Dog nutrition: a practical guide to feeding well

Why dog nutrition matters

Food supplies energy as well as the protein, fats, vitamins and minerals needed for growth, tissue maintenance and everyday function. Balance matters: adding supplements or large quantities of extras to an already complete diet can disturb that balance.

A dog’s needs change with age, size, activity, reproductive status, environment and health. Marketing labels such as ‘natural’ or ‘premium’ do not establish nutritional suitability on their own; the complete label and the dog’s response offer more useful context.

Match food to life stage and individual needs

Complete food, complementary food and labels

In the UK, ‘complete’ means the food is intended to provide all required nutrients when fed as directed. ‘Complementary’ foods, including many treats, toppers and mixers, are intended to be combined with other food and should not quietly become most of the diet.

Check the label for the intended species and life stage, feeding directions, composition, analytical constituents, additives, best-before information and the responsible business. Ingredients are listed by weight, but that order alone cannot tell you whether the finished diet is nutritionally balanced.

• Confirm the word ‘complete’, rather than relying on front-of-pack claims.
• Check whether the food is for growth, adult maintenance or all life stages.
• Use contact details to ask the manufacturer about formulation and quality control if needed.
• Treat feeding amounts as an informed starting point, not an exact prescription.

Portions, treats and body condition

Start with the maker’s guide for your dog’s current weight and life stage, then measure portions consistently. Treats, chews and food used for training all contribute energy; WSAVA advises keeping treats to a small proportion of daily calories so the main diet remains balanced.

Body condition is more informative than weight alone. At an ideal condition, ribs should generally be easy to feel beneath a light covering, a waist should be visible from above and the abdomen should tuck up from the side. Breed and coat affect appearance, so use touch as well as sight. Muscle condition is a separate check: loss over the spine, shoulders or hips deserves attention even if weight is unchanged.

Change food gradually and watch the individual

Unless a vet advises otherwise, introduce a new food over several days by increasing the new proportion gradually. A slower transition may suit sensitive dogs. Keep the total daily amount under review rather than serving full portions of both foods.

Observe appetite, stools, comfort, skin and coat, energy, weight and muscle over time. Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, marked itching, pain, refusal to eat, rapid weight change or lethargy needs veterinary attention rather than repeated food experiments.

Hydration and feeding format

Fresh, clean water should always be available. Wet food provides more water within the meal; dry food is more energy-dense and convenient to store. Either can be nutritionally appropriate when complete, and mixed feeding can work if the combined calories are calculated.

A sudden change in drinking or urination can be medically significant. Do not assume a food format is the cause. Record what has changed and contact your practice.

When to seek tailored advice

• Before using a home-prepared or raw diet as the main food; nutritional balance and hygiene need expert attention.
• For a puppy, pregnancy, nursing, obesity, unexplained weight or muscle loss, recurring digestive signs or suspected adverse food reactions.
• Before changing food for kidney, urinary, liver, pancreatic, heart or other diagnosed disease.
• Whenever the label, feeding amount or suitability is unclear. Discuss with your vet.