If you have scrolled through fresh dog food ads, raw-feeding forums, and a wall of kibble bags at Chewy all in the same afternoon, it can feel like every choice is either "the healthiest thing you can feed" or "quietly dangerous." The honest answer is simpler: food format matters far less than nutritional completeness, safety, cost consistency, and how well the diet fits your individual dog. Fresh cooked food is a practical upgrade worth considering; complete-and-balanced kibble is not the villain it is sometimes made out to be; and raw diets carry pathogen and household-safety concerns that major veterinary and public-health organizations take seriously. This comparison gives you the real trade-offs — including actual cost-per-day math — so you can make a confident, calm decision.
- Most practical choice for most dogs: complete-and-balanced kibble or fresh cooked food, chosen by fit and budget.
- Best upgrade path: fresh cooked as a full plan or partial topper, with cost-per-day math done first.
- Use caution with raw: pathogen and household-safety concerns are documented by CDC, FDA, AAHA, and WSAVA.
- Before any switch: check the AAFCO adequacy statement, calculate cost per day, transition gradually, and ask your vet if your dog has any medical needs.
The Short Answer: What Format Should You Choose?
For most healthy adult dogs, the best everyday diet is a complete-and-balanced food matched to their life stage, body condition, budget, and veterinary needs — regardless of whether that food is dry kibble, fresh cooked, or frozen fresh. The "complete and balanced" statement on the label (explained below) matters more than whether the food looks like a restaurant meal or a brown pellet. Fresh cooked food earns its place because it tends to be highly palatable, pre-portioned, and may be more digestible in some studies — not because kibble is toxic. Raw diets earn serious caution because major veterinary and public-health sources consistently flag the risk of Salmonella, Listeria, and other pathogens — not because "natural" is bad in principle.
| Format | Best For | Biggest Upside | Biggest Drawback | Safety Concern | Typical Cost | Storage | Vet Discussion Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble | Most healthy dogs, budget-conscious owners, multi-dog homes, travel | Convenience, shelf stability, wide formula range, low cost per day | Lower moisture; quality varies widely by brand | Low if complete-and-balanced from reputable brand; recall history varies | $ (lowest) | Pantry | For medical/prescription diets, puppies, seniors with health issues |
| Fresh Cooked | Picky dogs, owners wanting pre-portioned meals, higher-moisture diets | Palatability, digestibility data in short-term studies, pre-portioned convenience | Higher cost, requires fridge/freezer space, subscription logistics | Low if properly cooked and handled; pathogens destroyed by cooking | $$–$$$ | Fridge/Freezer | For puppies, seniors, medical needs, prescription diets |
| Raw | Highly informed owners working directly with a vet or veterinary nutritionist | High palatability for many dogs; owner preference for minimal processing | Pathogen risk to dogs and humans; possible nutritional imbalance; bone hazards | HIGH — CDC and FDA warn of Salmonella, Listeria, and other pathogens | $$$ | Freezer (frozen raw) or pantry (freeze-dried) | Yes — required before starting |
What Matters More Than Food Format: Complete and Balanced Nutrition
The single most important thing to look for on any dog food label is the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. The FDA explains that this statement helps owners determine whether a food is intended as a dog's sole diet. It will say something like "formulated to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage]" or "animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Brand] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [life stage]." If the label says "for supplemental or intermittent feeding only," that food is not designed to be your dog's only source of nutrition.
Life stage matters, too. Adult maintenance, growth (puppies), and all life stages are different AAFCO categories. A food formulated only for adult maintenance is not appropriate as a puppy's sole diet — and large-breed puppies have additional calcium and phosphorus considerations that make this especially important. Before comparing fresh vs raw vs kibble, confirm the food you are considering carries the right life-stage statement for your dog. AAFCO requires pet food labels to include a calorie content statement, which is also what you need to do honest cost-per-day math.
- AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement — does it match your dog's life stage?
- Calorie content (kcal per cup, per pouch, or per pound)
- Feeding guidelines as a starting point — then adjust for your dog's actual body condition
- Ingredient list — real protein sources listed first is a good sign, but ingredient aesthetics do not replace AAFCO adequacy
- Brand transparency — does the company list a veterinary nutritionist and provide feeding trial or formulation data?
A useful internal resource for building your full nutrition picture is the Dog Nutrition Hub, and if you want to map food alongside your dog's other health priorities, the Dog Health Stack Builder is a good next step.
Fresh Cooked Dog Food: Pros, Cons, and Best Fit
Fresh cooked dog food — the kind sold by Ollie, The Farmer's Dog, Nom Nom, Spot & Tango, and JustFoodForDogs — is gently cooked at temperatures that destroy pathogens, portioned to your dog's calorie needs, and delivered refrigerated or frozen. It is not raw. That distinction matters for safety and for how you store and handle it.
What the evidence actually shows: Some controlled feeding studies suggest that fresh or minimally processed diets can have higher apparent digestibility and may affect fecal output and microbiome markers compared with extruded kibble. A peer-reviewed study published in PMC found differences in digestibility between commercial fresh and extruded dry kibble diets. That is meaningful but not proof of longer life or broad disease prevention. The honest evidence tier here is "promising short-term mechanistic data" — not "clinically proven longevity upgrade."
Who fresh cooked fits well: picky dogs who ignore kibble; owners who want pre-portioned convenience; dogs that benefit from higher-moisture meals (discuss with your vet); owners who want a partial fresh topper strategy to add palatability without abandoning kibble entirely; and owners willing to pay more for the convenience and ingredient transparency.
Who should pause: dogs on prescription diets (check with your vet before switching), puppies and seniors with specific health issues (vet guidance first), and households with very limited fridge or freezer space.
Practical notes: Store according to brand guidelines, typically refrigerated for active pouches and frozen for backup supply. Transition gradually — about 7 to 10 days is a common recommendation. Track stool consistency, appetite, and body condition for two to six weeks after switching.
Kibble: Pros, Cons, and Best Fit
Kibble is the most widely used dog food format in the United States and the one most extensively studied over time. A complete-and-balanced kibble from a reputable manufacturer is a safe, practical everyday diet for most healthy dogs. It is shelf-stable, easy to portion, budget-friendly, and available in formulas for nearly every life stage, health condition, and body size. Kibble also works well for food puzzles, training treats, and travel — real daily-life advantages.
What to look for: the AAFCO adequacy statement, the correct life stage, and a calorie density you can work with for your dog's weight management. Quality varies significantly across the kibble category — a budget-tier food is not the same as a science-backed formula from a brand like Purina Pro Plan or Hill's Science Diet that has decades of feeding-trial data. The format being the same does not mean all kibbles are equal.
One important flag: The FDA has investigated a potential connection between certain diets and non-hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, with many reports involving grain-free foods high in peas, lentils, pulses, and/or potatoes. Causation is complex and not fully determined, but if you are feeding a boutique, exotic-ingredient, or grain-free kibble, it is worth a conversation with your veterinarian. This applies to grain-free fresh food formulas as well.
Who kibble fits well: most healthy adult dogs; budget-conscious owners; multi-dog households; travel and boarding situations; owners without extra freezer or fridge capacity; and training-heavy routines where frequent small rewards are needed.
Raw Dog Food: Pros Claimed, Risks Documented
Raw diets — including frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, and home-prepared raw — are popular in some owner communities and frequently described as "ancestral" or "natural." It is important to separate what owners claim from what the evidence actually shows, because the safety picture here is not ambiguous.
What major veterinary and public-health organizations say: The CDC states that raw pet food can carry pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria that can make both pets and people sick. The FDA warns pet owners about the risks of raw pet diets and has documented recalls and outbreak investigations related to raw pet food. The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee states there is no properly documented evidence that raw meat-based diets provide health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade cooked diets, while risks include pathogen contamination and nutritional imbalance.
Who should not feed raw without direct veterinary nutritionist guidance: homes with young children, pregnant people, older adults, or immunocompromised people; therapy dogs or dogs that visit hospitals and nursing homes; dogs with GI disease, pancreatitis history, kidney or liver disease, immune compromise, or active prescription diets; and puppies, especially large-breed puppies. Bone-in raw diets also carry risks of dental fractures and GI obstruction or perforation.
If you are committed to exploring raw: work directly with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist who can evaluate your specific dog, verify the nutritional profile, and guide food-safety protocols. This is not a situation where a forum recommendation or a brand's marketing is sufficient.
The CDC and FDA both advise that raw pet food can expose people in the household to serious foodborne pathogens even when the dog appears healthy. If anyone in your home is pregnant, under five years old, over 65, or immunocompromised, the safety calculus for raw diets changes significantly. This is not fearmongering — it is public-health guidance from federal agencies. Discuss with your physician and veterinarian before proceeding.
Evidence Check: What Studies Actually Show
| Claim | Evidence Strength | What the Evidence Says | What Not to Claim | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete-and-balanced label adequacy is the safety baseline | Strong — regulatory/veterinary consensus | AAFCO/FDA standards define nutritional adequacy for life stages; this is the most reliable single label check | Do not imply format overrides adequacy statement | FDA, AAFCO regulatory guidance |
| Raw diets carry pathogen risk to dogs and people | Strong — public-health/veterinary consensus | CDC and FDA document Salmonella, Listeria, and other pathogens in raw pet food; WSAVA cites contamination and imbalance risks | Do not claim freeze-dried raw is sterile or safe by default | CDC, FDA, WSAVA |
| Fresh cooked diets may have higher apparent digestibility than extruded kibble | Moderate — short-term controlled studies | Some peer-reviewed studies show digestibility differences; fecal output and microbiome markers may shift | Do not claim this equals longer life or disease prevention | Peer-reviewed (PMC, Frontiers) |
| Fresh diets may improve microbiome diversity | Emerging — limited controlled data | Some early data suggests microbiome shifts; clinical significance not established | Do not claim microbiome improvement equals immune or longevity benefit | Short-term research studies |
| Raw diets improve immunity, skin, coat, or dental health | Weak — popular but not well-supported | No strong peer-reviewed evidence supports these claims over complete-and-balanced alternatives | Do not repeat these as proven benefits | WSAVA; absence of supporting RCTs |
| Fresh food extends lifespan | Not established | No long-term controlled trials demonstrate longevity gains from fresh vs kibble in dogs | Do not promise life extension from any food format | Absence of evidence |
| Grain-free diets and non-hereditary DCM | Evolving — FDA investigation ongoing | FDA investigated reports linking grain-free, pulse-heavy diets to DCM; causation not fully determined; update before publishing | Do not claim all grain-free diets cause DCM or that the risk is zero | FDA DCM Q&A |
Cost Per Day: The Comparison Most Owners Actually Need
Sticker price is almost useless for comparing dog food. A 31-lb bag of kibble looks cheap until you realize your 90-lb dog eats far more calories per day than a 10-lb dog. The only fair comparison is cost per day, which you can calculate yourself once you know your dog's daily calorie needs and the food's calorie density (kcal per cup, per pouch, or per pound — all required on AAFCO-compliant labels).
The formula: (package price ÷ total kcal in package) × dog's daily kcal = cost per day.
The table below uses approximate daily calorie ranges for four sample dog sizes and estimated pricing based on brand pages and retail listings as of June 13, 2026. All prices must be verified before purchase — pet food pricing changes frequently. Fresh subscription plans quote personalized prices based on your dog's profile; figures below are approximations from brand pages and third-party sources and will differ from your actual quote.
| Dog Size (approx. daily kcal) | Budget Kibble | Premium Kibble | Full Fresh Plan (est.) | Half Fresh / Topper Plan (est.) | Fresh-Dry (UnKibble-style) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (~275 kcal/day) | ~$0.30–$0.50/day | ~$0.60–$0.90/day | ~$2–$4/day | ~$1–$2/day | ~$1–$1.50/day | Small dogs cost least across all formats |
| 30 lb (~675 kcal/day) | ~$0.70–$1.10/day | ~$1.20–$1.80/day | ~$4–$7/day | ~$2–$3.50/day | ~$2–$3/day | Fresh plans start showing meaningful cost difference here |
| 60 lb (~1,175 kcal/day) | ~$1.20–$1.80/day | ~$2–$3/day | ~$7–$12/day | ~$3.50–$6/day | ~$3.50–$5/day | Half-fresh topper strategy becomes most practical |
| 90 lb (~1,600 kcal/day) | ~$1.60–$2.50/day | ~$2.50–$4/day | ~$10–$18/day | ~$5–$9/day | ~$5–$7/day | Full fresh for large dogs is a significant monthly budget line |
All estimates as of June 13, 2026. Verify current prices at brand sites and Chewy before purchasing. Fresh subscription quotes are personalized — your dog's actual plan may differ.
My practical take: for large dogs especially, a half-fresh or topper strategy often delivers the palatability and moisture benefits of fresh food at a fraction of the full-plan cost. Use a complete-and-balanced kibble as the base, replace 25–50% of daily calories with a fresh plan or frozen fresh pouch, and keep total calories consistent with your dog's body condition target.
1. Find the kcal/cup (or kcal/kg) on the food label — AAFCO requires this. 2. Find your dog's estimated daily calorie needs (your vet or a breed/weight calorie chart is a good starting point). 3. Divide: package price ÷ total package kcal = price per kcal. 4. Multiply: price per kcal × your dog's daily kcal = cost per day. Compare any two foods on equal footing. This is also how you catch "premium" kibble that is actually cheap per calorie and "budget" kibble that is dense and expensive per calorie.
Who Should Choose Fresh, Kibble, Raw — or a Mix?
Choose complete-and-balanced kibble if: you have a healthy adult dog, a tight budget, a multi-dog household, limited freezer space, a dog who does well on it, or you need food that travels and stores easily. Check the AAFCO statement, confirm the life stage, and monitor body condition.
Choose fresh cooked if: your dog is picky or has lost interest in kibble; you want pre-portioned convenience; your dog may benefit from higher moisture intake (ask your vet); you have the budget and freezer space; or you want a partial upgrade as a topper without abandoning kibble entirely.
Consider a kibble-plus-topper mix if: full fresh is out of budget, especially for medium or large dogs; you want to improve palatability and add moisture without a full subscription; or you are transitioning a picky dog. Adjust kibble portions down so total daily calories stay consistent.
Approach raw only with direct vet guidance if: you have done extensive research, your vet or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist is directly involved, no vulnerable household members are present, and you can maintain strict food-safety protocols. Do not start raw feeding based on social media advice alone.
Always involve your veterinarian before any major diet change if: your dog is a puppy (especially large-breed), a senior with health conditions, pregnant or nursing, on a prescription diet, or has a history of kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, GI disease, allergies, diabetes, or heart disease. This is non-negotiable — these conditions require nutritional precision that goes beyond format preference.
How to Switch Safely Without Upsetting Your Dog's Stomach
A gradual transition is the standard recommendation for most diet changes. The commonly cited timeline is 7 to 10 days, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old food. Sensitive dogs — those with a history of GI upset, chronic diarrhea, or inflammatory bowel issues — may need two to three weeks or longer.
A practical starting schedule: days 1–3, about 25% new food; days 4–6, about 50%; days 7–9, about 75%; day 10 onward, 100% new food. Go slower if you see soft stool or reduced appetite at any step.
- Vomiting more than once or vomiting that does not resolve within 24 hours
- Diarrhea that persists more than 2 days or includes blood or mucus
- Complete refusal to eat for more than 24 hours
- Lethargy, weakness, or signs of abdominal pain
- Signs of dehydration (dry gums, skin tenting, sunken eyes)
- Any transition in a puppy, senior, or dog with a known medical condition — get vet guidance before you start
After the transition, track stool consistency, volume, and frequency; appetite and enthusiasm at mealtimes; energy and activity level; body weight and body condition score; and skin and coat quality over two to six weeks. These are your real feedback signals — not the food's marketing claims.
Fresh Food Brands Worth Comparing
The brands below are the major players in the fresh-cooked dog food category. Each claims to meet or exceed AAFCO standards and to work with veterinary nutritionists — verify those claims on the brand's current product pages before purchasing. Prices are personalized based on your dog's profile and must be verified at the time of purchase; the figures below are approximations from brand pages and third-party sources as of June 13, 2026.
Ollie
Ollie offers both a Full Fresh plan (meals replace all kibble) and a Half Fresh plan (fresh meals mixed with kibble). Official pages state recipes are developed with veterinary nutritionists and meet or exceed AAFCO standards. The Half Fresh plan is reported to start around $1.00 per meal and is one of the most practical entry points for fresh-curious owners who are not ready to commit to a full subscription cost. The Ollie blog estimates small-dog full fresh plans starting under $4 per day, with larger or more customized plans averaging around $8 per day. Verify current pricing. Compare Ollie meal plans.
The Farmer's Dog
The Farmer's Dog emphasizes vet-formulated, AAFCO-compliant fresh cooked meals and notes that recipes are formulated by board-certified nutritionists and cooked to destroy pathogens. Official pages state plans start at about $2 per day, though actual pricing is personalized. This brand is a good option for owners who prioritize transparent nutritional credentials and feeding-trial documentation. Verify current pricing directly with the brand.
Nom Nom (Now by Petco)
Nom Nom offers gently cooked, pre-portioned fresh meals and recommends a structured transition over about a week. Official documentation states Nom Nom recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. Public pricing requires a quiz; third-party 2026 estimates suggest roughly $20–$30 per week for dogs under 15 lb, around $40 per week for 30 lb, around $65 per week for 60 lb, and around $100 per week for larger dogs — but treat these as secondary context and verify with the current brand quiz. Needs verification before purchase.
Spot & Tango
Spot & Tango offers both fresh frozen and a shelf-stable "UnKibble" fresh-dry format — making it a useful middle option for owners who want something closer to fresh food without full freezer logistics. Their FAQ states all recipes meet or exceed AAFCO profiles for all life stages by formulation and finished-product analysis. UnKibble pricing for small dogs has been displayed around $0.85–$1.06 per meal in some placements; an older official snippet cited UnKibble starting at $1 per day and Fresh at $2 per day. Verify current pricing.
JustFoodForDogs
JustFoodForDogs stands out for retail availability — you can buy frozen pouches at Chewy, Petco, PetSmart, and select veterinary offices, not just through a direct subscription. The brand emphasizes university-led research, open kitchens, feeding trials, and digestibility research. A Chewy example listing showed a Chicken & Rice frozen case of seven 18-oz pouches at $76.93 and a Beef & Russet Potato case at $90.93 as of the research brief date — verify current Chewy pricing before purchasing. This is a strong option for owners who want fresh-food credentials without a subscription lock-in. Browse JustFoodForDogs at Chewy.
Complete-and-Balanced Kibble at Chewy
For owners who want a budget-friendly, complete-and-balanced base diet, reputable kibble options from Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, and Hill's Science Diet represent decades of feeding-trial data and broad veterinary endorsement. A research-brief example cited Purina ONE Chicken & Rice 31.1-lb bag at $48.98 and Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley 35-lb bag at $86.99 at Chewy — both figures must be verified before purchase. Check the AAFCO statement and confirm the correct life stage. See Purina ONE at Chewy.
The Doggevity Takeaway: Build a Nutrition System, Not a Perfect Bowl
Dog health is not one product. It is a system — and nutrition is the foundation of that system, not the whole building. The most important nutrition decision you can make is not "fresh or kibble" but "complete, safe, consistent, and right for this dog at this life stage." A complete-and-balanced food that fits your budget, your dog's medical needs, and your actual daily routine will always outperform a theoretically superior food that you cannot afford consistently, cannot store safely, or that does not work for your dog's digestion.
My practical take as someone who has done the research: the best food is the one that is complete, safe, sustainable for your life, and keeps your dog at a healthy body condition. Fresh cooked food earns its place as a genuine upgrade for palatability, convenience, and possibly digestibility — but it is an upgrade on the same nutritional foundation, not a different game. Kibble, chosen well, is a solid base. Raw requires more caution than most social media will tell you.
Once you have the nutrition foundation dialed in, the Doggevity framework connects it to everything else: body condition tracking, life-stage adjustments, preventive vet care, and the other pillars of healthy aging. Use the Dog Health Stack Builder to map your dog's full health picture, visit the Dog Nutrition Hub for more deep dives, and revisit diet decisions at every major life-stage change — puppy to adult, adult to senior, and any time a health condition enters the picture. Every good year matters, and it starts with getting the basics right.
FAQ
Is fresh dog food better than kibble?
Not automatically. Fresh cooked food may be more palatable and shows higher digestibility in some short-term studies, but the practical baseline is complete-and-balanced nutrition in the right calories for your dog's life stage. A complete-and-balanced kibble can be just as nutritionally sound as a fresh plan. The best food is the one that is safe, sustainable, and keeps your dog at a healthy body condition score.
Is raw dog food better than kibble?
There is no strong veterinary consensus that raw diets are healthier than complete-and-balanced kibble or cooked diets. The CDC, FDA, AAHA, and WSAVA all flag pathogen and household-safety concerns with raw diets. WSAVA states there is no properly documented evidence that raw meat-based diets provide health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade diets, while risks include contamination and nutritional imbalance. Discuss raw feeding with your veterinarian before starting.
Can I mix fresh food with kibble?
Yes, many owners use fresh food as a topper or partial replacement. If you do, adjust total daily calories so you are not overfeeding. Subtract the fresh food calories from the kibble portion. Make sure the fresh component is either complete-and-balanced on its own or is used in a quantity that does not displace too many nutrients from the base kibble.
Is kibble bad for dogs?
No. A complete-and-balanced kibble matched to your dog's life stage and health needs can be a practical, safe everyday diet. Quality varies by formula, so check the AAFCO statement, confirm the correct life stage, and monitor your dog's body condition and stool. Kibble is not toxic or junk food — it is a widely used, convenient, and often affordable format with decades of feeding data behind the leading brands.
What does "complete and balanced" mean on a dog food label?
It means the food is formulated to provide all required nutrients in appropriate amounts for a specified life stage — either by meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles or by passing AAFCO feeding trials. The FDA says this statement helps owners determine whether a food is intended as a sole diet. If the label says "for supplemental or intermittent feeding only," it is not designed to be your dog's only food source.
How much more expensive is fresh dog food than kibble?
It depends heavily on dog size and brand. Fresh subscription plans can range from a few dollars per day for small dogs to significantly more for large breeds. Premium kibble is usually much cheaper per calorie. Use the cost-per-day formula in this article: package price divided by total kcal in the package, multiplied by your dog's daily calorie needs. All prices should be verified at the time of purchase — they change frequently.
How long should I take to switch from kibble to fresh or raw?
For most non-urgent diet changes, a gradual transition over about 7 to 10 days is a common recommendation — starting at 25% new food and increasing by 25% every few days. Go slower for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Call your veterinarian if vomiting, diarrhea, food refusal, lethargy, or blood in stool occurs during the transition. Dogs with medical conditions, puppies, and seniors should have vet guidance before any major food change.
Is freeze-dried raw safer than frozen raw?
Freeze-dried raw may be more convenient to store, but it is still a raw format and can still carry pathogen concerns unless the manufacturer uses specific processing steps designed to control pathogens. Do not assume freeze-dried raw is sterile. Check the brand's processing methods and ask your veterinarian, especially if anyone in your household is immunocompromised, pregnant, elderly, or very young.
Should puppies eat fresh, raw, or kibble?
Puppies need food that is complete and balanced for growth, which is a different AAFCO life-stage category than adult maintenance. Large-breed puppies have additional calcium and phosphorus considerations. Do not experiment with raw or homemade puppy diets without guidance from a veterinary nutritionist. A complete-and-balanced food formulated for growth — kibble or fresh cooked — is the safest starting point; confirm the correct life stage on the label.
Is this article veterinary advice?
No. This article is educational guidance to help owners compare options and ask better questions. It is not veterinary advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Diet changes for medical conditions, puppies, seniors, raw feeding, weight management, or prescription diets should always be discussed with a licensed veterinarian who knows your dog.
A note on veterinary care: This content is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult your veterinarian before changing your dog's diet, supplements, medication, exercise routine, or care plan. Every dog is different, and your vet knows yours.