6 Best Dog Food For Senior Dogs: Our Top Picks for Older Canines!

It’s easy to give your dog love and care since we all love our dogs.

Keeping your dog healthy as they age is one of the most challenging tasks that pet owners face.

It is advisable to contemplate on specific types of dog food that are specially crafted to promote senior dog health as a means of maintaining the well-being of your elderly dog.

Best Dog Food For Senior Dogs

Having learned some of the primary causes of how senior dog food supports aging canines, consider purchasing some of the top varieties of dog food ideal for your older furry friend.

It is important to be ready to experiment with multiple types and brands of dog food until you locate the right one. What may be effective for one dog may not be compatible with another. Experiment with various types of dog food and determine which one is most suitable for your dog’s distinctive physical makeup.

1. Nulo Senior Trout & Sweet Potato with Glucosamine

Protein-packed senior recipe

With the first ingredients being trout, turkey meal, and salmon meal, this senior recipe is rich in protein, containing as much as 80% of animal protein.

Nulo’s Senior Trout and Sweet Potato recipe stands out from other senior formulas as it doesn’t use chicken as a protein source.

However, the protein sources of this recipe are trout, turkey meal, and salmon meal. The three main ingredients are animal proteins, making it a protein-rich food that is beneficial for a dog’s health.

Characteristics:

Deboned trout, turkey meal, and salmon meal , are the first ingredients – tons of great animal proteins!
High meat, low carb with 80% animal-based protein. Lower glycemic ingredients.
Grain-free recipe with no corn, wheat, soy, as well as no white potatoes, tapioca, artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives.
Includes glucosamine and chondroitin , making it a good option for a joint support dog food .
C ontains patented BC30 probiotic to support healthy gut flora , better food digestions, and regulated metabolism.

2. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Sen

Non-GMO, grain-inclusive senior recipe

This dog food contains lamb and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, alongside wholesome grains such as brown rice and oatmeal. It is not a grain-free option.

If avoiding grains is not a concern for you, Nutro Wholesome Essentials Natural Senior, which is not grain-free, is a suitable option.

While lamb was the primary component, the second most abundant item in the formula is chicken meal, prohibiting those who want to steer clear of chicken from using it.

Characteristics:

Pasture-fed lamb is featured as the #1 ingredient
Designed to maintain dog’s cognitive health
Packed with omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
Contains healthy grains like brown rice and oatmeal
Non-GMO ingredients

3. Canidae Platinum Senior Dog Food

Essential nutrients with less fat

Comprising chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish, this product contains no wheat, corn, or soy.

The Canidae Platinum dog food specially formulated for seniors contains reduced levels of fat and protein, as well as a variety of ingredients tailored to promote senior dog health and longevity.

Characteristics:

4 High-Quality Meat Sources. Contains 4 high-quality meats, chicken, turkey , lamb and fish to help provide numerous health benefits while remaining tasty for dogs.
Reduced Fat for Overweight Dogs. This senior dog food has reduced fat and protein levels for senior and overweight dogs. This helps less active older dogs remain at their optimal, healthy weight.
Healthy Joints. This senior dog food contains glucosamine and chondroitin that can help to alleviate the bone and joint pain often experience by senior dogs.
Wholesome Ingredients. Contains wholesome grains like brown rice, plus peas, papaya, and sage for a great, healthy taste.
No Fillers or Other Additives. This food contains no fillers, antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial anything else. This dog food also contains NO wheat, corn, or soy.
Guaranteed Levels of Probiotics, Antioxidants, and Omega 6. This dog food for senior dogs contains guaranteed levels of live probiotics for healthy digestion, powerful antioxidants for healthy immune systems, and omega 6 and 3 for healthy skin and glossy coat.

4. Wellness Complete Health Senior

Chicken & healthy grains with no nasty additives

The recipe from Wellness is senior-friendly and does not contain any meat by-products, wheat, corn, or soy. It is a healthy option.

The Wellness Complete Health senior dog food boasts of its use of superior ingredients, which are combined with potent nutrients to promote overall well-being in canines.

Characteristics:

Wholesome Grains + Fiber. Contains wholesome grains like oatmeal and natural fiber (plus real fruits and veggies) to help maintain a healthy intestinal tract for digestive health.
Quality Animal Protein. This senior dog food features quality animal protein sources to help build and maintain lean muscle mass. Wellness Complete only uses real meat.
Healthy Hips + Joints. Contains glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate to help maintain healthy hips and joints for senior dogs.
No Fillers. This healthy senior dog food has no meat by-products, no wheat, no corn, no soy.
No Preservatives. This dog food contains no artificial flavors, no colors, and no preservatives.
Digestool Confirmation Studies. Wellness Complete evaluates their dog food through digestive stool studies – less nutrients in the stool means more nutrients are staying in your dog’s body. Certain levels of calcium and other nutrients are guaranteed.

Why Do Senior Dogs Need Special Food?

Does regular dog food differ from “senior dog food”? It certainly does when you rely on reputable dog food brands.

Senior dog food is enriched with fish oils, chondroitin, glucosamine, and MSM which work together to enhance the health of older dogs and alleviate common issues they may face such as joint discomfort, loss of coat thickness and digestive problems.

Your dog’s arthritis pain might be alleviated if dog food contains these ingredients that are commonly found in joint supplements for dogs.

Senior dogs typically have a reduced calorie count in their food. Though there are owners who find it challenging to help their dogs put on weight, older canines tend to have a harder time maintaining a healthy weight.

One of the main reasons for this is that as dogs age, their metabolism slows down, leading to decreased energy levels and reduced activity. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for the wellbeing of senior dogs, and that’s why specialized dog foods aim to manage weight gain in older canines.

It is widely accepted among veterinarians that maintaining a healthy weight for your aging canine is the most beneficial measure you can take. Excessive weight contributes significantly to arthritis pain and reduced lifespan in dogs. Therefore, it is imperative to keep your furry companion in shape to ensure good health.

5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior Dog

Affordable, senior-focused food with healthy grains

The recipe for chicken and brown rice is enhanced with glucosamine and chondroitin to support the joint health of senior individuals.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior is a cost-effective option for dog food with chicken and brown rice flavor. It consists of high-quality components like fish oils and flaxseed that contain plenty of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Characteristics:

Meat as #1 Ingredient. Made with real, deboned chicken as the #1 ingredient.
No By-Products or Unnatural Additives. Contains no chicken by-product meal, no corn, no wheat, and no soy.
Immune System Health. This dog food for senior dogs is fortified with vitamins and chelated minerals to support a strong immune system.
Healthy Muscle Mass and Mobility. Dog food protein that includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility.
Healthy Skin & Coat. Rich in omega-6 fatty acids resulting in a healthy skin and a lustrous, shiny canine coat.

BONUS: Should You Feed a Homemade Diet?

As news about recalls and updates on commercial dog food remain dynamic, an increasing number of dog owners prefer to prepare their furry friend’s meals at home. While homemade food is a hit with dogs, it is crucial to stick to some essential guidelines to maintain their health, distinct from meals prepared for oneself or human members of the family.

Before switching your dog to a homemade diet, certain factors need to be taken into account as home cooking dog food may not be suitable for all.

Be sure to find a dog food recipe that is complete and balanced. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to feed an incomplete or imbalanced diet to your dog.
It takes time to measure ingredients and prepare the food correctly. Be sure you have a schedule that allows enough time to properly make your dog’s food on a regular basis.
Make sure you can afford the ingredients to make your own dog food. Homemade food is typically less expensive than commercially prepared fresh or raw dog food, but it usually costs a little more than kibble.
If you have a picky dog, you may need to source multiple recipes so you can change the diet periodically and keep your dog interested.

Proper Nutrition for Dogs

For dogs to thrive, it is important to meet their nutritional needs just as it is for humans. It is not advisable to share your own meal with your dog since their nutritional requirements differ from ours. Feeding them an unbalanced or incomplete diet can cause vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.

To ensure that dogs fulfill their energy needs, it’s vital to provide them with sufficient calories based on their activity level and life stage. Consulting with your vet can assist you in determining the precise number of calories required by your dog every day.

For a dog’s diet to be complete and balanced, it must have the proper amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Adding vitamins and minerals to the homemade food is necessary for this to be achieved.

At least 10% protein , such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta , and potatoes (also provides some fiber)
About 2.5-4.5% fiber , which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots
At least 5.5% fat , usually in the form of vegetable oil
Vitamin and mineral supplements (dog-specific; can be purchased from a reputable company like BalanceIT.com )

Before embarking on cooking meals for your dog, it is crucial to consult your veterinarian first. Your veterinarian can provide you with recipes to test or point you in the direction of a veterinary nutritionist or a veterinarian who specializes in canine nutrition.

What to Watch for When Feeding Homemade Dog Food

When transitioning to homemade dog food, it is crucial to closely observe and monitor your dog’s condition. Regularly communicate with your vet about any positive or negative changes in the dog’s health. To achieve optimal outcomes, record your pet’s weight and physical condition over a period of time, weighing them at least once weekly and reaching out to your vet if any unintended weight changes are noted. Keep an eye out for symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, which may occur if the dog is allergic to certain ingredients, and promptly inform the veterinarian if any signs of sickness appear.

How to Prepare Homemade Food for Dogs

It is crucial to use a complete and balanced recipe when making a homemade diet for your dog. After selecting an appropriate recipe with the guidance of your veterinarian, you may proceed with preparing it.

Before you begin, it’s best if you have ready a food scale, food processor, pots and pans, and containers or bags for portioning the food.
Purchase fresh, high-quality ingredients that are not canned, seasoned, or heavily processed.
Set yourself up in a clean area of the kitchen that is free of foods that may be harmful to your dog .
Measure out the ingredients. Use a food scale if possible for accuracy.
Cook ingredients as directed on the recipe
Mix food and supplements together well (ideally, use a food processor to blend ingredients).
Place food in containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer.
In general, refrigerated food will stay fresh for three to four days. Frozen dog food is best within about two months. Avoid feeding homemade dog food that has been in the freezer for more than six months.

Although preparing food in large quantities and storing it in pre-measured containers in the refrigerator or freezer is a good way to save time and money for many pet owners, it is recommended to start by making smaller portions to gauge your dog’s response to the diet.