How much food should you feed your dog? Dogs have natural instincts to eat whenever food is available. While that can help them survive in the wild, it’s our responsibility as pet parents to help them manage their intake at home by knowing how to measure dog food portions.

Most dogs look forward to mealtime, even if the exact same kibble awaits in their bowl, day in and day out. But is that really good for your dog? Canines thrive with a varied diet that introduces different proteins and other nutritious foods to provide them with a full spectrum of nutrients.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and if you’ve visited your local pet store recently, you probably noticed there are different dog food formulas for large and small breeds. But why is that? Aren’t all dogs pretty much the same on the inside? It turns out large and small dogs have varying nutritional needs, including calorie levels, nutritional density and the size of their kibble. Let’s explore the differences between large- and small-breed dog foods and why it’s so important to choose the right formula for your pet.

Dogs have doubled their lifespans these past 40 years thanks to improvements in diet and health care. Having more months and years to make memories with your best friend is something to celebrate. But as your dog enters their senior years, you may start noticing changes. Sometimes, these changes interfere with their quality of life. Your senior dog may be getting skinny, despite eating their regular meals. Others struggle to use the stairs or have trouble getting around. Or maybe your old dog is getting restless and won’t lay down. Weight loss, arthritis and cognitive decline are some of the signs of old age in dogs.
In the following, we’ll discuss what’s at the root of these canine aging processes and what you can do to help manage these conditions.

Protein plays a major role in a dog’s nutrition, and feeding your dog a high-protein diet can provide significant health benefits. But not all proteins are created equal. Different types of animal proteins present very different nutritional profiles, particularly when it comes to amino acids. Each amino acid plays a different role in building cells and keeping bodily systems running at optimal levels. So, by rotating different proteins into your dog’s diet — including novel protein dog foods — you can introduce all the amino acids necessary to optimize their health.

Weight management is an important consideration at all stages of your dog’s life. While more than half of our canine companions in the U.S. have obesity, it’s also important to be vigilant to unintended weight loss so pets can be evaluated and treated for underlying medical issues.