Do senior dogs need special food?

A diet that is geared to the needs of a senior dog helps him to stay healthy and vital in his advanced age. But what is the ideal food for senior dogs? What food do they need in old age?

The ageing phase of a dog begins at different times depending on its size. The changes that occur then gradually increase the dog’s susceptibility to diseases and sensitivity to stress. Performance steadily decreases and the sensory organs become weaker. Chronic diseases become more frequent with age. Small dog breeds are considered senior citizens from about ten years of age. In large breeds (depending on the species), ageing begins as early as five to seven years.

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Contrary to popular belief, older dogs do not have lower protein requirements than younger ones. Senior dogs in particular often have poorer digestion, which even results in a slightly increased requirement, because the immune system, pancreas and liver are restricted in their function due to age and therefore work less efficiently. As a result of this, a protein-reduced senior dog food leads to a reduction in muscle mass in a healthy, older dog and consequently reduced activity and loss of joie de vivre.

In addition to the pure content, the quality and the optimal usability of the proteins is also decisive for dog food. This makes digestion easier for the dog and keeps the burden on the liver and kidneys as low as possible. In order not to put unnecessary strain on the digestive tract, liver and kidneys, only easily digestible feed components should be chosen. These include high-quality protein sources such as muscle meat, egg, puffed chicken feet for dogs and milk protein. Cooked and processed carbohydrates or fats are also quick energy suppliers for the senior dog.

That’s why some brands, such as PLATINUM, use only highly digestible proteins from at least 70% fresh meat as the main ingredient, which are optimally metabolised by the organism and contribute decisively to building up and maintaining muscle mass thanks to their high biological value. The dry food varieties also contain valuable green-lipped mussel extract, which supports joint function, especially in old age. This dog food is therefore ideally suited for all phases of your dog‘s life. A special dog food for senior dogs is therefore not necessary.

Often mentioned reasons for a senior dog food

When a dog gets old, two different scenarios can occur: Some dogs gain weight, others lose weight. If your dog’s weight goes up slightly, this is not yet a reason to resort to a calorie-reduced food. He is probably simply moving less, which reduces his energy needs. In addition, many older dogs have a higher body fat content due to their metabolism. If you feed PLATINUM dog food, you simply need to reduce the daily ration a little.

If you notice that your dog is losing weight as it gets older, it is often recommended that you switch to an easily digestible dog food. This makes it easier for the somewhat sluggish metabolism and the nutrients in the food can be better utilised. Another reason why PLATINUM is an excellent choice, because it is particularly easy to digest. So there is no need for a special senior food. Simply increase the ration a little to give the dog more energy. If your dog continues to lose weight, or if it has developed special needs due to age, it may make sense to resort to a special diet and/or nutritional supplements in consultation with the vet.

David Prior

David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.