Can Epigenetics Really Help Your Dog or Cat?

Epigenetics. It sounds like some funky, weird term, right? Turns out, it’s actually really important for your dog or cat’s health.

Epigenetics is the study of how certain foods can switch genes on or off — and those changes can have a big impact on your pet’s long-term health. What you choose to feed your dog or cat matters more than most people realize.

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Why Food Choices Affect Gene Expression

When you feed your pet healthy foods filled with real nutrients, you’re turning on the right genes — the ones that protect the body. But when you feed heavily processed foods, those same genes can turn against your pet, leading to inflammation and disease.

It might sound far-fetched, but the science backs it up. For example, the BRCA1 gene, which helps protect against certain cancers, can be directly affected by diet. If that gene functions properly, the risk of diseases like breast or mammary cancer goes down. But if it doesn’t, the risk increases — and food is one of the triggers.

Dr. Conor Brady

Before diving too deep, I want to give credit to Dr. Conor Brady, whose talk at the Feed Real Summit in San Diego inspired much of this discussion. His research on food and gene expression is incredibly helpful for pet parents.

Understanding the Basics: DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes

Let’s start simple. Every living thing — including you, me, and your pets — is made up of trillions of cells. Inside each cell is a nucleus, which contains chromosomes, the structures that hold our DNA.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is like a code that tells our bodies how to function. Small segments of DNA form genes, which determine traits like coat color, size, or even disease risk.

For example, my cat Cassian is a tabby because of the genes he inherited from his parents. But those same genes can also influence health risks like diabetes.

Dogs, humans, and cats each have a different number of chromosomes:

Dogs: 78
Humans: 46
Cats: 38

That means your dog actually has 40 more chromosomes per cell than your cat. Who knew?

How Food Impacts Genes

Healthy, whole foods rich in nutrients like carotenoids can turn on genes that protect the body. On the other hand, highly processed kibble — full of additives and exposed to high heat — can activate harmful genes linked to chronic inflammation and disease.

Eating or feeding too much refined sugar, for example, can trigger the wrong genes, leading to inflammation, cancer, or autoimmune disorders.

Whole Foods vs. Synthetic Diets

A 2011 study compared whole-food diets to synthetic, lab-created diets in both mice and humans. The results were clear: synthetic diets led to less DNA methylation, which means fewer positive gene expressions.

This proves that it’s not just about the calories or basic nutrients — it’s about where those nutrients come from. Whole foods have bioactive compounds that synthetic diets simply can’t replicate.

When you feed your dog or cat a whole-food diet, you’re changing their health on a genetic level.

The Problem with Processed and GMO Foods

Most commercial pet foods are made with genetically modified (GMO) ingredients — often sprayed with glyphosate (Roundup). Small amounts of this toxin can end up in your pet’s food, disrupting normal gene expression and harming long-term health.

The Power of Whole Food Ingredients

Certain nutrients have a direct positive epigenetic effect — meaning they turn on protective genes. Look for foods rich in:

Polyphenols
Flavonoids
Carotenoids

These are the natural compounds that give color to fruits and vegetables:

The red in apple peels (rich in quercetin)
The orange in carrots and squash
The green in leafy vegetables

For instance, one study showed that dogs fed carrots three times a week had a significantly lower risk of developing bladder cancer.

What About Protein?

It’s not just plants that matter. Animal proteins can also influence gene expression — but the source is key.

Factory-farmed meat from grain-fed animals contains fewer nutrients and more toxins from hormones and antibiotics. In contrast, grass-fed, pasture-raised meats are rich in antioxidants like:

Vitamin E
Vitamin C
CoQ10
Alpha-lipoic acid
Taurine
Carnitine
Glutathione

These compounds have proven benefits for heart, gum, and cellular health.

Fish is another great example — it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which also have a positive epigenetic effect.

Supplements That Support Epigenetic Health

If you can’t always feed fresh, supplements can help. Some with known positive epigenetic effects include:

Omega-3 fatty acids (Dr. Jones’ Omega-3 Formula for Dogs and Cats)
Quercetin (Dr. Jones’ BioActive Quercetin)
Curcumin (Dr. Jones’ High Absorption 95% Curcumin)

While supplements are helpful, nothing replaces real, whole food.

Feeding as Nature Intended

Cats are true carnivores — they’re designed to digest meat, not carbs. Dogs, like my Tula, evolved from omnivorous wolves that thrived on whole foods from animal prey.

When you feed your dog or cat whole food diets, you’re giving their body what it was built for. You’re turning on the right genes, protecting them from chronic disease, and supporting longer, healthier lives.

The Bottom Line

Feed real food whenever possible. Avoid synthetic, ultra-processed diets. Choose natural, nutrient-rich ingredients that nourish your pet at the cellular level.

When you feed as nature intended, you help your dog or cat stay healthier, stronger, and better equipped to fight off disease — for years to come.

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