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Home / Nutrition & Diet

Nutrition & Diet

33 ARTICLES

What a dog or cat needs from food changes throughout their life — from puppy and kitten growth, through adult maintenance, to the adjustments that often come with age. This section breaks down how nutrition needs shift over time and how to choose food that fits your pet's current stage.

A senior Golden Retriever sitting attentively in a home kitchen
NUTRITION & DIET
5 Foods Fine for Adult Dogs but Risky for Seniors
Fatty scraps, salty snacks, hard chews, rawhide and organ-meat treats carry more risk for older dogs. Up to 85% of small dogs have valve changes by 13.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
An owner gently checking a dog’s body condition by feel
NUTRITION & DIET
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight
Feel for the ribs and look for a waist: on the WSAVA 9-point scale, 4–5 is ideal and 6+ is overweight. APOP found 59% of dogs overweight or obese.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
An owner checking a dog food recall status
NUTRITION & DIET
How to Check If Your Dog's Food Was Recalled
Search FDA's pet food recall list, then match the lot number, best-by date and UPC on your bag. FDA notes not every recall gets a press release.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 9 min read
An indoor cat playing with a feather wand toy
NUTRITION & DIET
Helping an Overweight Indoor Cat Lose Weight Safely
Aim for 0.5–2% of body weight a week, per AAHA; crash diets can trigger fatty liver disease. A vet-guided plan for measured meals, play and check-ins.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
A senior cat eating wet food from a bowl
NUTRITION & DIET
What to Feed a Senior Cat With Kidney Disease
A phosphorus-restricted renal diet is the core treatment for cat kidney disease from IRIS stage 2 onward. When to switch, what changes and picky eaters.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
A dog food bowl filled with kibble beside a measuring scoop
NUTRITION & DIET
Grain-Free Dog Food: Pros and Cons Explained
Grain-free food has no proven benefit for most dogs, and over 90% of diets in FDA's DCM reports were grain-free. What the evidence shows and what to do.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
Foods toxic to dogs including grapes, chocolate, onions, and garlic arranged on a counter
NUTRITION & DIET
Human Foods Toxic to Dogs: The Complete List
Grapes, raisins, xylitol, chocolate, onions and garlic top the list; food was 16.4% of ASPCA poison calls in 2025. What each does and what to do.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 11 min read
Foods toxic to cats including onion, garlic, chocolate, and a lily flower arranged on a counter
NUTRITION & DIET
Human Foods Toxic to Cats: The Complete List
Onions, garlic and chives top the list; under a teaspoon of cooked onion has poisoned cats, per Merck. Plus lilies, chocolate, alcohol, raw dough and tuna.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 9 min read
A Pomeranian eating from a small bowl indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Pomeranian Feeding Guide: Small Breed Nutrition Done Right
A 3–7 lb Pomeranian needs measured meals, frequent feeds as a puppy and a lean body to protect its airway and teeth. A practical, vet-sourced guide.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
A Himalayan cat resting on a cushion indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Himalayan Cat Nutrition: Diet for a Sedentary Breed
Himalayans are placid Persian-type cats, so portions need active control. How to feed for weight, coat and kidney health, including PKD and stone risk.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
A Russian Blue cat eating from a bowl indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Russian Blue Cat Diet: Preventing Weight Gain
Russian Blues have big appetites, and CFA warns they can become obese. How to measure meals, check body condition under a dense coat and handle begging.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
An Abyssinian cat climbing a cat tree indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Abyssinian Cat Nutrition: Feeding an Active, Lean Breed
Abyssinians are extremely active, but Swedish insurance data show a higher diabetes risk. How to portion food, keep them lean and plan for kidney health.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
An Australian Shepherd running energetically outdoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Australian Shepherd Diet: Fueling a Working Breed
A working Aussie can need far more food than a pet one: WSAVA's formulas put active adult dogs over a third above inactive ones. Match food to the work.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
A Dalmatian drinking water from a bowl indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Dalmatian Nutrition: Managing a Unique Urinary Health Need
All Dalmatians carry a gene that makes them excrete uric acid, raising urate stone risk. How low-purine diets, water and vet monitoring keep stones away.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
A Doberman standing alert outdoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Doberman Diet Guide: Nutrition for a Lean, Muscular Breed
Feed a Doberman two or more measured meals a day to cut bloat risk, keep it at a lean body score, and pick foods with your vet given the breed's DCM risk.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 8 min read
A Yorkshire Terrier eating from a small bowl indoors
NUTRITION & DIET
Yorkshire Terrier Nutrition: Feeding a Toy Breed Correctly
Yorkie puppies need frequent meals to avoid low blood sugar; adults do best on two measured meals. Feeding around shunts, pancreatitis and dental disease.
Updated Sep 21, 2026 · 7 min read
A pet owner checking prices on dog food bags in a store aisle
NUTRITION & DIET
Best Budget Dog Food Brands That Still Meet AAFCO Standards
Cheap and low-quality aren't the same thing, but bargain-bin often is. Here's how to find affordable dog food that still meets AAFCO standards.
Aug 24, 2026 · 5 min read
A dog owner checking a dog food ingredient list closely in a kitchen, dog waiting nearby
NUTRITION & DIET
Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs: Limited-Ingredient vs. Novel Protein vs. Hydrolyzed
Sensitive-stomach dog food isn't one category — it's three approaches. Here's which one fits your dog, and why grain is rarely the real cause.
Aug 24, 2026 · 5 min read
A large-breed puppy eating from a bowl at home, owner nearby
NUTRITION & DIET
Best Dog Food for Large-Breed Puppies: Why the Calcium Number Matters Most
The right large-breed puppy food isn't about the brand name — it's about calcium and controlled growth. Here's what AAFCO's numbers actually mean.
Aug 24, 2026 · 5 min read
A dog owner reading the ingredient label on a bag of dog food in a pet store aisle
NUTRITION & DIET
Best Dog Food Brands: How to Actually Tell a Good One From Good Marketing
"Best dog food brand" isn't a certification. Here's the actual WSAVA-style checklist vets use, and the brands that consistently pass it.
Aug 24, 2026 · 6 min read
A gray cat sitting beside a bowl of dry food on a sunlit kitchen floor
NUTRITION & DIET
Best Cat Food Brands: How to Actually Tell a Good One From Good Marketing
Grain-free and human-grade are marketing terms, not nutrition standards. Here's the WSAVA checklist vets actually use to judge cat food brands.
Aug 24, 2026 · 6 min read
A pet owner checking a pet food label and lot code against a phone at a kitchen counter
NUTRITION & DIET
Why Pet Food Recalls Keep Happening in 2026 — the Pattern Behind the Headlines
2026's pet food recalls aren't all the same problem. Here's how Salmonella, vitamin D, and supply-chain fraud each caused separate recalls this year.
Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 5 min read
A bowl of raw dog food being prepared in a home kitchen
NUTRITION & DIET
Is Raw Dog Food Safe for Senior Dogs? What Vets Actually Say
Raw feeding debates rarely focus on senior dogs specifically. Here's the age-specific risk vets actually weigh — immune changes, dental issues, and more.
Aug 18, 2026 · 5 min read
A senior dog eating from a bowl of fresh dog food in a kitchen
NUTRITION & DIET
Human-Grade Dog Food: Worth It for Senior Dogs, or Just Better Marketing?
"Human-grade" is a defined regulatory term, not just a marketing phrase. Here's what it actually means, and whether it matters for a senior dog's diet.
Aug 18, 2026 · 4 min read
A pet owner checking the lot code printed on the bottom of a canned dog food can
NUTRITION & DIET
The Pedigree Recall Explained: What Was Actually Affected and What Wasn't
Mars Petcare recalled two lots of canned Pedigree dog food over fraudulent distribution and possible metal contamination. Here's exactly what to check.
Aug 18, 2026 · 4 min read
A pet parent reading the ingredient label on a bag of pet food
NUTRITION & DIET
How to Read a Dog or Cat Food Label (What Actually Matters)
Pet food labels are full of marketing language. Here's what matters — ingredient order, guaranteed analysis, AAFCO statements — and what to ignore.
Updated Aug 12, 2026 · 6 min read
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