The work of nutritionists has led to commercially available diets of extremely high quality. These diets, if used properly, can significantly add to the health and longevity of your dog. A dog's dietary requirements change depending on its stage of life, activity level and physiologic state. For instance, a growing puppy requires high levels of many nutrients, like protein, to develop strong bones and muscles. Recently, it has been discovered that many diseases in dogs dramatically alter nutritional requirements.
Many diets are now available that have been developed specifically for ill or aging dogs.
In many instances, these special diets can be the single most important factor in treating the disease. High-quality diets do not ensure that dogs will remain healthy. It is up to dog owners to feed dogs properly and observe them closely for any indication of a problem. The leading preventable condition that has a profound effect on their health, well being and life span is obesity. It has been estimated that as many as half of all the pet dogs in the United States are overweight.