The Flavors of Fall: Seasonal Pet Health Tips for Dogs
- Everwell Pets
- Sep 24, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
5 Strategies To Ensure Your Pet Thrives Through The Transition of the Season
As the sun dips lower and the crisp autumn air begins to sweep in, it's not just the trees that are changing their wardrobe. For many of us, the shift from summer to fall signals a bend in the road in how we approach our pet's diet. Just as we swap our shorts for sweaters and ice-cold lemonade for warm spiced cider, our furry friends' nutritional needs evolve with the seasons too.
Each season brings its own set of flavors and nutrients, perfectly suited to the weather and activity levels. In summer, they might have enjoyed light, cooling meals that kept them hydrated and energized for those long, sun-soaked days. But as the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it's time to think about transitioning to hearty, warming foods that will keep them cozy and well-nourished.
In this blog, we'll explore why adjusting feeding and activities to align with the season, is not just a trend but a thoughtful approach to optimizing your pet's health. We'll dive into the benefits of adjusting their diet with the changing seasons and offer practical tips for making the transition smooth and enjoyable. So, grab a cup of tea, snuggle up with your furry companion, and let’s get ready to embrace the delicious and nutritious flavors of fall!
1. Remove all summer fruits and veggies
Summer's golden rays bring a bounty of fresh produce, especially fruits that add a zesty splash to our meals. For both you and your furry friend, it’s the perfect time to boost carbohydrate intake and indulge in seasonal fruits—just make sure they’re locally grown!
As we say goodbye to summer's bounty of berries and welcome the crispness of fall and the chill of winter, you can keep adding a bit of crunch and fiber to your pet’s diet with apples and pears. They’re perfect for those occasional treats! Personally, I enjoy sharing what I’m eating with my pack, so you might find me tossing a few apple slices or pear pieces to my furry friends as we cozy up for the season.
In the heart of autumn, it’s time to pivot to heartier, more shelf-stable fare like sweet potatoes, squash, and pumpkin. These starches are ideal for the cooler weather. Remember, even though pumpkin is a fall favorite, it should be a seasonal treat rather than an everyday staple.
Now, here’s where it gets fascinating: our food choices throughout the year have a profound impact on mitochondrial biology. Food growth is influenced by photosynthesis, a process driven by sunlight. When the sun is abundant, so are carbohydrates, thanks to the solar energy that fuels photosynthesis.
The amount of light that drives photosynthesis or "light code" that berries soak up while they’re growing in summer doesn’t align with the light code of your pet’s microbiome in the fall and winter. This mismatch can sometimes outweigh the benefits those summer fruits offer, because food has its own light code, influenced by the sunlight it receives. Your pet's gut bacteria also has a light code; they recognize when sunlight diminishes and which foods harmonize with that change. As the seasons shift, so does the light code, and this affects what’s best for your pet’s evolving microbiome and overall health. So, tuning into these seasonal shifts helps keep your pet’s diet in sync with nature’s rhythm. [1]
2. Rotate In Warmer Meats
As the days get shorter and the air turns cooler, it's the perfect opportunity to shake up the protein rotation for your pet. While beef and fish are the foundation of my pack's diet year round, I do match the other meats I rotate in to the season.
With the arrival of cooler weather, it's time to bring in some of the heartier, warming meats like venison and lamb. I only rarely incorporate chicken even though it is a hot meat, as it is a poor protein source. These options not only align with the seasonal shift but also offer rich, comforting flavors that your pet will love.
Here’s a list of warming meats according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Here’s a list of warming meats according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Lamb – Known for its strong warming properties, it helps build Yang and is great for cold conditions.
Duck – Warming and rich, it nourishes Yin while balancing dryness.
Venison – Builds blood and vital energy while supporting circulation and warmth [2].
For senior pets, this transition is especially valuable. Older animals often feel seasonal shifts more deeply—especially in their joints and metabolism. Warming proteins like lamb and venison, paired with omega-3–rich fish or green-lipped mussel, can help soothe stiffness and keep energy steady. A chiropractic adjustment or light massage during this seasonal change can also make a world of difference.
3. Gut Health Boost
Just like the soil needs rest and replenishment between harvests, so does your pet’s gut. As temperatures drop, digestive motility slows slightly, which makes fall the perfect time for a short “gut reset.”
Rotate probiotic strains or add soil-based organisms that mimic what your dog or cat might naturally encounter outdoors. A sprinkle of fermented foods (think kefir or tiny bits of fermented veggies) can help seed microbial diversity and build resilience before winter.
If your pet tends toward loose stools or sluggish digestion this time of year, consider adding slippery elm, marshmallow root, or a blend designed to soothe and restore gut integrity. These natural mucilaginous herbs help calm inflammation while giving the microbiome a stable foundation to thrive through the colder months [3][4].
Ginger and cinnamon remain my favorite fall additions. Ginger supports digestion and calms inflammation, while cinnamon offers antioxidant and blood-sugar–balancing benefits. Together, they add warmth and a hint of spice—just enough to let your dog soak up all the benefits without overwhelming the flavor [5][6].
4. Bone Broth
As the weather cools and humidity drops, hydration can quietly become an issue for both pets and people. Adding bone broth to your pet’s diet not only provides warmth and flavor but also delivers collagen, amino acids, and trace minerals essential for joint, gut, and skin health.
For an extra boost, stir in a pinch of sea salt or a drop of trace mineral solution to support electrolyte balance. The body loses more minerals through urination in cooler, drier months, and this small addition helps regulate hydration and nervous system function.
5. Circadian Rhythms
Circadian rhythms are like the body’s internal timekeepers, orchestrating everything from hormone release to digestion. These rhythms not only follow a 24-hour cycle but also shift seasonally. As daylight decreases, our pets’ biology expects more rest, deeper sleep, and warming foods that balance colder temperatures.
Fall is the perfect time to realign with nature’s rhythm. Start your day by watching the sunrise with your pet—Google your local sunrise time and aim to step outside within 30 minutes of dawn. This natural light exposure cues your pet’s brain to regulate hormones like cortisol and thyroid, setting the tone for balanced energy and immune strength throughout the day.
Here’s a tip that might sound counterintuitive: don’t rush to put a coat on your dog (more about that here).
And maybe skip yours too! Mild cold exposure stimulates brown fat activation—a metabolic process that enhances mitochondrial function, burns stored energy, and strengthens circulation. It’s nature’s version of a cold plunge, minus the Instagram post.
This seasonal chill builds resilience, boosts cellular energy, and reminds your pet’s body that winter is coming—time to generate inner warmth instead of relying on external heat [7].
In Summary
Aligning your pet’s routine with the changing seasons can significantly enhance their well-being. As the temperatures dip, focus on warming, locally sourced foods that harmonize with your pet’s internal “light code.” Support their gut and mitochondria with nourishing broths, probiotics, and gentle herbs. Let them feel the elements—walks in cool air, sunrise light, bare paws on the earth—and resist the urge to overprotect them from nature’s reset.
If you have a senior or ill pet, remember that these transitions are an opportunity to support healing and strengthen resilience at a cellular level.
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Citations
[1] Jack Kruse. “Three Essential Biohacks: Why Biohacking Starts with Your Environment.” jackkruse.com.
[2] Kastner, Joerg. Chinese Nutrition Therapy: Dietetics in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Thieme Medical Publishers.
[3] Adored Beast Apothecary. “Soil-Based Probiotics and Microbiome Diversity in Dogs.” adoredbeast.com.
[4] Horne, R., et al. “Herbal Mucilages and Gut Health in Companion Animals.” Journal of Holistic Veterinary Medicine, 2020.
[5] Bensky, Dan, and Andrew Gamble. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Eastland Press.
[6] Chen, Philip A. The Chinese Medicine Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating Your Patients. Healing Arts Press.
[7] Kruse, Jack. “Mitochondrial Cold Thermogenesis.” jackkruse.com.