best dog food for elderly dogs

Best Dog Food For Senior Dogs

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 its a little late to worry about good genes once youve 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. Its 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.

Dont Restrict Protein

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 dont 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.

Consider Calories

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.

Dont 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.

Feed For Organ Health

Other factors to consider are senior dog health problems such as heart and kidney disease. For both conditions, youll 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, youll want low phosphorous, but thats 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 youre at it, ask them about the credentials of the people formulating their foods. If they cant provide either, thats clue number one that you should find another product.

Add Supplements

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 wont hurtexcept 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 dogs 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.

Theres 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.

Make Food Palatable For Senior Dogs

There are practical aspects of feeding your dog to consider, too. Senior dogs may have dental problems that make chewing difficult or uncomfortable. These dogs should first be treated for whatever problem they have, but if that is impossible or unsuccessful, consider wetting their food or feeding them canned or soft food. Simply feeding a smaller kibble size may help if youre feeding dry food.

Senior dogs may be uncomfortable bending down to the food bowl or standing for long periods to eat. Try serving their meals on a raised platform or encourage them to eat lying down.

Very old dogs often lose their appetite. Warming the food can increase its aroma and may help stimulate the appetite; cooling it may make it less nausea-inducing in queasy dogs. At some point you may have to abandon your goal of a healthy balanced diet and just feed him whatever he will eat. The wait until hes hungry enough tactic doesnt work in seniors because their hunger mechanism may not be working correctly. Besides, its a little late to be worried about spoiling himand even if you do, doesnt he deserve it?

This column first appeared in theSeptember/October 2019 issue of AKC Family Dogmagazine.

9 Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Senior Dogs

If your dog is getting into their senior years its important that their diets are adjusted to fit their evolving needs.

There are so many benefits to feeding your senior dogs homemade dog food, including the ability to customize their diet specifically for their individual needs.

When making your pets food right in your own kitchen you have the advantage of knowing exactly what ingredients went into the recipe. This allows you to keep better track of your senior dogs health.

Are you turning away from commercial dog food and looking for homemade dog food recipes for senior dogs? Keep reading for 12 great recipes your older dog will love.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Senior Dogs

1. Brown Rice, Turkey, and Veggies

This recipe for brown rice, turkey, and veggies is a healthy, low-calorie, and low-fat homemade dog food that your senior dogs will love.

This recipe is especially great for overweight senior dogs because it uses lean meat with healthy carbohydrates and vegetables. This delicious combination is sure to help you keep your senior dog healthy and trim!

The recipe makes around 12 cups of homemade dog food for your senior dog that can be separated into single-serve containers and stored in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the single servings.

2. Homemade Dog Food Recipe for Sensitive Senior Dog Tummies

It can be difficult to find recipes for homemade dog food that are easy on your poochs sensitive tummy.

Some dogs are sensitive to fatty foods and can have food allergies, but regardless of the reason youll want to be thoughtful of your dogs specific nutritional needs.

This homemade dog food recipe for a sensitive senior dogs tummy is free of common allergens that plague pups, like soy, dairy, wheat, beef, and poultry.

In place of these ingredients, this recipe uses a lean novel protein which will reduce the risk of causing irritation for your senior pups stomach.

This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs can be separated into individual servings and refrigerated for up to 5 days, or you can freeze the servings for later.

6. Chicken Casserole for Dogs

This chicken casserole for dogs recipe is great for senior dogs because its very easy to digest while providing many vitamins and minerals essential for senior dogs development.

This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs helps provide a balanced diet for your dog, filled with natural antioxidants, fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.

As a caution, this recipe does contain cabbage, which may cause gas in some older dogs, so it can be adjusted or removed if need be.

This chicken casserole can be separated into individual servings and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

7. Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits

This recipe for peanut butter and banana dog biscuits is a delicious treat for your senior pup. These dog biscuits are especially great treats for holidays!

What dog doesnt love peanut butter? This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs is sure to be a hit for your four-legged friends, whether its a special occasion or not.

Even if youre watching your senior dogs weight, you can still give them the occasional treat, just be careful not to overdo it.

8. Grain-Free Recipe for Senior Dogs

This grain-free recipe is a fantastic homemade dog food recipe for your senior dog.

This homemade dog food includes all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids an aging dog might need, without any grain ingredients.

Made with proteins including liver, poultry, and sunflower oil for linoleic acid, this grain-free dog food includes at least 10 essential amino acids for senior dogs.

You can separate this meal into individual servings to be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in sealed containers or freeze each serving for later use.

9. Homemade Raw Dog Food

This recipe for homemade raw dog food is easy to prepare and make adjustments to for smaller or larger senior dogs.

This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs consists mostly of meat with proportions of 80% meat with fat, 10% organs, 5% vegetables or fruits, and 5% dairy. This food provides complete nutrition for your senior dog and can be tweaked to their dietary needs easily.

For the easiest storage, form the raw food into meat patties and store them stacked with parchment paper between patties in the freezer.

To thaw, take the patties out of the freezer the day before you want to use them and put them in the refrigerator so they can thaw.

10. Bacon Cornmeal Dog Biscuits

This recipe for bacon cornmeal dog biscuits makes a fantastic and flavorful treat for senior dogs. Its a breeze to make and you can make small or large biscuits based on your dogs size.

This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs consists of flavors your pooch wont be able to get enough of!

You can adjust the serving size of these dog biscuits simply by making smaller biscuits for small dogs or larger biscuits for large dogs. The recipe makes around 12 medium-sized servings.

11. Homemade Dog Treats

These homemade dog treats are conveniently made using just 3 ingredients. Some of the senior dogs favorite flavors in these yummy treats are peanut butter and pumpkin.

This homemade dog food recipe for senior dogs is simple to make. Just mix the 3 ingredients, roll out the dough, cut it into shapes if you prefer, and then bake it!

Keep an eye on the bake time, since the thickness of the treats will determine how fast they bake. The longer they bake the crunchier they get so be careful not to overcook them.

These homemade dog treats can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks as long as they are stored in an air-tight container. They last up to 4 weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer.

12. Low Protein Homemade Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Low-protein food should only be fed to your pet with the strict supervision of their veterinarian. Always consult with a veterinarian before changing your dogs diet.

This recipe for low-protein dog food is a fantastic homemade dog food for senior dogs with special care needs including a diet low in protein.

Make sure to use the fattiest ground beef you can find when making low-protein food because youll have more fat and less protein.

Store this homemade dog food for your senior pup in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 4 days.

Diet Requirements for Senior Dogs

When planning out your senior dogs diet, its important to strictly follow the instructions and advice of the veterinarian who treats your pet.

As dogs age the way they digest food and use nutrients can change, so youll need to make changes to their diet to keep them happy and fit in their golden years.

Homemade dog food provides complete nutritional value for senior dogs and it can also help with some of the health issues seen in older dogs.

The most vital nutrients that should be present in homemade dog food for senior dogs include protein, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins A, B, D, E, and K. Other important nutrients for senior dogs include fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron.

Calorie Considerations for Senior Dogs

Obesity is a concern for dogs, especially for senior dogs, because their metabolism slows significantly as they age.

As a result, its easy for older dogs to pack on the pounds, but its quite a challenge for them to shed the extra weight. Since being overweight is rough on dogs joints, you should try to keep them as lean as possible.

To ensure your dog doesnt become overweight, be sure to feed them a low-carb diet. A low-carb diet is healthier for senior dogs pancreas as well.

Protein Considerations for Senior Dogs

Most senior dogs require more protein as they age because the loss of muscle tone is a common issue for older pets.

You should make sure the homemade dog food recipes for your senior dogs contain around 28 to 32 percent protein.

In rare cases, your dogs veterinarian may prescribe a low-protein diet. Usually, this only happens when your dog has an underlying medical condition.

Never feed your senior dogs a low-protein diet unless youve been instructed to by a licensed veterinarian.

Foods to Avoid

Some foods should not be fed to dogs because they can be hard to digest, even toxic and dangerous.

Avoid feeding your dogs onions, garlic, chives, and other members of the allium family because these foods can cause kidney failure in dogs.

You should also avoid grapes and raisins because they can also cause kidney failure and also severe liver damage.

Macadamia nuts should not be fed to pups because they contain a toxin that affects their nervous system, resulting in weakness, panting, and swollen limbs. Avocado also contains toxins that are toxic to dogs.

Avoid giving your dog any foods containing artificial sweeteners like xylitol because it can result in liver failure and blood-clotting disorders.

Try Out These Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Senior Dogs!

Homemade dog food recipes are generally easy and quick to make using healthy ingredients to support your aging dogs health and changing dietary needs.

Whether your senior dog likes savory dishes with vegetables or sweet treats like dog treats made with peanut butter and fruits, there is something for every aging pup to enjoy!

Are you looking for more homemade dog food ideas? Check out this list of 17 Homemade Dog Treats to find delicious treats for your senior dogs.