As your dog enters their golden years, they may require certain foods to keep them healthy and meet their nutritional needs. In this post, our Milledgeville vets discuss the dietary needs of senior dogs, and share some tips on choosing the right food.
Changing Your Dog's Diet as They Age
Although we wish our dogs could stay young forever, they are going to slow down as they start to get older. As your dog enters their senior years, it's time to start thinking about making some dietary changes.
If your dog isn't as active as they once were, they won't need to be eating as many calories. Changing to a low-calorie food alternative can reduce the chances of your dog gaining unnecessary weight. This will also benefit their joint health as they won't have to carry around the extra weight.
Adding protein to their diet can help support healthy muscles and joints which is rather necessary for senior dogs. Decreased muscle mass is common in older dogs, which protein-strong diets can help counteract.
What Type of Dog Food Is Best?
Your dog's nutritional needs change with age as they become less active. The best dog food for older dogs will reflect this change. It is commonly recommended to feed your senior dog dry foods with these nutritional aspects:
- High-protein
- High-fiber
- Low Calorie
- Low-fat
- Low in sodium
- No high-risk preservatives
Keep in mind, that every dog is different depending on breed, size, age, and possibly allergies. Consult your veterinarian for a more accurate description of what dietary changes will best benefit your dog's health.
Why Dry Food?
High-quality dry dog food is often considered best for older dogs. This is because as they age, they are at a higher risk for developing dental issues. Hard, crunchy foods combined with diligent dental care will aid in keeping your dog's teeth strong and healthy.
If you're using dry dog food to help with your dog's dental health (chewing hard food to clean the teeth), you may be better off with a prescription dental health dog food that can be provided by your vet. Harder food will scrape the teeth, helping reduce plaque and tartar buildup. No matter which dog food your pooch is on, they still require proper dental care and professional cleanings and examinations.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
