Last Updated on October 9, 2021 by Woody Pet
Contents hideAs your pet continues to age, their diet and eating habits change along with them as well. As a dog parent, educate yourself on how to choose dog food for your senior dogs and what the best products are out there!
6 Best Senior Dog Food
Your dog nutritional necessities change as they progress through their life stages. These aging dogs go through many physical, medical, and even mental changes that we need to supervise and help manage for them as well. To accommodate those new needs, it’s highly recommended that you switch their food into senior or mature dog food.
Symptoms of Aging in Dogs
Physical Signs:
- cloudy eyes or difficult seeing
- horrible breath
- slowing down or difficulty getting around
- new lumps and bumps
- change in weight
- incontinence or difficulty “going”
Behavioral and Mental Signs:
- Fear of familiar people or object
- Changes in the sleeping-waking cycle, including restlessness or pacing at night
- Increased barking and vocalization
- Repetitive or compulsive behaviors
- Forgetting commands and cues that she once knew
- House soiling
- Increased anxiety
- Confusion and disorientation
- Marked change in activity level
Is there a difference between senior dog food and regular dog food?
There are many dog foods out there that are labeled as all life stages, multi-stage, senior dog food, puppy dog food and many more. Sometimes, the difference just all comes down to the packaging and how they are marketed.
In the case of senior dog food, some veterinarians claim that there aren’t necessarily any regulations of dog foods claiming to cater to seniors. However, we cannot overlook the fact that there are some dietary factors that help senior dogs deal and manage the changes they’re experiencing. Listed below are some of the ways senior dog food may differ from regular dog food:
Nutrient Adjustments
The protein of a senior dog turns over more quickly than in younger ones, which leads to a faster loss in muscle mass as they age. Thus, some dog foods catered to senior dogs consist of extra protein supplies to compensate for that loss in muscle mass, hence, keeping the senior dogs stronger, healthier, and more mobile.
A symptom of aging in dogs include weight gain or weight loss. Given that, it’s a fact that some senior dogs struggle to put on weight or maintain it. Depending on the type of senior dog food you buy, it will help sustain their current weight by giving either higher or lower fat in their food.
Aging dogs also begin to have troubles when it comes to their stools, and the solution has to do with their diet as well. Senior dog food that’s high in fiber will help with their constipation. Likewise, there are also senior dog foods that are low in fiber, which in turn helps with lessening the fiber that may have been affecting the senior dog’s absorption of essential nutrients.
Calorie intake is also another factor when it comes to knowing how to choose dog food. Depending on whether or not they need to gain or lose weight, your senior dog might need a diet with either lower or higher calorie density.
Higher Digestibility
Dogs aren’t really susceptible to changes in their digestion despite changes that have happened in their digestive system. However, what they are more vulnerable to are digestion-related problems such as dog food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and pancreatitis. Depending on what your dog needs, you can pick a senior dog food that is modified in a way that targets their changes i.e. added soluble fiber and increased fat in their diet.
Fights Dental Diseases
Aging in dogs affects their eating habits as well right down to the chewing. To mitigate this, try switching to soft food. Most senior dog foods also have products that are in this form, which helps with many aging symptoms. Hard kibble can only lead to loose or infected teeth as these may be too difficult for senior dogs to chew on.
Added Joint Supplements
Just like humans, senior dogs also develop arthritis as they age. They become even more susceptible to this when they are overweight or obese. Senior dog food contains supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin to help reduce the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
Here are the 6 Best Senior Dog Food you can purchase:
Diamond Naturals Dry Food for Senior Dogs
Diamond Naturals Senior Dog Chicken, Egg, and Oatmeal Formula contains superfoods, selenium, and vitamin E which helps provide antioxidants. Superfoods are unique foods that are particularly high in nutritional value. These ingredients including, kale, chia seed, pumpkin, and blueberries are sources of key nutrients, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and proteins. Superfoods help provide more complete nutrition for your pet. Chicken, along with chia seed and quinoa, provides protein for bones and muscles, helping your dog stay active and fit.
ORIJEN Senior Dog Food
Give your older dog a firm nutritional foundation for health and the protein they need for lean muscle mass with ORIJEN Senior. This grain-free, Biologically Appropriate dog food is brimming with fresh and raw whole-animal ingredients – including free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught flounder, cage-free eggs, Atlantic mackerel, and Atlantic herring. Together, these ingredients provide a varied, meat-rich diet that nourishes dogs according to their evolutionary and biological needs – just as nature intended.
VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight
VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight is an excellent choice for older dogs that are less active, and adult dogs that need to reduce overall weight. This multi-protein, nutrient-dense formula is specially formulated for breeds that are susceptible to joint issues. This is a nutrient-dense recipe made with premium-quality beef, chicken, pork, and fish meals. It’s packed with glucosamine and chondroitin to promote long-term joint health. Formulated with scientifically advanced, proven VICTOR Core ingredients, this senior dog food promotes healthy immune and digestive systems.
CANIDAE Grain-Free Pure Senior Formula
CANIDAE Grain-Free Pure Senior Formula is packed with limited ingredients crafted from seven to ten real foods in each bag of dog food, giving your good boys and girls everything they need and nothing they don’t. It’s grain-free for dogs with sensitive stomachs – there’s never any wheat, corn, or soy. This recipe uses simple, whole-food recipes!
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dog Food
Because the nutritional requirements for senior dogs are different from other life stages, BLUE Life Protection Formula for Senior Dogs features the ingredients to support their overall health and well-being. It contains ingredients you’ll love feeding as much as they’ll love eating. BLUE Life Protection Formula dog food always features real meat as the first ingredient. High-quality protein from real chicken helps your dog build and maintain healthy muscles. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joint health and overall mobility with essential proteins and carbohydrates to help maintain energy requirements for a healthy lifestyle.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Senior Dog Food
Treat your senior dog to a superior nutrition plan that keeps them fit and healthy for years to come. With all the benefits of high animal meat, grain-free formula, this senior formula also includes glucosamine and chondroitin to support hip and joint health. The addition of L-Carnitine also helps the metabolism of fats for dogs that aren’t quite as active as they used to be.
