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LIFE STAGE NUTRITION

Practical information about the nutritional needs of cats and dogs at each life stage, including growth, maintenance, reproduction and aging.

Adult Dog

Maintenance Nutrition for Healthy Adult Dogs

Maintenance nutrition focuses on meeting individual adult dogs’ unique nutritional needs for optimal health and longevity. In addition to individual dogs’ metabolism, nutrition should be tailored by life stage, physical activity, neuter status and breed size, when appropriate.

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Labrador Retrievers kept in lean body condition from puppyhood throughout their lives lived nearly 2 years longer than their heavier siblings.

Key Messages

  • Nutrition is key to helping dogs live longer, healthier lives.
    • Purina studies showed that Labrador Retrievers kept in lean body condition from puppyhood throughout their lives lived nearly 2 years longer than their heavier siblings.
    • Keeping dogs lean throughout their lives also may delay onset or decrease severity of age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis.
    • Risk of obesity increases for middle-aged dogs, so maintaining a healthy weight and body condition should be a priority throughout adulthood.
  • Adult dogs need a nutritionally complete and balanced diet for optimal health and longevity.
    • Small (<10 kg [<22 lbs.] at maturity) dogs can benefit from smaller, easy-to-chew kibbles and a slightly more concentrated nutrition to address small dogs’ higher metabolism, smaller stomachs and little mouths.
    • Large (25-45 kg [55-99 lbs.] at maturity) and giant (45+ kg [100+ lbs.] at maturity) dogs can benefit from a less calorically dense formula to address large dogs’ slower metabolism and larger stomachs. Large-breed dog foods often include nutrients to support healthy joints and mobility.
  • Portion-controlled meal feeding can help keep dogs in optimal body condition.
    • The feeding guidelines on the dog food package are a starting point that should be used in conjunction with monitoring body condition.
    • Proper portion control, which includes weighing (measuring) the food, helps ensure dogs who may be prone to weight gain are not overfed.
    • Meal feeding also allows careful monitoring of food intake and appetite that, if reduced or absent, could signal an underlying health problem.
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"Your dog [or dog’s name] is in ideal body condition and that is what is best for [him/her]. Using the feeding guidelines as a starting point for portion sizes, weighing (measuring) the food for each meal, and regularly checking your dog’s body condition can help ensure your dog is getting the nutrition [he/she] needs without being overfed. Just keep in mind that you may need to adjust the food amount if your dog is becoming too heavy or too thin."

Related Tools and Content:

Canine Body Condition System Sheet

A visual aid to the Purina Body Condition Score System for dogs.​

View Tool 1 min to 5 min

How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Dog

Assess a dog's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

To Share With Pet Owner:

Benefits of Healthy Weight

Although there are many benefits to maintaining a healthy weight in pets, many owners do not understand what a healthy weight is or the benefits for pets.

View Hot Topic 6 min to 10 min

Evaluating Your Dog’s Body Condition

Assess your dog's Body Condition in just 3 simple steps.​

View Video 1 min to 5 min

Why Choose a Small Breed Dog Food

Learn why small dogs can benefit from a food specifically formulated for them.

View Article 1 min to 5 min

Why Choose a Large Breed Dog Food

Learn why large and giant breed dogs can benefit from a food that is formulated to meet their specific needs.​

View Article 1 min to 5 min

Additional Resources

Case, L. P., Daristotle, L., Hayek, M. G., & Raasch, M. F. (2011). Canine and feline nutrition: A resource for companion animal professionals (3rd ed.). Mosby Elsevier. 

Kealy, R. D., Lawler, D. F., Ballam, J. M., Mantz, S. L., Biery, D. N., Greeley, E. H., Lust, G., Segre, M., Smith, G. K., & Stowe, H. D. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220(9), 1315─1320. doi: 10.2460/javma.2002.220.1315 

Lawler, D. F., Larson, B. T., Ballam, J. M., Smith, G. K., Biery, D. N., Evans, R. H., Greeley, E. H., Segre, M., Stowe, H. D., & Kealy, R. D. (2008). Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: Major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition, 99(4), 793─805. doi: 10.1017/S0007114507871686 

Lund, E. M., Armstrong, P. J., Kirk, C. A., & Klausner, J. S. (2006). Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult dogs from private US veterinary practices. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 4(2), 177─186. 

Smith, G. K., Paster, E. R., Powers, M. Y., Lawler, D. F., Biery, D. N., Shofer, F. S., McKelvie, P. J., & Kealy, R. D. (2006). Lifelong diet restriction and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip joint in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229(5), 690─693. doi: 10.2460/javma.229.5.690