Pet parents often seek food specific to their dog's age, whether they are a puppy, an adult, or a senior. Here at Raw Dog Food and Company, we believe food is food regardless of your dog's age.

The idea of life-stage food comes from pet food labeling requirements, where labels must indicate the life stage(s) for which the food is appropriate (e.g., growth, adult maintenance, all life stages), and the nutritional adequacy statement must specify whether the food is "complete and balanced." All of this is marketing mumbo jumbo.

Can one food provide everything to all dogs?

Dogs are individuals; no two dogs are the same, and we can't possibly know what every dog needs down to the macro and micronutrients. That means advertising a food that meets the requirements of all dogs is a lie. The industry gets away with this because the labeling laws only require food to meet the minimum requirements, so an "all-life stage" food formulated to meet the needs of puppies technically meets the needs of older dogs because an older dog won't need more nutrients than a puppy. At least, that is what the pet food industry wants you to believe.  

Beef Blend (HPP)

More nutrients as dogs age not less

One of the most common myths the pet food industry perpetuates is that dogs need less protein as they age. Human doctors will preach the opposite because maintaining muscle mass is key to overall health, especially as we age. As bodies age (whether human or dog,) they become less efficient at synthesizing protein, so increasing protein intake makes sense to everyone except your veterinarian, who gets their nutritional education from representatives of the pet food industry. Why would it be necessary to convince pet parents that dogs, and only dogs, need less protein as they age?

Less protein in "senior" food means the product can be made cheaper. For instance, "Puppy" food, needing more calories, can be loaded with cheap fillers and grains, but you're not going to want to take those cheap fillers out to make "senior." Instead, reduce something expensive like protein, and you can charge the same price for something you just reduced production costs of. You then use those savings to buy up all the veterinarian clinics because you need veterinarians to push narratives contrary to every other medical professional. It is easier to do when the veterinarians work for you. Do you see why labels are just marking mumbo jumbo now?

Puppies are still dogs, just smaller

Puppies grow very fast; calories and nutrients will support them during this rapid growth. More calories is not a different diet. Like any other dog, you still feed a puppy meat, bones, and organs. Whatever you are currently feeding can be supplemented with some nutrient-dense foods. Raw meaty bones, organs, and tripe are great examples. Beef mix (or any other blend) with a couple of duck feet and spoonfuls of organ blend and tripe, and you will have your "puppy food"; no marketing degree is required.

Regardless of age or size, your dog is still a carnivore who needs meat, bones, and organs to get nutrients. Don't be confused by clever marketing and fancy labels. When you feed real food, you're simplifying your dog's diet and making their nutritional needs much easier to understand and meet.