08/08/2026
When I lived/worked in Ireland, the commercial pet food industry had not yet made major in-roads. People were still feeding their pets fresh food: leftovers from healthy meals, such as meat and vegetables. I did not see the huge levels of chronic disease there, that I saw once I returned to the US. And in addition, obesity in pets was virtually zero in Ireland at that time. I became a strong proponent of feeding fresh, whole food diets to pets based on this, and based on what I noted in my own pup, Maggie, once I switched her to a fresh frozen raw diet. Her energy levels improved, her coat became soft and shiny, she shed much less, and her chronic ear inflammation abated.
It’s great to see the research emerging, proving what I, and other holistic veterinarians. have already known for years: that fresh, whole food diets are much more healthy for pets, just as they are for people.
If you have been on the fence about switching your pet to a fresh food diet, or you have been resistant to this thinking that the ultra processed kibbles and canned foods are better for your pet, please consider a switch. I am certain you will notice a positive change in your pets demeanor in general health. And now it looks like you will actually extend the life of your beloved, furry companion.
 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eiqj17iuj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🧬 CAN WHAT YOUR DOG EATS CHANGE HOW FAST THEIR BODY AGES?
A fascinating new peer-reviewed pilot study suggests it might.
Researchers followed pugs for 6 months, comparing dogs that stayed on extruded dry kibble with dogs switched to a cooked, minimally processed, human-grade diet formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Instead of just measuring weight or bloodwork, researchers looked at changes in the dogs’ DNA associated with biological aging — essentially, how old their bodies appeared compared with their actual age.
🥩 The surprising finding? Dogs switched to fresh food showed a nearly 1-year shift toward a younger biological age in just 6 months, while dogs that stayed on kibble did not show a significant change.
🥩 Fresh food: +2.75 years → +1.80 years
🥣 Kibble: +2.77 years → +2.46 years
Even more interesting, the dogs’ bodyweights remained stable, suggesting the shift wasn’t simply due to weight loss. Researchers also found significant changes involving KISS1R, a gene associated with metabolism and obesity, in the fresh-fed dogs but not the kibble-fed dogs.
Published in Veterinary Record Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the British Veterinary Association published by Wiley, the study adds to growing research on the potential benefits of balanced, minimally processed foods.
🥦 Want to add more fresh food to your pet’s bowl but aren’t sure where to start? That’s why Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib wrote The Forever Dog LIFE.
It includes 30+ complete and balanced fresh-food recipes that can be served raw, poached, slow-cooked, or baked, with versions for dogs and cats, different activity levels and life stages, plus hundreds of variations online.
Whether you feed fully fresh or simply want to add more fresh food, The Forever Dog LIFE helps you do fresh food right. 🐶🐱🥩🥦
