Understanding Life-Stage Feeding for Dogs

Just like humans, dogs have unique nutritional needs based on their life stage. Puppies require higher calorie intake for growth and development, while senior dogs may need fewer calories due to reduced activity levels.

While some dog foods are labeled as suitable for ‘All Life Stages’ according to AAFCO’s nutrient profiles, ensuring minimum nutritional requirements for dogs of all ages, many producers offer age-specific formulas.

We spoke with Braeden Ruud, CEO and Founder of Raised Right, a top-rated human-grade dog food company collaborating with veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker to create stage-specific recipes for dogs.

Understanding Life-Stage Nutrition

A life-stage diet is tailored to fulfill the unique nutritional needs of dogs based on their specific age bracket.

According to Braeden, dog food manufacturers adhere to AAFCO’s standards by choosing between two approaches when formulating their recipes for a complete and balanced diet.

“One approach involves creating stage-specific recipes, such as formulations exclusively for puppies or adult dogs,” Braeden explains.

“Alternatively, the more prevalent method is to develop recipes suitable for all life stages.”

Understanding the Concept of an All-Life-Stage Diet

According to Braeden, an all-life-stage diet refers to recipes developed by a company to be suitable for both puppies and adult dogs. However, it is crucial to note that the nutritional needs of adult dogs differ from those of puppies, making these recipes suboptimal for adult dogs.

Varieties of Recipes for Different Life Stages

Issues with Consistently Feeding an All Life Stage Diet

Dogs have varying nutritional needs at different life stages.

According to Braeden, feeding an adult dog an all-life-stage diet throughout its life can lead to an excess of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and sodium.

Feeding a dog an all-life-stage diet essentially means they are consuming puppy food indefinitely, as these recipes match the nutritional content found in puppy food.

Although AAFCO sets the same maximum nutritional standards for adult dogs and puppies, the minimum requirements are significantly higher for puppies.

Are there potential health concerns from feeding your dog an all-life-stage diet?

According to Braeden, the difference in nutrient requirements between puppies and adult dogs is significant, especially in the case of calcium. The minimum calcium requirement for puppies is more than double that of adult dogs.

Experts in pet nutrition suggest that such disparities in nutrient needs may lead to various health issues. For instance, an excess of calcium can be linked to kidney and bladder stones, common causes of urinary problems in adult dogs.

Similarly, excessive sodium intake can result in high blood pressure, fostering heart-related complications. This underscores the importance of offering distinct recipes tailored to adult dogs and puppies.

It is vital to provide recipes specifically formulated for each life stage to ensure optimal nutrition and well-being for dogs, aligning with a commitment to catering to dogs’ unique dietary needs at every stage of life.