{"id":12690,"date":"2022-01-10T11:51:24","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T17:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=12690"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:08:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:08:01","slug":"new-year-new-pet-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/nutrition\/new-year-new-dog-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year, New Dog Diet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new year is typically the time that people re-evaluate their lifestyle choices and wellness goals, and whether their diet could use an overhaul. It\u2019s also a great opportunity to see if there are any adjustments needed to your pet\u2019s diet, especially when you consider their life stage and lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is the Healthiest Food for Dogs?<\/h2>\n

The pet food industry offers a boggling number of options when it comes to feeding dogs. Is it better to feed canned food or kibble, for example? Are grain-free diets better than ones with grain \u2014 do dogs need dietary carbohydrates? Should I choose a diet marked specifically for large breed puppies? One that claims to support the immune system, gut health and digestion? Should I feed my dog supplements as well as dog food? Is <\/span>raw food<\/span><\/a> better than processed food? The questions are endless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s the easy answer. Any food that\u2019s meets the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles or has undergone AAFCO feeding trials has the essential amino acids, <\/span>vitamins and minerals<\/span><\/a> and other essential nutrients that researchers have determined are necessary for a dog\u2019s \u2014 not a cat’s or a human\u2019s \u2014 nutritional health. Some nutrients get the extra label \u201cessential\u201d because they must be eaten: the body can\u2019t make them. That\u2019s why a diet of entirely human foods could result in nutritional deficiencies for your dog \u2014 their needs are different from ours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond that, let your own dog\u2019s particular situation be the guide. At different life stages, dogs need different nutrients or different amounts of particular nutrients. If your dog is very active, you may want to focus on protein quality, whereas if they suffer from a sensitive stomach, you may be more concerned about the dietary fiber content of the food you choose. If your dog has sensitive skin, essential fatty acids provide vital building blocks for healthy skin and fur.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dog Nutrition for Healthy Dogs at Different Life Stages<\/h2>\n

Whether the source is a commercial diet or home-prepared diet, dog foods supply our furry friends with essential nutrients to help maintain their body and meet their energy requirements. The recipes for commercial dog foods are developed to supply a balanced diet, one that meets the nutritional needs of your dog. A pet food label with a \u201ccomplete and balanced nutrition\u201d statement on it will supply all of those important nutrients \u2014 which change at different life stages. It won\u2019t surprise pet owners to learn that young dogs have different needs than adult dogs or geriatric pets.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Long Should a Puppy Eat Puppy Food?<\/h3>\n

Did your puppy celebrate their first birthday recently? If so, and they\u2019re currently eating a diet specially formulated for puppies, they may be ready for the switch to food optimized for adult dogs. However, while puppies are officially considered adults at age one, some puppies may not have reached their adult size yet and may benefit from remaining on a puppy formula a little longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, toy dogs reach their adult size at 8 to 10 months, but <\/span>large breed puppies<\/span><\/a> may not finish growing until 18 to 24 months. Every puppy grows at a different rate, so if you aren\u2019t sure if your puppy has finished growing, check with your veterinarian on when to switch to an adult maintenance formula.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are There Special Dog Foods for Senior Dogs?<\/h3>\n

If your dog is \u201cof a certain age,\u201d they may benefit from a <\/span>diet specifically formulated for seniors<\/span><\/a>. Not sure if your dog is a senior? One of the ways to define a dog as a senior is when they reach the last 25 percent of their breed\u2019s predicted lifespan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your senior dog is healthy, in good condition (not too thin or heavy) and they\u2019re eating good quality adult food, there may be no need to change. But if they show signs of age-related changes (e.g., vision loss or decreased energy) or one of the common senior-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, kidney disease or obesity), then they may benefit from a senior-specific diet formulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overweight Dogs May Benefit from a Diet Change<\/h2>\n

Overweight dogs make up more than half of the U.S. pet population. Too much food, <\/span>too many treats<\/span><\/a> and too little activity or playtime are common causes for a portly pup. If you think your dog may be on the heavy side, make an appointment to ask your veterinarian about your dog\u2019s weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

If dogs could benefit from a weight loss program, veterinarians may recommend feeding a specifically formulated pet food to help the dog lose that weight safely and slowly. That\u2019s because weight management diets are designed to supply all the nutrients your dog needs while reducing their caloric intake. Once your dog is at a healthy weight, you may be able to switch to appropriate amounts of adult maintenance food without resulting in weight gain. And don\u2019t forget to count treats when you\u2019re assessing the nutritional value of your dog\u2019s diet \u2014 those calories (and other nutrients) count, too!<\/span><\/p>\n

Specialty Diet Formulations Can Help Manage Health Issues<\/h2>\n

A healthy diet can protect your dog\u2019s health, but a diet containing particular ingredients can also help manage certain health conditions. If your pet has been diagnosed with a health issue such as diabetes, obesity, sensitive skin, food allergies or <\/span>kidney disease<\/span><\/a>, your veterinarian may recommend a change in diet to help manage the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, if your dog has a <\/span>sensitive stomach<\/span><\/a>, your veterinarian may recommend an easily digestible diet that contains a limited number of ingredients and may include probiotics to help restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.<\/span><\/p>\n

Slow and Steady Diet Change<\/h2>\n

A sudden change in diet can upset your dog\u2019s digestive tract, so if you or your veterinarian do decide to change their diet, make the switch to the new diet gradually, over the course of 10 to 14 days. Start by feeding three portions of the current diet mixed with one portion of the new diet. Over the next few days, plan to gradually mix in more of the new diet and less of the current diet at each meal until your dog is eating only the new diet at the end of the transition period.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have any questions about pet foods, your pet\u2019s weight or whether it\u2019s time to switch to a different formulation, be sure to speak with your veterinarian. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new year is typically the time that people re-evaluate their lifestyle choices and wellness goals, and whether their diet could use an overhaul. It\u2019s also a great opportunity to see if there are any adjustments needed to your pet\u2019s diet, especially when you consider their life stage and lifestyle. What Is the Healthiest Food […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":57690,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Healthy Dog Diet Tips for Every Life Stage","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn more about how to choose the best dog food for puppies, adults & senior dogs \u2014 plus tips on weight management & special dietary needs for your pup!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[134,10,357,442,731],"class_list":["post-12690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dog","tag-dog-diet","tag-pet-nutrition","tag-pet-resolutions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}