When it comes to keeping dogs healthy for as long as possible, the internet can make it feel far more complicated than it needs to be.
One person says dogs need raw food. Another says they need fresh food. Someone else says they need supplements, bone broth, probiotics, kefir, turmeric, salmon oil, herbal powders or a completely grain-free diet.
But when we look at the bigger picture of canine health and longevity, the foundations are far simpler — and far more powerful.
Helping your dog live a long, healthy life is not about following the latest internet trend. It is not about one “perfect” way of feeding. It is not about adding every supplement possible. It is about consistently meeting your dog’s basic health needs, day after day.
As a canine nutrition expert, these are the five things I always get my clients to focus on first.
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Feed a complete and balanced diet
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Feed for your dog’s life stage
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Keep an eye on their weight
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Support regular, appropriate exercise
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Keep stressors as low as possible
These might sound simple, but they are some of the most important things we can do to support our dogs’ long-term health. These tips are scientifically backed to help longevity.
1. Feed a complete and balanced diet
The first and most important nutrition goal is simple: your dog’s diet needs to be complete and balanced.
A complete and balanced diet is designed to provide all the essential nutrients your dog needs in the correct amounts. This includes protein, fat, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace nutrients.
In the UK and Europe, many pet foods are formulated to meet FEDIAF nutritional guidelines. In the United States, you will often see foods formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional profiles. These guidelines are there to help make sure dogs receive the nutrients they need for health and wellbeing.
This matters because dogs do not just need “good ingredients”. They need the right nutrients in the right amounts.
A bowl of chicken, rice and vegetables may look healthy, but if it has not been properly formulated, it is very unlikely to be complete and balanced long term. It may be missing key nutrients such as calcium, iodine, zinc, manganese, vitamin D, vitamin E or essential fatty acids.
That does not mean dogs cannot eat home-cooked food. They absolutely can. But home-cooked diets need to be properly formulated, usually with added calcium and other nutrients, to meet the dog’s requirements.
Equally, it does not mean one format of food is automatically better than another. A complete and balanced dry food, wet food, gently cooked food or properly formulated home-cooked diet can all be appropriate. The most important question is not “Is it raw, fresh, wet or dry?” The most important question is:
Does this diet meet MY dog’s nutritional needs?
This is where dog owners can get pulled into trends through advertising. We are often told that dogs need to eat a certain way to be healthy — raw, grain-free, fresh, high meat, low carbohydrate, ancestral or “natural”. But health does not come from a label. It comes from nutritional adequacy, digestibility, suitability and consistency.
If your dog has a health condition, such as pancreatitis, kidney disease, allergies, reflux, IBD, liver disease, obesity or chronic diarrhoea, it is even more important to get diet choice right. In these cases, work with your vet or a qualified canine nutrition professional before making major diet changes.
2. Feed for your dog’s life stage
Dogs need different nutrition at different stages of life. A growing large breed puppy does not have the same nutritional needs as a healthy adult dog. A senior dog may not have the same needs as a young, active adult. A pregnant or lactating dog has very different requirements again.
This is why life-stage feeding is so important.
Puppies need diets that support steady growth, bone development, muscle development, brain development and immune function. They need the right amount of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients. This is especially important for large-breed puppies, where inappropriate calcium or calorie intake can contribute to growth and joint problems.
Adult dogs need a diet that helps them maintain a healthy body condition and supports everyday health. For many dogs, this means feeding a complete adult maintenance diet in the right amount.
Senior dogs vary hugely. Some older dogs are still active and healthy. Others may have arthritis, dental disease, reduced appetite, kidney disease, digestive issues or muscle loss. There is no single “senior diet” that suits every older dog, but their diet should match their health, activity level and body condition.
This is one reason I am cautious about blanket feeding advice. Saying “all dogs should eat this” ignores the fact that dogs are individuals. I am also cautious of feeding a “all life stages” diet. There is no “one diet fits all” approach but there is complete and not complete.
A Chihuahua puppy, a working Labrador, a neutered middle-aged Spaniel, a senior Greyhound and a dog recovering from pancreatitis do not all need the same diet or the same calorie intake.
Feeding for life stage also means reviewing your dog’s food as they change. The food that suited your dog as a puppy may not be right when they are neutered. The food that suited them as a young adult may need adjusting if they become less active, gain weight or develop a health condition.
A good rule is to reassess your dog’s diet at key points: puppyhood, neutering, adulthood, senior years, weight changes, activity changes and after any diagnosis.
Helpful read: Feeding Senior Dogs — The Canine Dietitian
3. Keep an eye on your dog’s weight
If there is one thing that can make a huge difference to your dog’s long-term health, it is maintaining a healthy body weight.
We often talk about food quality, ingredients and supplements, but weight management is one of the most important health tools we have.
Dogs who carry excess weight are at increased risk of joint strain, reduced mobility, breathing difficulties, poor heat tolerance and a lower quality of life. Excess weight can also make existing conditions worse, especially arthritis, spinal disease and respiratory conditions.
Weight gain usually happens slowly. A little extra food here, a few treats there, a chew after dinner, leftovers from the children, a lick mat, a dental stick, a bit of cheese for tablets — it all adds up. Lots of things can contribute to weight gain as well. Your dog has been neutered and you are still feeding them the same amount, they have had a ninjury and have not been exercising or you stopped weighing their food and treat portions.
This does not mean treats are bad. Treats can be part of a healthy life. They help with training, enrichment, bonding and enjoyment. But they need to be counted as part of the overall diet.
As a guide, treats should usually make up no more than around 10% of your dog’s daily calories, unless your vet or nutrition professional has advised otherwise.
This is where lower-calorie, easy-to-portion treats can be helpful. Soopa treats are plant-based and can be used as part of a sensible treat routine. For smaller dogs or dogs watching their waistline, you can break treats into smaller pieces and use them for training, enrichment or as an occasional chew.
My Soopa top Pick: Mango and Raspberry Soopa Healthy Bites
It is also important to body condition score your dog regularly. You should be able to feel their ribs without pressing hard, see a waist from above, and see a tummy tuck from the side. If you are unsure, ask your vet practice to help you assess your dog’s body condition.
Try not to rely only on weight on the scales. A healthy weight for one dog may not be right for another, even within the same breed.
Keeping your dog lean is not about restricting them unfairly. It is about protecting their joints, mobility, comfort and long-term wellbeing.
Helpful read: Weight Loss for Dogs — The Canine Dietitian
4. Exercise where possible
Movement matters.
Regular, appropriate exercise supports your dog’s muscles, joints, cardiovascular health, digestion, mental wellbeing and weight management. It can also help reduce boredom and provide opportunities for sniffing, exploring and enrichment.
But exercise should always be appropriate for the individual dog.
A young, fit working breed may need far more activity than a senior dog with arthritis. A brachycephalic dog may need careful exercise management in warm weather. A dog recovering from surgery may need controlled movement. A puppy needs exercise that supports healthy development without overdoing repetitive strain.
The goal is not to exhaust your dog. The goal is to support healthy, regular movement that suits their age, breed, body condition, health and fitness level.
For some dogs, this might be long walks, hiking, running, agility or swimming. For others, it might be several shorter walks, gentle sniffing, controlled lead exercise, physiotherapy-led movement or indoor enrichment.
Exercise also helps with calorie balance. A dog who eats more calories than they use will gain weight over time. But we should be careful not to use exercise as the only solution for weight gain. For most overweight dogs, food portions and treats still need to be reviewed.
Exercise and nutrition work together. A dog needs enough energy and protein to support their body, but not so much that they gain excess weight. This balance may change over time.
Soopa treats can be useful for active dogs too, especially as training rewards during walks, scent games or enrichment activities. Small pieces can be used to reward recall, loose lead walking, calm behaviour or confidence-building.
The best exercise routine is the one your dog can do comfortably and consistently.
5. Keep stressors as low as possible
Stress has a huge impact on dogs.
Just like humans, dogs can be affected by chronic stress. This may come from pain, anxiety, lack of sleep, household tension, over-exercise, under-stimulation, noise sensitivity, unpredictable routines, conflict with other pets, separation distress, digestive discomfort or repeated exposure to situations they find frightening.
Stress does not just affect behaviour. It can influence appetite, digestion, sleep, immune function, skin, gut health and overall wellbeing.
Some dogs show stress clearly. They may bark, pant, pace, hide, tremble, refuse food, become reactive or struggle to settle. Others are more subtle. They may lick their lips, yawn, turn away, eat grass, become fussy, have softer stools, become clingy or seem “naughty” when they are actually overwhelmed.
Keeping stressors low does not mean wrapping dogs in cotton wool. It means understanding what your dog can cope with and helping them feel safe, secure and supported. Check out our how to keep your dog calm blog
This might include:
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A predictable feeding routine
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A quiet place to rest
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Enough sleep
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Gentle handling
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Positive training methods
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Avoiding repeated exposure to scary situations
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Managing pain properly
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Giving dogs time to sniff and decompress
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Feeding in a calm environment
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Reducing conflict around food, toys or resting spaces
Stress can also affect eating. Some dogs become fussy when they feel anxious, nauseous, painful or unsettled. Others eat too quickly or scavenge more when they are stressed.
If your dog has ongoing appetite changes, digestive symptoms, behaviour changes or signs of discomfort, it is worth speaking to your vet.
What does not guarantee a healthier dog?
This is the part we need to talk about more.
A longer, healthier life is not guaranteed by feeding raw. It is not guaranteed by feeding fresh. It is not guaranteed by avoiding grains, adding supplements, using expensive toppers or following whatever is trending on social media.
Some dogs do brilliantly on dry food. Some do well on wet food. Some thrive on fresh food. Some need veterinary diets. Some need carefully formulated home-cooked food. Some need therapeutic nutrition because they have medical conditions.
There is no single best diet for every dog.
What matters most is that the diet is complete, balanced, suitable for the dog’s life stage, appropriate for their health, fed in the right amount and tolerated well by that individual dog.
Supplements can be helpful in specific situations, but they are not a replacement for a balanced diet. More is not always better. Adding unnecessary supplements can sometimes unbalance the diet or add nutrients your dog does not need.
The basics may not sound exciting, but they are powerful:
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Feed a complete and balanced diet
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Feed for life stage
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Keep your dog lean
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Support appropriate movement
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Reduce chronic stress where possible
These are the habits that support long-term health.
Final thoughts
Keeping your dog as healthy as possible is not about perfection. It is about consistency.
You do not need to follow every trend. You do not need to feel guilty if your dog eats kibble. You do not need to add a cupboard full of supplements to prove you care.
Focus on the foundations first.
Feed a diet that meets your dog’s nutritional needs. Choose food that suits their life stage and health. Keep an eye on their weight. Help them move in a way that feels good for their body. Keep their stress levels as low as possible.
And when treats are part of the routine, choose them thoughtfully. Soopa treats can fit beautifully into a healthy lifestyle because they are plant-based, easy to portion and designed to support happy dogs without overcomplicating treat time.
