What to feed a Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are a genuinely giant breed, which changes the practical priorities at feeding time quite a lot: controlled growth as a puppy, a deep chest shape that raises bloat risk, and a food volume large enough that portion accuracy really matters.
Why giant breeds need a different approach to growth
A Saint Bernard puppy can grow from a few kilos to well over 50kg within about eighteen months, which is a huge rate of skeletal growth to manage safely. A large or giant-breed specific puppy food, with calcium and calorie content controlled more carefully than an all-life-stages food, is built specifically to slow that growth to a safer rate rather than let a puppy grow as fast as their appetite would otherwise allow.
Growing too fast on an unsuitable food is a recognised risk factor for joint and skeletal problems in giant breeds, which is why the specific formulation matters more here than for a small or medium breed.
Bloat risk and how feeding habits can help
Saint Bernards have a deep, narrow chest shape, which is associated with a higher risk of bloat — a serious and genuinely urgent condition where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. Feeding two or more smaller meals a day rather than one large one, and avoiding vigorous exercise immediately before or after eating, are commonly recommended precautions.
A slow feeder bowl, which makes a dog eat more slowly, is worth considering for a breed with this risk profile, since eating too fast is another recognised contributing factor.
Portion size in practice
Because adult Saint Bernards eat a genuinely large daily volume, small errors in measuring add up quickly. Weighing food with kitchen scales rather than eyeballing a scoop keeps portions consistent, and checking body condition regularly — feeling the ribs, looking for a waist — helps catch any drift before it becomes a real weight problem.
A large-breed dog bowl raised to a comfortable height can also make mealtimes more comfortable for a dog this size, though this is a comfort consideration rather than something with a confirmed link to bloat risk on its own.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Bakers Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Bakers Chicken with Vegetables dry dog food, 14kg, complete nutrition for adult dogs
£39.15
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Burgess Supadog Adult Complete Dog Active
Complete dry food for active adult dogs, built around poultry meal and calcium for bone health
£29.15
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food Turkey Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for adult dogs, evenly balanced with potato in the mix
From£12.75
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Common questions
- How much should I feed a Saint Bernard puppy?
- Follow the feeding guide on a large or giant-breed specific puppy food, matched to your puppy's current weight, and adjust based on body condition. Controlled growth matters more for this breed than for a smaller one, so speak to your vet if you're unsure.
- Are Saint Bernards prone to bloat?
- Their deep chest shape is associated with a higher risk of bloat, a serious and urgent condition. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding vigorous exercise around mealtimes are commonly recommended precautions.
- Should I use a slow feeder for a Saint Bernard?
- It's worth considering, since eating too quickly is a recognised contributing factor to bloat risk in deep-chested breeds. A slow feeder bowl or puzzle feeder can help slow down a fast eater.
- When should a Saint Bernard move from puppy to adult food?
- This varies and giant breeds are typically kept on a growth-specific food for longer than smaller breeds. Your vet can advise on timing based on your individual dog's growth and condition.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.