Exploring Cat and Dog Nutrition

04/13/2025

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/pet-food-ingredient-secrets-spills-on-new-york-highway/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJo8cVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHtus4eRZnWty43hJhrAiOF7z1WYDk26loIgkysV9P0X-sNiMiAs2Im-vEYiW_aem_qag003AFSepLZiRgXRf_OA

Warning: Graphic Images

04/01/2025

When we think of hydration for our pets, we often focus on filling their water bowls. But just like in humans, hydration is not only about how much water pets drink, but also how much their bodies actually retain and utilize vs. just produce more urine output. Moisture-rich foods play a critical and often superior role in maintaining proper hydration in dogs and cats—especially given their unique physiology and evolutionary history.

Hydration Challenges in Dogs and Cats
Cats: Naturally Poor Water Drinkers
Domestic cats evolved from desert-dwelling ancestors (Felis lybica) who obtained nearly all their hydration from prey. As a result, cats have:

A low thirst drive, even when mildly dehydrated

Highly concentrated urine, which conserves water but stresses the kidneys

A preference for moisture from food over still water

This makes cats particularly vulnerable to chronic low-grade dehydration, which contributes to urinary tract disease and kidney issues—a leading cause of feline mortality.

Dogs: More Adaptive, But Still at Risk
Dogs, unlike cats, have a better thirst response but still benefit greatly from hydration through food, especially:

During exercise or hot weather

In older dogs, whose kidney function or thirst cues may decline

When eating dry kibble, which contains as little as 6–10% moisture

Moisture-Rich Diets Are Superior To Dry Diets
A dog or cat eating a dry diet must compensate by drinking significantly more water. But studies and field observations show this rarely happens to the degree required—especially in cats.

Physiological Benefits of Moisture-Rich Food
1. Better Water Retention
Moisture-rich foods hydrate more gradually and thoroughly, helping reduce water loss through urine. This is critical in:

Cats, where higher water intake via food is associated with reduced risk of FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease)

Dogs, where hydration supports joint health, digestion, and thermoregulation

2. Supports Kidney Function
Adequate hydration via food dilutes waste products like urea and creatinine, reducing the kidneys’ workload and potentially delaying chronic kidney disease progression.

3. Improved Digestive Health
Hydrated food assists in smoother digestion and prevents constipation, particularly in cats and aging pets prone to GI sluggishness.

Scientific Evidence
A study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that cats on high-moisture diets produced more dilute urine and had lower incidence of urinary crystals and stones 【Markwell & Buffington, 1994†J Feline Med Surg†】.

Research in Veterinary Medicine showed that dogs fed canned food had significantly higher total water intake and lower urine specific gravity, indicating better hydration, even when their water bowl intake was unchanged 【Zanghi, 2016†Vet Med (Auckl)†】.

Another study showed that feeding wet food improved renal markers in aging cats and reduced dehydration-related complications 【Hall et al., 2003†J Vet Intern Med†】.

Feeding Recommendations
For Dogs and Cats:
Incorporate moisture-rich meals daily: wet food, gently cooked, raw, or rehydrated freeze-dried.

Aim for 70–80% moisture in at least one meal per day.

Use broths, goat’s milk, or hydrating toppers to boost moisture if feeding kibble.

Special Populations That Benefit Most:
Senior pets

Cats with urinary issues

Dogs with high activity levels

Pets prone to constipation or kidney concerns

Conclusion
Hydration for pets goes far beyond the water bowl. Moisture-rich foods mimic a natural prey-based diet and provide superior hydration, enhance kidney function, and reduce the risk of disease—especially in cats. Whether through raw, cooked, canned, or rehydrated foods, feeding water through food is one of the most effective health strategies you can adopt for your dog or cat.

References
Zanghi, B.M. (2016). “Evaluation of the hydration status of adult dogs fed a moisture-rich diet.” Veterinary Medicine (Auckl), 7: 209–217. https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S103651

Markwell, P. J., & Buffington, C. A. (1994). “The effect of diet on lower urinary tract diseases in cats.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Hall, J. A., et al. (2003). “Effect of dietary moisture on renal function in cats.” J Vet Intern Med, 17(5), 660–665. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2003.tb02498.x

National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. The National Academies Press.

03/23/2025

A NOTE ON FOOD RESTRICTION IN OVERWEIGHT DOGS....

That post this morning got me thinking.

Food restriction studies in dogs, cruel as they seem and sometimes are, have shown us that if you feed dogs a touch less of their diet each day (20%) they do better, might even live longer, suggesting over-feeding is at play.

In fact, recently, we learned just one food meal a day for a dog instead of two seems to bestow health benefits including gastrointestinal, dental, orthopedic, kidney/urinary, and liver/pancreas conditions. The study, conducted by the Dog Aging Project, looked at data from over 24,000 dogs did not look at the type of food fed, sadly.

Now, MASSIVE CAVEAT here - you can't just slash the QUANTITY of food fed to a dog without a little prior consideration.

For example, complete dry food is made to MINIMUM standards. And they can't even manage to provide that. Studies show us 2/3 of complete dry dog food sold in the UK (and 94% of complete cans) fail to provide the MINIMUM nutritional needs to your pet at the recommended dose!

So, if you feed 20% less of a junk food like that you WILL go into nutritional deficiency over time.

And "light" dry pet foods are worse again. Studies show they just jack up the indigestible component of the kibble with cellulose, like a runway model chewing tissue before a show. These light dry foods are shown to result in nutritional deficiencies while leaving dogs hungry, massively increasing begging and scavenging behaviour.

The poor dogs starve on that crap.

For reasons known only to them, they insist on keeping the carb content up in these products! Does that make sense to you?! Like going to the gym on 50% bread rolls, as I keep saying. Yes, dogs in a cage can lose weight this way but when studies show simply replacing the carbs with more protein results in better weight loss endpoints (more weight loss WITH retention of LEAN body mass, crucial to the whole thing) why would you go any other way?

For overweight dogs fed real food it's much easier - you need to ensure your meaty mixes are lean, 3 or 4 parts protein to fat. That's the first step to slashing calorie intake - smarter meat inclusions / dodging crap, cheap, fatty raw dog food. At that, with careful attention on the treat end of things, the weight will slowly come off, lean muscle mass will stay in place and nutrients will stay topped up (they’re in the red meaty bit…).

Only with food and treats addressed in that manner can you think about reducing the amount of food fed to an overweight pet.

Once you have done that by 10%, 15% then say 20% (measure twice monthly), with no improvement after a few months, get the thyroid checked.

03/14/2025

03/10/2025

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/raw-pet-food-is-distributed-nationwide-avian-flu-cases-are-not/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI7sSRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUQ31Osr95IOu__lbyKV11qlBysW7tyNnuN7FMy95vK8fI7GgO_OQmtFOg_aem_YhLTs7WGN-HawuMEZ6hVKg

Data that pet food regulatory authorities are not talking about.

03/01/2025

https://youtu.be/NiskcS4yn9E?si=4-j_SD9HBOwS4CtD

Let's get the conversation started! Here is a fun and satirical song that I made for you. Dog owners, please share your experiences with the Leptospirosis va...

02/28/2025

https://academic.oup.com/tas/article/doi/10.1093/tas/txae163/7908844?login=false

This study aimed to increase the knowledge base of dog foods differing in processing type. It determined the apparent total tract macronutrient digestibili

02/28/2025

https://solutionspetproducts.com/the-role-of-fermented-foods-lactic-acid-bacteria-and-their-metabolites-incombating-viral-infections-and-supporting-the-immune-system/

[…]

02/20/2025

We’re not about to get into a debate about the types of vet practices around, but you’ll likely find differences in prices depending on where you go for puppy

02/13/2025

https://truthaboutpetfood.com/how-its-made-the-most-common-animal-ingredient-in-dry-pet-foods/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIaKENleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVRnzdJHUxEW-itXrh0mySSpnJK3maddJHnrFtAecKEiiIr1gm74YluREw_aem_PHu4oWATZQoHfOGCcnBLxw

What you need to know about chicken meal, beef meal...

02/05/2025

https://youtu.be/VaVC3PAWqLk?si=7TgxwQ_ie4jMgRPh

Dr Thomas Seyfried is a Professor of biology, genetics, and biochemistry at Boston College. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is also the author...

02/04/2025

https://animaldietformulator.com/blog/ground-flaxseed-how-much-can-we-and-our-companion-animals-safely-eat

Crushed or ground flaxseed produces cyanide, which is a toxin that can bind to proteins in cells and inhibit cellular energy production. This is a concern for pet food formulators, who should carefully evaluate their flaxseed for cyanide toxicity.

01/14/2025

THE ONGOING DECLINE IN THE HEALTH OF CATS AND DOGS

Over the past 40 years, the health of cats and dogs has declined. A 2024 study of 40,000 dogs shows that their health is now three times worse than it was 40 years ago. This really stands out to me because, growing up in the 1970s, I clearly remember that the dogs and cats from my childhood and early adulthood were much healthier and didn’t have many of the health problems we see today.

When I was growing up and in my early adulthood, I remember most of the dogs, even large breeds, in our community living into their teens, and cats often living for decades.

Just like human medicine, veterinary medicine has made great progress thanks to the education, experience and dedication of those in the field.

THE ONGOING DECLINE IN THE HEALTH OF CATS AND DOGS

Studies show that the genetics of cats and dogs can strongly affect how long they live and how likely they are to get certain diseases, just like in humans. This could be partly caused by irresponsible breeding driven by ignorance or greed. Responsible breeding of cats is even less common. The reality is, dogs are mostly bred for their looks or behavior (temperament), not for their health or ability to live a long life.

Environmental factors are important: If something isn’t good for humans, it’s likely even worse for cats and dogs! Common things in our environment today, like lawn treatments, pesticides, air fresheners, detergents, and many other chemicals that didn’t exist 40 years ago, are definitely contributing to health problems. This affects humans, but it’s even more significant for the health and lifespan of our cats and dogs. Just like with humans, not getting enough exercise can lead to poorer health and a shorter lifespan. In fact, even a long daily walk might not be enough for dogs. Most cats are also not active enough.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT – CATS AND DOGS ARE WHAT THEY EAT

What we feed our pets and what we allow them to consume is just as important as any other factor. Fortunately, we have the most control over what our cats and dogs eat and how we nourish them with biologically appropriate, species-specific nutrition.

Unlike humans, our cats and dogs rely entirely on us to decide what they eat. Their health, happiness, and lifespan depend on the choices we make for them, which is why it’s crucial to seriously think about nutrition.
In human nutrition, we know that junk food—like Twinkies—isn’t good for us, even if it’s readily available at the store.

Humans often choose healthy foods like salads, thinking they're making the best choice for their health. However, salads can have risks like harmful bacteria, pesticides, and too much dressing that adds extra sugars and fats. Similarly, dogs and cats that eat processed pet food might unknowingly be exposed to hidden sugars, highly processed fats, and potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the label. While processed pet food is marketed as healthy, it often lacks the quality we expect and may contain harmful ingredients. Both humans and pets can fall short of getting the full health benefits they expect, even with good intentions.

The pet food industry often promotes processed products as the healthiest option. Advertisements and shiny labels with pictures of whole meats, fruits, and vegetables are common. However, the truth is that most pet foods are rarely made from real whole foods. They are usually made from synthetic vitamins and waste products from the human food chain. To make things worse, it’s very difficult to figure out what’s really in most foods for cats and dogs.

While many informed pet owners are advocating for feeding real, whole, fresh foods to cats and dogs, most of the pet food and veterinary industries promote processed products. The pet food and veterinary industries downplay the nutritional significance of real, whole foods and demand that kibble and canned food are the only safe options.

It's important to note that two large companies make over 90% of all pet food on the market. One of these same companies also owns more than 50% of all veterinary practices in the U.S.

References:

Ogden, L. E. (2022, July 27). Inside the brains of aging dogs. Knowable Magazine. https://doi.org/10.1146/knowable-072622-1. Retrieved August 10, 2022.

Dog Aging Project. (n.d.). Our team. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://dogagingproject.org

Matchar, E. (2016, August 29). The Dog Aging Project wants to help your pet live longer. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2017, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com

Harmon, A. (2016, May 16). Dogs test drugs aimed at humans' biggest killer: Age. The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com

Vogelsang, J. (n.d.). Rapamycin: A real fountain of youth? veterinarynews.360dvm.com. UBM Life Sciences, Veterinary. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://veterinarynews.360dvm.com

Golbeck, J. (2015, April 3). Sick as a dog? Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://slate.com

Doughton, S. (2014, November 2). UW scientists seek to extend dogs' lives with anti-aging drug. The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.seattletimes.com

Filler, L. (2016, May 18). It's a dog's life. That could be great. Newsday. Retrieved June 9, 2017, from https://www.newsday.com

Kim, A. (2019, November 15). Wanted: 10,000 dogs for the largest-ever study on aging in canines. CNN. Warner Media. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com

01/12/2025

02/26/2024

Animal and veterinary products make up 6% of FDA recalls:

Most recalled items by the FDA are food and beverages, making up 64 percent, followed by drugs at 22 percent, animal and veterinary products at 6 percent, medical devices at 4 percent, dietary supplements at 2 percent and cosmetics at 1 percent, with allergens being the most common reason behind FDA recalls.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already issued 51 food-related recalls this year.

02/18/2024

https://www.facebook.com/DogsFirstIreland/posts/pfbid02JrHsdreqTwVFumCLt7synYf6kkLuE52jzFhsHdTsN3n6rcbjv9C8rHJYNDBiBnUgl
Researchers compared the health markers in client-owned dogs fed a raw diet to markers in dogs fed a high-quality extruded kibble.
To measure their health on the outside, they used a composite clinical health score, (CCS) of dental score + otitis score + integument (external health) score.
The raw-fed dogs scored significantly higher (as you might expect but now we have a study to prove it!).
To assess their health on the inside, they measured serum alkaline phosphatase activity, where an elevation is correlated with disease of the liver and bone, among others.
The raw-fed dogs scored significantly lower in the worrying markers than dry-fed dogs (while the dry-fed dogs were significantly higher they were still within accepted boundaries).
They also measured their globulins levels. These are antibodies. They are elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and some cancers. You don't want them raised.
In the dry-fed dogs, they were (again though, there were considered within accepted maximums).
In fact, in both cases, the p-value was less than 0.001 which means highly significant.
An almost complete whitewash.
Interestingly, the raw-fed dogs had more lymphocytes, raised when fighting infection, which was just about significant with a p-value of 0.05.
There were only 25 dogs in each group. The authors note more research is urgently needed to determine the impact of diet processing and nutrient content on canine health.
That was 3 years ago.
Wouldn't you think a veterinary department somewhere would have repeated this study using a lot more dogs by now?! Just in case they were recommending a product that was making the world's dogs ill?
Sadly, comparing the health of fresh and dry-fed dogs is not something the veterinary industry has any interest in doing.
Mad, eh?!
Let's recap the score for them:
3 studies showing raw meaty bones SAFELY clean teeth
2 studies show dry-fed dogs have more inflammatory markers
2 studies showing dry-fed dogs suffer more gut disease
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more atopy (skin disease)
1 study showing dry-fed dogs have more histamine release in the skin layers.
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more ear disease
1 study showing raw-fed dogs are healthier
1 study showing raw-fed dogs see the vets less
ZERO studies suggesting dry dog food is better for any health condition whatsoever.
Hard to get away from that last one.
Add to these awkward facts - KIBBLE poisons far more humans with Salmonella than raw dog food (the majority of them toddlers under two years of age) and the fact complete dry dog food has killed tens of thousands of dogs and cats over multiple instances in the last few decades alone (complete raw dog and cat food? Less than 10 pets) and you have to wonder.....the veterinary industry recommends against feeding pets real food beecaaaause...
"More research is needed more research is needed".....says absolutely nobody with half a brain.
Forgive, but never forget.
***
REF: Hiney et al. (2021). Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets. Journal of Animal Science, 99(6): 1–10
LINKED IN ARTICLE BELOW
Need more science on raw V dry debate? Check out my book Feeding Dogs, the top-rated manual on canine nutrition.
Want to jump straight in? Here's a handy free article on how to change your dog to real food
https://www.dogsfirst.ie/everything-about-raw-dog-food/
Want a mix of the two, the science and the how-to, then you can check out my popular masterclass on how to feed dogs here
https://www.drconorbrady.com/feeding-dogs-masterclass-1