Canine Nutrition: Evidence-Based Feeding for Welfare

Dog nutrition has evolved significantly with improved understanding of canine dietary requirements, but misinformation remains widespread and welfare consequences of poor nutrition are serious.

Key Facts

Dogs are omnivores capable of digesting both plant and animal protein sources
Raw meat diets carry Salmonella and Campylobacter risks to both dogs and human household members
Grain-free diets have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in certain breeds
Obesity affects an estimated 50% of UK dogs and is a leading preventable welfare problem
Life-stage appropriate feeding is important as requirements differ significantly between puppies, adults, and seniors

Welfare Considerations

Nutritional welfare in dogs encompasses both deficiency and excess. Obesity is the most prevalent nutritional welfare problem, causing joint disease, reduced exercise tolerance, and shortened lifespan. Undernutrition causes growth failure and immune suppression in puppies. Nutritional misinformation on social media drives adoption of unbalanced diets that cause preventable harm. Veterinary nutritional guidance has a strong evidence base that is frequently bypassed in favour of anecdote and trend. Complete commercial diets formulated to FEDIAF standards generally meet dogs nutritional needs safely, while home-prepared diets require careful supplementation to avoid deficiencies.

What You Can Do

Feed a complete, life-stage appropriate diet and avoid nutritional trends without evidence base
Maintain dogs at a healthy body weight through measured feeding and regular exercise
Consult a veterinary professional before switching to any novel diet type
Avoid human foods that are toxic to dogs including chocolate, onions, and grapes
Discuss senior dog nutrition with your vet as requirements change with age