Enhancing Ancestral Pet Nutrition with Modern Science

Ancestral or evolutionary diets—those that mimic what wild dogs and cats might have eaten in nature—have served as a foundation for understanding species-appropriate nutrition. These diets emphasize whole prey, high protein content, and minimal processing, and they remain an important conceptual starting point in pet nutrition.  

However, today's domesticated pets live longer, face a host of modern health challenges, and lead lifestyles vastly different from their wild ancestors. Through advances in nutritional science, we can enhance these traditional frameworks to deliver more precise, personalized, and preventive nutrition for modern pets. 

Domestication and Lifestyle Shifts Have Changed Everything 

Domestic dogs and cats no longer roam forests or chase prey. Instead, they live in urban environments, sleep on couches, and are often neutered or spayed—factors that can alter their dietary needs. These lifestyle changes contribute to reduced energy expenditure, environmental stressors such as artificial lighting and pollution, and altered hormonal balances. Consequently, energy-dense, raw-like diets modeled after wild prey can lead to obesity, joint problems, or nutrient excesses if not properly adjusted. 

Nutrient standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the National Research Council (NRC) are based on modern studies of domesticated animals, rather than their wild counterparts, precisely because these pets live, move, and metabolize differently. In short, a wild wolf’s dinner may not be ideal for a neutered, apartment-dwelling Labrador. 

Longer Lifespans Mean Evolving Nutritional Needs 

In the wild, few animals live to old age. However, today’s pets routinely reach their teens and beyond. This increase in longevity brings a rise in age-related diseases such as arthritis, chronic kidney disease, cognitive decline, and even cancer. 

To address these challenges, pet foods must go beyond basic nutrition. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals; glucosamine and green-lipped mussel extract support joint health; and Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, are vital for reducing inflammation and supporting brain function. Tailored protein and phosphorus levels are crucial for preserving kidney health in aging pets. Simply put, evolutionary diets never had to account for geriatric care; modern science does.

One Diet Does Not Fit All Breeds and Sizes 

Nature didn’t create French Bulldogs or Great Danes. Selective breeding has resulted in a vast array of dog and cat body types, each with unique nutritional needs. Large-breed puppies, for instance, are prone to developmental orthopedic disease if their calcium and phosphorus intake isn’t carefully regulated. Meanwhile, toy breeds burn calories faster and require energy-dense diets to sustain their metabolism. 

Research published in the Journal of Nutrition underscores the importance of breed-specific feeding strategies, emphasizing that rapid growth rates and skeletal development must be managed with precision. Evolutionary nutrition provides no roadmap for these modern distinctions—science bridges that gap. 

Functional Ingredients Enable Preventive Health 

Unlike traditional diets, modern pet foods often include functional ingredients—compounds added not only to meet basic nutritional needs but also to provide proactive health benefits. These include probiotics and postbiotics that enhance digestive and immune function, beta-glucans that help regulate immune responses, L-carnitine to support fat metabolism and cardiac health, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support, and Omega-3 fatty acids that promote healthy skin, a shiny coat, and cognitive function.  

These ingredients are not included arbitrarily; they are supported by clinical research. For instance, studies have shown that certain probiotics can reduce diarrhea duration and improve immune function in dogs. Unlike ancestral diets, these carefully selected additions reflect the advancements in modern veterinary nutrition and serve as essential tools in preventive health care for pets. 

The Power of Nutritional Biochemistry and Precision Nutrition 

Today’s nutritional science has uncovered insights that go well beyond what evolutionary models could ever predict. We now recognize the critical roles that micronutrients, amino acids, fatty acids, and the gut microbiome play in maintaining overall health. For example, taurine is essential for cats, as it helps prevent dilated cardiomyopathy and retinal degeneration, and it may also provide benefits for certain dog breeds. Carnitine plays a key role in supporting heart health and energy metabolism, while nucleotides have been shown to enhance immune recovery, particularly in young or stressed animals. Additionally, EPA and DHA not only support cognitive function but also provide systemic anti-inflammatory benefits. These findings highlight how modern science enables a level of precision and dietary customization that ancestral diets simply cannot match. 

From Blueprint to Breakthrough 

The ancestral diet provides a powerful blueprint, but it’s not the final answer. Today’s pets benefit from a hybrid approach that honors the evolutionary past while embracing the evidence-based advancements of modern nutrition. Functional ingredients, tailored feeding for specific breeds and life stages, rigorous food safety protocols, and a deeper understanding of nutritional biochemistry all come together to build smarter, safer, and more effective diets. BSM Partners’ Product Innovation and Nutrition Services, along with our Veterinary Services team, are uniquely equipped to help brands integrate the latest in nutritional science with the foundational strengths of ancestral diets. Together, we create some of the most innovative and effective pet foods on the market today. 

In short, it’s not about choosing between the wild and the modern; it’s about combining the best of both. Through this synergy, we can ensure that pets not only survive but thrive in our ever-evolving world. 

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About the Author

Dr. Katy Miller works as the Director of Veterinary Services at BSM Partners. She earned her veterinary degree at Ross University and completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University. She previously served for 11 years as the Director of Dog and Cat Health and Nutrition for Mud Bay where she earned multiple certifications and specialized in pet food nutriton, prior to which she practiced general and emergency medicine for seven years. She is also a competitive three-day eventer, licensed falconer, and claims only two (Golden and Mini Doxie) of their nine dogs.