Sarah Chen

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Diabetic dog feeding schedules: how to sync meals, insulin, and glucose curves

Sarah Chen·Jul 23, 2026·8 min read

Stable diabetes in dogs is built on three synchronised clocks — the insulin peak, the meal, and the post-prandial glucose curve. Get those aligned and a newly diagnosed dog often halves its insulin dose within a month. Here is the feeding protocol I run in referral, with brand-specific carb numbers, a home curve you can actually do, and the five timing mistakes that send dogs to the ER.

alphaTRAK 3 Bichon Frise

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Heart disease in dogs: a low-sodium diet plan that fits real life

Sarah Chen·Jul 21, 2026·8 min read

A cardiac diet is not 'just less salt'. Sodium restriction, protein quality, omega-3 dosing, and taurine/carnitine status all stack together to slow the disease and let medications work better. Here is the plan I build for dogs in my referral caseload, with brand-specific numbers and the four mistakes owners make in the first 30 days.

cardiac diet carnitine

Weight management: how to use the Body Condition Score (BCS)

Sarah Chen·Jul 17, 2026·8 min read

The scale lies. A 30 kg Labrador and a 30 kg Greyhound have radically different body fat percentages, and the number on the bathroom scale cannot tell you which one needs to lose weight. The Body Condition Score is the clinical standard for a reason — it works, it is free, and any owner can learn to do it. Here is the 9-point method I teach in consults, the four assessment errors that lead owners astray, and the exact caloric math that turns a 20% weight loss plan into a daily portion.

BCS Beagle

Food allergies: the 8-week elimination protocol

Sarah Chen·Jul 15, 2026·10 min read

Adverse food reactions account for roughly a third of allergic skin disease in dogs — and the only way to diagnose them is the elimination diet trial. Here is the exact 8-week protocol I run with my clients, the brand-by-brand hydrolyzed and novel-protein options, and the four most common ways owners accidentally invalidate the trial and have to start over.

AAFCO adverse food reaction

Kibble vs home-cooked vs raw: an evidence-based comparison

Sarah Chen·Jul 13, 2026·9 min read

There is no single best way to feed a dog — but there is a best way to feed *your* dog. Here is the 2026 evidence on the three dominant feeding styles, the brand-by-brand reality check, and the decision tree I use with my own clients when they ask which one is right.

AAFCO BARF

Large-breed puppy growth: how to feed for slow, controlled growth

Sarah Chen·Jul 11, 2026·9 min read

Large-breed puppies should grow slowly — not because they are sick, but because fast growth is a known risk factor for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and OCD. Here is the calorie target, the calcium ceiling, and the brand-by-brand guide I use with my own clients.

calcium growth

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Puppy to Senior: A Full Life-Stage Feeding Chart for Dogs

Sarah Chen·Jul 9, 2026·8 min read

Puppy to Senior: A Full Life-Stage Feeding Chart for Dogs There is no single "correct" dog food — there is a correct food for this dog, today, at this weight and life stage. I see owners in my nutr...

AAFCO dog feeding

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Pregnant and nursing dams: energy and nutrient requirements

Sarah Chen·May 8, 2026·14 min read

A small-animal veterinarian with a focus on clinical nutrition walks through the energy and nutrient requirements of the pregnant and nursing bitch — the caloric increase, the protein and fat profiles, the calcium and phosphorus, the feeding schedule, the weaning transition, and the four mistakes that turn the critical window into a reproductive disaster.

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Joint health: the omega-3 supplement guide

Sarah Chen·Apr 24, 2026·17 min read

A small-animal veterinarian with a focus on clinical nutrition walks through the practical guide to omega-3 supplementation for joint health in dogs and cats — the EPA and DHA, the sources, the dose, the food vs supplement decision, the combination with other joint support, and the four mistakes that turn a useful intervention into an expensive placebo.

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Food allergies: the 8-week elimination protocol

Sarah Chen·Mar 24, 2026·13 min read

A small-animal veterinarian with a focus on clinical nutrition walks through the practical 8-week elimination diet trial — the diet selection, the strict protocol, the timeline, the interpretation, the rechallenge, and the four mistakes that turn the most reliable diagnostic into a confusing one.

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Calorie needs by size: a quick calculator

Sarah Chen·Mar 5, 2026·13 min read

A veterinary nutritionist walks through the practical calorie calculation for dogs and cats — the RER formula, the MER multipliers, the life-stage adjustments, the activity-level adjustments, the breed-specific adjustments, the body-condition score that should drive the adjustment, the common mistakes in calorie counting, the role of the food label, the role of the kitchen scale, and the four mistakes that turn a well-intentioned calorie calculation into a pet that gains or loses weight unintent

Prescription diets vs maintenance diets: what's actually different in the bag

Sarah Chen·Dec 26, 2025·9 min read

The prescription diet is the diet that treats the disease. The maintenance diet is the diet that maintains the health. The two are not interchangeable. Here is what makes them different and when each is the right choice.

AAFCO maintenance diet

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Prescription diets vs maintenance diets: what's actually different

Sarah Chen·Dec 26, 2025·18 min read

A working vet nutritionist breaks down the real chemistry between a prescription diet and a maintenance formula — when one is medicine, when the other is food, and why treating them interchangeably is a quiet, expensive mistake.

High-quality protein sources: how to read a label and what the ingredient order actually means

Sarah Chen·Dec 19, 2025·9 min read

The ingredient list on a dog or cat food tells you what is in the food and how much. The high-quality protein is the first ingredient, the named protein, the digestible protein. Here is the guide.

AAFCO digestibility

Large-breed puppy growth: how to feed for slow, controlled growth that protects the joints

Sarah Chen·Nov 10, 2025·9 min read

The large-breed puppy that grows too fast is the puppy that develops hip and elbow dysplasia. The feeding protocol that produces slow, controlled growth is the protocol that protects the joints for life.

controlled growth developmental orthopedic disease

Diet transitions: the 7-day switch-over protocol that prevents GI upset

Sarah Chen·Oct 21, 2025·8 min read

The dog that gets a new food on Monday and has diarrhea by Wednesday is the dog that did not get a transition. Here is the 7-day protocol that protects the gut and produces a successful switch.

7-day switch diet transition

Senior dog kidney-friendly: a low-phosphorus diet primer for early-stage CKD

Sarah Chen·Aug 15, 2025·10 min read

Kidney disease is one of the most common senior dog conditions. The right diet at the right stage extends life by 2-4 years. This is the primer on what to feed, when, and why.

CKD kidney disease

Senior dog kidney-friendly: a low-phosphorus diet primer for early CKD

Sarah Chen·Aug 15, 2025·9 min read

Early chronic kidney disease in dogs is managed largely through diet. Here is what the low-phosphorus prescription diet actually does, when to start it, and how to transition a senior dog that has been eating the same food for years.

CKD kidney disease

Feeding frequency: twice daily vs free choice, and what the evidence says

Sarah Chen·Aug 1, 2025·9 min read

Twice daily, once daily, or free choice — the feeding frequency affects weight, behaviour, and digestion. The evidence is more nuanced than the popular advice.

dog feeding frequency

Kibble vs home-cooked vs raw: an evidence-based comparison for dog owners

Sarah Chen·Jul 23, 2025·12 min read

Kibble, home-cooked, and raw are the three main diet types. Each has benefits and each has risks. The choice is not 'which is best' — it's 'which is best for this dog, this owner, this household'.

dog food home-cooked

Kibble vs home-cooked vs raw: an evidence-based comparison of three feeding approaches

Sarah Chen·Jul 23, 2025·11 min read

The feeding approach debate is loud, opinionated, and largely evidence-free. Here is the comparison based on the actual nutritional science, with the pros, cons, and risk profile of each.

BARF dog nutrition

Puppy to senior: a full life-stage feeding chart that actually works

Sarah Chen·Jun 26, 2025·11 min read

One chart doesn't fit a dog's whole life. Calories per kg change 4x from weaning to senior. Here is the stage-by-stage feeding breakdown, with the math and the food choices behind it.

dog feeding chart

Puppy to senior: a full life-stage feeding chart that adapts as the dog ages

Sarah Chen·Jun 26, 2025·9 min read

The dog's nutritional needs change dramatically from 8 weeks to 14 years. Here is the feeding chart I give every new puppy owner, with the rationale for each life stage transition.

adult dog feeding chart

Weight management: how to use the Body Condition Score in dogs

Sarah Chen·May 21, 2025·9 min read

The Body Condition Score is the only reliable at-home tool to track whether a dog is actually losing weight. Here is how to score accurately, what the numbers mean, and how to use BCS alongside the scale to get a dog to a healthy weight in 12-16 weeks.

BCS body condition score

Weight management: how to actually use the Body Condition Score for dogs

Sarah Chen·May 21, 2025·7 min read

BCS is the single most useful tool in canine weight management, and the most often misapplied. Here is how to score accurately, how to use the score in feeding decisions, and what to do when the scale and the BCS disagree.

BCS body condition score

Common allergens in dog food: the proteins, grains, and additives worth understanding

Sarah Chen·May 14, 2025·7 min read

The list of ingredients that can cause a food allergy in dogs is short and well-established. Most dogs react to one of five things. Here is the list, the symptoms, and the clinical decision logic.

Pregnancy and lactation in dogs: the foods to strictly avoid

Sarah Chen·Apr 5, 2025·7 min read

A pregnant or nursing dog has different food safety rules than a normal adult. Some everyday ingredients that are fine for adults are dangerous during this window. Here is the full list.

lactation nursing dam

Pregnancy and lactation: foods to strictly avoid in a breeding bitch

Sarah Chen·Apr 5, 2025·6 min read

A pregnant or nursing dog has a very different nutritional risk profile than a normal adult. Some foods that are fine for spayed or non-reproducing dogs become dangerous during this window. Here is what to keep out of reach.

Diabetic dog: blood-sugar-aware feeding schedules that actually work

Sarah Chen·Mar 26, 2025·7 min read

Insulin timing is only half the diabetic dog puzzle. The other half is what you feed, when you feed it, and how you keep blood sugar from spiking between injections. A practical schedule that fits a working household.

blood sugar diabetes

Diabetic dog: blood-sugar-aware feeding schedules that actually stabilise

Sarah Chen·Mar 26, 2025·10 min read

Diet matters more than most owners realise in canine diabetes. The right feeding schedule, fiber level, and carbohydrate source can halve your insulin dose within weeks.

blood sugar canine diabetes

Treats: the 10% calorie rule for training rewards

Sarah Chen·Mar 13, 2025·6 min read

Treats are the most common cause of canine weight gain that owners don't realise they're causing. The 10% rule is simple, evidence-based, and rarely enforced.

calorie counting dog treats

Kibble, air-dried, freeze-dried, baked: how processing actually changes your dog's food

Sarah Chen·Mar 10, 2025·9 min read

All dog food labels look similar. The processing method behind them changes nutrient retention, digestibility, shelf life, and cost. Here is how each method actually works.

Heart disease in dogs: a low-sodium diet plan that actually helps

Sarah Chen·Feb 28, 2025·9 min read

A cardiac diet is not just 'less salt'. Here is how sodium restriction, protein quality, omega-3, and supplements stack together in a real plan for a dog in heart failure.

heart disease

Probiotics and prebiotics: what they actually do for dogs

Sarah Chen·Feb 7, 2025·10 min read

The canine gut microbiome is not a marketing slogan. Here is what probiotics and prebiotics actually do, where the evidence is strong, and where it is just label art.

dog microbiome gut health