Senior Dog Food

[AmyMay]

Is there any benefit on putting a ‘senior’ dog on a senior dog diet?

Daisy will be 10 in January and I’m wondering if I should move her on to one.

For info - she’s a fit and healthy Bichon Frise. Gets plenty of exercise daily for anything up to three hours.

She is on a joint supplement as has shown some mild arthritis earlier in the year.

 

[tda]

I have no idea if the added ingredients in senior foods are at the quantities required to be effective...that said our two 14 & 9 are on arden grange senior
It not much more cost than normal adult

 

[Barton Bounty]

I havent with mine she just eats the same as she always has

 

[Clodagh]

I never have, but mine are on pretty high protein stuff anyway. Mine eat the same from womb to tomb!

 

[Chiffy]

I have never changed mine. As long as you feed a good quality food in the appropriate amount for the size of your dog and the exercise she has. It’s just another ‘selling’ gimmick.
I remember looking into the ingredients many years ago and it seemed to be more bulk and less goodness.
My older dogs have always stayed active and are best kept trim.

Snap Clodagh, great minds.
You put it more succinctly , if that’s how you spell it!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I think generally there's less protein as the dog will presumably be less active.

 

[wren123]

I asked my vet, he said not necessary.

 

[JBM]

My vet told me food that says senior is unreliable because the extra things they would need may not be in the correct dose as it’s the same food for all different weights of dog
You’d be better buying ingredients and adding them based on weight yourself

 

[AmyMay]

My vet told me food that says senior is unreliable because the extra things they would need may not be in the correct dose as it’s the same food for all different weights of dog
You’d be better buying ingredients and adding them based on weight yourself

I was more interested in whether I should be looking at less/more protein etc in a food for a senior dog, rather than what additives may be included.

 

[JBM]

I was more interested in whether I should be looking at less/more protein etc in a food for a senior dog, rather than what additives may be included.

Oh sorry!
I believe they need around 30% protein in their diet

 

[scats]

I’ve never put JD on senior food, always just kept her on adult food. She’s 14 and a half and a big girl who is doing well, so I don’t think she can be missing out on too much.

If Daisy is fit and healthy, I’d be tempted to stay on her normal food. I think it’s to do with protein and perhaps less exercise, but Daisy sounds like she is still really active.

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks all, really helpful x

 

[planete]

Older humans need more protein in their diet as the body becomes less efficient at absorbingit. I will not put my old dogs on any food with reduced protein as I assume the same goes for them.

 

[wren123]

Older humans need more protein in their diet as the body becomes less efficient at absorbingit. I will not put my old dogs on any food with reduced protein as I assume the same goes for them.

That's what I thought, plus my lab was a very good doer so had less than the recommended amount to keep her slim so I thought all the more important to give energy/protein dense food.
But I did check with the vet!

 

[skinnydipper]

Yep. Senior dogs dogs benefit from high protein to help maintain muscle.

@Amymay. If Daisy is less active and she is still on Orijen you could change her to Orijen for Seniors. Both 38% protein but Senior has less calories/kg.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ironically I fed it to an youngish/adult dog who needed less protein.

Wheras the puppy/young dog foods have rocket fuel levels of protein and then people wonder why their dogs are shooting up/have growing pains/lameness....

 

[AmyMay]

Yep. Senior dogs dogs benefit from high protein to help maintain muscle.

@Amymay. If Daisy is less active and she is still on Orijen you could change her to Orijen for Seniors. Both 38% protein but Senior has less calories/kg.

Thanks SD - she is, and that was what I was looking at. Xxxx