Feeding a Dalmatian
Because of the Dalmatians inability to process purines (chemical compounds found in protein) some Dals may form uric acid stones (bladder/kidney stones). This is a potentially life threatening condition! Great care must be taken when choosing food and treats. Dalmatians should never be fed foods high in purines such as organ meat, wild game meat, or red meat. Dals should be fed a high quality, moderate level protein diet. The protein source should be lamb or poultry, and the ideal protein percentage should be between 20-24%. Pups require higher levels of protein from the same sources. The source of the protein is much more important than the protein percentage. A poultry protein of 26% is a better choice for an adult Dalmatian than a beef protein of 22%.
With any food, quality of ingredients is a major factor in selecting a brand of food. We believe good health begins with good nutrition. A healthy immune systems begins with good nutrition. It is important to read labels and compare ingredients. Meat or meat meal (whether it be poultry or lamb) is a much better protein source than meat-by-product (or poultry or lamb-by-product). Just as brown rice is a much better grain source than Brewer's Rice. This information is available in a book by Ann Martin called Foods Pets Die For.
| Ingredient | Solid Gold Hund - N-Flocken | Solid Gold Wolf King | TimberWolf Chicken & Herb | TimberWolf Ocean Blue | Precise Chicken & Rice | Precise Plus |
| 1 | Lamb Meal | Bison | Chicken Meal | Low Ash White Fish Meal | Chicken Meal | Chicken Meal |
| 2 | Ground Millet | Salmon Meal | Chicken | Potatoes | Ground Brown Rice | Ground Brown Rice |
| 3 | Ground Brown Rice | Brown Rice | Turkey Meal | Whole Ground Millet | Rice Bran | Chicken |
| 4 | Whole Ground Barley | Millet | Whole Ground Oats | Oats | Ground Oats | Ground Whole Barley |
| 5 | Amaranth | Cracked Pearl Barley | Chicken Fat | Ground Flaxseed | Chicken Fat | Chicken Fat |
| 6 | Menhaden Fish Meal | Rice Bran | Brown Rice | Carrots | Flaxseed | Beet Pulp |
| 7 | Canola Oil | Canola Oil | Ground Barley | Watercress | Chicken Cartilage | Ground Oats |
| 8 | Flaxseed Oil | Flaxseed Oil | Low Ash Whitefish Meal | Spinach | Beet Pulp | Flaxseed |
Highland Dalmatians feeds and recommends Precise, Solid Gold, and Timberwolf Organics.
Following are links to many other 'popular' dog foods:
Hill's Science Diet
Purina