable dog food for Pitbulls. Next, we will go over an overview of dog food ingredients and AAFCO regulations. Then, we’ll highlight key nutrients that you’ll find in the very best food for Pit Bulls. We’ve reviewed dozens of dog food brands for Pitbulls and narrowed our list to find you the best affordable dry dog food for Pitbulls.
The 10 Best Affordable Dog Food for Pit Bulls
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Dog Food – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken mill |
| Protein content: | 32% |
| Fat content: | 25% |
| Calories: | 470 kcal per cup |
Our choice for the best affordable dog food for Pitbulls for the money is Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Dog Food. This tasty dog kibble is designed with energetic dogs like Pitbulls in mind. Inside this blend, you’ll find lots of superfoods such as pumpkins and carrots. Your dog will also benefit from the added omega-6 fatty acids for their skin and coats. Another amazing benefit is the probiotics added by Diamond Naturals found in each bag.
The biggest concern consumers have with this dog food is the potential for upset stomachs for some dogs. For Pitbulls with sensitive stomachs, you may notice a slight bit of diarrhea when your dog tries this food.
- It may be hard on dogs with sensitive stomachs
- High protein content
- Made in the USA
- Can be bought in affordable 40-pound bags
Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 387 kcal per cup |
When choosing the right dog food for your Pitbull, it’s best to go with a brand you and vets around the world can trust. That’s where Purina comes in. The Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula with Probiotics Dry Dog Food is our best overall affordable dog food for Pitbulls. This dog food provides your dog with great amounts of protein, omega-6 fatty acids, and all the vitamins needed for a healthy coat, skin, and digestive system.
For the high energy levels of Pitbulls, the primary ingredient of this dog food, chicken, is ideal. With the mix of crunchy kibble and tender pieces, your pet will also enjoy eating this food, especially with the added shredded pieces inside.
The only downside we found with this affordable dog food is the inconsistency of the blend inside the bag. From time to time you may receive a bag of food that has less chicken than the previous purchase.
- Inconsistent chicken portions in bags
- Features omega-6 fatty acids
- Real chicken is the main source of protein
- A complete and balanced formula
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Food – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Deboned beef |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 392 kcal per cup |
Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried Raw Big Game Recipe features deboned beef as its main ingredient. You’ll also find lamb, salmon, and rabbit which add additional protein for energetic dogs such as Pitbulls. As part of a raw diet, you’ll also find this dog food includes vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids to promote healthier joints and skin.
For pet parents who want their Pitbulls to receive the benefits of a raw diet, this option may be slightly more costly, hence being our premium choice, but it does provide all the natural benefits dogs receive from this type of diet.
Unfortunately, like the Purina Pro-Choice dog food, inconsistency can be an issue. Bags may not have as many raw chunks as others. Some consumers have even experienced issues with no raw chunks being inside their bag.
- Inconsistent meat content in bags
- High source of protein
- Great for healthier skin and coat
- Made in the USA
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach – Vet’s Choice
| Main ingredients: | Salmon |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 467 kcal per cup |
Our vet’s choice for affordable dog food for Pitbulls is Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula. As Pitbull owners know, even these energetic and hefty dogs can have issues with an upset stomach and sensitive skin. This dog food is designed to help with those issues by including live probiotics to help soothe them. You’ll find no fillers in this dog food and all the ingredients you can trust from Purina.
Some consumers have noted their dogs experienced unpleasant gas and bad breath when using this dog food. Several have noted the issues decreased over time, however.
- This food may cause gas and bad breath in some dogs
- Features salmon as the main ingredient
- Includes live biotics
- Has no fillers
- Recommended by vets
Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula Dry Food – Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Chicken |
| Protein content: | 28% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 397 kcal per cup |
Feeding your puppy the best dog food possible is a must. For some pet owners, however, this good dog food must be affordable. Enter Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Puppy Formula. This affordable dog food is ideal for Pitbull puppies. It is packed with the needed vitamins, minerals, and proteins your puppy needs to grow healthy and strong. You’ll also find added DHA used for supporting brain and eye development and even calcium to help strengthen your puppy’s teeth.
The biggest issue with this puppy formula dog food is the packaging. The bag doesn’t reseal. This can lead to your puppy’s food getting stale if you don’t seek out other means of keeping it kept safe and dry.
- The bag does not reseal
- Features real chicken as the main ingredient
- DHA is included
- Has the needed nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for growing puppies
American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned salmon |
| Protein content: | 32% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 390 kcal per cup |
While grains are needed by dogs, some have sensitivities and allergies. If that’s the case with your Pitbull, this American Journey Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe may be the answer you’re looking for. Inside each bag, you’ll find plenty of proteins and other high-quality ingredients including sweet potatoes and blueberries. This food also utilizes DHA to support healthy eyes and brains.
Yes, this food is grain-free for dogs with allergies but it does contain peas and chicken meal. These can also be allergy issues for some dogs and you should mention them to your vet to make sure it is safe for your pet. Peas have been potentially linked to heart conditions in some dogs, but studies on this are still ongoing.
- Contains pea protein and chicken meal
- Salmon is the primary source of protein
- Includes DHA
- Features need vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken |
| Protein content: | 34% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 409 kcal per cup |
Blue Buffalo’s well-known Lifebits is included in this dog food. Lifebits offer additional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants Pitbulls need to stay healthy and strong. You’ll also find deboned chicken as the main ingredient and primary source of protein. The other benefits of this dog food include healthy carbs and no artificial ingredients.
Unfortunately, this Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe dog food comes in small pieces. While it is intended for medium and large dog breeds, they may have an issue with these small sizes.
- Pieces are quite small for larger dogs
- Features deboned chicken as the main ingredient
- Utilizes Blue Buffalo’s Lifebits
- Includes healthy carbs
Purina One True Instinct Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 340 kcal per cup |
The Purina One High Protein Natural True Instinct dog food is great for Pitbulls due to being packed with healthy proteins and is free of by-products. You’ll also find it features omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coats in dogs. Calcium, glucosamine, vitamins, and minerals are all included in this formula to promote healthier bones, joints, and growth in dogs.
If your dog is new to this dog food they may experience issues with slight diarrhea. Most consumers say this issue only lasts for a short time. If your pup keeps consistent diarrhea, you may need to change formulas.
- It may cause diarrhea when first introduced
- Features salmon as the primary ingredient
- Includes calcium and glucosamine
- Free of by-products
Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Meat and bone meal |
| Protein content: | 21% |
| Fat content: | 10% |
| Calories: | 309 kcal per cup |
As the final product in our review, Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Dry Dog Food deserves a mention. While this may not be the best dog food to feed your pet, it is one of the most affordable options on the market. While this dog food contains corn, which is often considered a bad guy in the dog food world, that isn’t exactly the case.
Corn is processed to be easily digestible for dogs and is rarely the cause of allergies. However, that doesn’t change that this dog food doesn’t have the high protein count other foods on our list have.
This dog food does contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help keep your dogs healthier. You’ll also find that most dogs enjoy the taste and are excited to find this dog food in their bowl.
- Low in protein
- Low-calorie content for larger dogs
- Dogs enjoy the taste
- Contains essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Affordable
Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Beef meal |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 20% |
| Calories: | 406 kcal per cup |
Some pet owners prefer to refrain from purchasing dog foods with “meal” mentioned as the main ingredient. However, it is impossible to deny the protein provided by these ingredients. When it comes to Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus, the beef meal is the main source of protein. This protein comes from cow meat that has been rendered, leaving it in dry powder for addition to the dog food. This high-protein beef meal and the included vegetables make this dog food ideal for Pitbulls and their energetic lifestyles.
If you want your dog to have completely balanced dog food, this may not be the ideal choice as it contains no fruits in the formula. You’ll also find it may be hard on dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Does not contain fruits
- Not intended for dogs with sensitive stomachs
- High in protein
- Suitable for all dogs including puppies and nursing mothers
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Affordable Dog Food for Pitbulls
Now that we’ve reviewed the top 10 best affordable dog food for Pit Bulls, let’s break more information down to help you further decide on what is best for you and your beloved Pit.
Read the Ingredients
- Learning to read food labels is such an essential part of buying healthy dog food. Manufacturers are required to list the ingredients in descending order of quantity. For example, if you see that a top-quality protein is the first ingredient listed, then that food has the most of that ingredient. Most of our picks have a real protein listed as the first ingredient, such as deboned chicken, deboned salmon, and so on. Since Pit Bulls need a lot of protein, this factor is important when picking dog food.
- In addition to protein, make sure the food has plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy carbs, such as sweet potatoes or carrots. Omega fatty acids, such as flaxseed or salmon oil, are super ingredients that keep Pit Bulls’ skin and coat healthy and shiny.
Dry Kibble Versus Wet Food
As you can see, all of the dog food mentioned in this guide is dry kibble. The reason is dry kibble will last longer than wet food. That’s an important factor when trying to feed a nutritious diet for your Pit without dwindling your pocketbook.
BHA and BHT
BHA and BHT are antioxidants sometimes used in dog food to slow down the oxidation process. In short, it slows the decay of oils, fats, and vitamin A in dog food. BHA and BHT may be linked to carcinogens; however, this hasn’t been fully substantiated. California has already listed BHA as a carcinogen, so in our minds, it’s best to steer clear of buying dog food with these artificial preservatives.
Our reviews of the top 10 best affordable dog foods for Pitbulls feature tasty foods for a variety of prices. Our top choice, Purina Pro Plan High Protein Chicken and Rice features real chicken as the main ingredient and is a complete and balanced food for your pet. Our best value pick, Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula includes omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat and is priced affordably. Our premium choice, Merrick Backcountry Freeze-Dried is more expensive but designed to provide pets with all the protein and essential nutrients they need.
For the Pitbull puppies at home, you can’t beat the balanced nutrition of Purina ONE High Protein Puppy Formula. And last, but certainly not least, our vet’s choice Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach is specially formulated for Pitbulls suffering from digestive problems and itchy skin. By choosing any of these foods on our list you can assure your dog is receiving good food while you save money.
