When our buddies age, their eating habits and dietary needs change. Special nutrition to older dogs helps in the management of diseases common at old age, body-condition problems like obesity and decline in body mass and help support healthy bones and joints. The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs help manage these health issues helping your pooch maintain his/her spark even in old age.
5 Healthiest Dog Foods for Senior Dogs
The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs are specially formulated with your pup’s life stage in mind and feature unique recipes that furnish your canine with all the nutrients needed to promote a vibrant and healthy life.
When your buddy reaches old age, it is recommended to change to senior dog foods as the nutritional needs have changed. Below are some of the healthiest dog foods for senior dogs:
#1) Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
As one of the healthiest dog foods for senior dogs, Purina Adult 7+ dog food oozes with chicken goodness that your pup will love. The formula is specially made to keep up with the dynamic dietary requirements of dogs aged seven and above.
Internal and external good health should be the main goal when feeding your dog. This Purina Pro Plan Formula caters to this by deriving its best share of protein from chicken that is combined with carefully selected ingredients for a healthy body.
For example, through the use of botanical oils in the food, your pup’s brain is nourished and he can stay alert at all times. Linoleic acid, a form of Omega 3, from chicken, is good for skin and coat.
Natural prebiotics with numerous benefits has been used. First, they help in breaking down food. The more food is broken down the more nutrients are absorbed into the body. They regulate the blood sugar levels in the dog’s body.
Prebiotics also helps promote a healthy gut. Dried egg product in this food is highly digestible, rich in antioxidants, and a good supplier of quality protein. You will also find whole-grain wheat, corn gluten meal and corn germ meal on the ingredients profile. These three bring in plant-based proteins and help with skin health as they contain amino acids.
Corn germ meal is great for dogs that specifically require reduced fat and protein amounts in their diet. Barley is used too as a source of highly digestible carbohydrates; it is low in cholesterol and rich in fiber for a problem-free digestion process.
By picking out Purina Pro Plan senior dog food for your best friend, you will have chosen from among the best senior dog foods and have a guaranteed value for your money.
Features
- Tailor-made for dogs aged seven and above
- Offers good nutrition for cognitive health
- Real meat, chicken, is used as the first ingredient
- A well-balanced diet with ingredients drawn from different natural sources
#2) Go! Solutions Carnivore Senior Recipe Dry Dog Food
Abounding in protein and a perfect balance in nutrients, this grain-free diet is suitable for all breed sizes and one of the best senior dog foods. Go! Solutions include zinc, Omega 3 acids and carotenoids from fruits and veggies for the vision of your dog that may be wavering by a little by now. To keep his heart functioning at its best the food produces taurine and L-carnitine which are equally beneficial to vision as well.
For the dog’s gastrointestinal health, chamomile and cardamoms are used to keep unwanted gas and bloating away. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E are very good in keeping dementia, heart, kidney and any other age-related issues at bay.
Go! Solutions Carnivore Senior Recipe Dry Dog Food touches on every essential organ of the body making it one of the best senior dog foods competing in the market today.
Features
- Suitable for dogs with gastrointestinal issues
- Rich in antioxidants beneficial to overall health
- Taurine and L-carnitine sources to support a healthy heart and immunity system
- Made with high-quality protein from different meat sources
#3) Hill’s Science Diet Adult 11+ Dry Dog Food
Also featuring on our best senior dog foods list is this dry dog food from Hill’s Science. Is your dog having dental issues? This dog food has a solution for that with its small-sized kibbles that make it easy for your dog to comfortably Chow down his meal. The meal uses ingredients that are ideal for the sensitive stomach that keeps him nourished with zero chances of digestive flare-ups.
Soybean is an example of the less allergenic ingredients used. To add to this, soybean is a rich source of fiber, vitamins and has key antioxidant properties. It is cholesterol-free. Antioxidants sourced from fresh fruits and vegetables support your dog’s natural defenses against disease-causing radicals.
Broccoli, carrots and green peas are some of the fruits included in dog food. Broccoli contains fiber, vitamin K that promotes bone density, vitamin C that fights inflammation and has folic acid that helps in healthy cell formation.
To promote a healthy digestive system you will find oat fiber in the meal that promotes healthy stool, provides protein and has minerals like phosphorus. Chicken liver flavor increases palatability, improves vision and is beneficial to dogs with blood deficiency issues.
Pork flavors and pork fat are used in this delicacy not only to improve the taste but to boost the number of vitamins present. Vitamin B1 drawn from pork fat is a lean protein source, promotes healthy cell function and makes the food great for dogs prone to suffer from food allergies.
Omega 3 acids present in the food promote skin health and the minerals blended in all together keep his teeth and joints strong for mobility as he leaps and spins about.
Natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols are used to maintain the fresh taste and state of the dog food. Feeding this dog food will be feeding him an all-natural healthy meal. Help your doggie retain his spark with Hill’s Science Diet Adult 11+ Dry Dog Food.
Features
- Suitable for senior small and toy breeds
- Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Ideal for food-sensitive digestive systems
- Small-sized kibble for easy chewing
#4) Victor Purpose Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
This hearty meal nourishes your dog while helping him maintain a healthy weight just as the name suggests. Due to decreased activity, your buddy may be consuming more food than his body can burn down for energy making him gain a little weight. Dog food manufacturers are well aware of this issue and always provide a solution in their formulas.
Therefore, if your dog has unnecessary fat pitched here and there in his body and you would like to help him shed this then this dog food is the way to go. Ingredients have been cautiously handpicked to promote good health for senior and adult dogs too.
Some of the ingredients include beef, pork, chicken meals, whole grain millet, sorghum, green tea extract coupled together with fortified vitamins and minerals. Whole grain Millet is easy to digest and gives your dog’s body access to phosphorus, vitamin B and iron essential for his bones. Grain sorghum is gluten-free and a suitable alternative grain for dogs with food intolerances.
Green tea extract releases antioxidants that benefit the cardiovascular system. The beef, pork and chicken meals provide proteins which are the cornerstone of every dog food. Victor Purpose Senior Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is overflowing with nutrients that will be of great benefit to the well-being of your dog.
Features
- Contains the four ingredients that make up the proprietary Victor CORE: selenium yeast, mineral complexes, prebiotics, and probiotics for optimal nose to tail health
- Gluten-free dog food
- Uses high quality handpicked ingredients
- Focuses on healthy weight maintenance
#5) Iams Proactive Health Mature Adult Dry Dog Food
Dogs being part of the family should be loved, cared for, and nurtured the best way possible. Getting healthy food for them is an important part of nurturing and to do this you need to choose from only high-quality brands.
This is one such brand that boasts of formulas that help bring out the best in your dog. This particular formula looks to meet the senior dog’s changing and unique dietary needs.
Your dog’s bones that are now well seasoned in years are kept in good shape by the ingredients that make up the nutrient profile of this food. Omega fatty acids continually keep his skin and coat beautifully shiny with the high-quality protein intake tending to his energy demands. This dog food will have your furry friend alert and thriving in his activities like a well-oiled machine.
Features
- High-quality protein from animal and plant-based sources
- Rich in fatty acids for beautiful and shiny skin
- Nutrient-dense ingredients that support the healthy functioning of body organs
- Boosted immunity from antioxidants
Related Posts
What are the Characteristics of a Good Senior Diet for Dogs?
Low-Calorie Content
At old age, the metabolic rate changes and as a result dogs tend to gain weight. The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs have reduced fat levels and lower caloric density when compared with regular adult dog food. Consumption of low calories food help prevents the dog from becoming overweight.
Adequate Protein
In dogs, loss of muscle mass tends to creep in later in life. To help address the issue, senior dogs should be fed quality food with a sufficient quantity of quality proteins. Proteins provide the amino acids that serve as the building blocks for muscles.
The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs feature adequate content of proteins which is crucial for maintaining muscle health, strength, and mobility. Provide your canine friend with optimal protein levels to keep your old pup physically active.
Optimal Levels of Micro-Nutrients
As dogs age, joint problems start manifesting. This is because cartilage which is the tissue that connects joints starts to deteriorate. Proper nutrition helps support healthy bones and joints.
The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs should have optimal levels of vitamins and minerals as they are needed in the production of cartilage. Particularly Vitamin C. Minerals also help support bones and promote a healthy nervous system. Besides, essential fatty acids namely omega-6 and omega-3 augment joint health.
Higher Fiber Content
The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs are specially formulated with a higher fiber content of about 3 to 5%. A higher fiber content help creates a feeling of fullness which helps in reducing calorie intake.
Moreover, senior pups are more susceptible to constipation and the fiber helps to prevent constipation. Feeding your old pooch dry food helps prevent the build-up of tartar and reduce gum disease.
Read: When to Change to Senior Dog Food
Conclusion
The healthiest dog foods for senior dogs are tailored to provide healthy and balanced nutrition to your old pooch. Aging is associated with a decline in health and one powerful tool in keeping your dog healthy and physically active in his/her old life is proper nutrition. To get the right diet for your dog, we recommend you work with your veterinarian as there is no best diet for older dogs.