Rethinking Health & Prevention
For decades, canine health management has followed a standardised, convenience-based model: feed a commercial dry food, administer annual vaccine boosters, provide monthly flea and worm treatments, and take the dog for walks when time permits. While this approach was developed with practicality in mind, it does not reflect the growing body of evidence in veterinary science around optimal health, disease prevention, and canine well-being.
A new, more comprehensive model of health is emerging—one that integrates species-appropriate nutrition, individual risk assessment, preventive medicine, and daily environmental and mental enrichment.
Conventional Approaches
Historically, canine care has relied on standardised protocols designed to reduce preventable disease and to make pet ownership more convenient. This approach typically includes:
Feeding commercial kibble: Marketed as a “complete and balanced” daily meal. The marketing extends further, with veterinarians encouraging pet owners to steer away from adding fresh foods, table scraps and bones as they are “dangerous”, “unsafe” or “will cause imbalance in the diet”. Ironically, this convenient pet food is composed of processed grains, starches, and rendered animal products, dry extruded food is energy-dense but lacks the natural structure, moisture, and nutrient profile of a biologically appropriate diet.
Annual vaccinations: Routine booster shots for core diseases have been standard, though recent studies show that immunity often persists longer than one year and that over-vaccination may be unnecessary in some cases. There are also questions as to the health implications of over vaccination, and how this may link to the significant increase in the incidence of cancer, renal conditions and other disease.
Monthly flea, tick, and heartworm medications: These drugs are effective for parasite control but how necessary are they? Does the prevention of some parasites using toxic chemicals outweigh the risk? Must of the answers around these questions are determined by geographic region, climate, relevance of tick-borne disease and the individual dog.
Irregular physical activity: As dogs move into more urban lifestyles, movement becomes more dependant on the pet owners. The importance of physical and mental exercise is often overlooked, leading to reduced muscle tone, cognitive decline in older dogs, and behavioural issues in young dogs and energetic breeds.
These management protocols based on ease and convenience have been considered not just the norm, but the gold standard for pet ownership. Much of the nutritional and medical information is provided by multi-billion dollar companies in pet food and pharmaceuticals who have vested interest in what pet guardians are purchasing.
Contemporary Approach
A more informed and proactive model of canine health focuses on prevention, functionality, and alignment with a dog’s evolutionary biology. This approach emphasises:
Species-appropriate nutrition: Dogs are facultative carnivores with a digestive system adapted to high-protein, moderate-fat, low-carbohydrate diets. Fresh, minimally processed animal-based foods—including raw or gently cooked options—support gut health, immune function, and metabolic stability. Such diets may reduce chronic inflammation, support skin and joint health, and improve body composition.
Wellness exams and antibody titer testing: Rather than automatically repeating vaccinations each year, veterinary guidelines now support the use of antibody titers to assess ongoing immunity. This ensures protection while avoiding unnecessary antigenic stimulation.
Risk-based parasite control: Blanket use of monthly parasiticides may expose dogs to unnecessary chemical load. An individualized protocol based on local disease prevalence, lifestyle (e.g., urban vs. rural), and seasonal exposure is a more targeted, evidence-based strategy, utilising natural alternatives where applicable.
Daily exercise and environmental enrichment: Dogs require consistent physical and mental stimulation to maintain musculoskeletal health, cardiovascular fitness, and emotional balance. Activities such as scentwork, structured play, socialisation, and natural movement through varied terrain support both physical and behavioral well-being.
Why This Shift Matters
Chronic disease in dogs—including obesity, cancer, skin conditions, arthritis, and behavioral disorders—is increasing. Many of these conditions are influenced by modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly nutrition and environmental stimulation. The modern approach to canine health emphasizes foundational health rather than symptomatic treatment.
This transition also aligns with broader trends in veterinary medicine, such as personalized care, integrative treatment modalities, and the One Health perspective, which recognizes the connection between animal, human, and environmental health.