Clubs Offering:
A long life is the result of good genes, good care, and good luck. While a few four-leaf clovers never hurt anyone, chances are it’s a little late to worry about good genes once you’ve welcomed a dog into your heart. That leaves good care as the one thing you can control now. And a big part of good care is good nutrition.
However, there are issues when it comes to feeding your senior dog. Neither the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nor the National Research Council have determined official dietary requirements for aging dogs. It’s partly because senior dogs vary so much in their individual needs. That may explain why commercial foods for seniors vary so widely in nutrient levels.
Nobody expects you to be a nutritionist just to pick out a bag of dog food. But you should be aware of just a few important factors that apply to most senior dogs. This will help you choose the best dog food for your senior dog.
This matter is widely misunderstood. Many people still believe senior dogs should eat less protein. We now know the opposite is true. Healthy seniors need more protein, not less, in order to fuel muscle. Loss of muscle mass is a major problem in older dogs. Some seniors lose so much muscle they can no longer walk unassisted.
Older dogs need about 50 percent more protein to maintain muscle mass compared to younger ones. But, diets formulated for adult maintenance diets often don’t have enough protein to satisfy these needs. Veterinarian Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, recommends 28 to 32 percent protein on a dry-matter basis for healthy older dogs, especially in those cases where weight loss is needed.
Younger seniors tend to be overweight. But, very old dogs tend to be underweight. A 2011 study found that calories in senior foods varied widely, ranging from 246 to 408 calories per cup. So, the same senior food may be a great choice if your dog needs to lose weight. But it may be a bad choice if they need to gain weight.
Don’t forget that the time to consider calories is well before old age sets in. Two benchmark studies conducted by major dog food companies Purina and Waltham both found that restricting calories throughout life improved longevity and reduced illnesses. Essentially, good care for senior dogs starts in youth.
Other factors to consider are senior dog health problems such as heart and kidney disease. For both conditions, you’ll want a low-sodium food. But, that same 2011 study found that sodium levels in senior foods ranged from 33 to 412 mg/100 kcal. For kidney disease, you’ll want low phosphorous, but that’s not even mentioned on any label. The 2011 study found phosphorous levels varied by threefold in the senior foods they examined, but were on average higher than their representative adult maintenance food.
Prescription diets are available for heart, kidney, and other diseases that take into account these nutritional needs. However, even those foods may have wide ranges of nutrients. Any dog food manufacturer should be able to provide these numbers to you on their website or with a simple phone call. While you’re at it, ask them about the credentials of the people formulating their foods. If they can’t provide either, that’s clue number one that you should find another product.
Some senior foods include supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin in an effort to combat osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the evidence that these supplements actually work is limited. However, they won’t hurt—except maybe your wallet.
On the other hand, omega-3 fatty acids probably play an important role in senior diets because they may help combat both osteoarthritis and especially cognitive losses. If you are adding your own to your dog’s diet, aim for the amount of EPA and DHA combined to be in the range of 700 to 1,500 mg. Build up starting at the low end and cut back if your dog has any diarrhea or vomiting.
There’s probably more to the recipe than simply EPA and DHA, however. Research conducted at Purina tested Beagles between the ages of 9.5 and 11 years of age that were fed either a standard diet or one supplemented with antioxidants, B vitamins, fish oil, and L-arginine for six months. The dogs fed this “Brain Protection Blend” performed significantly better on a series of mental tasks, especially the more difficult ones, compared to the dogs not receiving the blend. The tasks involved determining which one of several shallow wells contained food when the cue was a marker either next to it, near it, or displaced at an angle; or seeing how well they did on a task requiring them to discriminate right, left, and center, and then relearning which side was correct in order to receive a reward.
The Top Picks for the Best Soft Foods for Senior Dogs
The best overall soft food for senior dogs is Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Stew.
This food is developed to promote good health during your pet’s golden years by blending important nutrients and fiber to keep your dog’s digestive system running smoothly. It also incorporates high quality lean protein in the form of real chicken to help them achieve their ideal body weight. This food also includes wholesome ingredients such as brown rice, peas, and carrots. Also, this is all covered with a delicious gravy to create a tasty meal that even the fussiest eaters will love.
However, although this food has a lot going for it, a small number of customers have complained that the size of the chunks are too large for smaller dogs to eat easily.
Pros and Cons of the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Loaf
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This food is veterinarian-exclusive. | This food is expensive. |
| It has a low fat content to aid pets that have difficulty digesting fat while still providing sufficient calories to meet their daily needs. | There is a lack of consistency in the texture of the food between cans. |
| It has added omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, and DHA to maintain GI health. | |
| It contains highly digestible proteins and prebiotics to promote a healthy digestive system. |
Homemade Senior Dog Food Recipe
If you have an older dog, you may be witnessing a decline in their dental health. Soft dry dog food is commonly recommended to dogs who can no longer chew dry kibble.
In this article, we will explore the facts around soft dry dog food and what ingredients it should contain to keep your companion healthy as they age.