Feeding your furry dog can be one of the most complicated tasks you have ever done. Your senior dogs have their special nutrition needs. As they age, their energy levels decrease, and they become more vulnerable to diseases like heart, joints, and stomach. The best senior dog foods keep your senior furry friends healthy as they are specially made for older dog families. They help those who are at the borderline of their lifespan and feel less energetic and active. Typically, a dog’s breed plays a very important role in deciding your dog’s age but it is seen that usually dogs 7 years old and older are considered seniors.
As your hound gets older it’s your responsibility to consider their body changes and change their diet accordingly. It’s you who should make sure that they should not be eating the same kibbles you have been giving to them since their childhood. Now the question is what is the best thing to do? You just need to take some preventative measures and shift them to Best Senior Dog foods.
The best senior dog food will keep your dog healthy and active as they age, by providing them the essential amount of High-Protein, High-Fiber, Low-fat, and carbs. The right food contains all the essential nutrients needed for your hound to survive the aging factor and helps them to fight against the illnesses that comes after aging. The right choice of best old age Dog Foods can help your furry friend to prevent obesity that causes issues like diabetes, arthritis, and severe heart diseases.
Top Senior Dog Food 2021 By Consumer Reports
That is why choosing the best senior dog food should be done very carefully as only the right choice will help you and your hound gain all the perks present in a Senior dog food product. So, here are our top picks for you.
1. Wellness Core Senior Dog Food
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 359 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 36%, Fat 13%, Carbs 43%
- Top ingredients: Deboned turkey, chicken meal, dried ground potatoes, peas, turkey meal
- Type: Grain-Free
Wellness core presents you a balanced diet low in calorie, idle for your senior dog so look no further this is the product you need, it’s one of the top 12 top dry recipes in the product line of Wellness Core. Wellness Core gets its fresh and natural share of meat protein form fresh turkey and chicken. It’s a totally grain-free formula rich in Omega-rich salmon oil for the health of the joints of the dog. It also provides help in weight control. A perfect recipe for your older dog.
2. Orijen Senior Dog Food
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 414 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 43%, Fat 17%, Carbs 32%
- Top ingredients: Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, Atlantic flounder, cage-free eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel
- Type: Grain-Free
If you are looking for a Grain-Free premium formula that dominates the animal protein market, then this senior dog food requires your utmost attention. Orijjen Senior is of the top 8 dry-recipes in the product line of Orijen Product line. It gets its large share of essential protein from fresh, chicken, turkey, and fish. Right from the beginning orijien has always advocated for a meal-based diet. They offer a proven formula that makes this food best for the older dogs.
3. Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Senior Chicken And Rice
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 420 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 33%, Fat 16%, Carbs 43%
- Top ingredients: Chicken, poultry by-product meal, brewers rice, whole grain corn, whole grain wheat
- Type: Grain-inclusive
As the dogs age their risks to catch any disease increases, one of the diseases called CDS (Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome) has become common in senior dogs. For this health threat, this recipe stands alone above any other products. Pro Plan senior gets its full share of Protein from fresh chicken and poultry meal. It also contains DHA for the health of the joints and fiber for support digestion system.
4. Go! Carnivore Senior Formula
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 394 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 36%, Fat 16%, Carbs 41%
- Top ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned chicken, de-boned turkey
- Type: Grain-Free
As mentioned, the ingredients that act its main source of natural Protein from poultry meals and salmon meal makes sure that your senior dog gets all the lion share of protein and grow healthy. It’s a Grain-Free formula for your older dogs. For the support of hip and joint muscles, it has chondroitin and glucosamine. It is one of the solid choices for the health of your senior dog. Highly recommended.
5. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Senior Dog Food
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 396 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 33%, Fat 13%, Carbs 45%
- Top ingredients: Deboned trout, turkey meal, salmon meal, yellow peas, sweet potato
- Type: Grain-Free
L-carnitine can give a significant health benefit to your aging dog and guess what Nulo Freestyle Grain-free senior dog food is full of it along with other essential nutrients that will befit your aging dog needs. Nulo Freestyle gets its bulk amount of protein from turkey and salmon meals. The formula is full of essential nutrients like glucosamine for healthy joints and improved weight controls making this formula a top choice for senior dogs.
6. IAMS ProActive Health Mature Adult Senior Dog Food
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 350 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 27%, Fat 12%, Carbs 54%
- Top ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain barley, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum
- Type: Grain-Free
A simple, grain-inclusive formula not having any kind of plant-based protein, Iams Proactive Health Mature Adult is a great choice for your senior dogs. This classic formulated diet is one of the best recipes present in the market for your older hounds. The company gets its protein share from fresh chicken. The product also contains L-carnitine in order to help your dog in burning fat. Highly recommended for you!
7. Victor Senior Healthy Weight
- Life period: Adults
- Best for: Large breed
- Calorie scale: 370 Kcal (Per Cup)
- Health Analysis: Protein 30%, Fat 13%, Carbs 50%
- Top ingredients: Beef meal, whole grain brown rice, whole grain millet, grain sorghum, chicken fat
- Type: Grain-inclusive (brown rice, millet, sorghum)
Victor Senior Healthy Weight is specially formulated and prepared with multiple antioxidants. It drives the animal protein from the beef meal. This formula is specially created with low cost and reduced-calorie for effective weight control and healthy joints. It is one of the best choices for your aging hound.
Senior Dog Food Buyer’s Guide
What to look while choosing the best dog food for senior dogs?
Choosing the right senior dog food is a crucial choice you will make for your aging dog. To choose wisely you should look at the following qualities to ensure your dog’s health.
- Nutrition quantity
One of the most essential and necessary quality checks in senior dog food is the amount of the nutrient present in it. If you are buying online make sure that the nutrients are written on the product description. It’s highly important that your dog should eat food that is low in calories and high in proteins.
- Ingredients
Not all the ingredients are suitable for dogs, especially for the aging ones. There are many ingredients that your aging hound cannot tolerate. Some of them may cause skin irritations. So, if your dog has no specific problems like this then its safe for him to take.
- Quality of the Branding
It is highly advised by the vets and other dog experts that always check the provided labels. As not all the quality brands are true to their words. You should choose the ones that are endorsed by veterinarians or animal scientists.
- Price
The prices of the senior dog foods present in the market vary per brand and manufacturers. One of the main reasons for the higher prices is the additional formulation and vitamins and essential minerals for the health of your dogs.
What to do if your senior dog refuses to eat?
- Vet appointment:
It is highly important to get an appointment with the vet in case your pooch is not eating. It may be caused due to any disease or injury and you need to rule out it first then try to feed him again.
- Home-cooked meals:
Well, your dog too deserved to be treated special. After eating the market food its time for him to get a healthy home-based treat for himself. You just make sure that you do not use onions, garlic, and other toxic ingredients.
What are the best senior dog foods Consumer Reports?
#1 Wellness Core Senior Dog Food
#2 Orijen Senior Dog Food
#3 Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Senior Chicken and Rice
#4 Go! Carnivore Senior Formula
#5 Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Senior Dog Food
#6 IAMS ProActive Health Mature Adult Senior Dog Food
#7 Victor Senior Healthy Weight
Does Health problems affect the diet of aging dogs?
If your dog has any existing health problems, then it may affect its diet routine too and you may have to specialize in their diets in order to treat them by providing the essential nutrients and proteins.
Are there any changes in diet for skinny senior dogs?
Well, it does not matter whether your dog is skinny or not. It has an equal right to eat a rich and full of nutrition diet. However, just make sure not to go overboard with the capable amount. Avoid regularly feeding too much as it can cause severe weight gains which can be fatal at this stage of his lifespan.
What are the common health problems that my dog can face in the senior lifespan?
well, it all varies from breed to breed and dog to dog. However, there are some common diseases that you might see in aging hounds. They include gum disease, arthritis, sudden weight loss, or blindness. For the worst-case possible it could be cancer.
Does my senior dog need regular exercise?
Of course, our aging dog friend needs some regular exercise as aging brings a decline in the health and regular activities of your dog. But it does not mean that they do not need it anymore, invest some time and effort so that your dog stays in a good shape.