Tailored nutrition advice for 12 popular dog breeds and 8 cat breeds. Each card covers weight range, life expectancy, key health considerations, and breed-specific feeding tips.
Every breed comes with predictable strengths, vulnerabilities, and dietary considerations. The advice below is breed-typical — your individual dog may be the exception. Always combine breed knowledge with your dog's actual body condition, activity level, and any vet-diagnosed conditions.
America's most popular dog and one of the most weight-prone. Labs respond fast to overfeeding and slow to weight loss. Joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia) are common.
Working-line athleticism plus genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy. They thrive on high-quality protein and joint-supporting nutrients from puppyhood.
Built for endurance and cold climates. Notoriously zinc-prone — many develop scaly skin around the face on standard kibble. High activity needs higher protein and fat.
Beloved family dog with above-average cancer rates in some lines. Tendency to gain weight, especially after neutering. Skin and coat issues respond well to omega-3.
Brachycephalic breed with high rate of skin allergies and food sensitivities. Compact size means small calorie excesses become big weight gains quickly.
Highly active, intelligent, often allergy-prone. Standard Poodles benefit from high-quality protein and reasonable fiber for digestive consistency.
Powerful working dog with high rates of hip dysplasia, elbow issues, and cardiac concerns. The right food meaningfully delays joint disease.
Champion eaters with a strong tendency to overweight. Beagles will eat any food they find, including counter-surfing and trash-raiding. Portion discipline is essential.
Long back, short legs, weight-prone genetics — a combination that puts serious strain on the spine when overfed. Weight management is the single biggest health lever.
Italian mastiff-type, lean and muscular by breed standard. Thrives on high-quality animal protein — many owners feed raw or partially-raw diets.
Possibly the most energetic breed in dogdom. Working-line Border Collies can need 2.5–3× RER. Calorie needs scale with activity more than with any other breed.
Long-bodied breed with high rate of intervertebral disc disease. Every gram of excess weight increases spinal risk. Lean body condition is non-negotiable.
Cat breeds vary less dramatically in nutrition needs than dog breeds, but specific predispositions still matter — particularly around cardiac conditions (HCM in Maine Coons, Ragdolls), urinary issues (Persians, Ragdolls), and activity-driven calorie needs (Bengals, Siamese).
The vast majority of pet cats. Generally adaptable to a wide range of diets but prone to indoor-cat obesity if free-fed. Most thrive on quality wet + dry combo.
Largest domestic cat breed. Predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip dysplasia. Higher calorie needs than smaller cats but still much lower than dogs.
Brachycephalic face structure makes eating from flat bowls hard — angled or wide-mouth bowls work better. High rate of polycystic kidney disease in some lines.
Active, athletic, often slimmer than other breeds at the same age. Some lines prone to amyloidosis (kidney) and progressive retinal atrophy.
Large, gentle, semi-active. Predisposed to HCM and urinary issues. Calorie needs scale with size but they're typically less active than smaller breeds.
Stocky, calm, prone to weight gain. The chunky breed standard masks actual overweight in many pet British Shorthairs.
Wild-ancestor genetics give Bengals high activity needs and a strong drive for animal protein. Among the most active domestic cat breeds.
No coat to insulate — higher metabolic rate and higher calorie needs per kg of body weight. Skin issues and sensitivities are common.
These are the most popular breeds we've covered in detail. For other breeds, our calculator and nutrition guide cover the principles that apply to any dog or cat. Let us know which breed you'd like us to add next.