A diet tailored to your dog’s differing life stages can support his health and well-being, says Dr Jacqueline Boyd.

ABOUT JACQUELINE Dr Jacqueline Boyd is an animal scientist and humane education specialist with a passion for applying and sharing scientific knowledge to improve animal health and welfare. She has five ‘multi-purpose’ Cocker Spaniels who do cani-cross, agility, gundog work, and heelwork to music.

From bouncy puppy to sensible senior, as our dogs grow and develop they experience key life stage milestones. But did you know that their nutritional needs also change?

Nutrition is one of the few aspects of our dogs’ biology on which we can have a direct impact. We cannot change their fundamental genetic make-up, which will determine how they look, behave, and even affect their health and longevity, but we can alter their nutrition. By tailoring their nutrition to specific life stages, we can help to support their health, well-being, and perhaps even lifespan.

In this series, we are going to explore the nutritional needs at different life stages, from before birth to our more mature canine friends, and think about how best to feed well and supply key nutrients.

DOG FOOD DEVELOPMENTS

The first commercial dog foods were intended to be fed to dogs of all ages. There was very little choice and diets were based on what little robust scientific evidence existed at that time.

Home-prepared diets tended to be made based on what was available, and the amount fed would likely have been amended depending on how the dog looked. With modern knowledge, many of these early dog foods would not meet the current nutritional guidelines for dogs. But the truth is, many dogs fed these diets thrived and had long, healthy lives.