New study reveals link between owner demographics and dog nutrition

Dog owners have a great deal of control over their pets’ diets, and many have strong opinions about what kind of diet is best for their friend’s dog.

But a new study by researchers at Texas A&M University’s Dog Aging Project (DAP) and Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine shows that the reasons why owners choose certain diets for their dogs vary widely, and the owners’ age It turns out that it makes a bigger difference. income and education level.

DAP is a community, scientist-led, collaborative research project that enrolls companion dogs of all backgrounds across the United States to study the effects of aging and what contributes to long, healthy lives in dogs. This is done to gain a deeper understanding of the Many of its research projects have led to studies that inform not only canine health but also human health, and more than 50,000 dogs are now enrolled in the program.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, DAP researchers surveyed more than 40,000 dog owners based on their income, education, age, and whether they lived in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. We collected information about This is in addition to previously collected dog demographic information, including breed, size, age, diet, and whether each dog has been seen by a veterinarian for an annual health check. did.

“We found that owner demographics play a much more important role in a dog’s dietary choices than we previously thought,” says Dr. M., a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and internist at Texas A&M College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. , said Dr. Katie Tolbert, associate professor. Small Animal Clinical Sciences Division of Science.

“We sometimes conduct research related to dog demographic factors, such as breed, size, and age. These factors are thought to influence the diet that owners feed their dogs.” Tolbert said. “But if you don’t consider owner demographics, you may not be seeing the whole picture.

“For example, we found that older pets are more likely to be fed canned or home-cooked meals than younger animals,” she says. “Without considering the owner, we might think this choice was a result of the dog’s age. But now older dogs are more likely to have older owners, and dogs are more likely to There is data to suggest that you may be making decisions based on beliefs that “is a healthier choice for your dog, regardless of his age.” ”

In another example, the research team found that some owners may choose their dog’s diet based on the dog’s lifestyle or geographic location.

“For example, while the majority of dogs are fed kibble, regardless of their size or geographic location, highly active dogs, working dogs, and dogs living in rural environments may “We found that they were more likely to be fed homemade raw or cooked food when given something other than kibble,” Tolbert said. “In contrast, dogs that were sedentary or lived in urban areas were more likely to be fed canned, commercially prepared, or homemade diets when fed anything other than kibble.

“The aim of this study was to show that information about both the dog and its owner needs to be considered when evaluating the reasons for feeding a dog a certain diet,” she says. “This allows us to continue to support your dog’s health with the most accurate information possible.”

DAP currently enrolls pet dogs from all 50 states, including young and old, mixed and purebred, healthy and chronically ill dogs.