Understanding Food Energetics for Dogs

We believe food should do more than just fill your dog’s belly. It should support their body and help them thrive in the environment they live in. That’s why we’re big fans of food energetics, a concept rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that looks at how different foods affect the body’s internal balance.

In this post, we’ll break down the basics of food energetics, explore what "cooling" and "warming" proteins really mean, and help you choose ingredients that support your dog’s health through the seasons.

TCM and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) are deep and complex systems with centuries of history. While this is only a simplified overview, it offers a helpful starting point for understanding the basics and making thoughtful adjustments that may support your dog’s health.

Let’s dive in.

Food energetics is the idea that each ingredient carries a specific energetic effect on the body. This is not about calories or nutrients in the Western sense. It’s about how a food influences internal temperature, energy flow, digestion, and organ systems.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, all foods fall along a spectrum of warming, neutral, or cooling. These properties affect the balance of yin and yang in the body. For dogs, the right energetic balance can help reduce inflammation, support digestion, improve circulation, and manage chronic conditions more naturally.

Let’s look at what these terms really mean and which dogs may benefit from each type.

Warming foods build internal heat. They’re stimulating and increase circulation. These proteins are ideal for dogs who tend to run cold, have lower energy, or live in cooler climates.

Lamb

Venison

Chicken (mildly warming)

Trout

Goat

Sluggish or low-energy

Prone to stiffness or arthritis in cold weather

Recovering from illness or injury

Living in cold or damp climates

Lean and underweight

Seeks warmth or burrows under blankets

Has a cold nose or ears

Appears tired or slow to get moving

Prefers sunbathing or heated spots

Cooling foods reduce internal heat. They help calm inflammation and are especially helpful for dogs with allergies, skin conditions, or digestive heat.

Duck

Rabbit

White fish (cod, pollock)

Pork (mildly cooling)

Turkey (neutral to mildly cooling)

Prone to itching or hot spots

Overheated easily

Living in hot climates or during summer months

Inflamed or allergic

Anxious or restless

Excessive panting

Red skin or eyes

Hot spots or inflamed paws

Itchy ears or chronic ear infections

Restlessness, pacing, or irritability

Neutral proteins help maintain balance and can be fed to most dogs regularly. They’re a good base for dogs without strong energetic needs in one direction or the other.

Beef

Bison

Eggs

Quail

One of the most practical ways to use food energetics is by adjusting your dog’s meals based on the time of year.

Spring and Summer: Dogs are more likely to overheat or experience seasonal allergies. This is a great time to incorporate cooling proteins like duck or white fish, along with moisture-rich fruits and vegetables.

Fall and Winter: Cooler months call for more warmth. Warming proteins like lamb or venison can support circulation and comfort, especially for senior dogs or those with joint stiffness.

Just like we crave different foods in summer and winter, your dog’s body benefits from seasonal variety too.

We keep food energetics in mind when we formulate our bars and meals and we aim to provide appropriate proteins based on the season. Our duck-based recipes offer a cooling option for dogs with allergies or inflammation. Our bison-based bars provide a neutral source of strength and energy, ideal for most dogs and all seasons. And our herbal supplements further support energetic balance, from calming blends to joint and immune support.

We’re not here to tell you one way to feed your dog. We’re here to help you feed more intentionally.

You don’t need to change everything overnight. Start with small adjustments based on what you observe in your dog.

Watch for signs of heat or cold imbalance in your dog’s body and behavior.

Match their current needs to the right protein type—cooling, warming, or neutral.

Adjust with the seasons and observe how your dog responds.

Support with herbs that align with your dog’s constitution and activity level.

And always remember: no one knows your dog better than you do.