Older dogs have nutritional needs that differ from those of younger dogs, but then just when is a senior a senior? Many dog food companies and veterinarians will tell you that a dog is a senior once he or she turns 7 years old, but it’s not that simple.
First of all, dogs of different breeds and sizes have different life expectancies. A small or medium-sized dog may well live to be 15 years or older and will not show any signs of aging at 7 years old, whereas giant breeds such as Great Danes are well into the last third of their life span by then.
But even dogs of the same (or similar) breed and size will age at different rates, depending how soon and how fast the body’s systems slow down and deteriorate – something that is influenced genetically as well as by lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, stress etc.). Annual wellness exams, preferably including blood work, will help you to determine when your dog might benefit from changes to his diet and extra nutritional support.
Some of the special dietary needs of older dogs originate from
- decreased activity levels
- mobility and joint issues
- decreased digestive and metabolic efficiency
- decreased immune and organ function
- increased occurrence of intestinal problems
- dental health.
Veterinarians and food companies still promote feeding seniors foods drastically decreased in protein and fat, even though this is not necessarily always indicated. Research has shown that senior dogs actually do better with a higher protein level in their diet than with low-protein foods, as long as no other health issues require the reduction of protein for specific reasons.
Some senior dogs may have a higher protein requirement because they simply cannot digest and metabolize protein as efficiently as they did when they were younger, and need to make up for that with increased intake.
If your dog has reached his "golden years" and shows some signs of slowing down, but does not present with any special needs, there is no reason to switch from a high-quality adult food to a senior food just yet, and unwanted weight gain can be addressed simply by decreasing the daily intake of calories as necessary.
