As devoted pet parents, we go to great lengths to keep our furry companions healthy, from daily walks and regular vet check-ups to lots of love and attention. But there’s one critical area of pet care that’s often overlooked: gut health.

While most people associate the gut with digestion, it’s central to a dog’s overall well-being. Nearly 70% of a dog’s immune system resides in the gut, and when gut health is compromised, it can show up in many ways — from digestive discomfort and poor nutrient absorption to low energy, skin issues, and even changes in mood and behavior.

The Foundation of Gut Health

A balanced diet is the starting point for a healthy gut. Many pet parents feed their dogs home-cooked meals, believing it’s a healthier option. While homemade food is prepared with love, it often lacks the complete nutrition dogs need. A study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 95% of home-cooked dog meals lacked at least one essential nutrient, and 84% had multiple deficiencies. Another study at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute reported that typical Indian home-cooked diets are grossly deficient in protein and energy, and fail to provide adequate minerals like calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc to match a dog’s requirements.

This is where scientifically formulated pet food plays an important role. Just like we carefully plan our meals with the right balance of cereals, proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats, scientifically developed pet food is designed to provide your pet a well-balanced diet with all the essential nutrients — including proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, and fiber — in the right proportions for optimal health.

Nutritional benchmark

Just like humans, dogs require tailored nutrition depending on their stage of life. When choosing pet food, it’s important to select formulas that align with your dog’s age and specific nutritional needs.

For puppies, who are in a critical phase of growth and development, look for food that contains at least 20-25% protein and 8-10% fat to support muscle development, immune health, and their high energy demands.

For adult dogs, choose a well-balanced formula that includes around 18-21% protein, 6-8% fat, and 40-60% carbohydrates. This combination helps maintain steady energy levels, supports muscle function, and promotes overall vitality.

No matter the age, make sure the food contains a minimum of 2-4% fiber. Fiber is essential for digestive health — it supports nutrient absorption, regular bowel movements, and helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Feeding Frequency Matters

Feeding frequency is just as important as nutrient composition. Puppies, with their smaller stomach and higher energy needs, should be fed three to four times a day to keep up with their developmental demands. Adult dogs, whose metabolism and energy levels have stabilized, typically thrive on two meals a day.

Essential Nutrients

When choosing the right pet food, look for key nutrients that support long-term health — minerals (calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, etc.), vitamins (A, D, E, B-complex), and omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, probiotics, dietary fibre, and polyphenols — natural plant compounds that act as antioxidants — support gut and immune health.

The Power of Prebiotics

To maintain a healthy gut, it’s important to support the good bacteria in the gut, which play a key role in digestion, immunity, and overall health and well-being. For these beneficial bacteria to thrive, they need prebiotics — a special type of dietary fiber that acts as their food. Including the right prebiotics in your dog’s diet helps good bacteria stay strong, multiply, and keep the gut environment balanced.

Meet Global Standards

When choosing pet food, look for products made as per global benchmarks and guidelines. Trusted international standards — like those by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) — help ensure the food is complete, balanced, and safe.

Tailored for India

Local relevance is essential. Pet dogs in India live in different climates, face unique stressors, and have specific needs. That’s why choosing food that is Made and Tested in India —  with global science and local insights — ensures it’s well-suited to our pets. It also builds trust through better transparency and traceability.

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INDIA: Kanine, a leading global premium platform for pets, launches its international fashion and accessories brands in India, bringing over 2,500 unique products that will be available on Myntra and www.kanineindia.com. Kanine, with exclusive global licenses for renowned international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and BOSS Dog Accessories and global distribution for Ralph Lauren pets, is proud to enhance its pets ecosphere by announcing its grand debut in India in a dedicated exclusive partnership with Kanine Pets World India Pvt Limited. With the official launch in India on August 26th, coinciding with International Dog Day, Kanine will present an exhaustive range of premium and quality high-quality products for dogs and cats.

The collection includes apparel (T-shirts, Polos, Raincoats, hoodies, padded jackets, bomber jackets, sweaters.), accessories (collars, leashes, harnesses), and dog lifestyle products (Bags, Carriers), Grooming and wellness (Shampoos, Conditioners, etc.), Toys, Beds & Mats & feeding solutions. Kanine India will offer a meticulously curated collection of over 30 distinguished brands from around the globe, including its own brand Kanine, with many more international brands to follow.

“This is incredibly exciting and we’re delighted to extend our vision for pets in the magnificent Indian market. Since our launch on International Dogs Day last year, Kanine’s mission has been to spread love and redefine the pet ecosphere.  We are thrilled to partner with Kanine Pets World India Pvt ltd and their experienced, dedicated, and passionate team to make Kanine an ultimate destination for all pet lovers in India”  Stated Samuel Wong, CEO of Kanine.

“It’s amazing to launch the Kanine platform in India, which will become the ultimate destination for premium fashion and lifestyle products for pets. Having previously worked with many of our partners on their adult and kids’ lines at Orient Craft Fashion Industries Limited, it’s now truly remarkable to extend our love for fashion to our beloved pets! With a large population of dog owners and a vast base of our core consumer base of fashionable pet parents who would be interested in a ‘mini-me’ look for their pets, India showcases a huge opportunity for growth. We are currently retailing through our online store and Myntra, and we will also launch exclusive brand stores & experience centers in the next year,” said Shilpa Dhingra, Founder, and Creative Director, Kanine Pets World India Pvt Ltd.

Speaking of the association, Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer, Myntra, said, “We are thrilled to bring the leading luxury fashion brands by Kanine to the pet owners in India, redefining fashion for our furry companions. Our collaboration with Kanine gives us an opportunity to serve pet parents with a dramatically enhanced pet fashion experience and access to global premium brands for the first time in India. This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing the pet fashion landscape in the country, and we are excited to lead this.” 

Teaming up with Myntra, which currently houses over 8900 styles across fashion and lifestyle products including accessories and pet care products under its Pet Store, Kanine India is set to revolutionize the pet-care industry. The launch of Kanine’s premium collection strengthens the segment and will offer a wider choice to millions of Myntra customers.

The Kanine India launch range is a collection of fashionable dog apparel and accessories that have a preppy feel based on primary colors that match consumers’ lifestyles, enabling their dogs to have the same look as them. The collection of accessories such as collars, harnesses, and leashes cater to dogs of all sizes with a versatile yet stylish look.

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The two-day event is divided into groups for all breeds like Golden Retriever, beagle, etc competing for various positions over 400 dogs with pre-registration for participation with the club. The dogs will be judged by the international jury, Mr. Hitoshi Sayama from Japan for the golden retriever show, and Mr. Peter Firic from Serbia for the beagle breed. The winning dog will be awarded A ‘Best in Show title

Srikanth Ramaswamy – Pet Professionals Director, Royal Canin, India said, “At Royal Canin, we believe that pets make our world better, and our purpose is to Make a Better World for pets. Royal Canin has been taking initiatives to promote responsible breeding and pet ownership for a long time, and such events are an excellent way to accomplish this goal”. We support professional breeders who are focused on the health and well-being of their pets, and we believe that breeding is a profession that requires specific knowledge and expertise.

Sanjay Desai, Poona Kennel Club, said, “We’re glad to host this event in association with Royal Canin. Our purpose is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners and share appreciation with the people who work for this purpose. Through our dog show, we would focus on increasing breed knowledge and education. Our club believes in maintaining the breed standards by providing accurate information on breed/individual dog characteristics, breeding, selling, and homing of puppies/dogs.”

A number of dog lovers from the city and across the country have registered to participate with their beloved companions.

Around 130 exhibitors, Dogs participated in 380 and over 20 breeds registered in different group entries. Children, as well as adults, are showing enthusiasm along with their pets at the dog show. The participants were extremely thrilled about the 2 days show and to showcase their training skills.

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