Often weighing in at about 100 pounds, Cane Corso were bred to be strong working dogs. In fact, the Cane Corso’s lineage goes all the way back to ancient Rome — and the translation of their name from Latin means “bodyguard dog.”
Not only do they have large heads, their bodies are square and extremely muscular. Because of this, they don’t just look intimidating — they need a high calorie and high protein diet.
These dogs can eat as much as we human adults do!
If you’re looking for the best dog food for a Cane Corso, you’re in for a treat — I’ve reviewed 10 of the best options. My personal pick is Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free dog food.
I’ve also reviewed nine other dog foods to help you find the best option for you and your best-furry-friend.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall – Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best for Puppies – Fromm Family Foods Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Food
- Best for Seniors – Instinct Raw Boost Senior Grain-Free Recipe Dry Dog Food
- Best High-Protein Diet – Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed Dry Dog Food
- Best for Food Sensitivities – Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best Wet Food – Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Canned Dog Food
- Best Air-Dried Food – Ziwi Peak Venison Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
- Best Budget Option – American Journey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Best for Weight Gain – Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- Best for Bloat – Solid Gold MMillennia Adult Dry Dog Food
10 Best Dog Foods for Cane Corsos Reviewed
Each of the dog foods on this list meet the AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines. If you decide to switch your dog’s food, consult with your veterinarian.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas
- Key Feature: Great overall grain-free dog food with real smoked salmon
- Guaranteed Analysis: 25% Crude Protein, 15% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 360 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, High-Protein
- Life Stage: Adult
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream dog food features real smoked salmon as its first ingredient. Not only is this a high protein food option, but it also provides your dog with DHA for cognitive function and omega fatty acids to prevent heart disease and protect their joints.
This formula includes peas and sweet potatoes for highly-digestible energy, and your dog will also get antioxidant support from real fruits and vegetables like raspberries and tomatoes.
Dried chicory root is a special addition to this recipe, providing prebiotics to support healthy digestion and boost your dog’s immune system.
Taste of the Wild is crafted in the USA by a family-owned brand that makes their food without any fillers. The Pacific Stream recipe is made without grains, corn, wheat, and artificial flavors or colors.
Fromm Family Foods Gold Large Breed Puppy Dry Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Duck, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Oatmeal, Pearled Barley
- Key Feature: Enhanced with DHA and Probiotics for Cane Corso puppies
- Guaranteed Analysis: 26% Crude Protein, 14% Crude Fat, 5.5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 384 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: High-Protein, High-Fat
- Life Stage: Puppy
Cane Corso puppies need a high calorie, high protein, and high fat diet to keep up with their fast growth and active lifestyle. That’s where Fromm Family Foods Gold Large Breed Puppy dog food comes in.
This formula was specifically created for puppies that will be over 50 pounds once they reach adulthood. It’s important to feed a Cane Corso puppy food that’s designed for giant breeds, so you don’t hurry their growth.
Chicken is the main meat in this recipe, offering both healthy proteins and a moderate amount of fat for sustainable energy. Salmon oil is also added for healthy brain development and a reduction of inflammation in their fast growing joints.
While protein in Cane Corso dog food is extremely important, puppies also need vitamins and minerals to support their growth.
Flaxseed, celery, and other fruits and veggies are added to provide essential vitamins and minerals like B12, vitamin A, and manganese. These help support your puppy’s muscles, eye health, and heart health.
Fromm Family Foods is a fifth generation family owned and operated company. All of their food is third party pathogenic bacteria tested to ensure that your puppy is getting wholesome and nutritious food.
Instinct Raw Boost Senior Grain-Free Recipe Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Chicken, Tapioca, Chickpeas, Peas
- Key Feature: High-Protein raw like food for senior Cane Corsos
- Guaranteed Analysis: 36% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 9% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 478 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: High-Protein; Grain-Free; Gluten Free; Raw; No Corn, Wheat, or Soy
- Life Stage: Senior Cane Corsos
Senior Cane Corsos need less fat and more L-carnitine to help both their digestion and metabolism. Instinct Raw Boost Senior Grain-Free Recipe meets both of these needs.
This animal protein rich food includes bites of freeze-dried raw meat in order to support your Cane Corso’s strong and lean muscles — even in their old age.
It’s specifically designed for dogs 6 years and older, like senior Cane Corsos.
Natural DHA from real chicken, chicken eggs, and salmon meals support brain and eye health. It also includes higher levels of calcium and phosphorus from chicken hearts and chickpeas for strong teeth and bones.
On top of that, L-carnitine helps your senior Cane Corso continue to burn fat and reduce inflammation in their hips and joints.
Instinct Raw Boost is made in the USA without any grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, or artificial colors and preservatives.
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Large Breed Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lentils, Peas
- Key Feature: High protein dog food for Cane Corsos
- Guaranteed Analysis: 34% Crude Protein, 12% Crude Fat, 6% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 342 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free; Gluten Free; High-Protein; No Corn, Wheat, or Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
Because of their active nature, Cane Corsos naturally need more protein to keep up with their lifestyle.
But, if you find that your Cane Corso needs more than the normal 25% to 30% that’s in most dog foods, Wellness Core’s grain-free dog food offers 34% pure animal protein.
This large breed dog food was formulated to provide large breeds with healthy animal proteins like chicken, turkey, and fish. Fruits and vegetables also offer antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and glucosamine to support your Cane Corso’s larger frame and heart.
It’s crafted into a larger kibble size, to prevent your Cane Corso from wolfing down their food too fast — and this also discourages bloat.
This formula is made without meat by-products, fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat-gluten, or artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors.
Although it is a grain-free food, it’s manufactured in a facility that also processes grains. So if your Cane Corso has an allergy or sensitivity, you’ll want to test this formula out before switching their diet completely.
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Potatoes, Pea Starch, Peas, Lamb Meal
- Key Feature: Limited Ingredient dog food for Cane Corsos with food sensitivities
- Guaranteed Analysis: 20% Crude Protein, 14% Crude Fat, 6% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 356 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Sensitive Digestion; Limited Ingredient Diet; Grain-Free; No Corn, Wheat, or Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
Although Cane Corsos are generally healthy dogs and don’t usually suffer from allergies or sensitivities, every dog is different.
Because of this, Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient dog food can offer them the nutrition they need without ingredients that could adversely affect them.
This recipe contains a single animal protein source with real lamb. Unlike chicken, lamb is gentler on dog’s with food sensitivities, helping them digest their meals and have healthy tummies.
Pumpkin is added for fiber, and easily digested carbohydrates like potatoes and peas provide energy.
The formula is free from chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs — all ingredients that are common allergens for dogs. It’s also free of poultry by-product meals, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Beef & Rice Entree Canned Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Chicken, Rice
- Key Feature: Wet dog food
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% Crude Protein, 2% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 76% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 306 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: High-Protein, High Calcium
- Life Stage: Adult
Purina Pro Plan Focus Large Breed canned dog food was made for large breeds. It’s rich in calcium and vitamin D to keep their bones strong and dense, and was formulated for dogs over 50 pounds.
It contains glucosamine from beef and chicken to offer the perfect protein-to-fat ratio to keep their bodies lean and strong. And, it also contains added biotin and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and keep your Cane Corso’s undercoat from overshedding.
It is important to note, though, that this dog food isn’t high in calories.
Cane Corso’s need at least 2,000 calories a day during adulthood, and because this dog food is only 306 calories per cup, you’ll need a few cans to feed your dog. If offering this food, feed your Cane Corso more often (3–4 times a day) to make sure you don’t cause gastric dilatation.
However, it is very possible to sustain your Cane Corso’s dietary needs with this food. You’ll just have to provide more dry kibble. That, or you can use it as a topper or special treat if your dog needs more food day to day.
This formula is made in Purina-owned U.S.A facilities. It doesn’t contain any added artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Ziwi Peak Venison Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Venison, Venison Tripe, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver
- Key Feature: High protein air-dried dog food
- Guaranteed Analysis: 45% Crude Protein, 25% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 14% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 534 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Limited Ingredient Diet, Grain-Free, Pea-Free, Non-GMO, High-Protein, GMO-Free
- Life Stage: Puppies and Adults
This grain-free dehydrated dog food can grow with your Cane Corso, since it’s made for both puppies and adults.
Want to feed your Cane Corso a more raw-like diet, but still keep it affordable? Then Ziwi Peak Freeze Dried dog food is the option you’re looking for.
Not only is it extremely high in protein — with 45% of Crude Protein — it’s also air-dried to preserve ingredients and eliminate pathogenic bacteria that may occur with other raw foods.
The formula includes fresh meat, organs, bones and green mussels for natural sources of chondroitin and glucosamine to support joint health. It also contains taurine for heart health.
Unlike dehydrated food, you don’t need to rehydrate Ziwi Peak. In fact, it contains more moisture than dry kibble. There’s also no preservatives, sugars, or glycerines, so it’s as digestible as a completely raw diet, but more convenient to feed your pup.
It’s also made without added carbs or fillers, and includes superfoods like organic kelp and parsley for better breath.
All of the free-range meats and wild-caught fish in this formula are ethically and sustainably sourced without added hormones, antibiotics, or growth promotants.
American Journey Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Chickpeas
- Key Feature: Budget friendly dog food
- Guaranteed Analysis: 32% Crude Protein, 14% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 380 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free; High-Protein; No Corn, Wheat, or Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on quality dog food. Instead, grab a bag of American Journey.
It includes the same high quality ingredients as other dog foods and is an affordable option for dog owner’s on a budget.
It includes real deboned beef for protein and amino acids that your Cane Corso needs to keep their lean muscles healthy and strong. And sweet potatoes and chickpeas are included for energy and to keep them satiated.
Wholesome fruits and veggies like kelp, blueberries, and beet pulp also provide fiber and phytonutrients to prevent inflammation and support eye health.
This formula includes omega-3 fatty acids and DHA from salmon oil and flaxseeds, which is essential for the development of the brain and eyes.
It’s also grain-free and has no corn, wheat, or soy.
Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed Adult Recipe Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Pea Fiber, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn
- Key Feature: Weight gain
- Guaranteed Analysis: 27% Crude Protein, 13% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 393 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: Grain-Free, Gluten Free, High Fat, Non-GMO
- Life Stage: Adult
Unlike other dogs that can become inactive, Cane Corsos need to maintain their weight and muscles. And, if not fed enough, they can lose too much weight, along with their muscle mass, too fast.
Cane Corsos aren’t sedentary dogs by nature, so they need more calories to keep up with their working habits.
Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed dog food offers a high calorie option. It includes 100% fresh turkey, salmon, and duck — with omega fatty acids from coconuts and canola to promote muscle build and healthy joints.
Because of the high protein and fat ratio, your Cane Corso will not only get their daily calories, but will also have the building blocks they need to sustain their activity and still keep their muscles.
Spinach, pumpkin, alfalfa sprouts, lentils, and carrots offer natural pre and probiotics for digestive health. The formula also doesn’t include grains, gluten, wheat, beef, corn, soy, rendered meats, by-products, or artificial preservatives.
Solid Gold MMillennia Beef & Brown Rice Recipe with Peas Adult Dry Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Ocean Fish Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Peas
- Key Feature: Holistic dog food for Cane Corsos with bloat
- Guaranteed Analysis: 22% Crude Protein, 12% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture
- Caloric Content: 365 kcal/cup
- Type of Product: No Corn, Wheat, or Soy
- Life Stage: Adult
Bloat, or extreme stomach expansion, can become a problem for Cane Corsos, and their food can play a part in helping to prevent it through a lower amount of carbs — like in this food.
Because Cane Corsos are larger dogs, one of the easiest ways to help prevent bloat is to offer bigger kibble bites — causing your Cane Corso to slow down when eating. Solid Gold MMillennia adult dry dog food fits these needs.
Not only that, the formula also includes whole grain brown rice for better digestion, along with probiotics for healthy gut bacteria. These ingredients can also help to prevent bloat.
This recipe has real USA-sourced beef and ocean fish meal for omega fatty acids, which supports gut health and a healthy heart. And apples, cranberries, lettuce, and celery prevent extreme water retention, which can also play a part in bloat.
To add to that, these ingredients help provide antioxidants and essential vitamins and nutrients. Plus, this food doesn’t contain any corn, wheat, or soy.
How to Choose Food for Your Cane Corso
Cane Corso’s need a lot — more calories, more protein, more fat, and more vitamins and minerals to keep their bodies strong and healthy.
Here’s what to keep in mind before choosing your Cane Corso’s food.
Animal Proteins as First Ingredients
While some dogs can have vegetarian or vegan diets, Cane Corsos need more fuel and protein than your average pup. Because of this, you’ll need to focus on real animal proteins. Preferably listed as the first ingredients.
Beef, liver, chicken, lamb, and fish — along with other animal proteins — can provide not only the calories that your Cane Corso needs, but also the healthy fats and nutrients that their bodies need to function.
Healthy Fats
Speaking of healthy fats, this is an essential part of a Cane Corso’s diet. Salmon oil, canola and flaxseed oil, and animal fats like chicken fat and beef fat are all great options for their diet.
These healthy fats provide many benefits, including regulated bodily functions, reduced inflammation, and aid with nutrient absorption.
And, fats provide 2.5 times as much energy for dogs than carbs. So you can feel good about supplying your Cane Corso with more energy to get through their activities.
Digestible Carbohydrates
Most dogs thrive on carbohydrates. Not only do they provide energy, but they also help regulate digestion and work with protein and fats to keep your Cane Corso satiated throughout the day.
However, carbohydrates shouldn’t be the main source of energy for your dog. Instead, focus on more healthy proteins and fats.
And when it comes to carbs, look for complex and easily digestible carbs like oats, brown rice, and sweet potatoes.
Ingredients to Avoid
For dogs, there is a difference between “good” and “bad” food. Unlike humans, their digestive tracts are simpler and require more wholesome nutrients — including proper amounts of proteins and carbohydrates.
Because of this, it’s important to do two things — avoiding certain ingredients that can cause your Cane Corso to feel sluggish, and preventing diseases and disorders that affect their well-being.
Fillers, additives, and artificial ingredients are the main culprits that you should steer clear of. In fact, ingredients like wheat gluten, food dyes, and preservatives like Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) should be avoided at all costs.
In worst case scenarios, these have caused kidney disease, heart disease, and eventually death. So it’s better to be safe and ditch them all together.
Common Cane Corso Health Issues
Cane Corsos are usually considered generally healthy dogs, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t prone to a few health issues. Because of their larger chests, there are a few problems, like bloat, that can affect them
Here are the most common health issues your Cane Corso may experience.
Orthopedic Health Issues
Just like other dogs their size, Cane Corsos may experience orthopedic health issues. The most common issue, besides shoulder and elbow pain, is hip dysplasia — a painful condition affecting their skeleton.
This usually happens because of their massive size. Large breeds have larger muscles and more weight on their frame, which can cause their joints and bones to buckle under their weight.
If you notice that your Cane Corso has stiff legs and joints, or has difficulty jumping and running, they may be experiencing hip dysplasia. However, this can usually be avoided or fixed through their diet.
Providing joint supplementation with ingredients like glucosamine, taurine, and omega fatty acids can be beneficial in preventing orthopedic health issues.
And, during puppyhood, Cane Corsos should be fed puppy food that’s made specifically for giant dogs to provide them with the proper proportion of these nutrients. This can help prevent joint disorders earlier rather than later.
Bloat
Bloat is commonly known as Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV). This condition causes a dog’s stomach to fill up with air or fluid. The stomach then twists itself, causing massive amounts of pain, and potentially also death.
While gas for dogs can be common, worst case scenarios with bloat include the stomach twisting itself and cutting off blood flow to other organs.
To keep this condition from getting too serious, preventative measures should be taken. This includes feeding your Cane Corso larger kibble, using a slow bowl if they eat too fast, and feeding them smaller but more frequent meals.
Of course, if you notice symptoms like dry heaving, a swollen abdomen, or excessive drooling, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.
Demodectic Mange
Demodectic mange isn’t a disease or disorder — it’s a parasite. And it actually infests many dogs, including Cane Corsos.
These mites are usually managed by the Cane Corso’s immune system, but stress and malnutrition can make symptoms worse, or further extreme inflammation of their skin and fur.
To prevent demodectic mange, it’s important to provide healthy fats with omega fatty acids, as well as keep allergy-prone dog food ingredients to a minimum in order to prevent reactions.
Cherry Eye
A Cane Corso is more prone to develop cherry eye, or inflammation and distention in their third eyelid. This can cause corneal damage, and affect your dog for the rest of their life.
Usually, cherry eye is only solved through surgery. But after surgery, protecting your dog’s eye health is extremely important. Ingredients like carrots, blueberries, and pumpkin provide vitamin A and C to support eye health.
Our Verdict
Cane Corso dogs don’t need fancy dog food — they need dog food that is going to build their muscles and protect their health.
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream dog food provides your Cane Corso with the right ratio of protein, fats, and carbohydrates to help them thrive in their active lifestyle.
And it can also help keep pesky disorders like demodectic mange at bay.
Your Cane Corso can truly thrive on the brands that we shared today, and, as an owner, you can feel good about giving them the best of the best.
FAQ About Cane Corso Food
Have questions about your Cane Corso? Here are the answers you’re looking for.
How much do I feed a Cane Corso?
You should feed a Cane Corso puppy 3 to 6 times a day (to provide regular energy and calories), and gradually move their feeding to twice a day as they become an adult to prevent gastrointestinal disorders.
How do I bulk up my Cane Corso?
In order to bulk up your Cane Corso, you need to feed them more. Higher calories is best, but also focus on more protein and higher (but healthy) fats like salmon oil and other meat fats, such as beef.
Why is my Cane Corso so skinny?
You may be underfeeding your Cane Corso. They’re a large breed with big chests, and an adult Cane Corso needs a lot of calories — around 2,000 a day, the same as a 150 pound woman!
If you’ve noticed your Cane Corso losing weight recently, or quickly, take them to your veterinarian. They will be able to rule out any disorders or diseases. Once your Cane Corso comes back clear, focus on getting more calories, proteins, and fats into their diet to bulk them up.
