At what age is a dog considered senior or geriatric?
âIt really depends on the breed and body weight,â says Fred Metzger, DVM, Diplomate ABVP. âLarge and giant breeds age faster than smaller dogs.â
Metzger — who owns Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa. and is an adjunct professor at Penn State University — tells WebMD that in addition to breed making a difference, overweight dogs also age faster than lean dogs.
As a rule of thumb, dogs are considered older when theyâve reached half of their life expectancy, says Mark Nunez, DVM, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association from 2009-2010 and owner of a veterinary practice in Van Nuys, Calif.
In general, âlittle dogs live to about 15 to 20 years of age, while bigger dogs live to about 12 to15 years.,” Nunez says. Bigger dogs are considered older at around six years, and smaller dogs become older at around eight or nine.
If your senior dog or cat is healthy, in good body condition, and eating a good quality nutritionally balanced diet, there is no reason to change foods. However, if your pet has one of the diseases often seen with aging such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, dental problems, heart disease, or kidney disease, dietary adjustments may help improve symptoms or even slow progression of the disease. Dietary modification can help to optimize health in the dog and cat and to manage any diseases that might arise as they age.
Other aging dogs and cats, however, may benefit from changing to a “senior” diet. It is important to understand that there is no legal definition for “senior” or “geriatric” foods – diets marketed as senior diets need to follow the same legal guidelines as diets for young or middle-aged adults. Although you might think that this title generally implies lower protein, lower phosphorus, and a lower caloric content, the levels vary by manufacturer so each manufacturer’s senior food will have different properties. Therefore, some foods will meet the needs of an individual animal better than others.
It has often been said that aging, in itself, is not a disease. However, aging is often associated with a variety of diseases. Nutrition can be a powerful tool in maintaining health, preventing disease, and in helping to manage disease. However, deciding on the “best” diet for an older dog or cat can be a difficult decision; there is no one best diet for every older animal. Animals are individuals so just because your pet turns 7 or 10 or even 15 years old doesn’t necessarily mean she’s biologically “old”. The aging process depends on a variety of factors including breed, genetics, and health problems. Therefore, just because a food is marketed for older animals, doesn’t mean it is right for your older dog or cat.
Individual differences aside, there are a number of changes that occur with aging that can affect nutritional needs. Although much more research is needed in dogs and cats (much of the information is based on humans), aging is typically associated with lower energy requirements and the tendency to gain fat and lose muscle. Immune function and kidney function also decline with age, although the degree to which this occurs depends upon the individual animal.
There are many good quality commercial diets available today, and their variable nutrient content provides many choices for optimizing the health of the individual senior dog and cat. Working with your veterinarian can help you to find the diet that is truly best for your dog or cat, not just the diet with the best marketing.
Use the Senior Version of Their Current Food
If your canine companion is ready for a senior food, you can start by trying the senior version of what they already eat (same brand, variety, and texture). Many brands offer a senior version of most mature adult foods. This may help avoid digestive upset associated with diet change.
Does my dog need a senior food?
It has often been said that aging, in itself, is not a disease. However, aging is often associated with a variety of diseases. Nutrition can be a powerful tool in maintaining health, preventing disease, and in helping to manage disease. However, deciding on the “best” diet for an older dog or cat can be a difficult decision; there is no one best diet for every older animal. Animals are individuals so just because your pet turns 7 or 10 or even 15 years old doesn’t necessarily mean she’s biologically “old”. The aging process depends on a variety of factors including breed, genetics, and health problems. Therefore, just because a food is marketed for older animals, doesn’t mean it is right for your older dog or cat.
Individual differences aside, there are a number of changes that occur with aging that can affect nutritional needs. Although much more research is needed in dogs and cats (much of the information is based on humans), aging is typically associated with lower energy requirements and the tendency to gain fat and lose muscle. Immune function and kidney function also decline with age, although the degree to which this occurs depends upon the individual animal.
Human adult dietary requirements are separated into age groups: 19-30 years, 31-50 years, 51-70 years, and >70 years, but adult cats and dogs are considered as a single group, whether the animal is 2, 8, or 15 years old. More specific requirements for senior animals are needed as the requirements of older dogs and cats are most certainly different from a young adult. However, adjustment of the diet may or may not be necessary or even desirable in older animals. Many older dogs and cats can continue to eat a good quality commercial diet designed for adults and do not need to be changed to a different diet.
Other aging dogs and cats, however, may benefit from changing to a “senior” diet. It is important to understand that there is no legal definition for “senior” or “geriatric” foods – diets marketed as senior diets need to follow the same legal guidelines as diets for young or middle-aged adults. Although you might think that this title generally implies lower protein, lower phosphorus, and a lower caloric content, the levels vary by manufacturer so each manufacturer’s senior food will have different properties. Therefore, some foods will meet the needs of an individual animal better than others.
Some of the nutrients that may need to be adjusted as a pet ages (but are not necessarily modified in individual senior diets) include the following:
If your senior dog or cat is healthy, in good body condition, and eating a good quality nutritionally balanced diet, there is no reason to change foods. However, if your pet has one of the diseases often seen with aging such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, dental problems, heart disease, or kidney disease, dietary adjustments may help improve symptoms or even slow progression of the disease. Dietary modification can help to optimize health in the dog and cat and to manage any diseases that might arise as they age.
There are many good quality commercial diets available today, and their variable nutrient content provides many choices for optimizing the health of the individual senior dog and cat. Working with your veterinarian can help you to find the diet that is truly best for your dog or cat, not just the diet with the best marketing.