Depending on their breed and size, your faithful companion could be with you for up to 20 years (cue teary eyes). Throughout this time, your pup’s body and energy levels will change — and their nutritional requirements will, too.
“Dog life stages nutrition,” is the term we use for making sure that your pal meets the right canine nutritional needs at the right time. There are three main life stages for a dog — puppy, adult, and senior — and each demands a specific diet. Puppy food meets the nutritional requirements of dogs who are still growing, while senior dog food contains the right balance for aging pups.
Making sure that your best friend meets the proper dog nutritional requirements for their life stage is very important for their growth, development and overall health. In this guide, we’ll take you through the different canine nutritional needs based on life stage, as well as offer some diet recommendations.
What Nutrients Do Dogs Need?
Good nutrition will help your pup grow, develop, and stay active throughout their life. Here are the key components that make up a dog’s balanced diet:
Protein
Dogs can’t survive without protein — it provides the basic building blocks for growth, maintenance, and repair of their body tissues. The highest quality proteins used in dog foods can come from a variety of sources, including: chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, and eggs. In our Jinx kibble, we opt for grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken, and Atlantic Salmon.
Fats
Fat is a concentrated form of energy, providing more than twice the energy of proteins or carbohydrates. It’s also required for the absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Not only that, fats supply fatty acids — which support your pup’s healthy skin and coat, reduce inflammation, and promote heart health and optimal brain function. As if fats weren’t enough of a powerhouse, they also make your dog’s food taste better — of course they’re an essential part of their diet!
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide your pup with energy. Dogs are able to convert certain carbohydrate sources into simple sugars that are easily absorbed, while more complex carbohydrates must be broken down further by the body before they are absorbed.
Vitamins
Vitamins are required for normal body functioning, converting calories into energy, and boosting immunity — among many other things. It’s essential that your dog eats a vitamin-rich diet to help them thrive.
Understanding Your Dog’s Life Stage
Dog nutritional requirements vary at each stage of their lives — so feeding your pup the same dog food for the entire duration of their life likely won’t meet all of their dietary requirements. For example, it may not provide enough nutrients for a growing puppy or a nursing mama dog, or provide too many nutrients to a senior or inactive dog.
Feeding your pup in accordance with their life stage is recommended by nutritionists to help maintain their overall health and improve both the quality and quantity of their life. Let’s take a look at each of the main life stages for dogs, and their nutritional requirements.
Puppy
Puppies need more calories, protein, and fat — as well as higher levels of vitamins and minerals — than adult dogs. This is because they need nutrients to sustain them throughout the day, plus extra nutrients to support their growth and development into healthy adult dogs.
Most puppies should eat specially formulated puppy dog food until they are 1 year old. Large and giant breeds (a.k.a. dogs that will weigh over 50 lbs as adults) should follow diets designed for large-breed puppies — this could help prevent orthopedic issues, obesity and other problems down the road.
Jinx Cage-Free Chicken Puppy Food is formulated to help puppies build a strong foundation from the start. It’s made with organic chicken to support your puppy’s growing muscles, whole grains for sustained energy and healthy digestion, and essential vitamins and minerals to support their developing brain and heart functions. Plus, it has:
- Calcium: Essential for the development of strong bones and teeth.
- Phosphorus: Vital for bone health, but it also plays a significant role in energy production and muscle function.
- DHA: An omega-3 fatty acid critical for brain and eye development.
Adult
Most dogs reach their adult life stage at 1 year old. At this time, it’s important to transition your puppy to adult dog food. Jinx has a range of kibble and wet food for adult dogs that contain all of the nutrients your little buddy needs.
At Jinx, all of our kibble except for our puppy food is classified as suitable for “all life stages.” This means that our formulas support the dog nutritional requirements of adult, senior, and even lactating and pregnant pups. It's important to note that the feeding amounts for all life stages dog food vary by age and size (a large dog requires more food than a small breed; older and inactive dogs require more food than active dogs) — so be sure to check the guidelines on the packaging.
Once you've chosen an adult dog food that's the best fit for your canine companion, remember that other elements — like temperature — may influence changes in their diet. Extreme heat or cold will burn more of your dog's energy, and they’ll need to make up for that. Also, activity changes, like exercising more, will alter the amount of food you need to feed your pup.
Your dog may have a sensitive stomach, or be a picky eater. These pups shouldn’t miss out on the nutrients they need — so we made foods to fit their needs, too. Our Sensitive Stomach Essentials Starter Pack contains patented probiotics and natural prebiotic fiber to support a healthy gut (plus, plenty of protein and a savory taste pups love). Meanwhile, our Picky Dog Essentials Starter Pack includes high quality ingredients and irresistible flavors.
Mature (7+)
The age at which a dog is considered “senior” varies across breeds and sizes — so an often-overlooked stage of a dog's life is their more mature years, typically between ages 7 and 12.
During this stage, your pup may still be active and have no trouble getting around, but you may notice that their play sessions aren’t as long as they used to be. At this time, you should transition them to a diet or food that’s specifically geared toward older dogs.
As a mature dog, your pup needs more nutrients that support healthy organs, bones, and muscles. Even if your dog hasn't started to slow down yet, they still need these nutrients to support their aging body. Feeding them a diet geared toward mature dogs can help keep them feel young and stay active for longer.
Senior (11+)
As mentioned above, at what age a dog is considered senior varies across breeds and sizes (research your dog’s specific breed for more info).
That being said, senior dogs often experience changes in their metabolism and activity levels. Your senior pup may require fewer calories to prevent weight gain, but also need a diet rich in protein to help maintain muscle mass. They could also benefit from increased fiber to support their digestive health, and essential fatty acids to support healthy joints and cognitive function.
If you have an elderly pup, feeding them a senior dog food (or following the feeding instructions for senior dogs on your All Life Stages dog food) should cover most of their unique needs.
Does Breed Influence Nutritional Requirements?
In addition to life stage, your pup’s breed and size can affect their dietary needs. For example, smaller breeds may demand diets higher in calories due to their fast metabolisms. In another case, larger breeds may require more controlled formulas as puppies to prevent joint issues later in life (side note: our Jinx puppy kibble is formulated for puppies of all sizes, including large breeds).
What If My Dog Is Pregnant or Lactating?
A mama dog’s calorie requirements increase with the number of puppies she has, and the week of lactation (up to 4 weeks). Giant breeds like Great Danes have smaller digestive tracts compared to their size, and may not be able to eat enough to sustain themselves during lactation — so nutrient dense, high calorie meals are a must. Be sure to research the needs of your pregnant or nursing dog, and feed them in accordance with their size and breed.
Is Wet Food or Dry Food Better?
In terms of nutrition and digestibility, there are no differences between dry dog food and canned (wet) dog food. You should make your decision based on your lifestyle, preferences, and budget. For dogs that need to consume more water or have certain dietary needs, wet food may be a better option. Otherwise, most dogs will do fine with dry kibble — the choice is up to you (and your pup’s palate).
How Much Food Does My Dog Need?
The easiest way to determine how much to feed your dog is to follow the guidelines on their food packaging. Research the ideal weight for your pup’s size/breed, then follow the feeding instructions based on that. You can also talk with your vet, who will recommend how much food your dog needs per day based on their breed, age, lifestyle, and current weight.
Can I Give My Dog Treats?
We love treats — they’re an amazing tool for positive reinforcement, especially during puppy training. But no matter how much your pup begs (or how cute they look while doing it), treats should make up no more than 10% of their diet.
Here are our top tips for treating your dog:
- Always give treats in moderation — monitor the number of treats you give to your dog, and reduce their usual food portions if needed.
- Be aware that treats can vary in quality, and may contain unhealthy ingredients like sugar or milk. Always check the ingredient label, and stick to treats with limited, natural ingredients that will support your pup’s health.
- Besides packaged treats, your dog can also safely eat many fruits and veggies like carrots, broccoli and strawberries. Bananas are dog-friendly, rich in fiber, and have a sweet flavor that dogs love — which is why we include them in our Tiny Treats.
- Make sure that the treats you give your dog also offer them the nutrients they need. Jinx Beef Jerky Bites include plenty of protein to support your little treat-lover’s bones and muscles.
- Dental chews do double duty — offering a tasty treat to your dog, while also cleaning their teeth. Jinx Dental Chews are suitable for dogs of all sizes and most ages — even nursing and pregnant dogs — but shouldn’t be given to young puppies under 6 months of age.