Dog nutrition affects not only physical health but also behaviour and emotional welfare; evidence-based dietary choices prevent many preventable health problems.
Dog nutrition decisions are welfare decisions that affect physical health and longevity as well as behaviour and emotional state. Obesity — the most common nutritional welfare problem — causes joint pain that reduces activity and quality of life across multiple dimensions. Diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy, linked to certain grain-free diets, represents a more recently identified nutritional welfare risk. Raw feeding, while providing some benefits, carries food safety risks for both dogs and their owners if not managed correctly. The most welfare-protective approach combines portion control to prevent obesity, life-stage appropriate nutrition, and regular veterinary monitoring of body condition and health indicators.