Just as the bear-like appearance, blue-black tongue, and stilted gait of the Chow Chow are highly unique, so are the nutritional needs of this big ball of fluff. Every breed has its special set of considerations for dietary needs, so our nutrition team analyzed hundreds of diets available today to pick a few that are the best fit for the Chow Chow.

Chow Chows do have the tendency to become overweight if feeding and exercise aren't properly managed, so make sure to check their body condition occasionally for non-ideal buildup of fat.

This breed also has deep-set eyes and loose eyelids, which increases risk of eye disease. Just keep your eyes on theirs, and be sure to take your Chow Chow into the vet each year so they can check for any further warning signs.

Breed Group:
Working | AKC Chow Chow Profile

Ideal Weight:
Female Adult: 45 to 70 pounds
Male Adult: 45 to 70 pounds

Exercise Need:
30 to 45 minutes per day.

Breed Summary

The Chow Chow is a clean, loyal, devoted and easily housebroken companion, which makes for a favorite breed among families. They also have a natural guarding tendency, which is great as long as they are properly socialized (ideally as a puppy) to avoid overly assertive behavior.

The dignified appearance of the Chow Chow includes a solid build, luscious coat, and deep set eyes. The gorgeous coat of the Chow is their flagship trait and may be red, cinnamon, blue, black or cream. To keep this outer layer looking beautiful, and inner systems healthy, their nutrition plan should meet some of our standards below.

View your pet's nutritional assessment

Health Considerations for Chow Chows

Dental

A Chow Chow's teeth and gums are always under plaque attack, which forms naturally from food particles and other bacteria. Dogs aren’t too concerned about having pretty white teeth, but dental care is critical for oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can even affect internal organs, like the heart, liver and kidneys, so there are certain things below we like to see in food or supplements to combat these threats to Chow Chows. Learn more about how to take care of your dog's teeth.

Puffy/crunch kibbles (bigger)
Sodium hexametaphosphate
Treats based on solubility, not hardness

Gut

Think of your Chow Chow's gut like a diverse community of bacteria and other microbes that work together to keep the body healthy. Keeping all these balanced is very important for overall health, including digestive, mental, and immune well-being. For these reasons, we prefer Chow Chow food that support the GI system and supplements that contain attributes below. Learn more about gut and digestive health in dogs.

Prebiotics
Probiotics
Fermented foods

Bone & Joint

It’s very common for breeds like the Chow Chow to develop discomfort or pain in their joints and bones, especially as they age. Some of these issues are hereditary, and some come from wear and tear over time. We can’t usually prevent these problems, but proper nutrition and weight management will do wonders in minimizing pain in our beloved pets. We always make sure diets include the ingredients below. Learn more about joint health in dogs.

Glucosamine
Methylsulfonymethane
Chondroitin
Omega-3 from Fish Oil
Green Mussel
Taurine
Turmeric
Vitamin E
Antioxidants

Cognitive

Puppy and senior Chow Chows need a little extra brain power in their nutrition plans. In the early years, puppy brains are developing quickly and need a healthy flow of vitamins to help them grow strong. Once they hit senior years, brain function can deteriorate and we like to supplement their diets with nutrients that will keep them sharp. Learn more about cognitive nutrition for dogs.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
L-carnitine

Eye

The only thing better than looking into your Chow Chow’s eyes is looking into your Chow Chow’s healthy eyes. All dogs are susceptible to degenerative vision and eye function, but supplementing their diets with things like beta carotene, lutein, EPA, DHA, and other nutrients can help maintain quality vision. Learn more about eye nutrition for dogs.

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Anthocyanins
Astaxanthin
Beta-carotene
Carotenoids
Glutathione
Lutein
Lycopene
Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Phytonutrients

Skin & Coat

Skin is a Chow Chow’s largest organ, and it plays a huge role in protecting from the outside world. Just think — weather, allergies, stress, parasites — all these things are trying to get under your dog’s skin. A healthy outer layer is key to avoiding irritants that may irritate or infect. And pay close attention to their coat. Unhealthy looking (or smelling) fur can mean bigger problems. To keep Chow Chow skin & coats healthy, we recommend that diets contain ingredients below. Learn more about skin nutrition for dogs and the dog foods focused on a healthy coat..

GLA
ALA
Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamin E
Vitamins and choline
Flaxseed/fish oil
Antioxidants
Probiotics

Heart

Chances are, if you’re doing what’s right for your Chow Chow’s heart, you’re doing what’s right for his or her health overall. Proper exercise, weight management, and nutrition are all key to a healthy ticker. Most heart issues in dogs are a result of normal wear and tear with age, so heart-focused diets with taurine and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could be the gift of a lifetime for your Chow Chow. Learn more about heart nutrition for dogs.

Taurine
Carnitine
Omega-3 fatty acids
Antioxidants
Complete protein
Low sodium

Immune

There is a powerful little army inside your Chow Chow (the immune system) that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and countless other microscopic predators. As pet parents, our job is to keep this army strong, conditioned, and well-supplied. Most of the battle is won in the gut, so a balanced diet plus probiotics and antioxidants are key for victory. Learn more about immune system nutrition for dogs.

Antioxidants
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Omega-3 fatty acids
Fish oil
Coconut oil

Weight Management & Obesity

There is nothing more important than keeping your Chow Chow at a healthy weight. Even a little excess poundage can cause a wide variety of health problems, including the pain of extra burden on their joints. Unfortunately, almost half of dogs in the US are overweight. Let’s fight dog obesity together by giving our dogs appropriate exercise and managing their caloric intake. If your Chow Chow needs to shed a little weight, look for diets with these labels below. Learn more about weight management and obesity for dogs and how to tell if your dog is overweight.

Low calorie
Low fat
Large bites (to slow chewing)
L-carnitine

Start here

Foods We Recommend for Chow Chow Puppies

How long do Chow Chows need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old

Chow Chows are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young Chow Chow is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.

Foods We Recommend for Chow Chow Adults

When should Chow Chows start transitioning to adult food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old

From a nutrition standpoint, Chow Chow become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a Chow Chow.

Foods We Recommend for Chow Chow Seniors

When should Chow Chows start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but Medium dogs like the Chow Chow can start to benefit from senior food around 7 to 8 years old

Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Chow Chows slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.

Affiliate Disclosure
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.

What's the Best Dog Food for Chow Chows?