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- Best Dog Food for Dalmatians 2025
Written by Kevin Hughes
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 03/25/2024, edited: 01/14/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
This is a delightful dog; lean, strong and muscular, the Dalmatian is a highly active breed that loves exercise, so it needs plenty of fuel to help maintain its energetic lifestyle. That means it’s important to feed your Dalmatian the right type of diet.
The best dog food for Dalmatians is typically one that’s been formulated for large breeds (it’s classed as a medium-large dog) and is high in protein. Avoid food that’s high in fat, to reduce the risk of your dog becoming overweight — for this reason you should also limit treats and snacks, especially leftovers from your own meals.
There is an added complication when feeding Dalmatians. This breed can suffer from excessive uric acid — it’s a genetic issue — that causes a build of crystals and might lead to the formation of bladder stones. In many ways, it’s a similar condition to what we know as gout.
It won’t affect all Dalmatians, and male dogs are much more likely to suffer from it than females. However, to reduce the chances of this condition occurring at all, it’s recommended that the best food for Dalmatians follows a low purine diet.
So, what dog food is best for Dalmatians? We’ve nominated some of the best options here, but do speak to your vet for further advice.
Best fresh food for Dalmatians
If you prefer fresh dog food over dry or wet food, Ollie is highly recommended. It also offers baked recipes, but it’s their fresh meals that we’re focusing on here (though you can have a mixed bowl plan, combining fresh and baked).
Fresh recipes come in five different flavors — beef, chicken, turkey, lamb and pork, so those lean meats we recommended for Dalmatians are all available — with vegetables such as carrots, peas and sweet potatoes.
Ollie says ‘human grade’ meat is used in its recipes; the whole food ingredients used are slow cooked and then frozen to retain freshness.
So, you can get a tailored dog food for your Dalmatian. Read our in-depth review of Ollie dog food here.
Ollie Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Made with real, whole ingredients, with meat ranked as ‘human grade’
- Personalized meal plans designed for your dog’s breed, age and weight
- Ollie has never been subject to any recalls
- Good range of flavors
Considerations & Concerns
- Available by subscription — not single purchase
- It’s fresh food, so needs to be stored in the fridge — make sure you have enough storage space
Vet recommended
If you want a wet dog food for your Dalmatian, Open Farm comes recommended by Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants.
Open Farm produces dry dog food as well as raw, but we’re looking at its wet dog food range here — in fact, it was included in our best wet dog food guide here (for a review of the full Open Farm range, go here).
There are six different recipes in Open Farm’s wet dog food selection: Wild-Caught Salmon Rustic Stew; Chicken & Salmon Rustic Stew; Herring & Mackerel Rustic Stew; Grass-Fed Beef Rustic Stew; Harvest Chicken Rustic Stew and Homestead Turkey Rustic Stew.
That’s a good choice of flavors, and the ingredients list makes for reassuring reading.
Take the Chicken & Salmon recipe as an example. It has 100% human grade ingredients, the chicken is humanely raised and free-to-roam, and there are lots of hearty and healthy vegetables in there – spinach, green beans, pumpkin and carrots.
Open Farm Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Ingredient transparency – the ingredients in every recipe can be traced back to the source by using the lot code on each pack
- Great range of flavors
- If your dog doesn’t like the wet food, the brand has other options
- Open Farm is committed to animal welfare
Considerations & Concerns
- It can get expensive, depending on how much you need to feed your dog
- The recipes don’t cover all life stages
Quality ingredients and definitely passes the taste test for my dog! Great customer service, genuinely interested in helping resolve any questions or concerns you may have. This company has made me a loyal customer.”
Vet recommended
“Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs. They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”
Blue Buffalo Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Good range of flavors
- Large breed adult and puppy recipes
- Includes glucosamine for joint health
- Vet recommended
Considerations and Concerns
- Blue Buffalo dog food has been recalled a few times, though not since 2017
- No specific senior life stage recipe
During the period where I was mixing her old dog food with this one, she kept digging the Blue Buffalo out and leaving the old one! No stomach issues and her coat looks shinier, too.”
Vet recommended
That’s correct — this is another dog food that’s been vet recommended, Dalmatian pet parents should be assured about its quality.
Taste of the Wild Puppy Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Vet recommended
- Probiotics to boost a healthy immune system
- Small kibble makes it puppy friendly
- Modestly priced compared to some other options
Considerations and Concerns
- It’s a grain-free dog food, which won’t suit all pups
- Some reviewers have noted the food has a strong odor
Vet recommended
As dogs age, they need fewer calories — energy levels reduce and it’s easy to put on weight.
Suitable for all senior breeds, including large breeds like the Dalmatian, this grain-free recipe from Merrick has real, deboned chicken as its lead ingredient, followed by chicken and then two of the vegetables we highlighted in our introduction as having a low purine content: sweet potato and peas.
This recipe includes glucosamine and chondroitin, which helps to ease joint pain — a common complaint in senior dogs who may be living with arthritis.
We’re happy to recommend it among the best food for Dalmatians shortlist. Learn more about the Merrick dog food range in our brand review here.
Merrick Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Has real chicken meat as its main ingredient
- Includes low purine vegetables
- Merrick is a brand recommended by Dr Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinaryconsultants
- Includes glucosamine and chondroitin, which is beneficial for joint health
Considerations and Concerns
- This is a grain-free recipe, which may not suit all dogs
- It’s the only grain-free senior recipe from Merrick, so no other flavors are available