In the Literature
O’Brien JS, Tolbert MK, Dog Aging Project Consortium, Ruple A. Dog and owner demographics impact dietary choices in dog aging project cohort. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2024;262(12):1676-1685. doi:10.2460/javma.24.05.0358
The Research …
Pet owners have many dietary options for their pets and rely on clinicians for guidance in making informed decisions about nutrition. Assessing the existing knowledge base of owners and tailoring individual education and options are important.1
This study analyzed data from >40,000 US dog owners to explore the diversity of feeding choices and identify demographic factors of dogs and their owners that influence dietary decisions. Most owners (82%) fed a kibble diet. The likelihood of feeding kibble decreased with age (91% of owners 18-24 years of age; 75% of owners >75 years of age). In addition, 89% of owners fed a consistent diet. Home-cooked diets were most often fed to small dogs (<30 lb [13.6 kg]), purebred dogs with poorer health, and dogs belonging to owners ≥45 years of age.
Raw meat–based diets were more commonly selected for purebred, intact, and highly active dogs. Larger dogs (>100 lb [45.4 kg]) and dogs living in rural areas were more likely to be fed home-prepared raw diets, and commercial raw diets were more commonly chosen in urban settings. Risk for zoonotic disease (eg, Salmonella spp, Escherichia coli) transmission associated with raw meat–based diets is a concern, especially in therapy and service dogs. Some organizations (eg, AVMA, AAHA, Pet Partners) may discourage or prohibit therapy and service dogs being fed raw diets due to these risks. Proper owner education on safe handling and preparation to mitigate the potential spread of zoonotic disease is needed.2,3
… The Takeaways
Key pearls to put into practice:
Early nutrition counseling for puppies is crucial in helping establish lifelong healthy habits, but time constraints and varying levels of confidence in nutrition can present challenges. Potential solutions include expanding access to owner educational resources and empowering veterinary technicians and support staff to take an active role in nutrition discussions.4 In addition, dedicated time should be allocated to addressing nutritional questions and needs from owners.
Emphasizing proper feeding practices (eg, specifying daily quantity and frequency) is crucial given the high prevalence of obesity in dogs at all life stages.5 Incorporating exercise and addressing lifestyle factors is essential in calculating the amount of food to be fed.6
Therapeutic diets, whether commercial or home cooked, should be considered and discussed early in the diagnosis of diseases that may benefit from dietary management. Although owner income was not linked to dietary choice in this study, nonkibble diets typically require additional time and expense. Regardless, these diets should be presented as an option if they are beneficial for the patient.
Long-term health outcomes cannot be attributed to diet alone, but research on the effects of various diets on health and longevity is important. In this study, 45% of participating owners had a masters, professional, or doctorate degree.7 Owners with high levels of education may be more likely to pursue proactive preventive care, seek advanced treatments, and participate in research studies. Recruiting a diverse range of owners can help ensure research findings accurately reflect a broad pet population, allowing for more informed and applicable conclusions.
You are reading 2-Minute Takeaways, a research summary resource presented by Clinician’s Brief. Clinician’s Brief does not conduct primary research.