Expert Session: Supporting Your Aging Pet’s Health

September 23, 2026

Traditional Eastern Medicine, pet wellbeing, and Kidney care

Yakuzen, or food therapy based on the principles of Traditional Eastern Asian medicine, focuses on using food to support health, maintain balance, and help prevent illness. At its heart is the traditional belief that food and medicine share the same roots.

In Eastern Asian medicine, different foods are thought to have different qualities and effects on the body. By choosing foods that suit an individual’s constitution and current condition, food can become a gentle and practical part of everyday health care.

As our pets live longer, many dogs and cats are experiencing age-related changes and chronic health concerns, much as we do. Naturally, we want to do everything we can to keep our beloved companions healthy and comfortable for as long as possible. Yet when a pet is struggling, it can be difficult to know what we can do at home to support them.

For almost ten years, I have worked as a Yakuzen instructor, and over the years I have heard from many pet owners who share the same concerns:

“I want to help my pet feel better without relying too heavily on medication.”
“If I can support my pet’s health through gentle, nourishing food, I would love to do that.”

These conversations led me to explore how the principles of Yakuzen could be applied to the diets of our pets—not only to support them when they are unwell, but also as part of everyday care and healthy aging.

I was fortunate to meet a veterinarian who incorporates food therapy into their clinical care of dogs and cats. Under their guidance, I began studying pet Yakuzen in depth.

Through this experience, and by seeing many examples of pets whose wellbeing improved with appropriate dietary support, I came to appreciate something very deeply:

Just like people, every pet is unique. They have their own constitution, strengths, and areas that may need extra support. The right food, chosen with their individual needs in mind, can become a valuable part of their everyday care.

Above all, I came to believe that what we eat plays an important role in shaping our health and wellbeing over time.

Why Is Kidney Care Important as Our Pets Age?

There is one question that often comes to mind when we think about our pets growing older:

Why do kidney concerns become so common as dogs and cats enter their senior years?

In Eastern Asian medicine, the process of aging is closely connected with the concept of the Kidney. It is important to understand that the Eastern Asian medicine concept of the Kidney is broader than the physical kidneys described in Western medicine. In Eastern Asian medicine, the Kidney is regarded as an important source and storehouse of our fundamental vitality. It is associated with growth, development, reproduction, strength, and the aging process.

For this reason, caring for the Kidney is considered especially important as our pets grow older.

According to Eastern Asian medicine, the Kidney is associated with two forms of essential energy:

Inherited Essence: the life energy we receive from our parents at birth.
Acquired Essence: the energy we build and replenish throughout life through food and daily nourishment.

Our Inherited Essence is considered finite and gradually declines with age. This is why nourishing the body well throughout life is thought to be important for maintaining vitality and supporting healthy aging.

In Eastern Asian medicine, the Kidney is also traditionally associated with the bones, ears, and hair or coat. As our pets age, we may notice changes such as:

becoming less steady or strong in the legs,
changes in hearing, or
a coat that is losing some of its shine or softness.

From an Eastern Asian medicine perspective, these changes may be seen as signs that the body’s underlying vitality could benefit from additional support.

By paying attention to our pets’ changing needs and providing appropriate nourishment and care, we can help support their wellbeing as they grow older.

Noticing the Early Signs: Understanding “Mibyo”

Healthy aging is not only about responding when something goes wrong. It is also about noticing the small changes that can appear before a clear health problem develops.

Perhaps you have experienced this yourself: “I’m not really ill, but I don’t feel quite myself.”

Maybe you feel more tired than usual, or simply sense that something is a little off.

In Eastern Asian medicine, this state—where there may be an imbalance before a recognisable illness develops—is known as “Mibyo”.

The idea of Mibyo encourages us to pay attention to these subtle signs and take action early, rather than waiting until a problem becomes more serious.

For us, this can be relatively easy. If we feel tired, we can go to bed earlier. We can choose a warm, nourishing meal or take time to rest. Our pets cannot do these things for themselves. They cannot tell us when they feel different, and they cannot choose a different diet or lifestyle based on how they are feeling.

That is why our observation matters so much. Some of the everyday changes worth noticing include:

The brightness of their eyes and expression
Changes in their coat or skin
Their voice, sounds, or usual way of communicating
Changes in appetite or thirst
Their usual urination and bowel movements
Changes in energy, behaviour, or daily routines

Sometimes, it is simply a feeling that “something is a little different today.”

These small changes are worth paying attention to. They may not necessarily indicate a health problem, but they can be a valuable reason to pause, observe, and, when appropriate, seek professional advice.

From an Eastern Asian medicine perspective, recognising these changes early and supporting the body through appropriate food and lifestyle care is part of the approach to Mibyo.

Simple Kidney Care You Can Start Today

When people hear “pet Yakuzen,” they may imagine complicated recipes, unusual ingredients, or something that requires a lot of time and effort. It doesn’t have to be that way.

In fact, good food therapy can begin with simple, everyday choices. One approach is to include foods that are traditionally considered supportive of Kidney function and vitality in Eastern Asian medicine.

Foods traditionally associated with Kidney support

Examples include: Japanese yam, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, black beans, black sesame seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, and shrimp.

These are only examples. The foods that are most appropriate will vary from one pet to another, depending on their individual constitution, age, health, and dietary needs. This is why I prefer to make recommendations based on each pet as an individual.

It is also important to prepare foods safely for pets. Depending on the food, this may mean chopping it finely, cooking it thoroughly, or preparing it in a form that is easy to chew and digest. Allergies, existing health conditions, and any dietary restrictions should always be taken into consideration, and new foods should be introduced gradually and in small amounts.

In Eastern Asian medicine, the Kidney is also traditionally considered particularly sensitive to cold.

For this reason, keeping your pet warm and comfortable can be another simple part of everyday care. Depending on your pet’s needs, this might mean offering food at a comfortable temperature, preparing a nourishing soup, or simply providing a warm, peaceful place where they can rest.

These may seem like small things, but everyday care is made up of small things.

Growing Older Together, in Health and Happiness

Pet Yakuzen is not about doing something complicated or extraordinary.

At its heart is a simple idea: Our pets are family, and we want to share as many healthy and happy years together as possible.

That is the philosophy behind my approach to pet Yakuzen. It starts with becoming a little more attentive—to our own wellbeing, and to the subtle changes we see in the animals we love.

It means choosing nourishing foods that suit each pet’s individual needs, taking the changing seasons into account, and paying attention to their wellbeing before a more obvious problem develops.

A little knowledge of Yakuzen can give pet owners another way to care for their companions. It can help us become more observant, more responsive to subtle changes, and more thoughtful about the food we offer our pets.

Most importantly, it can help us become a better advocate for an animal who cannot tell us in words how they feel.

I hope that the happy moments you share with your pet will continue for many years to come. Sometimes, caring for our pets’ future health begins with something as simple as what we put in their bowl today.

Why not start with one small, gentle step toward better everyday care?