If you love your dog, this might be the most important thing you'll ever read on their behalf.
Overfeeding is the biggest health issue facing dogs in the western world. While many ailments exist, overfeeding is the number one cause of premature canine death, not because it’s listed as the cause, but because it leads to a slow decline in health that gets labelled as something else.
🛑 Why is Overfeeding So Dangerous?
Dogs need 22 amino acids, 13 vitamins, and 14 minerals, all in the right amounts. Yet, it's shocking how rarely this is mentioned, even by so-called experts. As a canine nutritionist, I find it baffling that many vets don’t highlight this either. 🤯
Let’s pause for a moment. If every dog in the country ate the perfect diet, exercised correctly, and drank enough water, what would happen? 🧐
As a canine nutritionist, it would be wonderful. If people fed their dogs right, I’d have healthier customers for longer. But think about it, what would happen to a veterinary practice’s profits? 🤔
Food for thought... but back to the real issue. Overfeeding is a massive problem.
❓ Why is Overfeeding So Harmful?
We all agree that meat is great for dogs, right? But in the western world, we often take that logic too far, thinking, “More meat must be even better!”
⚠️ This is the problem. A dog’s diet needs every essential nutrient, but it also needs them in the right amounts.
As a canine nutritionist, I often hear the argument that dogs in the wild would eat a lot of meat or even only meat. My response?
🔎 I’m prepared to accept this idea, but there’s a flaw in the logic. A domesticated dog is fed breakfast, dinner, and tea, or sometimes just two meals a day, with the odd person feeding once a day. But no matter the routine, domesticated dogs are fed seven days a week.
🐺 Wild dogs don’t have that luxury. They don’t wake up to a guaranteed meal. In the wild, which they haven’t been for generations. Dogs would go through periods of no food, sometimes for days or even weeks. This alone was nature’s built-in protection against overfeeding.
The only real difference between wild and domestic dogs is overfeeding. And whether it’s low-quality food or the very best on the market, overfeeding turns toxic inside a dog’s body.
A dog that is underfed can often recover quickly once their diet is corrected (provided no long-term damage has been done). But overfeeding? That’s an entirely different story.
Overfeeding is like a silent health crisis. Excess nutrients don’t just disappear, they build up inside the body:
- Kidneys 🩸
- Liver 🏥
- Heart ❤️
- Arteries 🏃♂️
- Joints 🦴
- Skin & Fur Complaints 🐕
Every single day, small amounts accumulate. And here’s the scary part... 🫣
Many overfed dogs look perfectly healthy on the outside! Their coat is shiny, they have energy, and they seem fine. But inside? All overfed dogs, without exception, are quietly suffering.
As the excess builds and builds, it eventually leads to a trip to the vet, followed by a hefty bill. Some dogs can live for years with these hidden problems, others can’t. But one thing is for sure: they are in discomfort, and they can’t tell you.
🏥 The Hidden Dangers of Nutrient Overload
Regardless of food quality or rating, overfeeding can cause severe discomfort and long-term damage. Let’s take just one example: Vitamin A.
🔬 Vitamin A is essential for: ✔️ Healthy vision 👀 ✔️ Immune function 🦠 ✔️ Growth & development 🐶
But here’s the catch, too much Vitamin A doesn’t just “flush out” through urination or exercise. It accumulates in the body and causes damage over time. The more you overfeed, the faster this happens.
💡 And it’s not just Vitamin A. Other nutrients that build up include:
✔️ Vitamin D – Excess can lead to calcium deposits in organs and kidney damage.
✔️ Iron – Stored iron can overload the liver and cause toxicity.
✔️ Copper – Excess builds up in the liver, potentially leading to copper storage disease.
✔️ Phosphorus – Too much can lead to kidney disease, especially in older dogs.
✔️ Fat-Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K) – Unlike water-soluble vitamins, these do not flush out and can cause long-term toxicity.
✔️ Excess Protein – When overfed, it strains the kidneys and liver, leading to waste accumulation in the body.
✔️ Excess Fat – Leads to obesity, pancreatitis, and arterial damage.
💡 Even high-quality food can cause harm if overfed. Throw in treats, scraps from the table, and suddenly, your kind intentions are making things worse.
Many dogs react badly to being overfed with one particular element of nutrition. This is when owners incorrectly assume:
🚨 “My dog’s got an allergy!” 🚨
❌ No, it hasn’t. It’s got a poor diet, and its body is screaming for help!
Canine nutrition must be fed in its entirety, that means 22 amino acids, 13 vitamins, and 14 minerals in the right amounts. This is only possible with a serious rotation plan and caution when adding extras to the diet.
🔄 How to Prevent Overfeeding
✅ Rotate Your Dog’s Food – Rotating proteins within the same brand prevents excessive build-up of specific nutrients. If one bag is slightly low in an amino acid, the next bag balances it out. Overloading is far worse than missing something occasionally.
✅ Measure Portions Correctly – Eyeballing food amounts is a recipe for disaster. Use a scale. Know what your dog needs, and stick to it.
✅ Know Your Dog’s Weight – Without knowing your dog's exact weight, you’re only guessing at how much to feed. This is a huge part of the problem.
✅ Always Start at the Low End of the Range – Every feeding guide has a range. Always, always start at the lowest amount and adjust if necessary. Overfeeding begins when people assume their dog needs the higher end without real evidence.
✅ Limit Treats – Every extra bite adds up. A “little extra” every day turns into a big problem over time.
✅ Monitor Your Dog’s Weight & Health – A healthy-looking dog can still be suffering internally. Keep an eye on energy levels, movement, and behaviour.
Ignoring this issue is why veterinary waiting rooms are always full.
🐾 Be the hero your dog thinks you are. Their health is in your hands. ❤️
📩 If you need help, contact us. It’s what we do best!