What Do Dogs Eat: Balanced Diet Guidelines for Optimal Health

Feeding your dog well starts with the basics. Choose a complete, balanced food for the right life stage. Measure meals. You should feel ribs without pressing. Weight should hold steady. Energy should be even through the day. Keep fresh water on hand and change it daily. Get those habits right and you will avoid most diet issues.

In this detailed guide, you will see what a balanced diet includes, how to choose the right food, and a simple feeding routine you can use at home.

What a balanced diet actually means for your pup

A good diet covers growth, repair, steady energy, and immune defence. Most complete commercial foods are formulated and tested. Follow the feeding guide to get the result they promise.

Dogs need water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fibre. They also need vitamins and minerals. Put water first. Keep a clean bowl topped up and change it daily. Vitamins and minerals are needed in tiny amounts. Balance matters. Do not add supplements unless your vet recommends it.

Protein supplies essential amino acids the body cannot make. Choose foods with quality protein and check the protein percentage on the analysis panel. Amount matters, but digestibility matters more.

Fat is a dense source of energy. It also provides essential fatty acids for healthy skin, a glossy coat, and strong cells. Carbohydrates and fibre support energy and gut health. Choose moderately fermentable fibre such as beet pulp and some brans. This helps gut bacteria without causing gas.

Reading the label and choosing food

Start with food that says complete and balanced for the right life stage. That line means the recipe meets recognised nutrient profiles or passed feeding trials. Next, read the ingredient list and the nutrition panel. Ingredients are listed by weight at mixing. Fresh meat carries a lot of water, so a cereal listed first can still sit in a well balanced diet. Look for solid quality control, clear contact details, and brands that publish feeding trials or use a veterinary nutrition team. Dry, canned, and fresh cooked foods can all work if they are balanced and fit your budget and routine.

If you want to cook at home, use a veterinary nutritionist recipe and follow it exactly. No swaps. No guessing. Getting calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals wrong can hurt bones and nerves. Raw diets raise the risk of germs for pets and people. If you are thinking about raw, have a chat with your vet about risk and hygiene before you start.

What to Feed Your Dog During Certain Ages

Puppies

Puppies grow fast. They need energy dense food with controlled calcium and phosphorus. Pick a puppy recipe that matches breed size. Large breed pups do best on growth diets that slow growth and protect joints and bones. Feed small frequent meals to suit small stomachs. From 8 to 12 weeks, 3 to 4 meals work well. Check stool quality, weight, and body condition each week. Do not add extra calcium or meat to a balanced puppy diet.

Adults

Adult dogs need enough kilojoules to hold an ideal body condition score. Most do well on 2 meals a day. Working breeds and very active dogs may need more. Indoor pets usually need less than the label guide. Review the amount every few weeks and adjust in small steps. Treats count toward the daily total. Use tiny pieces for training so rewards do not push calories too high.

Seniors

Older dogs often need fewer kilojoules. They still need good quality protein to keep muscle. Choose foods with useful antioxidants. Ask your vet about prebiotic fibre if age related gut changes show up. Watch teeth, joints, and kidney function at regular checks. Fine tune the diet as needs change.

How much and how often

Portion size is best guided by body condition. Ribs should be easy to feel without pressing, there should be a visible waist from above, and a gentle tummy tuck from the side. Use these steps to set and adjust feeding.

1. Start with the package guide for your dog’s current weight and life stage. If there is a range, choose the middle value.
2. After two weeks, assess body condition and energy. If weight is creeping up, reduce the daily amount by 10 percent. If bones are sharp or energy is low, increase by 10 percent.
3. Recheck every two weeks until the condition is stable. Move to monthly checks once you have a steady routine.
   
   

Most adult dogs eat two meals per day. Puppies may need three or four meals. Senior dogs often prefer two smaller meals to reduce stomach load. Always provide fresh water and avoid hard exercise for at least an hour after a large meal, especially for deep chested breeds that are prone to bloat.

Safe foods and foods to avoid

Plain cooked lean meats, cooked pumpkin or carrot, and a little plain rice can be used as toppers or during short stomach upsets if your vet agrees. Tinned fish in spring water is fine as an occasional treat. Keep extras small and irregular so they do not unbalance the main diet. Some human foods are dangerous and should never be offered.

Never feed

• Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol, macadamia nuts, alcohol, mouldy foods, raw dough, cooked bones, fruit stones, and unpasteurised dairy.
  
  

If you use dental chews or training treats, read the energy value and include it in the day’s total. If weight control is a priority, use part of the daily kibble as treats or choose very low energy options such as small pieces of cooked carrot.

Commercial, fresh, and homemade options

Dry food is convenient, cost effective and stores well. Some formulas are designed to help reduce plaque. Canned food has higher moisture and suits dogs that benefit from extra water. Fresh cooked diets have clear labels and short storage lives and can be a good fit for households that want simple ingredients. All can be healthy choices when they are balanced and handled safely. Homemade diets can also work when they are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and prepared to the recipe every time. Raw feeding remains a debated topic. The key point is risk. Raw meats and organs can carry Salmonella and Listeria, which can make pets and people sick. If you decide to feed raw, strict hygiene and safe storage are essential and you should discuss risk control with your vet.

Treats, extras, and supplements

Treats should not exceed 10 percent of daily calories. If you train often, use very small rewards or repurpose part of the ration for training. Most dogs on complete diets do not need extra vitamins. Adding random powders can push vitamins or minerals into unsafe ranges. If your dog has itchy skin, stiff joints, or a sensitive stomach, ask your vet before adding fish oil, joint supplements or probiotics. The dose and the product quality matter as much as the idea.

Feeding for activity and behaviour

Food is only part of a healthy routine. Activity, sleep, and training shape appetite and digestion. Working dogs and very active pets often need more total energy and a higher proportion of fat and protein. Rest days need smaller portions. Pair feeding with mental and physical enrichment so energy is used in productive ways. If you have a new pup, Puppy to Dog School puppy preschool is an ideal start. It sets calm mealtime routines, builds impulse control around food, and helps pups learn polite behaviour with people and other dogs. For energetic dogs that crave a job, our agility training adds structured exercise and focus. It supports a lean body and gives a safe outlet for drive, which reduces the risk of overfeeding through boredom.

Switching diets without stomach upsets

Change food slowly. A gradual switch gives the gut time to adjust and reduces the chance of diarrhoea.

1. Over five to seven days, mix the new food with the old. Start at 25 percent new for two days, then 50 percent for two days, then 75 percent new before moving to 100 percent.
   
   
2. If stools soften, pause at the current mix for two more days. Add a spoon of cooked pumpkin if your vet agrees. Resume the progression once stools are normal.
   
   

If vomiting, lethargy or blood in stool appears at any stage, stop the change and call your vet.

Common situations and simple fixes

Fussy eater. Check teeth and rule out pain. Offer measured meals and remove the bowl after twenty minutes if untouched. Avoid constant grazing. Keep training treats tiny. Warm wet food slightly to improve aroma.

Weight gain. Confirm the amount fed with a kitchen scale. Reduce the daily total by 10 percent and increase daily walks. Use part of the ration for training instead of separate treats. Recheck weight in two weeks.

Loose stools. Review recent diet changes or rich table scraps. Offer a bland portion for one day if your vet agrees. Ensure water intake is steady. Seek veterinary advice if it persists, if there is blood, or if your dog seems unwell.

Allergies or intolerances. True food allergies are uncommon but do occur. Your vet may suggest a limited ingredient or hydrolysed diet trial. Follow the trial strictly and avoid all other foods during the test period.

Red flags that need a vet visit

Rapid weight loss or gain, a dull coat, constant diarrhoea or vomiting, marked thirst, sudden drop in appetite, bloated belly, or signs of pain when eating.

Putting it all together

Diet works best when it is simple, consistent and measured. Choose a complete and balanced food that fits your dog’s life stage and your household routine. Feed measured portions, keep treats small, and watch body condition rather than the bag alone. Pair feeding with training and activity. Use professionals when you need them. Your vet, a qualified nutritionist, and skilled trainers can help you personalise the plan. Small, steady improvements build long term health.

Sources

VCA Animal Hospitals. Nutrition and general feeding guidelines for dogs.
ASPCA. Dog nutrition tips and life stage guidance.
RSPCA Knowledgebase Australia. What should I feed my dog.
CDC Healthy Pets. Pet food safety and raw diet considerations.

‍