Life Stages: Dogs and Cats

Pets’ nutritional needs change over time as they go through their life stages, from gestation through adulthood.  AAFCO has defined two Nutrient Profiles:

• Growth and Reproduction (from conception through active skeletal growth)
• Adult Maintenance (adulthood)

Products claiming be “complete” diets must meet one or both of these Nutrition Profiles.  While there are products claiming to be formulated specifically for certain breeds, or for seniors, all products claiming to be complete diets must meet at least one of these nutrient profiles.  

The following outlines some of the key differences in nutritional needs for each life stage, and a few cautions on what to watch out for when you are evaluating diet options.

• Conception (Gestation/Lactation): Pregnant and nursing moms.
• Puppy/Kitten: Weaning through active skeletal growth (typically 12 months).
• Adulthood: End of skeletal growth through end of life.* 
• *Senior: While there is no AAFCO Nutrient Profile specifically for Seniors, they may have some unique dietary needs that are addressed in the last section below.

GESTATING & LACTATING MOMS:

Nutrition begins at conception.  A diet formulated to meet the special needs of the gestating mom results in healthier puppies and kittens and protects the health of the mom.  

• Calcium: Calcium is well-known to be a requirement for pregnant and nursing mothers to support bone growth. Sufficient dietary calcium prevents eclampsia, a life-threatening disease for mothers. 

While extra calcium is essential during gestation and lactation, excess levels after weaning can lead to health issues such as osteochondrosis or hypertrophic osteodystrophy (hip or joint disorders), or urinary crystals and stones.  After weaning, the mom should return to a diet with calcium at the lower levels recommended for Adult Maintenance.

• All Life Stages:  Blends formulated for “All Life Stages” contain the higher levels of calcium needed by a pregnant/lactating mother.  Adult pets consuming these products long term, who are not gestating or lactating, have higher risk of developing certain health issues, as mentioned above.

• Moisture: Lactating moms need to consume a lot of water!  The milk the moms are providing to nursing babies is 90% water. Fresh food diets typically contain 65-75% moisture, whereas dry foods only contain around 2%.  A fresh food diet high in natural moisture is easier to digest and contributes to a better balance of moisture for the nursing moms.

KITTENS AND PUPPIES:

Kittens and puppies need extra nutrients during their active growth stage which begins at conception and continues until their skeletal structure is fully developed (usually by 12 months).  

• Calcium: Growing puppies and kittens need calcium to build strong bones and teeth.  The calcium level in the AAFCO Nutrient Profile for Growth and Reproduction is higher than adult Maintenance to support active skeletal growth of puppies and kittens.  But even for growing puppies, the calcium level should not exceed the maximum requirement as excess calcium excesses can lead to long term health issues.   

Some research has indicated that large breed puppies need less calcium than smaller breeds.  For example, they may need 3 times as much food, but don’t need 3 times as much calcium.  It is vital to ensure that the puppy is getting adequate calcium as well as other nutrients needed by growing puppies, such as protein, fatty acids, copper, etc.  

It is important to note that actual calcium levels in most commercial foods may be significantly higher than the minimums listed on the label.  Many companies claim a minimum % of calcium but do not state the guaranteed maximum.  Most fresh food companies publish actual values, or maximums as well as minimums, so that pet owners can know they are feeding adequate nutrients for growing puppies and kittens without fear of any excesses known to contribute to long term health issues.   

• Moisture in the diet is critical.  Many puppies and kittens do not drink adequate water, even when the bowl is right next to the food, because they are accustomed to receiving full nutrition and moisture from mother’s milk.  Fresh food diets naturally contain 65-75% moisture and so provide much of the needed moisture in the food.  Dry foods are 2% or less, and so it is essential for the pet parent to make sure the puppies or kittens are consuming adequate water.  

• Weaning:   Weaning is often a challenging and messy time as the young learn to transition from natural mother’s milk to commercial pet food.  Heavily processed foods are hard to digest and often result in digestive upset and diarrhea. Fresh foods result in a smooth transition from mother’s milk without digestive upset.

If there is ever a time to invest in healthier nutrition, it is in the growth stage where diet is setting the foundation for the rest of their life.  Healthier nutrition as a puppy or kitten builds a healthier immune system which will carry them through a longer and healthier life.  Just like human parents choose healthier baby foods over processed junk food, pet parents should choose the healthiest possible options for their fur kids.

ADULTS:

Once skeletal growth is complete, nutrient needs change, which is why AAFCO provides a nutrient profile for Maintenance.  While transition from puppy (kitten) to adult food can occur overnight, the volume fed needs to change more slowly depending on the pet’s needs. 

Actual feeding amounts may also vary due to factors other than age:

• Activity level: Highly active or working animals need more fuel than less active house pets.  On days they are more active, pets will need extra food in their bowl.  
• Breed: Some breeds naturally have higher metabolisms and so need either a more nutrient dense food or larger portions.  
• Sterilization: Animals which are surgically altered (spayed/neutered) often have lower metabolism thus lower caloric need. 

Products labeled for specific breeds or activities still need to meet the AAFCO Nutrient Profile for Maintenance, but may formulate them to reflect different feeding amounts, or protein and fat levels.  

Over 60% of adult dogs and cats are considered obese due to over-feeding.  Feeding instructions on packages are suggested amounts.  It is up to the pet owner to monitor their pet’s weight and adjust feeding amounts as needed to maintain ideal weight. (Just because the package says to feed a certain volume does not mean your particular pet needs exactly that amount of food. We are all individuals with individual needs.)  

*SENIORS:

Seniors are often defined to be in the last 25% of their life. AAFCO does not provide a separate nutrient profile for seniors yet there are many considerations when feeding a senior.  Conflicting requirements – and conflicting information – can present a challenge when trying to choose the best diet options. 

• Bone/joint health: Many senior diets add supplemental glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.  While these can be beneficial in certain cases, most dogs produce plenty on their own and so there is risk of over-supplementation which can cause digestive problems. 
• Kidney Issues: An estimated 20% of older dogs experience some level of compromised kidney function.  Studies show that pets with compromised kidney function benefit from a lower Phosphorus diet.  To achieve this, the old school recommendation has been to lower protein levels.  This is because most pet foods are made with meat-and-bone meals or meat by-products which are higher in Phosphorus. Bone contains high levels of Phosphorus, thus, in kibble the only way to lower the phosphorus level is to lower the overall meat and bone meals. The result is a lower protein food. Fresh food diets made with boneless muscle meats are naturally lower in phosphorus while leaving protein at recommended levels. Additionally, fresh foods are 65% water – which naturally nourishes the kidneys. 
• Weight Management: More than half of all senior pets are considered obese. As their system becomes less efficient at processing nutrients, it becomes even more important to feed a diet that is easily digested and rich in nutrients that are easily absorbed.  The more natural the diet is, the easier it is on the older pets’ system.  Fresh whole food diets are best, with feeding amounts adjusted to maintain ideal weight.  
• Fat Levels: Leaner diets are often recommended for older pets.  As their activity level decreases, they no longer need the extra fat for energy.
• Protein Levels: Studies show that senior dogs may benefit from diets with protein levels double that of the current AAFCO minimum of 18% (Dry Matter basis – DM). [link to Understanding Nutritional Guarantees]
  • Protein levels in most fresh pet foods already exceed the AAFCO minimum – commonly running 40-60% protein (DM).
  • If your senior dog is losing muscle tone, it may well be due to insufficient dietary protein. Make sure your senior dog’s diet is higher than the AAFCO minimums (DM).

Summary:

A longer and healthier life requires your pet to get proper nutrition throughout every stage of life, from conception through their golden years.  Feeding a diet specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of each life stage is more beneficial than a one-size- fits-all diet. Spending more on food that meets current life needs can extend the life of your pet.