The Best Dog Foods To Feed Your Senior Pup

As your dog gets older, you might think it’s OK to feed him the same adult dog food that you’ve always fed him.

But when your pup reaches a certain age, you should actually feed him senior dog food since it’s better suited for an older dog’s nutritional requirements.

The Dodo spoke to some veterinarians to find out how senior and adult dog foods are different and when to switch your pup to senior food.

Dogs need different amounts of nutrients at different life stages. So when your dog’s a puppy, he’ll need puppy food to help him grow, and when he starts getting older, he’ll need senior dog food.

“Senior dogs have a different nutritional requirement than younger dogs,” Dr. Rebeca Oliveira, a veterinarian at NHV Natural Pet, told The Dodo. “With senior dogs, their energy levels are lower, and more often than not, health issues start to appear. So it is only fair that we adjust their food to meet their nutritional requirements.”

Senior dog food has a bunch of differences from adult dog food.

“In general, senior dog foods have less protein to facilitate the kidneys, less fat and less calories because their metabolism is slower,” Dr. Oliveira said.

Diets that are too high in protein can damage the kidneys because they have to work extra hard to remove the excess protein from the blood.

The amount of protein that your senior dog food should contain depends on your individual dog, though. Some senior dog foods contain more protein than adult dog foods instead of less because older dogs can experience muscle loss as they age. If you’re not sure how much protein is appropriate for your pup, ask your vet what the right amount is.

As dogs get older, their metabolism slows down, which can lead to obesity. Senior dogs are also usually less active because of other health problems, such as arthritis, and they can easily gain weight if their diets aren’t adjusted to include less calories.

“Senior dogs tend to not be as active and therefore require less calories which could cause unwanted weight gain [and] can put stress on their joints,” Dr. Alex Crow, a veterinarian with Happiest Dog, told The Dodo.

The age at which you should switch your pup to senior dog food will depend on a few factors, including his size, health and how active he is.

Some older dogs won’t actually need to eat senior dog food if they’re still active and don’t have any health problems.

“This is only recommended when you start to see a decline in your dog’s activity and if they have other conditions that require specialized food,” Dr. Crow said.

Size is also a factor that affects the age at which your pup’s considered a senior since small dogs tend to age more slowly than big dogs.

“Usually for smaller dogs, the veterinarian would suggest switching the food [at] around 8 to 9 years old, whereas for larger dogs, [you should switch at] around 7 years old,” Dr. Oliveira said.

When you should switch your dog to senior food also depends on his overall health. Overweight dogs might need to be transitioned to a senior diet earlier than dogs who are in shape.

“If they are considered a senior and overweight, you should also change over to senior dog food, as this can put pressure on their joints and make any underlying conditions worse,” Dr. Crow said.

If your dog has other underlying conditions, such as kidney disease, joint problems or heart disease, you’ll need to switch him to senior dog food (and likely to a special diet), too, Dr. Oliveira said.

If you’re not sure if your dog’s ready for a senior diet yet, talk to your vet to get their advice.

One thing to look out for in senior dog food (and food for other life stages, like puppy food) is that the nutritional requirements meet the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for adult dogs (aka adult maintenance).

“You must ensure that the dog food is AAFCO-approved,” Dr. Keston Smith, a medical director at Bond Vet, told The Dodo. “You can look at the nutritional adequacy statement on the label of any dog food you are purchasing, and if the phrase ‘complete and balanced’ appears, then the food has met the AAFCO's nutritional profile regulations.”

Make sure the food is made with real whole-food ingredients, such as lamb, beef and corn. The first ingredient in the food should ideally be a natural ingredient, like chicken.

Dr. Smith also recommends choosing food that’s not grain-free. “Grain-free diets that are not prescription may be associated with heart disease if given over long periods of time,” Dr. Smith said.

According to Dr. Crow, another good ingredient for a senior dog food to have is omega-3 fatty acids. “This is really helpful for dogs’ joints as they age, especially if they have arthritis,” Dr. Crow said.

Here are some vet-recommended senior dog foods that meet the AAFCO nutrition recommendations for adult dogs.

Finding a good senior dog food for your pup will ensure he stays just as healthy and active in his senior years. If you have any questions about the best food to feed your pup, talk to your veterinarian.

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