The 7 Best Dog Foods For Senior Dogs
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As your dog gets older, it’ll start to slow down, and it might put on a little weight. When this happens, you may start thinking about making a change to your dog’s diet.
While your senior dog’s basic nutritional needs won’t change, it may not need as many calories, and certain nutrients will become more important.
But what kind of diet is best for a senior dog, and how do you choose the best dog food for seniors?
Keep reading to learn more about your senior dog’s changing dietary needs and to receive some tips for picking the best dog food to meet those needs.
Compare Best Dog Foods For Senior Dogs
BEST DRY SENIOR DOG FOOD  3. Wellness Complete Health Senior Recipe Dry Food | BEST AFFORDABLE SENIOR DOG FOOD  4. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Recipe | BEST SENIOR DOG FOOD FOR SENSITIVE STOMACH  5. Canidae Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Senior | BEST GRAIN-FREE SENIOR DOG FOOD  6. Nutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food | ||
Protein 10% Min | Protein 7.9% Min | Protein 22% Min | Protein 18% Min | Protein 28% Min | Protein 24% Min |
Fat 3% Min | Fat 5.5% Min | Fat 10% Min | Fat 10% Min | Fat 10% Min | Fat 12% Min |
Fiber 2% Max | Fiber 0.9% Max | Fiber 4.25% Min | Fiber 7% Max | Fiber 5% Min | Fiber 4% Max |
Calories 1,298 kcal/kg | Calories 41 Kcal/oz | Calories 416 kcal/cup | Calories 357 kcal/cup | Calories 409 kcal/cup | Calories 3569 kcal/kg, 319 kcal/cup |
Keep reading to see our top 7 recommendations for the best dog food for seniors:
The Top 7 Best Dog Foods For Seniors
Even though your senior dog’s metabolism will start to slow down as it ages, your dog still needs plenty of protein to maintain lean muscle mass and healthy fats for energy. Choosing a size-specific recipe will help ensure that your dog gets the right balance of these nutrients, though many dogs do well on regular senior dog food recipes.
Here are our top 7 picks for the best dog food for seniors that you should consider:
Ollie Dog Food Chicken Goodness Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 3% Min
- Fiber: 2% Max
- Calories: 1,298 kcal/kg
- Meals are customized based on your dogs profile
- Different meal flavors available
- Free shipping and delivered right to your door
- Recipes overseen by a vet and are human grade ingredients
- Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
- Food comes frozen solid
- Profile only accounts for allergies not health issues
Pet Plate Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 7.9% Min
- Fat: 5.5% Min
- Fiber: 0.9% Max
- Calories: 41 Kcal/oz
- Meals are pre-portioned and in recyclable containers
- Different meal recipes available
- You can mix and match all recipes
- Flexible subscription options
- Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
- Containers take up a lot of space in the freezer/fridge
- Profile does not ask about health issues
Wellness Complete Health Senior Recipe Dry Food
Product Info
- Protein: 22% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 4.25% Min
- Calories: 416 kcal/cup
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Whole grains for healthy digestion
- Guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin
- Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Some dogs may be sensitive to chicken ingredients
- Not a grain-free recipe
Not only is it protein-rich, but it is a reduced calorie diet to help ensure healthy weight, made with all-natural ingredients. It also contains guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 18% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 7% Max
- Calories: 357 kcal/cup
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Guaranteed levels of joint-supporting nutrients
- Supports skin and coat health
- Digestible carbohydrates for energy
- Not a grain-free recipe
Not only is it made with all-natural ingredients, but it contains an optimal balance of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin. It also contains digestible carbohydrates to make sure your dog has the energy to stay active in its old age.
Canidae Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Senior
Product Info
- Protein: 28% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 5% Min
- Calories: 409 kcal/cup
- Made with a limited number of ingredients
- High-quality animal protein sources
- Digestible grain-free carbohydrates
- Probiotics and chelated mineral supplements
- Some dogs may be sensitive to chicken ingredients
- Very expensive compared to other brands
Made with high-quality proteins like chicken and turkey meal, it will help maintain lean muscle mass without going overboard on calories. This recipe is grain-free and contains a limited number of ingredients to reduce the risk for food allergies. Plus, it contains probiotics for healthy digestion and chelated minerals.
Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 535 kcal/cup
- Grain-free to reduce food allergies and sensitivities
- Made with trout and sweet potato as main ingredients
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support
- No artificial ingredients
- Very expensive compared to other brands
Made with trout as the primary protein and sweet potato for carbohydrates, it is highly digestible and rich in nutrition. This recipe contains no artificial ingredients and it is supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
Nutro Natural Choice Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 3569 kcal/kg, 319 kcal/cup
- Moisture-rich and very palatable for older dogs
- Multiple sources of animal protein
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support
- Supplemental fiber and antioxidants
- None
It is rich in moisture and contains plenty of supplemental fiber for healthy digestion plus fresh fruits and vegetables for antioxidant support.
If your senior dog has become a picky eater, a wet food formula like this Nutro Ultra Senior Wet Dog Food may be more palatable. Made with nature’s best ingredients, this recipe features multiple animal proteins like chicken, lamb, and salmon with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support. It is rich in moisture and contains plenty of supplemental fiber for healthy digestion plus fresh fruits and vegetables for antioxidant support.
Special Dietary Needs Of Senior Dogs
Senior dogs have varying lifespans, with toys and small breeds like Pomeranians and pugs having the longest lifespans of 12–15 years. Medium-sized breeds like Bulldogs and Australian Shepherds also live long.
Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever and German Shepherd have lifespans between 10 and 12 years, while giant breeds like Great Danes may not live to see their 10th birthday.
Small and toy breeds reach senior status around 10–12 years old, while most other breeds become seniors when they turn 7 or 8. Once senior, a high-quality diet rich in animal proteins, healthy fats, digestible carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals is necessary.
Here are some of the things to look for in senior dog food:
- Calorie Content. Your dog’s metabolism will slow down as it ages, which means that it’ll require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight and too many excess calories could lead to obesity.
- Digestibility. As your dog’s metabolism slows down, its digestion may also become more sensitive, which means that additional fiber and probiotics may be helpful.
- Joint Support. Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin can help keep your aging dog’s joints healthy to prevent osteoarthritis and other joint diseases.
- Antioxidants. Found primarily in fresh fruits and vegetables, antioxidants may help slow the effects of aging on your senior dog.
Keeping all of these things in mind, you’re now ready to learn how to choose the best dog food for seniors. Here’s what you need to know:
How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Seniors?
When shopping for senior dog food, prioritize your dog’s basic nutritional needs. Adult dogs need 18% crude protein and 8% crude fat, sourced from animal sources like meat, poultry, and fish. Choose highly digestible carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, legumes, and vegetables for senior dogs, as many develop food allergies and sensitivities as they age.
Fiber content should be around 5%, with some dogs benefiting from additional fiber. A diet should contain at least 10% moisture.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are beneficial supplements for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help slow aging effects.
High-quality senior dog food may contain synthetic supplements, but chelated minerals are the best for nutritional balance.
Probiotics can help maintain healthy digestion, and joint-supporting supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin are welcome additions.
How Much Should You Feed Senior Dogs?
How often you feed your senior dog depends on several factors. First and foremost, the number of meals your dog gets per day is determined by its energy needs and its size. Small and toy breeds generally do best with three smaller meals per day, while larger dogs may be fine with two.
As your dog ages, however, you may notice that it eats less at a time, so it might be a good idea to make each meal a little smaller and add an extra one partway through the day.
In terms of how much to feed your senior dog, again, that varies. Smaller dogs will still need more calories per pound of body weight than larger dogs to maintain their metabolisms, but you should account for some slowdown in that department. Switching your dog to a senior dog food will help reduce the calories and you should follow the feeding recommendations on the package.
What About Food Allergies And Sensitivities?
Food allergies and sensitivities in dogs increase with age, with symptoms becoming more apparent by ten years old. Senior dogs are also at risk of developing allergies to fleas and environmental allergens.
Digestive problems can occur in many senior dogs, ranging from occasional upsets to chronic diarrhea or frequent vomiting. To manage these issues, feeding smaller meals daily, switching to a limited-ingredient diet or a hypoallergenic formula, providing fresh water, and giving fiber supplements like canned pumpkin can help improve digestion.
Final Thoughts
While it might not be so quick to chase the ball, and it might take a little longer to get out of bed in the morning, your senior dog is still your best friend and most loyal companion.
To make sure you get to enjoy its company for as long as possible, choose a high-quality senior dog food like the top 7 picks we’ve reviewed above.
