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6 Important Questions About Your Senior Dog Food Answered

Senior dogs may have special dietary and nutritional needs; thus, it is important that you know what food ensures your pal enjoys many happy senior years.

Here we give you the answers to 6 important questions you may have about senior dog food:

1. What’s the best food for my senior dog?

Each dog has specific needs. If he’s healthy and eating well, you can continue giving him the same food he’s been eating until now. If he has a health problem, ask your vet what senior dog food is best for him given his condition.

2. Does my senior dog need a special food?

No, unless he has a health condition that requires it.

But even so, if for example, you want to give your old dog glucosamine and chondroitin to help his joints due to arthritis, you better buy them separately, because when these are added to food¾processed with it¾they lose effectiveness.

3. Should my senior dog eat senior dog food to lose weight?

It is a good idea to try giving overweight old dogs low-calorie senior dog food, because it can help them lose some pounds.

However, your dog has to like the food, and you have to make sure he does not lose more than 2% of body weight weekly otherwise he will become sick.

4. What is a good senior dog diet?

A good diet for senior dogs is one that is balanced, low in calories and fat, and high in fiber and protein. It is possible your dog can continue eating his regular food as he ages, but it is also possible that you need to change it.

If your dog is experiencing renal failure he needs a lower protein intake, and if he’s obese he needs low calorie food. Old dogs get constipated more easily; thus, they need to eat more fiber. All of these are characteristics you can find in senior dog food.

5. At what age should I change my dog’s food to the senior version?

A dog becomes old when he reaches the last third of his normal life expectancy, so if it is necessary, his food should be changed when he reaches that age. Nevertheless, if he is healthy, you can continue giving him his normal food for a bit longer.

Ask your vet what is best for your pal based on his health condition.

6. What should I do if my senior dog doesn’t want to eat?

Old dogs stop eating for several reasons:

Dental problems
Trouble finding the bowl due to vision problems.
Trouble hearing your call to eat.
Loss of taste.

Before deciding to change his food, take him to the vet to discard the problems above, and try adding something very tasty to his normal food or softening it with some water to see if he starts eating again.

~ Staff, SeniorDogs.com

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