Choosing the best dog food for your canine family member is not always easy. In 2018, there was an estimated 630 brands of dog food to choose from.4 Of course, there are many factors to consider when selecting a brand of dog food including breed, size, lifestyle (active or sedentary) and general health including any food allergies or sensitivities. Oh, and your dog probably wants you to consider what the food smells like (more on that later). One important factor, that can be overlooked, is the age of your dog. Older dogs, in particular, may have additional concerns when it comes to choosing the right dog food. Here are some common questions and concerns to consider when selecting the best dog food for your special senior four-legged family member.
Should I feed my older dog “senior food?"
Knowing when humans can order off the “65 and older senior menu” is easier than knowing when to switch your older dog to the senior dog menu. Moreover, just like with humans, age is just a number, even in dog years. Interestingly, smaller dogs reach maturity faster than larger dogs, yet age more slowly after reaching maturity which means a small breed would not be considered a senior until age 10 to 12. Larger dogs, however are categorized as senior by the age of 7 or 8. Very large breeds reach senior status by age 6.
Generally, once a dog reaches senior status, their health, energy and stamina tend to decline which also means their metabolism is slowing down, and fewer calories are necessary. As a result, older dogs are prone to obesity, which can lead to a variety of health issues. However, dog food made specifically for senior dogs are formulated to reduce calories, but not sacrifice nutritional value. For example, senior dog food is generally higher in fiber to help maintain your dog’s gastrointestinal health. But not all older dogs need senior dog food and can remain healthy eating adult dog food, particularly if your dog remains active, has no medical conditions and is not overweight. Also, older dogs with certain existing health problems such as diabetes or kidney failure should probably not switch to senior food. Consult your veterinarian to discuss the best food options for your dogs, including whether your older dog should switch to senior dog food.
What to Do if Your Old Dog Won’t Eat
If your older dog loses interest in eating, you should consult a veterinarian, especially if your dog is losing weight. There are a variety of reasons why any dog, including older dogs, stop eating. One common reason may be difficulty chewing the food, particularly large kibble. Older dogs may have gum or dental disease that may make eating painful. In addition to consulting a pet care specialist, you should try smaller kibble, moistening kibble with water or mixing with soft food. If you are feeding your senior dog wet food, dental disease is less likely to be the reason in your dog being uninterested in eating. In this case, consult a veterinarian.
With any dog that is not eating properly, you should make sure your dog does not have an underlying medical condition. However, if your senior dog is generally healthy, an animal nutritionist can help you identify ways to make meals more appetizing. Avoid creating your own meal plans because dogs, especially senior dogs, have specific nutritional needs that must be met to remain healthy.
My Senior Dog Doesn’t Like the Taste of Their Food
Interestingly, dogs do not rely on taste when deciding whether they like their food or not. While dogs and humans can identify the same taste sensations (sweet, sour, salty, bitter), dogs respond differently to taste than humans. Also, a dog’s sense of taste is only one-sixth the strength of humans.3 While dogs do respond to taste to some degree, their sense of smell is significantly more important when eating. Dogs have over 12 times as many sensory glands in their noses than humans which makes their sense of smell approximately one million times stronger than humans. In fact, dogs can actually “taste” food through smell.3 So, for most dogs, if it smells good, they will eat it. Of course, some dogs are pickier eaters than others, but for the most part, it is not because the food doesn’t “taste” good, but because the food doesn’t smell appetizing (and all dog parents know that whether something smells “good” is not necessarily the same for dogs and humans).
Does my senior dog need vitamins or supplements?
While senior dogs have special nutritional needs in general, some older dogs will benefit from additional vitamins or supplements, particularly because many older dogs have arthritis. Giving your older dog chondroitin and glucosamine may help with arthritis, reduce stiffness and help maintain healthy joints. While vitamins and supplements may provide relief to dogs suffering from arthritis or painful joints, you should try to ensure your dog maintains a healthy weight and continues to exercise regularly, particularly as your dog gets older.
Also, many older dogs will benefit from extra fiber to help with digestion. For the most part, senior dog food is designed to provide additional nutrients to help senior dogs stay healthy, but some dogs will need more. Adding fiber directly to food will help, as well as giving your dog a vitamin or supplement. Avoid giving your pet human vitamins or supplements as they may be toxic to dogs. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to decide what, if any vitamins or supplements will help your senior dog.
What to look for in senior dog food
Generally, avoid senior dog food that contains artificial colors, flavors or preservatives which is not good for your dog’s health, and usually suggests the food is made from lower quality ingredients. The best choice for dog food is high in protein and lists a single source meal as the number one ingredient. This means either chicken meal or salmon meal. The ingredient “meat meal” means that the protein has been rendered and the protein is not from raw materials. Meat meal, however, is not necessarily always bad. Make sure, however, that the meat source is identified, otherwise there is a chance that the meat meal has been made from lower quality meat which will have less protein.1,2
As dogs get older, their bodies and nutritional needs change. Of course, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet throughout your dog’s life will help your dog age gracefully. Consult a pet care professional to address the dietary needs of your pet and ensure you make the best choices when selecting a dog food. Also, as with any health concerns, having a pet health insurance policy designed to meet your pet’s needs will not only help ensure a healthy pet, but provide you with the peace of mind that your dog is protected in the event of an unexpected accident or illness.
References
1 Corona, L. (2020, July 7). The Best Senior Dog Food. Retrieved from Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/consumer-reviews/sns-bestreviews-pets-the-best-senior-dog-food-20200707-zydh534duzdvhbegqkqd7ecezq-story.html
2 Dog Food Advisor. (n.d.). Meat Meal - The Mysterious Meat Concentrate Most People Know Little (or Nothing) About. Retrieved from Dog Food Advisor: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/about-meat-meal/
3 Finlay, K. (2017, March 17). Can Dogs Taste? Retrieved from American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/can-dogs-taste/
4 Semple, J. (2018, December 28). State of the US Pet Food and Treat Industry. Retrieved from Pet Food Processing: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/12825-state-of-the-us-pet-food-and-treat-industry