What Is Science-Based Dog Food? And Is It Right for Your Pet?

First, let’s look at a dog’s basic nutritional needs. They include:

• Proteins: Protein is essential for muscle development, immune function, and tissue repair. Dogs require adequate high-quality protein from sources such as meat, fish, and eggs.
• Fats: Fats provide energy and support cell membrane health. Essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6, are also crucial for brain and coat health.
• Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates supply energy and fiber. These aren’t considered essential nutrients—in other words, your dog could be healthy without them—but they are beneficial for promoting gut health and keeping digestion regular.
• Vitamins: Your dog’s body needs vitamins to carry out various metabolic functions. Some of the most important vitamins are A, D, E, K, and B-complex, but others are also beneficial in appropriate amounts.
• Minerals: Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium (as well as other trace minerals) are necessary for bone health, nerve function, and various physiological processes.
• Water: While water is not technically a component of dog food, it’s worth mentioning, because your dog cannot live without it. Water is essential for adequate hydration and to keep your pup’s body functioning properly.

While these are general guidelines, nutrition can be complex, and different dog breeds can have varying nutritional needs based on size, life stage, activity level, and health predispositions.

• Large breeds, for example, need controlled calcium levels during growth to prevent skeletal problems.
• Small breeds require more calorie-dense food due to their higher metabolic rates.
• Working dogs and highly active dogs need more calories and protein than less active breeds, according to Joanne Fernandez-Lopez, DVM, a veterinarian in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A well-balanced diet for your dog includes appropriate proportions of the essential nutrients listed above, specifically tailored to your dog’s life stage, activity level, health status, and breed characteristics.

So how do you find that balance? One way is through science-based dog foods.

Science-based dog foods are high-quality foods that are based on research and created with advanced nutrient profiles that are optimized for life stage, lifestyle, and sometimes pet conditions, according to Katy Nelson, DVM, associate director of veterinary relations for Chewy Health.

Science-based dog foods are created with the help of nutritionists, veterinarians, and scientists who work together to accomplish two major goals:

1. Maintain high standards for quality control and consistency to deliver essential nutrients to your pets
2. Make sure the food tastes good to your pup

But how do you know if a dog food is science-based? Aren’t they all? Unfortunately, no, they aren’t.

To determine whether the food is nutritionally adequate, Dr. Nelson suggests following the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) nutritional guidelines, which recommend that the food is:

• Developed by a team of veterinary nutritionists and food scientists (ideally including someone who has a master’s degree or a doctorate in animal nutrition).
• Formulated to meet or exceed Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines: The AAFCO doesn’t regulate food directly, but it does provide rigorous nutrient and safety standards to guide dog food formulation. If a food meets these standards, the packaging will usually indicate something like, “This food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.”
• Labeled to show that it provides a complete diet with all required nutrients.
• Tested through controlled feeding trials: The label might specify whether the food was tested in life-stage feeding trials to meet AAFCO requirements.
• Manufactured under strict quality-control measures.
• Backed by peer-reviewed research: This can take some digging, but it can be helpful to do some research to see whether the dog food you’re considering for your pet has been involved in any testing or clinical trials.

Transparency is also important. Look for contact information on the package and an easy way to reach customer service to get any questions answered. If a brand is hesitant to provide this information or answer your questions, you might want to consider another food.

The specific food your dog needs depends on their age, size, and medical history, but our vet experts say some trusted brands have proven track records of leveraging clinical research and testing to formulate their foods.

These vet-recommended, science-based dog food brands include:

• Royal Canin®: Royal Canin does a lot of research into size-specific nutritional needs and offers many dog foods that cater to different size ranges. They also offer breed-specific formulations. Royal Canin is great for breeds with specific health concerns, such as French Bulldogs and Pugs, according to Dr. Fernandez-Lopez.
• Hill’s® Science Diet: Hill’s Science Diet is known for providing precise nutrient levels and engaging in digestibility studies that ensure your dog can tolerate the food. The products are extensively researched, and the food is consistent in quality. Hill’s Science Diet is particularly good for dogs with a sensitive stomach, according to Dr. Fernandez-Lopez.
• Purina® Pro Plan®: Purina Pro Plan has a long history of nutritional research, combining advice from pet nutrition experts, researchers, and veterinarians to formulate their foods. They also offer a lot of options for specialized diets, such as hypoallergenic, sensitive stomach, and weight management Dr. Fernandez-Lopez says this brand is an especially good option for active dogs.
• Eukanuba®: This brand uses high-quality protein sources, and the formulations focus on providing support for your dog’s cognitive function and dental health. Eukanuba dog food is also optimized to support the higher nutritional needs of active dogs.

Science-based dog food is beneficial for all dogs. Feeding your dog this type of commercial dog food helps ensure they receive proper nutrition to support their health, growth, and development.

That said, science-based diets are particularly crucial for:

• Puppies during critical growth periods
• Senior dogs with changing nutritional needs
• Dogs with health conditions or specific dietary requirements
• Breeds prone to genetic health issues, such as German Shepherds, Bulldogs, and Labrador Retrievers
• Pregnant or nursing females