“My dear old dog, most constant of all friends.” –Anonymous
Watching our furry best friends getting older isn’t easy and can come on faster than we would like. They slow down, turn gray, develop arthritis, or perhaps become hard of hearing, but they are still full of LOVE and can continue to live out the rest of their life to their fullest potential. (With lots of naps in-between of course)
Just as humans age and make nutritional and activity changes based on individual health needs, adjusting your dogs diet when they are aging can also help control health risks. The goal of senior nutrition is to help minimize the effects of aging, and can be done through foods, supplements and exercise.
On average, only seven years of age is considered a senior dog. There are of course other factors that can affect the aging process including breed, genetics, nutrition, and physical activity. Generally, smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds. So a small breed may not become a senior until 10-12 years of age while a larger breed can be considered a senior around 5 or 6 years old. This can be a good rule of thumb to go by when deciding when to start supplementing.
What changes should you make to your senior dogs diet/nutrition?
In older dogs, it’s common to see an increase in weight, especially due to lower energy levels which result in less movement. One way to monitor your dogs weight is to switch out their food for one that is geared towards seniors. Senior food is packed with nutrients that can give them more strength, while having less calories, fat, and more fiber. A healthy senior dog requires higher quality protein levels in food for various reasons.
In addition, portion control and exercise are key to weight management just as it is to us! Short walks or bouts of exercise is ideal for your older dog.
What is a supplement and what makes a good senior dog supplement?
A supplement is a concentrated ingredient that can be added to a diet for a nutritional or therapeutic effect. They can be found in the form of chews, liquids, or powders. And of course, you can add certain foods to supplement your dog’s diet but this may be an easier and more concentrated way of balancing everything. Related Article: If you give a dog a smoothie….
Senior dogs may also have less ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food due to altered metabolism, hence needing the help of a concentrated supplement. They also have a decreased ability to resist infections due to a weaker immune system, so antioxidents can help boost this.
Many of the supplements we take ourselves as we age can also be beneficial for our older dogs. Some main supplements to consider are omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidents, vitamin C and E, joint supplements, and pre or probiotics. Glucosamine, chondroitin and omega fatty acids are good for supporting the joints, and antioxidents support overall immune health.
As always, check out the ingredients on the label and look for natural or organic sources of nutrients, as they will provide the most benefits for your dog. Try to avoid artificial colors or flavors, preservatives or fillers.
Doggie Dailies Senior Essentials 10 in 1 Multivitimin Soft Chews
($37)
Zesty Paws Senior Advanced 11 in 1 Bites Multivitimin for Senior Dogs
($38)
Pet Honesty Senior 10 in 1
($38)
A soft chew containing all the nutritional base ingredients plus 
Wooof Joint & Recovery
Amazon ($36)
