An older dog needs dog food that is tailored to his needs, otherwise symptoms of overweight and deficiency can result! Follow our senior dog food guide to understand which foods will be good for your senior dog.
Senior Dog Food
First of all, the question arises when a dog is old. Depending on the breed and especially the size, it can be quite different. Large dogs age significantly earlier than small ones – but generally speaking of an aging dog as young as seven years old. The deciding factor, however, is the behavior of the dog.
If you don’t notice any change in his behavior, there’s usually no reason to change his diet. If, on the other hand, the need for sleep becomes noticeably greater, performance will slowly decline, or you will become slightly overweight, these could be signs of physical change. Metabolism changes, muscle mass decreases and some organs no longer work as well.
This is in no way a source of concern, it is enough to know which foods are good for a senior and to what extent you need to modify your diet.
Recommended Senior Dog Foods
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Last updated on November 10, 2024 7:11 pm
Old Dogs Move Less -Reduced Feeding in Older Dogs
As older dogs become increasingly lazy to move around, their energy needs decrease noticeably. You can reduce the daily food intake to some extent – but this is not optimal in the long term. Although the dog actually receives fewer calories, this also applies to the supply of minerals and vitamins. Unlike the fat content of animal feed, nutrients must continue to be supplied in the usual way. A high-quality senior food meets exactly these requirements.
It is best to work with your nutritionist (veterinarian) to adjust the composition of the food according to the changing needs of the dog.
Tip: If you only feed your dog once a day, increase to two or even three times a day at the latest after a certain age. This helps digestion do its job.
Conclusion – Senior Dog Food Guide
As in humans, dog muscle mass slowly declines with age, while fat mass increases. Therefore, there is now an increasing risk of the dog gaining weight. This would in turn lead to additional stress on the heart and especially the joints. In order to counteract this in time, you should offer your dog a low-fat food, but still containing all important nutrients. This way, you can ensure that your aging dog is fed with calories in mind and that there are still no symptoms of deficiency. It’s best to ask your veterinarian whether, depending on the feeding method and dog food being used, it might be a good idea to add nutritional supplements.
