Get Joy, a pioneer in holistic dog wellness, is unveiling a new research report titled "Chasing our Tails: When it Comes to Maximizing our Dog’s Health and Wellness, Are We Just Running in Circles?" The report, created from a national online survey of dog parents, explores a major paradox between the intentions of dog owners and the realities of their actions in contributing to the longevity of their beloved canine companions.

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The Dog Diet Dilemma: Intentions vs. Realities (Photo: Business Wire)

This report unearths a major discrepancy between what dog owners believe to be beneficial for their pets and the actual practices they implement, particularly in the realm of nutrition. While an overwhelming 97% of dog owners acknowledge the impact of their pet's diet on longevity, only 12% are currently feeding their dogs fresh food – revealing a pervasive default to processed foods that may compromise the health and vitality of our beloved pets.

Tom Arrix, founder and CEO of Get Joy, identifies with this paradox, stating “My life took a profound turn when our family dog Cooper battled lymphoma. While exploring the healing power of nutrition, I had a wake-up call to the harmful effects of feeding my dog kibble – something we know is occurring on a large scale in today’s market.”

Said Arrix, “It’s clear that dog families have the best intentions, but misinformation and a market flooded with processed options can cloud decision-making. Get Joy seeks to provide information and a holistic approach to dog wellness that can help dog families’ actions better align with their intentions.”

Further, while the majority of survey respondents express unwavering confidence in their understanding of their pet's health, this confidence often belies a lack of awareness regarding the ingredients and nutritional value of the food they provide. The report also highlights the alarming prevalence of obesity among dogs, with 59% classified as overweight or obese—a statistic exacerbated by the consumption of processed foods. Studies have shown that transitioning dogs from processed diets to fresh foods can lead to a significant decrease in disease markers, emphasizing the critical role of nutrition in canine wellness.

Dr. Brett Levitzke, DVM, Chief Medical Officer at VERG Brooklyn and Get Joy veterinary advisor, emphasizes the importance of nutrition in pet care, stating "Nutrition is something we do with our pets twice daily. Even simple changes can have a profound impact on our dog's overall wellness."

In light of these findings, Get Joy urges dog owners to reassess their approach to nutrition and prioritize fresh, whole foods that promote gut health. By bridging the gap between intention and action, pet parents can ensure the long-term health and vitality of their canine companions.

Key Survey Findings:

• Nine out of 10 adults (94%) say they’d increase the longevity of their beloved pets if they could
• Survey respondents rank their pets’ overall health as better than their own and almost 70% are either extremely or very confident in their understanding of their dog’s health and wellbeing
• Despite high confidence in their dogs' health, there's a significant gap between perception and reality:
  • Dog owners are prioritizing almost everything except for – according to vets – the most vital element for pet wellness: the dog’s diet. Only 53% say they are regularly feeding their dog healthy food, vs. other activities such as getting enough sleep (73%), spending time with family (73%), and visiting the vet for routine checkups (68%)
  • 83% of pet parents are confident about their dog's food content, but only 58% can name three ingredients
  • Roughly 56% of dogs in the U.S. are considered obese, emphasizing the importance of addressing diet and nutrition to combat this issue
• Gut Health Awareness: Despite widespread recognition of its importance, the majority of pet parents have yet to embrace gut-healthy dietary practices, with only 12% of pet parents feeding their dogs fresh food that promotes gut health
• Processed food diets, which over 75% of respondents feed their dogs, may inadvertently contribute to longer-term health issues like obesity, which in turn predisposes dogs to a myriad of health issues including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more
  • This is surprising when we learn that a sizable majority believe that gut-healthy foods can extend their dog’s life (83%) and improve the quality of their dog’s life (89%)

Recommendations for Dog Parents:

1. Look at the Labels: Scrutinize the ingredients in your dog's food and opt for fresh options whenever possible, for your dog’s optimal health.
2. Go for Gut Health: Incorporate probiotics and gut-healthy foods into your dog's diet to promote overall wellness.
3. Top It Off: Mix fresh food with processed options or use it as a topper to enhance nutritional value.
4. Invest Now for Saving Later: Consider the long-term savings of investing in your dog's health through nutritious food choices.
5. Adopt a Holistic Approach: Prioritize a comprehensive wellness routine encompassing diet, exercise, preventative care, socialization, and companionship.

Get Joy is committed to further research and advancing canine wellness through education and advocacy, empowering dog owners with the knowledge and resources they need. The company’s long-term vision is to bridge the knowledge-behavior gap, offering tangible solutions to a holistic wellness routine that will ultimately extend the quality and longevity of dogs’ lives.

For more information and to access the full report, visit https://getjoyfood.com/blogs/the-daily-scoop/chasing-our-tails.

About Get Joy: Get Joy is on a mission to improve and extend the lives of dogs and their families through wellness and nutrition, by focusing on our canine companion’s body, mind, and soul. Founded in 2019 by Tom Arrix, the brand was born from a personal journey of navigating Tom’s own dog's health scare, igniting a commitment to revolutionize the dog food category. Get Joy offers science-backed products optimized for canine health with gut-healthy nutrition at its core, including pantry-friendly Fresh Freeze Dried Meals to the gently-cooked, expertly formulated Get Joy Fresh Meals, Freeze Dried Superfood Treats, Chews & more. Soon, Get Joy will introduce a line of daily Supplement Chews, aimed at supporting overall dog wellness and longevity. With a commitment to science, quality, and holistic care, Get Joy empowers dog owners to prioritize their pets' health beyond the bowl.

Survey Methodology: A national survey of 1,000 dog parents, ages 18-70+, distributed across all regions, and approximately half male and half female. The survey was conducted by Torfac between February 1 - 5, 2024 using an online data collection method.

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