Many commercial pet food companies these days have foods grouped into categories based on a pet’s age. You will likely see varieties such as puppy, adult, senior, weight loss, and even some breed-specific diets. Is all this necessary for proper nutrition? I say, absolutely NOT!! Dogs and cats are basically designed to eat the same diet from the day they are weaned until the day they die. I would like to clarify that this is for maintenance only – certain disease conditions may require some variation in the diet. In my way of thinking, however, it is absurd to think that just because a pet reaches a certain age, its diet must change. This is nothing more than marketing hype. The best fundamental nutrition for a dog or cat is a fresh, meat-based diet with a 70% moisture content. I may sometimes use a diet that is more bland or lower in fat or protein for certain disease conditions, but my basic nutritional recommendations do not change.
My recommendation is to feed whole, fresh foods whenever possible and avoid by-products, chemicals and preservatives in your pet’s diet. Many of the healthiest commercial foods available do not have life-stage diets – don’t let this keep you from feeding your pet the best diet possible.