Age isn’t just a number – certainly not when it comes to our pets’ health. In fact, animals’ various life stages come with distinct biological changes and needs to match. It makes sense, when you think about it: a newborn puppy and a dog in its golden years are worlds apart physiologically.

Just as humans have started getting more proactive when it comes to health, understanding the crucial role that nutrition plays in both well-being and longevity, so pet owners are starting to understand that their animals can also benefit from a tailored approach.

“Nutrition is a really important part of having a healthy pet – a fundamental part, really, of keeping them healthy and well,” says vet Cat Henstridge, widely known as 'Cat the Vet'. “It's something that helps maintain health and can form part of a veterinary care plan when a pet is unwell.”

The right food can do far more than just nourish and fill them up: it can help keep their brains, joints and guts healthy by providing the right balance of nutrients and supplements.

“The fabulous thing about nutrition and pets is that we’re in control of it,” Henstridge adds. “We are technically also in control of our own diets – but unfortunately that also means we’re in control of the fridge and what we choose to eat! Whereas with our pets, we have the control to ensure that what goes in their mouth is really going to nourish them and help them thrive.”

One size doesn’t always fit all, of course. An active animal can benefit from food that reflects their lifestyle, while different pets will have personal preferences when it comes to textures and flavours. Finding the diet that suits their individual tummies and their skin “can be a bit trial and error,” says Henstridge. “But if we start off with principles of complete, balanced and nourishing nutrition from companies who are well-established, science-backed and know what they’re doing, we can’t go too far wrong.”

Building blocks for the early years

In terms of the infant stage, puppies and kittens evidently have a lot of growing to do. “Our baby animals are very different to our adult animals, and the nutrition they eat should reflect that difference,” explains Henstridge. “Their brain development is really important at this stage; they’re learning a lot.” Diets that are enriched with EPA and DHA, two essential marine omega-3 fatty acids, are “super supportive of brain development,” she adds.

With our pets, we have the control to ensure that what goes in their mouth is really going to nourish them and help them thrive.

The development of young animals’ immune systems is also crucial. When infants are born and are feeding from their mothers, they receive colostrum – the nutrient-dense, antibody-rich milk through which their mum is essentially sharing her immune system. “There comes a point when that will fade, and the baby’s immune system needs to take over,” says Henstridge. “A good quality puppy or kitten food will have healthy immune development as one of its primary focuses – for example, Purina PRO PLAN for puppies or kittens is based on colostrum.”

Navigating the transition to adulthood

Babies don’t stay babies forever. When they transition from adolescence to adulthood, an adapted approach to nutrition can help support them in this next stage of life. The “when” will depend on the animal and breed: for the majority of cats and smaller breeds of dog, such as chihuahuas, they’ll probably be finished growing and ready to move onto adult food at about the one-year mark. Medium to large breeds of dog, such as labradors, will likely benefit from a diet change at 18 months.

But Henstridge is quick to emphasise that “it hinges on the individual and their levels of maturity, growth, weight and development.” If in doubt, ask an expert when to swap: “The best companies, like Purina, will have helplines that you can call.”

A science-backed adult food, like Purina PRO PLAN for adults, she advises, will also be enriched with elements such as omega-3 oils – important for healthy brain development and joint and organ function – plus adequate levels of fibre to aid gut health. Figuring out the right protein to give them healthy stools, a shiny coat and lots of energy, whether it be chicken or salmon, is another piece of the puzzle that owners can experiment with.

We all know that prevention is better than cure. Proactively ensuring good nutrition at this stage, while not some kind of magical panacea, certainly has the potential to help maintain overall health as pets age. “It fuels their health, and if you have a pet who is healthy, nourished and physically fit, then they are going to be better able to cope with whatever life throws at them,” says Henstridge.

Proactive care for the golden years

The final phase of life for our pets is their senior years, which start a lot earlier than many owners might expect. Don’t wait until they show visible signs of ageing to transition their diet, advises Henstridge: “We want proactive healthy ageing and we can use nutrition to help do that – because when we finally start to see signs of ageing in our pets, it’s already been happening for a long time.”

When we finally start to see signs of ageing in our pets, it’s already been happening for a long time.

Whether you’ve got a moggy or a ragdoll, cats are fairly standard – they start to change biochemically when they’re about seven. While you might not need to move them onto a senior diet at this point, “definitely when they get to double figures, we want to be looking into moving them onto diets formulated to support senior pets and healthy ageing,” says Henstridge.

For dogs, smaller breeds mature quickly but age much more slowly, while larger breeds age faster. As a rule of thumb, pets generally are considered “senior” in the final third of their expected lifespan, which can be a good time to move them onto a senior diet.

“We see a lot of brain ageing at this stage, so diets that have got fats and oil profiles can be really helpful in supporting that,” says Henstridge. “Purina PRO PLAN Age Defence for dogs, for example, contains botanical oils to support cognitive function.”

Though we might not want to think of our pets getting older, helping them approach their golden years in good health will ultimately give them the best quality of life, and ensure they enjoy this age as much as all the other stages. “Nutrition can do an enormous amount of the supportive work for that,” says Henstridge.

See? Age really isn’t just a number. It can be the key to supporting your pet’s health and well-being throughout their lifetime.

Small, consistent daily choices like this can make a meaningful difference over time to your pet's health and wellbeing. If you want to make a great choice for your pet and you want to do it with confidence, Purina Pro Plan ticks the box.