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quality diet and nutrition for puppies and dogs
What you feed your dog — starting in puppyhood all the way through their senior years — is really important to their health and happiness.
We understand that sorting through pet food information can feel like a lot. That’s why our vets have assembled this quick cheat sheet on doggy diet and nutrition to help you pick a food that works for the dog you love.
And if you have any questions, please reach out to your veterinary team. We’re here to help you choose a quality dog food for your doggyBFF, from wiggly puppyhood all the way through seniors snoozing in the sun.
Why does what you feed your dog matter?
Your dog’s diet can affect everything from their quality of life, their overall health and wellbeing, and even their physical appearance.
It’s really important to pick a nutritious diet for your dog — one with the right balance of protein, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, critical carbs, and more. But how do you know it’s a quality diet? What about ages, breeds, and lifestyles? Does a puppy need the same foods as a grown dog? Can an older dog keep on eating the same food? How do you switch up their diets? We’ve asked our veterinary team for a quick rundown on what to know about feeding your doggyBFF.
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Sorry buddy, a quality diet means no people foods or table scraps. Our foods are too high in calories and fat for you, plus they can set off your whole farting and upset stomach thing.
What to know about good doggo diet and nutrition
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How do dogs digest food?
Inside your dog is a mighty digestive system completely devoted to breaking down food into fuel for life. Digestion begins in the stomach. Then food moves into the large and small intestines, which are coated with cells designed to absorb nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbs. Also inside the intestines are a kind of good bacteria, or microflora, that help break down the food, and other cells that work to fight off “bad” bacteria that can disrupt the digestive process. When the useful stuff is sorted and digestion is done, tah-dah! Your dog poops out the waste materials they didn’t use. (Please pick that up.)
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Why does good nutrition matter for your dog?
When your dog gets the right nutrients, it helps their system stay in balance. All the good stuff from their food gets shuttled off to all the right places — powering muscles, processing oxygen, creating new blood cells, building up bone and tissues and hair, allowing eyeballs to function, and so on. But when nutrition is poor, many of these systems don’t get enough of the right fuel. That means your pet’s body can’t efficiently function, which can lead to long-term health problems.
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What does my dog need in their diet?
Quality dog food isn’t about a brand, label, or even one specific ingredient. The basics of a quality dog food diet include six key nutrients in the right balance:
Water
Your dog always needs a healthy supply of clean, fresh water.
Critical carbohydrates, including prebiotics
Carbs provide quick energy, while prebiotics help support their gut flora to break down food. See more about carbs
Proteins
Protein provides amino acids that power cell growth and replacement. See more about protein
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber helps the intestines function for healthy poops.
Dietary fats
Fats (lipids) are an energy source and support nerve function.
Vitamins and minerals
Each vitamin and mineral contributes something amazing to your pet’s body. See more about vitamins and minerals
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Nutrients in pet foods are seldom listed in their pure form, but come bundled as part of more complex ingredients. See our cheat sheet on nutrition for dogs
Common questions about dog food and dog feeding
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What’s the difference between wet dog food and dry dog food?
The biggest thing to remember about wet and dry food is that one is not automatically “better” or more nutritious for your dog. Both wet and dry dog food can deliver a quality meal. However, because wet dog food contains more water, it delivers fewer nutrients per ounce than dry food. This means your doggo needs to eat — and process — much more of it per meal to get the same nutritional load. Many owners like to provide a mix of wet and dry food, so their doggo gets a nice blend of nommy mouth feel with crunchier nutrient delivery.
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How much do I feed my dog?
Unfortunately, there’s no one answer that works for all dogs and all dog foods. How much, and how often, you feed your dog will depend on your dog’s age, size, breed, and lifestyle, their health needs (like managing diabetes or obesity), and if you’re feeding them wet or dry food.
Commercial wet or dry dog food will come with calorie counts and suggested serving sizes. If you have questions about total calorie counts for your dog, please reach out to your veterinary team.
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How do I switch my dog’s diet?
Many owners find out the hard way that their dog’s digestion suffers when they eat something different or weird (like people food out of the garbage). So, if you’re switching up your dog’s food, the trick is to do it slowly. The general guideline is to start at the beginning of the week with 75% old food and 25% new food, gradually increasing the percentage of new food each day until your dog is happily eating, and pooping, their nice new meals.
Foods and diets for puppies and older dogs
What do I feed my new puppy?
Puppies need a specific diet designed to support their cute furry bodies as they grow. They may also have breed-specific calorie needs (as you can imagine, bigger breeds need more calories). Because adult dog food doesn’t present the same nutrients in the same forms, it’s easy for a puppy system to get out of whack due to the wrong balance of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Check with your vet about what your special little doggyBFF needs to eat to start their life off right.
Do older dogs need special diets?
A dog’s digestion can definitely change as they get older and their gut flora changes. In fact, you may need to change your dog’s diet several times during their life, depending on their physical needs. Keep an eye out for digestive issues, like diarrhea or vomiting, and mention it to your veterinary team. Plus, if your older dog has trouble chewing, a different kibble shape and size can also help them get a grip on their food and help their digestion. Smaller meals may also be an option.
How Banfield can help
Have questions about ingredients? Need help managing blood sugar for diabetic dogs? Want insights on helping your dog reach a healthier, happier weight? Please reach out to your veterinary team. We’re here to help suggest a quality diet designed for your dog based on their age, size, weight, breed, and lifestyle — plus a whole lot more.
Plus, we’ve got information that can help your kitty, too! See more about quality diet and nutrition for cats
Optimum Wellness Plans®
Optimum Wellness Plan®
