English Setter dogs are known to be curious, elegant, and athletic. In order to maintain their sleek coats and fuel their active lifestyles, English Setters require high-quality, nutritious dog food. In this guide we'll cover the important dietary requirements, ingredients that can help with common health problems, and recommend the best dog food for English Setters.
About English Setters
Hunters at Heart
English Setters were used as hunting dogs and have an excellent prey drive specifically for birds. The term “setter” was developed because of the way the dog would ‘set’ themselves up in a pounce position, low to the ground, to indicate there was prey nearby.
History of the Hunters
The English Setter is one of the oldest dog breeds, with a history that dates back to the 14th century. English Setter was the 9th breed accepted into the American Kennel Club in the late 1800s. Over the years, different breeds have evolved based on location. In addition to English Setters, there are Irish Setters and Gordon Setters.
Hunters that Love Humans
Medium in size, their curious temperament, mild mannerisms, and an active prey drive make them a great fit for an owner or a family with an active lifestyle. English Setters love to be around people and are very friendly. Typically they grow to between 50-80 lbs and have a life expectancy of 12 years.
Handsome Hunters with Healthy Fur
Unique to the eye, English Setters have floppy ears and white coats that are speckled with color, usually blue, orange, tan, or black. Occasionally they can be tri-colored. Their soft medium-length coats, with lots of feathering on the back legs and tails, require the right nutrients to keep its silky texture.
So what is the best dog food to feed an English Setter so they stay healthy and maintain their unique and elegant coat? Let’s take a look at the breed’s nutritional requirements, as well as common health problems, and how food can combat those ailments. We will also examine how support for a puppy can be different than care for an adult dog. Finally, we have assembled a list of the top four dog foods for your English Setter.
How Much Should an English Setter Eat?
Adult Calorie Requirements
An adult English Setter, weighing 60 lbs (pounds) and living an active lifestyle, requires an average of 1,600 calories a day. Active dogs will need approximately 150-200 more calories to match their energy levels.
Average Adult
Very Active
Senior Calorie Requirements
While senior dogs typically require fewer calories than an active adult, it is important to continue to feed your pet based on their weight and activity level. Generally, senior English Setters need 20% fewer calories than they ate as an active adult. As always, consult your veterinarian before drastically adjusting your dog’s diet.
Average Senior
As English Setters get older it is important to find the best dog food that has protein as its main ingredient. The protein will help avoid the loss of muscle mass as your dog becomes less active. Also, older dogs are usually less active and can become obese quickly. You may want to consider a weight management dog food to make sure your dog maintains a healthy weight.
Puppy Calorie Requirements
Those cute English Setter puppies may be small, but they have a mighty appetite! Try to split up your dog’s daily caloric needs into three smaller meals throughout the day.
A puppy between 4 and 8 months, and approximately 45 lbs, should be fed approximately 1,200 calories daily. The number of calories will gradually increase as they grow bigger and gain weight. Just like senior dogs, it is important to adjust your English Setter puppy’s diet based on their activity level.
Puppy (4-8months old)
Macronutrients
Because of their athletic nature, dog food for English Setters requires a high level of protein. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) lays out the percentage of proteins, carbs, and fat for dogs.
The AAFCO recommends the dog food for an English Setter contains:
Remember, protein should be the star of your English Setter’s diet to help keep their muscles strong and fuel their active lifestyle.
Protein: Meat-Based or Plant-Based?
English Setters, and most dog breeds, digest meat-based proteins better than plant-based proteins. Chickpeas and legumes do provide healthy sources of protein. However, dog food that predominantly contains premium meat ingredients like lamb, chicken, and fish, will be the best source of nutrition for your English Setter.
The Secret to a Healthy Coat!
To keep your English Setter’s skin and coat healthy, make sure the dog food contains fatty acids, such as fish oil or chicken fat. When looking at the ingredient list for dog foods, omega-3 and omega-6 are good words to see as they will keep your dog looking luxurious and soft.
How to Choose the Best Dog Food for my English Setter?
As discussed above, the AAFCO outlines the minimum and maximum percentages for ingredients in dog food. Instead of having to memorize complicated percentages, look for dog foods that have a sentence about meeting AAFCO requirements.
Always Monitor Activity Level and Food Intake
Make sure to constantly monitor the physical activity, weight, and age of your English Setter and adjust their caloric intake accordingly. It is so important to find a dog food with high-quality ingredients that meet the caloric and macronutrient requirements of your pet’s lifestyle.
Keep an eye on your dog's weight to ensure there are not any large fluctuations in a short time period, which may indicate a health problem.
Common Health Problems
While we always want our pet to be the healthiest it can possibly be, the English Setter breed does have some common health problems. Dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and bloat are commonly found in this breed. In addition, excessive weight gain can occur as the dogs get older.
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
As with a lot of active dog breeds, English Setters are prone to elbow and/or hip dysplasia. This takes place when the joints don’t fit together well and can cause the dog some pain.
The best thing to do to help your pet avoid dysplasia is to ensure they are receiving the right caloric intake. Obese dogs can develop dysplasia much quicker because their joints are working overtime to carry the additional weight.
Some pet companies include glucosamine and chondroitin as ingredients in the dog food. These are the best ingredients to help protect the joints and can positively contribute to your English Setter's healthy lifestyle.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is when there is an abnormality in your dog’s thyroid. The English Setter breed is prone to this health condition; however, it can be easily diagnosed by your vet. If your dog has experienced symptoms like loss of hair, itchy skin, has become lethargic, or has gained an excessive amount of weight, you will want to talk to your vet about hypothyroidism.
High-quality, natural, or organic dog food is best if your English Setter has hypothyroidism. Your vet can help you find the right balance of nutritious food to help your dog live its fullest life.
Allergies
It is important to note food allergies are common with English Setter dogs that have hypothyroidism. You may have to go through a trial and error period to figure out which dog food is right for your furry friend. Always consult your vet when dealing with allergies and other health concerns.
Remember, protein is important for your English Setter. Dogs can be sensitive to popular proteins like chicken, turkey, and beef, but you may have success with the less popular options like duck, lamb, and kangaroo.
Bloat
English Setters can be known to suffer from bloat, commonly known as ‘twisted-stomach'. Very healthy dogs can experience bloat and it is a life-threatening condition. If you notice that your dog has an expanded stomach, is vomiting, or has pain when you push on their abdomen, you should go to the vet immediately.
Bloat usually occurs when a dog eats a large meal and then consumes a lot of water or exercises vigorously. It is best to exercise or train your dog before allowing them to eat a meal, and always monitor them for 15–20 minutes after to ensure they don’t over-consume water.
Food is Medicine
While it can be scary to read about health ailments your pet could experience, it is important to remember food is medicine. A high-quality diet that meets all of the nutritional needs of a large dog is the key to a long and healthy life for your English Setter!
Power-Up Your Puppy!
Their big paws, their heart-breaking eyes, and their cuddly nature make English Setter puppies the perfect pet. But how different are the feeding requirements of puppies in comparison to adult English Setters? It is important to care for your puppy's high caloric needs. Let’s take a look.
How Much? How Often?
As mentioned above, an English Setter puppy that is an average of 40 lbs requires around 1,200 calories per day. It is recommended to break up their caloric intake into three or four meals throughout the day. As your puppy grows you will want to increase their calories based on their weight and their activity level.
Large Breed Puppy
When buying food for your young pup, keep in mind that English Setters are considered a large breed. Try to buy puppy food that is specifically labeled for 'large breed puppies' as the ingredients will include nutrients to help keep your dog growing strong. Specifically, products that have a good balance of minerals and vitamins will help your puppy's bones and muscles grow strong.
12 is the Magic Number
12 months is approximately the time your puppy is considered an adult in the dog food world. By the time your pup is 12 months old, they should be transitioned to adult food and only be eating meals twice a day. There may be issues that arise as you go through this transition, such as a decrease in your dog's appetite or a significant influx in weight. Always contact your vet if you have concerns.
Treats
Of course, with a young energetic puppy comes training, and with training comes treats. It is important that treats are built into the daily caloric recommendation to avoid unhealthy weight gain. When buying treats for training, you will want to look for low calorie, soft treats. Alternatively, you can put aside some kibble from their daily food and use that as treats throughout the day.
Beware of 'Counter-Surfers'
English Setters are known for being 'counter-surfers'. That is to say, they are all too willing to take food off the counters, or lick the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Needless to say, they aren’t picky eaters and they love human food.
No 'Counter-Surfers' Allowed!
The best way to prevent your English Setter dog from 'counter-surfing' is establishing boundaries when they are a puppy (or when they first enter your house.) You can set up barriers so they cannot come into the kitchen, or be mindful to not leave food on the counter. Dog training is your best friend, so keep this bad habit in mind when you start training your English Setter!
Best Dog Foods for English Setters
In general, when you search for food for English Setters, it should be grain-free, contain natural ingredients, and have a high level of protein. There are different dog foods available based on the life stages of your English Setter. Below is a list of four top brands of dog food for English Setters.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Food for Large Breeds
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness, High Protein, Grain-Free, dry dog food is an excellent choice for your adult English Setter. It has the protein levels an English Setter needs to fuel their day. The dog food contains an exclusive blend of vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog receives a nutritious meal.
In addition to the dog food being grain-free, Blue Buffalo guarantees their ingredients never contain chicken by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
This dog food comes in two flavors, chicken and salmon. As a bonus, Blue Buffalo also produces high-quality dog treats so you can give your English Setter nutritious meals and snacks from the same, healthy brand.
Eagle Pack Natural Dog Food features optimal ingredients for large and giant breeds of dogs, perfect for an English Setter. The recipe is designed to include the perfect levels of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The dog food is designed to ensure athletic dogs stay fit and have enough nutrients to fuel them throughout the day.
One of the best things about this dog food is that it contains glucosamine. As mentioned in the health section of this guide, glucosamine is great for English Setters because it strengthens their joints and will help prevent dysplasia.
Also, Eagle Pack proudly states they only use natural ingredients from the USA.
Diamond Naturals is a family-owned and operated company and the Premium Large Breed Formula is a great dog food choice for English Setters. The food contains fatty acids to keep your dog’s coat shiny. It also contains ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin to keep your dog's joints strong.
Nutrient-rich food is important to make sure your dog receives an appropriate amount of fiber. This dog food has probiotic content that will keep your English Setter's digestive system healthy.
There are two flavors available for large breeds; chicken and lamb. This brand uses free-range poultry and the lamb is raised in pastures. The lamb could be an excellent option for dogs that suffer from food sensitivities or allergies.
Diamond Naturals also offers dog foods specifically for puppies.
Hill's Science Diet Healthy Mobility is a great option of dry dog food if you are concerned about your English Setter's joint health. There are carefully selected minerals that help your dog's bones stay strong. It includes EPA from fish oil which not only keeps your dog's skin and fur healthy but also strengthens joint cartilage.
This dog food has been proven to increase dogs' mobility in 30 days and could be a great fit for your senior English Setter. The kibble size is large which contributes to your dog's dental health by encouraging them to chew with their back teeth.
Hill's is the number one veterinarian-recommended brand in the USA.
Happy Dog, Happy Owner!
English Setters are unique, athletic dogs that require nutritious food to fuel their active lifestyle. The best dog food for English Setters is a brand that promises nutrient-dense ingredients. Choosing the best dog food will ensure your English Setter’s coat stays luxurious and their joints stay healthy. An English Setter that is fed healthy food is a happy dog. A happy dog means a happy owner!
