Study links owner demographics and canine nutrition

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A recent study from the Dog Aging Project (DAP) at Texas A&M University and investigators at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine showed that when it comes to owners choosing diets for the dog, owner age makes a bigger difference than education or income of the owner.

The study, published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association,² collected information from more than 40,000 dog owners regarding their age, education, income, and if they live in a rural, suburban, or urban environment. The data collected from owners was in addition to dog demographic information that was collected, where researchers asked about the pet's age, breed, diet, size, and whether or not the dog attended annual wellness visits with their veterinarian.

The findings showed that 82% of participating owners fed their dog a commercially prepared extruded dry diet as the primary component with 89% stating they fed their dog a consistent diet over time. When it came to demographic factors, income and education level were not as correlated with difference in diet choices, but owner age correlated with choice of food. When it came to younger owners, they tended to feed their dog more kibble compared to older owners.

“Sometimes we do studies related to dog demographic factors — like breed, size and age — that we think influence the diets that owners feed their dogs. But if we don’t consider the owner’s demographic factors, we might not be looking at a complete picture,” explained Katie Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM, Nutrition), an associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, in the release.¹

“For example, we found that older pets are more likely than younger animals to be fed a canned or home-cooked diet,” she said. “Without considering the owner, we might assume that this choice is a result of dog age. But now we have data suggesting that it might be that older dogs are more likely to have older owners, and they are making decisions based on what they believe are healthier choices for their dog that have nothing to do with the dog’s age,” she continued.

The findings also showed that highly active dogs, working dogs, or those living in rural environments were more likely to be fed home-prepared raw or cooked diets when fed something besides kibble. On the opposite side, dogs that live in urban areas were more likely to be fed canned, commercial raw or home cooked diets when given something other than kibble.

“The point of this study was to show that we need to consider information about both the dog and their owner when assessing why a dog is fed a particular diet,” Tolbert concluded.¹ “This will make sure that we continue to support canine health with the most accurate information possible.”

DAP is a collaborative community that enrolls companion dogs from all different backgrounds throughout the United States for scientist driven research projects to study the effects of aging as well as to get a better understanding of what can help canine patients live a long and healthy life. According to the organizational release, the research projects conducted by DAP have led to studies that have improved both canine and human health, thanks to the 50,000 dogs that have been enrolled in the program.

DAP is still enrolling pet dogs of all ages, breed types, and healthy or sick, from all 50 states. Anyone interested in enrolling their pet can visit the DAP website.

References

1. Price C. New Study Reveals Link Between Owner Demographics And Canine Nutrition. Texas A&M Today. Published December 6, 2024. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://today.tamu.edu/2024/12/06/study-links-owner-demographics-canine-nutrition/
2. O’Brien JS, M. Katherine Tolbert, Dog Aging Project Consortium, Ruple A. Dog and owner demographics impact dietary choices in Dog Aging Project cohort. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2024;262(12):1-10. doi:https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.05.0358