Best Diet Trends for Cats and Dogs in 2026

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Best Diet Trends for Cats and Dogs in 2026

While many "fashionable" diets will continue to flood pet stores in 2026, only the best diets for cats and dogs will rely on more natural, fresher, and clearer labeled ingredients; only the best will include only those ingredients necessary for a pet's specific nutritional needs (and no more), and only the best will be developed through the scientific approach of veterinary medicine and not by pet owners who have read too much about it online.

Pet owners are beginning to seek diets that promote overall health, wellness and longevity for their animals, versus the many quick fixes that exist today, and veterinarians remain the only true experts when trying to find the right diet for your pet.

For owners who want to understand nutrition more deeply — particularly what foods are safe or unsafe — it's useful to refer to veterinary-curated nutrition resources such as dedicated “what pets can and cannot eat” guides. These types of materials help clarify common misconceptions and provide safe, evidence-based directions.

What is new in 2026?

The pet food industry is moving towards "human grade" style foods that are minimally processed, have fewer and easier-to-understand ingredients, and are made from fresh, refrigerated, and gently cooked ingredients. The public wants to see what they're feeding their pets, as opposed to seeing just a bag of kibble pellets. The demand for these types of foods is rising quickly, and the manufacturers are also looking into using novel and sustainable protein sources like insects, alligators, etc., for pets with allergies and/or environmentally conscious owners.

Another popular trend for 2026 is customised diets that cater to a pet's age, weight, activity level, etc. While some of these custom diets may offer benefits, they must still adhere to accepted standards for nutrients and should always be reviewed by a veterinarian before implementation to prevent creating an imbalance or imposing an undue restriction.

Fresh and gently cooked diets

Nutrient-rich, easily-digestible foods using a fresh, lightly-cooked approach to pet nutrition can offer an improvement to stool quality, skin and coat condition and other health factors as long as the formula is well-designed and formulated. These types of foods often contain high-quality animal protein sources and visually identifiable fruits and vegetables and often exclude certain artificial preservatives and fillers that many pet owners would like to limit.

That being said, just because a product is labeled "fresh" does not automatically mean that it is complete and balanced for your pet. Therefore, it is imperative to verify whether the product meets either the AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profile or has successfully completed a feeding trial. If a poorly formulated homemade or boutique "fresh" product does not meet the AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profiles, your pet may develop deficiencies in critical nutrients such as calcium, taurine, and essential fatty acids, particularly in pets that are growing or have a chronic illness.

The role of raw feeding

Although raw diets remain extremely popular in some areas due to what many perceive as a more natural diet compared to traditional cooked or processed diets, and many owners claim to see improvements in their pets' appetites and stool quality, these same benefits can be seen in pets fed well-designed, cooked or commercially prepared diets, while providing less risk of infection and greater control over the nutritional balance of the diet.

The major risks associated with feeding raw diets are primarily from bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria), and improper formulation of recipes which can result in nutritional imbalances. As a result, many veterinarians recommend cooking raw diets for households with children, immunocompromised individuals or elderly household members who are at greater risk for complications from potential infections.

Limited-ingredient diets: when less is more

Limited ingredient Diets (LIDs) contain fewer protein & carbohydrate sources than regular pet foods to help identify and manage your dog’s food allergy/sensitivity issues. LIDs typically consist of one type of animal protein and a very simple carbohydrate source (e.g., salmon and sweet potatoes). While providing your pet with a complete diet, they also attempt to use novel ingredients such as alligator, new fish proteins, etc. so if your dog reacts to more common protein sources (e.g., chicken, beef) they will have an alternative.

However, despite the premise, there is emerging evidence that some commercially available "limited-antigen" diets contain other animal proteins, thereby invalidating the elimination trial for your suspected food allergy. As a result, many veterinarians now prefer their clients to purchase prescription or very well documented/validated brands and would further suggest eliminating food allergies with either strictly veterinarian-supervised elimination diets utilizing either very well-controlled commercial diets or homemade recipes.

What is really backed by science?

While there is much more research needed on pet nutrition, the best scientific evidence so far supports the use of diets that meet all of the following criteria:

The diets are complete and balanced as defined by AAFCO or FEDIAF
The manufacturers have a background in veterinary nutrition and have been able to develop the products they are selling
Whenever possible, the companies have fed their products in clinical trials

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has developed evidence-based guidelines regarding the selection of commercial pet food that include:

Evaluating the manufacturer's qualifications, quality control and ability to provide a detailed breakdown of the nutritional content of their product.
Avoiding the inclusion of untested and potentially misleading terms such as "grain free," "ancient grains," "holistic," or "natural."

Studies of commercially available treats and snack foods have shown that limiting them to no more than approximately 10 percent of total caloric intake per day will help prevent both overfeeding and dilution of the nutrient composition of the main meals while allowing the pet owner to maintain the nutritional balance of the main meals.

Choosing the right diet

Finding the best diet is essentially balancing the desire for contemporary food trends (e.g., fresh, minimally-processed foods or "limited ingredient" foods) with the needs of your pet's life stage, breed, medical issues and your daily household regimen.

When you involve a veterinary clinic in Dubai or a veterinary nutritionist with your dietary choices, it allows for the interpretation of the claims on labels of foods you choose to purchase and the filtering of fad diets on the internet through evidence based nutritional recommendations. This translates the complex science behind nutritional choices into the simple act of preparing a meal you will realistically prepare each day.

Expert Tip: How to Safely Try a New Diet Trend

When you attempt a new diet with your pet, consider the trial of the new diet as a formal trial. Gradually transition from one diet to another in approximately seven days. Monitor the stool, appetite, weight, and condition of the skin or coat of your pet. Take detailed notes when monitoring these parameters so you may review them with your veterinarian.

When attempting a new diet with your pet who has chronic disease or allergies, it is recommended that you have your veterinarian involved in making any changes to their diet since even moderate changes in protein, fat, or mineral intake can greatly impact your pet's clinical status.

Conclusion

By 2026, the most successful diets will include the novelty of using simpler and fresher recipes with long-standing, evidence-based nutrition principles. By working with your veterinarian to ask tough questions regarding brands and by transitioning to new diets at a slow pace, pet owners will be able to experience the benefits of actual innovations in pet food rather than just trendy diets that do not have scientific backing.