Senior Dog Food – What Should You Feed your Senior Dog?

Aside from dogs that have developed a special condition such as diabetes, or heart or kidney disease, older dogs do not necessarily require special senior dog food.

Obviously, very old dogs that have difficulty chewing because their teeth fall out or break easily should be given moist foods, or dry food that has been moistened. But if your dog’s teeth are in shape, dry dog food – fed dry – is recommended. Not only does the abrasive action of eating dry food help to keep teeth clean and gums healthy, but calorie level is easier to regulate.

Older Dogs Require Less Food

Older dogs require smaller portions at mealtime to accommodate their less-active lifestyle.

Even older dogs that get exercise will tend to gain weight more easily than younger dogs, and this can be very hard on them.

Many pet owners complain that when they switched to a special formula senior dog food, their pet refused to eat it. Instead of buying senior diet-type dog food, try decreasing the amount of their regular food by 10 to 15%. After a month or so, adjust the amount again, if necessary, to maintain proper weight.

Sometimes older dogs do better with several smaller meals throughout the day, instead of one or two larger ones. Avoid high-calorie treats as much as possible, and try to exercise your older dog daily to aid in the digestion of food.

Many older dogs develop constipation from time to time. Adding a small amount of a fiber formula such as Metamucil to each meal will often remedy the problem. Be sure that fresh, clean water is available at all times.

With proper amounts of nutritious dog food, exercise, plenty of clean fresh water, and lots of love, geriatric dogs can avoid excessive weight gain and many problems associated with older dogs.

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