When should I switch my adult dog to senior food and which senior food is the best? I’m especially concerned about the different protein levels in the two foods.
– SG
Dear SG,
We’ve all heard that dogs age seven years to our one year, so a two-year-old dog is like a 14-year-old kid, a seven-year-old dog is like a 49-year-old person, and a 15-year-old dog is like a 98-year-old person. But a better guideline for when to think about changing to a more age-appropriate diet might be that when a dog has reached half his normal life-span, he is considered “senior.” A small dog with a lifespan of 15 years might not be tagged “senior” until he is 7 or 8 years old. But a large or giant breed dog that is expected to live to 10 or so should be thought of as a senior when he is just 5 years of age.
What does “senior” mean? Owners of older dogs generally notice a decrease in activity, weight gain and the development of age-related physical and behavioral changes such as arthritis and senility. These changes happen because on the inside, metabolism has begun to slow down, food may not be digested and absorbed as efficiently, and other organs may not be functioning as well as they used to. The goal of changing from an adult maintenance food to a senior management food is to prolong both the length and quality of life as well as delay the onset of dysfunction and disease.
When choosing a senior food for your dog, look for a high-quality product with less energy (calories), less phosphorus and more fiber. These differences will help make up for changes in your dog’s aging body. There are two schools of thought on how much protein to feed seniors. One theory is that since older dogs are not as good at breaking down protein into amino acids and extracting these from the GI system, and because their bodies are using up protein at a faster rate, senior food should contain MORE protein than adult maintenance food. The other theory says just the opposite: because dogs are not as good at handling protein, don’t overwhelm their digestive tract and especially their kidneys with too high an amount. The important thing to remember is that the protein for senior dogs should be of high-quality. That means it should contain all the ten essential amino acids for dogs and should be a source that is easy for them to digest and absorb.
Lydia Gray, DVM MA, is the Staff Veterinarian for SmartPak. Prior to joining SmartPak, Dr. Gray served as the first-ever Director of Owner Education for the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She has authored numerous articles in publications such as The Horse, Horse Illustrated, Western Horseman and a variety of veterinary journals and magazines. Dr. Gray is also a frequent speaker at horse expos, veterinary conventions and other events. After graduating with honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and receiving her Master's Degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, she practiced at the Tremont Veterinary Clinic for several years. Dr. Gray is active in the American Veterinary Medical Association and Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. She enjoys training and showing her Trakehner, Newman, in both combined driving and dressage, and is a USDF “L” Program Graduate (with distinction). Find Dr. Gray on Google+
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I just switched my dog to a senior food a couple months ago. He is a medium size lab mix. I put him on purina one vibrant maturity. He seems to be doing well on it. He hasn’t had muscle spams since.
I have Labradors, and the seniors do not eat senior food. They eat regular adult food and add Glycoflex III and a fish oil tab to it. They are fine. I supplement with a beef bone, and that keeps their teeth nice. Coat is good. The 12 1/2 year old still does 3 hour pheasant hunts with my husband. The oldest dog ate the same ration as everyone else, until she succumbed to her age. Just because they are older does not mean they need a senior food.
my dog has a red with blackening belly rash not really itchy, but always licks paws
i changed dog food but he had the rash before the change
i am adding a dog enzyme to his food
no results since using a week, a nurse said her dogs had the same thing changed to a lower protein dog food and it went away
any ideas please help
Hi Barbara, thanks for your question! The first place I would recommend you start is by scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian. Unfortunately, there are numerous reasons why a dog might develop a rash, including environmental factors, food allergies and more. Your veterinarian is going to be essential in determining what is causing these signs in your dog, and once you know the reason, you’ll be much better able to tackle the problem! – Dr. Lydia Gray
I have a 13 year old female Teacup Yorkie. She’s right around 5lbs. I have her on Adult food for small breeds from Blue Buffalo and I’m wondering if it will be alright to make the switch to the Senior formula from the same brand. She isn’t as active as she was as a young adult dog, but I also worry that changing her food might bring on allergies. What is your advice?
Hi Everdeen, thank you for asking! Considering your Yorkie’s age, it sounds like looking into senior dog good could make sense. Where every dog’s nutrition needs are unique, I would recommend having a conversation with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet. Because generally protein sources are the culprit in uncommon food allergies, if the protein sources between the foods you’re considering are similar, there is unlikely a cause for concern. – Dr. Lydia Gray