Four ingredients to look out for when choosing senior dog food

You might have heard that your dog is classified as a senior from age 7, but that is more of a guideline than a fact. Every dog ages differently because size, breed, genetics, health and living conditions also plays a role. For example, we know that giant breeds such as Great Danes have shorter life spans compared to small breeds such as Jack Russel terriers. And for this reason, most dogs can be considered senior between 5 and 10 years of age.

Why feed a senior dog a senior diet?

Broadly speaking, many senior diets focus on creating a diet with a decreased energy content to address weight gain. This is good for the majority of senior pets, but not all senior dogs are overweight, some actually struggle to maintain their weight. In these cases, you might need food with a higher energy content rather than a reduced one. Besides energy, look out for these four ingredients: 

1. Protein is crucial, as a loss of muscle mass is a big problem for a vast majority of senior animals and is addressed by including a good amount of good quality protein in a diet. Remember, the body condition score of your pet is more important than your pet’s actual weight. However, always be aware that we do see kidney disease more frequently in older dogs and that they will then need a reduction in phosphorus. But protein is not what causes kidney failure, and not all older dogs get kidney disease either. Which is why your vet always needs to make a proper diagnosis should you have any concerns.
2. Joint supplements such as chondroitin sulphate or glucosamine and omega fatty acids to address the tendency of stiff and sore joints are common in senior foods. Fatty acids are also helpful to keep a healthy skin and coat. And are of benefit in heart disease. Never assume that a reduced enthusiasm for physical activity is a normal consequence of ageing. A good physical examination by your veterinarian is always crucial to detect whether your pet is suffering from a disease, such as arthritis.
3. Antioxidants (such as vitamin E and C), phytonutrients (such as beta-carotene) and trace elements (such as zinc) are often included to protect the body against oxidative damage due to ageing. 
4. Fibre content is important in senior dogs for two main reasons: constipation and digestion. Some added fibre is soluble and serves to feed the ‘good’ bacteria in the digestive tract, known as a prebiotic. This may aid in improving digestion for dogs that seem to have sensitive digestive tracts. On the flip side, other older pets can suffer from constipation, in which case an insoluble fibre may be more appropriate to keep them regular. A high fibre content may however not be appropriate for a dog that is struggling to maintain its weight, as it can decrease the calorie content of the diet. For this reason, a combination of fibre is often present in senior diets, but be sure to choose the diet that suits your pet best.

Remember, not all foods are created equally and there are no legal requirements for a senior food. This means that all senior foods will vary according to which company makes it. And it is up to that company to decide which ingredients they want to include. You need to evaluate your own dog and make an informed decision that is best for your pet.

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