At Tenafly Veterinary Center in Tenafly, NJ, we believe food is medicine. The right diet can prevent disease, extend lifespan, and transform your pet's daily quality of life. Our approach to nutrition goes far beyond recommending a brand — we work with you to build a real, sustainable feeding plan based on your pet's specific health status, life stage, breed, and goals.

The Obesity Crisis in Pets

Over 85% of pets in the United States are overweight or obese by age 3. Obesity is directly linked to diabetes, arthritis, liver disease, respiratory problems, and a measurably shorter lifespan. Pets at a healthy weight live an average of 2 years longer than their overweight counterparts — and incur significantly lower veterinary costs over their lifetime. Addressing your pet's weight is one of the highest-impact health decisions you can make.

Important: start monitoring your pet's weight right after their spay or neuter procedure — this is when weight gain begins most rapidly.

Research Your Pet's Food!

The best places to start:

Pet Nutrition Guides

  • Nutritional Assessment Checklist. | View pdf
  • Short Diet History Form. | View pdf
  • Calorie Ranges for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition. | View pdf
  • Calorie Needs for an Average Healthy Adult Cat in Ideal Body Condition. | View pdf

General Nutrition Guidelines

  • All diets should be labeled "complete and balanced" and meet AAFCO requirements
  • Puppies should remain on puppy food until 1 year of age, then transition to adult food
  • Always use a measuring cup — even slightly overfeeding adds up rapidly to obesity
  • Avoid grain-free diets — they have been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy (heart disease) in dogs
  • Large breed puppies must be fed carefully to prevent bone disease and hip dysplasia
  • For large breeds: use Purina JM or JD diet between 12–24 weeks to support joint development
  • Add fresh, whole foods when healthy and non-toxic — fresh food improves gut health and palatability

Recommended Diet Brands

The "Big Three" — Purina, Hills, and Royal Canin — have superior quality control, the largest investment in nutritional research, and fewer documented health problems than most independent brands. While no brand is perfect, these are our starting point recommendations.

Fresh and Raw Diet Options

We support fresh and raw feeding as part of a balanced diet. Some options Dr. Barnea recommends:

Diet Suggestions

Key words to follow:
  • Organic if possible
  • Fresh - at least 50% of total diet, ideally … 100%
  • Complete and balanced
  • Homemade (useful website to consult https://animaldietformulator.com/)
  • With grain (not grain free)
  • Ideally, keep processed kibble and canned food out or to a minimum.

Cost?

Pays off in increased life span & reduced health problems. Spend your money on good food, not at the vet, it’s a win-win situation!

Raw Diets

Fresh Diets

Fresh Therapeutic Diets

Healthy Treat Suggestions

  • Ice cubes (especially in summer)
  • Baby carrots, green beans, celery, cucumber
  • Apples (no seeds), bananas, blueberries, watermelon
  • Chickpeas
Avoid grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, chocolate, and anything containing xylitol — all of these are toxic to pets.

Exercise Recommendations

Aim for 1 mile in the morning and 1 mile in the evening daily for dogs. More is better. On hot summer days, walk during cooler morning or evening hours, bring water, and check pavement temperature before walking (if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for paws).

Frequently Asked Questions

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