Why What You Feed Your Dog May Matter More Than Genetics

Most dog owners assume their dog's health is largely down to breed and genetics. The research tells a different story.

A growing body of evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle factors may play a far bigger role in long-term health outcomes than most people realise. This concept is called epigenetics: the way environment and nutrition can influence how genes are expressed.

What the research says about diet and gene expression

Multiple animal model studies have shown that nutrition can modify gene expression, potentially influencing the likelihood of disease development (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). This field, known as nutrigenomics, explores how specific dietary inputs may affect genetic predispositions (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).

It's one of the reasons I formulate recipes and health plans tailored to specific conditions. Whether it's skin issues, digestive problems, or general wellbeing, the research suggests that targeted nutrition may help support healthier outcomes from the inside.

The link between dogs and humans in research

Dogs and humans naturally develop many of the same health conditions, which is why dogs are frequently used as research models for understanding disease in humans (13, 14, 15, 16). Dog tumours are histologically similar to human tumours and respond similarly to conventional approaches (22). This crossover means that much of what we know about the relationship between diet and long-term health in humans is relevant to dogs too.

Research suggests that as few as 5 to 10% of serious health conditions may be attributable to genetic factors alone, with the remaining 90 to 95% linked to environment and lifestyle (20). That's a significant finding for anyone thinking about what they put in their dog's bowl every day.

The role of genes and environment in cancer development. Diet accounts for an estimated 30-35% of environmental factors. Source: Anand et al., 2008

What does this mean for processed dog food?

Studies have highlighted how chronic inflammation, obesity, and calorie excess may negatively affect DNA integrity, potentially increasing the risk of health complications over time (17).

Researchers from the University of Helsinki conducted a study where dogs that had eaten processed diets their whole lives were transitioned to raw food for three months. These dogs showed an 81% decrease in disease markers. Dogs that had eaten raw food and were switched to processed diets showed a 353% increase in those same markers.

Current estimates suggest that around 80% of dogs eat processed food, while approximately 70% of dogs are classified as overweight or obese. Obese dogs have been shown to live around two years less than dogs at a healthy weight (18).

None of this means that processed food will definitely cause problems for your dog. But the evidence increasingly suggests that diet quality may be one of the most significant factors you can control when it comes to your dog's long-term health.

Where to start

If you're thinking about improving your dog's diet, you don't need to overhaul everything overnight. Small, consistent changes to food quality and nutritional balance can make a meaningful difference over time.

My Gut Health Bundle is designed for owners looking to support their dog's digestion and overall wellbeing from the inside. It includes my Probiotic, Gut Health Supplement, and Digestion Health Plan, everything you need to get started.

View references

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