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Articles > Senior Dog Food > Good DietFacts About Feeding Older Dogs 1. What are the characteristics of a good diet for older dogs? Older dogs require well-balanced diets that are low in calories and fat, and high in fiber and high-quality protein. Commercial older dog diets have 18% protein, while diets for dogs in renal failure contain about 14% protein. If your dog has importantly decreased kidney function, a diet lower in protein will ease the workload for the kidneys. Lower fat usually means lower calories, so fat levels in senior diets are around 10 to 12%. Older dogs get constipated more easily, thus, their diets should be higher in fiber, around 3 to 5%. If you want to increase your dog’s fiber intake, you can also add wheat bran to regular dog food. If your dog accepts eating dry food, this will help control tartar build-up and reduce gum disease. A dog is considered old when it reaches the last third of its normal life expectancy. For example, a large breed dog normally lives 9 years, so it will turn a senior at age 6. However, there are exceptions, and if your dog is active and in good shape, it may live longer than expected and may continue eating adult formulas for a longer time. The vet can tell you when is time to change foods based on veterinary exams and blood testing.
3. Can I feed older dogs adult food? If your dog is healthy, is not obese, and is active, it may continue eating adult dog food. Senior dog food has lower calories, more fiber, and less calcium and phosphorus, so, always ask your vet before switching foods. 4. Should I give supplements to my senior dog? Some older dogs benefit a lot from supplements. Since they have special nutritional needs, supplements can give them a boost. Dogs that are not getting enough vitamins or minerals from their food because they are not eating a well-balanced diet should take a supplement for that. The same if your friend tends to absorb less vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes through the intestinal tract and loses more of them through the kidneys and urinary tract, or if it just eats less due to aging. Eating fiber products like wheat bran can reduce constipation, and some antioxidants like Vitamin A, E, and C may help protect against some aging processes. Your vet will have to guide you in regards to what supplements will really help your pal. 5. What should I do if my old dog doesn’t eat? If your dog is getting very thin and is not eating well, take it to the vet. If the vet confirms that your pal is healthy, you will have to change its diet to motivate it to eat more. If he is used to eating dry food, maybe the kibble size is getting too hard for it to chew. Get a smaller kibble or moisten the food with water to make it softer. Warm canned food or moistened dry food in the microwave to increase its aroma. Add other foods to make it more interesting, for example, water from canned tuna, canned dog food, a bit of cooked chicken and broth, or cooked/boiled eggs. Switch to canned food. Try the special high-calorie, nutrient-dense diets formulated for stressed dogs. Feed smaller amounts of food more often. In this way, your dog may end up eating more. Try a homemade diet especially formulated by a vet nutritionist.
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