Pet Nutrition Guide
What your pet eats shapes nearly every aspect of their long-term health. This guide covers the fundamentals of dog and cat nutrition — from macronutrients and life-stage needs to reading pet food labels and transitioning foods safely.
Dogs and cats have different nutritional requirements that vary across life stages, from the energy-dense needs of puppies and kittens to the lower-calorie, joint-supportive diets often suited to senior pets. A complete and balanced commercial pet food — indicated on the label by an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement — provides a reliable foundation for most healthy animals. Understanding how to read ingredient lists and guaranteed analysis panels helps you make more informed choices when comparing products.
Protein is the primary macronutrient for both species, though cats have a higher minimum protein requirement than dogs and are obligate carnivores — meaning certain nutrients found in animal tissue are essential and cannot be synthesised from plant sources alone. Fats provide concentrated energy and support skin and coat health, while carbohydrates contribute fibre that aids digestive function. Fresh water, available at all times, is equally important and sometimes underestimated.
When transitioning to a new food, doing so gradually over seven to ten days — mixing increasing proportions of the new food with the old — reduces the likelihood of digestive upset. If your pet has a specific health condition, your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist can provide tailored guidance on therapeutic or prescription diets that go beyond general guidelines.
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Free to use · Dogs & Cats