Wondering which is the best senior dog food that’s vet recommended to give your pooch as he gets older? We got you covered.
As your furry friend advances in age, the activity level reduces, mobility issues develop, and the metabolism rate becomes lower. It’s important, therefore, for you to make careful considerations on what you feed your dog in his senior years.
So, what’s the best senior dog food?
With numerous options available, it may be challenging to decide the best. Check out our list for a review of the 10 best senior dog food to make it easier for you.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons.
10 Best Senior Dog Food
Best senior dog food for arthritis
Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult Dog Food- joint problems
Formulated for small breed dogs over 7 years, this 4.6 star rated food features chicken as the key ingredient. It’s made with botanical oils for mental sharpness, alertness, and trainability.
It contains probiotics to promote digestive health, EPA & DHA for healthy joints and improved mobility plus Omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin A for a healthy coat.
Key features
- Real chicken as the primary ingredient for tissue building
- EPA & DHA for improved joint health and mobility
- Botanical oils to promote cognitive ability
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| – Chicken -Poultry by-product meal -Rice -Whole grain corn -Corn Gluten Meal | Small breed senior dogs with joint problems | $ 41.98 |
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Meal, Barley + ice Recipe
With a rating of 4.7, this is easily digestible nutrition containing a cooperative mix of ingredients to help promote energy and activity levels.
It’s made with wholesome ingredients, including chicken meal, rice, and barley. It comes with balanced minerals to promote heart and kidney healthy plus Omega 6 and vitamin E for a flourishing skin and coat.
Key Features
- High-quality protein for lean muscles
- Balanced minerals for a healthy heart and kidney
- Easily digestible ingredients to boost energy levels and immunity
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Chicken meal -Cracked Pearled Barley -Brewers Rice -Whole Grain Wheat -Whole Grain Corn | Senior Dogs 7+ years | $ 32.99 |
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Dog Food-weight control
Crafted with antioxidants, probiotics, and taurine to enhance overall body health, this 4.5 stars rated food is packed with premium proteins together with nutrient-rich superfoods.
It’s further enhanced with glucosamine and chondroitin to enhance joint and hip health plus omega fatty acids for a glossy coat. Additionally, being grain-free makes it ideal for sensitive stomachs.
Key Features
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for improved joint and hip health
- Omega fatty acids for glossy skin
- Antioxidants, probiotics, and taurine for overall body healthy
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Deboned Turkey -Chicken Meal -Lentils -Dried Ground Potatoes -Peas | Senior dogs with weight issues | $40.99 |
Best senior dog food for allergies
Royal Canin Small Digestive Care Dog Food– constipation
This is a 4.9 star rated specially formulated to cater to small dogs with stomach sensitivities. It contains easily digestible chicken proteins with prebiotics and a special blend of fibers for a balanced intestinal flora and optimal stool quality.
It also comes in smaller kibbles for easy chewing and digestion
Key Features
- Excellent mix of highly digestible proteins, prebiotics, and fibers for healthy digestion
- Crafted for small dogs with stomach sensitivities
- Designed to promote healthy gut flora and ideal stool quality
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Chicken By-Product meal -Corn -Chicken Fat -Brewers Rice -Corn Gluten Meal | Small breed dogs with stomach sensitivity | $ 48 |
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
This formula is made with high-quality protein from real deboned chicken to help build and maintain healthy muscles and wholesome grains, vegetables, and fruits for a healthy immune system.
With a rating of 4.6, this food comes with LifeSource Bits, a special blend packing 7 health-giving minerals and vitamins to boost your dog’s brain and immunity.
Key Features
- Real chicken to help build and maintain muscles
- Essential proteins and carbohydrates for energy needs
- An antioxidant-rich blend of nutrients for immune health
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Deboned Chicken -Brown Rice -Barley -Oatmeal -Chicken Meal | Senior dogs of all breeds | $ 29.98 |
Read our article on Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review: Is It Right for French Bulldog
Royal Canin Small Aging Wet Dog Food
This 4.7 star rated nutrition features a blend of nutrients with EPA, DHA, and antioxidants that help senior small dogs maintain their vitality.
It contains controlled phosphorus levels for maintenance of healthy kidneys plus fatty acids for healthy skin and lustrous coat. This meal is designed with chunks in gravy packed in convenient easy-to-open pouches.
Key Features
- EPA, DHA, and antioxidants to support healthy aging
- Ideal phosphorus level for kidney health
- Essential fatty acid for the nourishment of skin and coat
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Brown Rice -Corn -Corn Gluten Meal -Brewers Rice -Chicken Byproduct Meal | Senior small breed dogs 12+years | 22.68 |
Best senior dog food for sensitive stomach
Ollie Dog Food
This is a premium quality made with precise consideration to your dog’s dietary needs, preferences, and medical condition. The 4.6 stars rated food is all-natural and made with human-grade ingredients hence contains no pointless fillers.
This food is made with high-quality animal protein to help build and maintain healthy muscles and tissues. repair worn-out muscles.
Fruits like blueberries and cranberries supply vitamins and act as antioxidants, while plant-based proteins from chickpeas and lentils offer complete and balanced proteins.
Key Features
- All-natural and fresh for optimal health
- Grain-free to promote digestive health
- Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Beef/Chicken/ Turkey/ Lamb -Sweet potatoes -Peas -Carrots -Blueberries | Dogs with sensitive stomachs | $18.16 |
Read our Ollie Dog Food Review: Is It The Best Fresh Dog Food?
Nom Nom
Formulated by a leader in veterinary nutrition and with a star rating of 4.8, this food is scientifically balanced and comparable to a homemade diet.
The nutrition presents ground beef as the primary ingredient with a mix of amino acids, essential fats, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients DHA included.
Key Features
- With ideal calcium and phosphorus content for ideal bone growth
- Made with real beef for building and maintaining muscles
- Completely natural and fresh for overall health
- Contains DHA to promote cognitive health
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Ground beef -Russet potatoes -Eggs -Carrots -Peas | Dogs with a sensitive stomach | $24.36 |
Read our Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food Review: Why It’s Worth The Price?
Farmer’s Dog Food
Offer your aging furry friend the best in nutrition by feeding him on the farmer’s dog food.
Boasting a quality star rating of 4.8, this premium quality human-standard nourishment is crafted with untreated and completely natural elements that are more completely absorbed into your canine’s system.
Farmer’s dog food is made from USDA accredited kitchens in the USA without the use of any unsafe ingredients, including additives, fillers, and artificial flavors. You can be sure your vet is getting quality as this is vet-endorsed.
Key Features
- Freshly made human-grade food for optimal health
- Made in USDA approved standards hence it’s safety assured
- Vet affirmed for guaranteed quality
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Beef/ Turkey/ Pork -Parsnips -Carrots -Broccoli -Sweet potatoes | Dogs with stomach sensitivities. | $18.50 |
Read our The Farmer’s Dog Food Review: Is It Worth It?
CANIDAE Grain-Free Senior Dog Food
This is a protein-rich 4.6 star rated food that features chicken as the first ingredient to help in building and maintaining lean muscles for your oldie goldie.
Made with 9 wholesome ingredients and without grains, this formula contains probiotics to promote digestive health, antioxidants for immune health, and wholesome veggies for energy. It also has vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids for your dog’s overall well-being.
Key Features
- Grain-free, thus ideal for sensitive stomachs
- Added probiotics and antioxidants for digestive and immune health
- No artificial additives, preservatives, or flavors; thus, healthy all through
| Key Ingredients | Suitability | Price |
| -Chicken -Chicken Meal -Turkey Meal -Sweet Potatoes -Garbanzo beans | Senior dogs with stomach sensitivity | $39.99 |
Senior Dog Food: Buying Guide
Senior Dog Food: Meeting Aging Canine Nutritional Needs
Even though your dog’s nutritional requirements remain unchanged, the body changes as age advances.
As such, it’s important to consider giving food specifically formulated for senior dogs.
Basic canine nutrition
The most important element for healthy balanced dog food is protein. Proteins are packed with amino acids essential for supporting growth and development in puppies and maintaining lean muscle mass and ideal weight for adult dogs.
Animal-based protein is the best as it contains all the essential amino acids.
Do older dogs need special diets?
Due to their reduced activity levels and slower metabolic rates, older dogs require a diet that is low in calories and rich in fiber to curb obesity and improve gastrointestinal health.
Health-related problems that affect elderly dogs
As dogs grow older, they become more prone to the following health problems;
Arthritis
With the advancement in age, dogs tend to develop inflamed and painful joints. This inflammation highly limits the dogs’ ability to move.
Diets rich in chondroitin and glucosamine or supplements help offer relief for joint pain, and stiffness and promote joint health. Including papaya, celery and ginger can also help reduce some of the symptoms of arthritis.
Gum diseases
Senior dogs often suffer from tooth and gum degradation resulting in tartar and plague. This leads to the attack of the deep teeth structure and gums by bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
You can prevent this pain by observing proper and regular oral hygiene. Feeding kibbles can also minimize the likelihood of this disease.
Diabetes
Diabetes in canines is characterized by dehydration, lethargy, vomiting, extreme thirst, and frequent urination.
Since it’s marked by an abnormal accumulation of glucose in the blood, the proper diet should reduce the carbohydrate levels to reduce what will be converted into glucose.
Giving a balanced fiber-rich diet containing quality proteins will be beneficial.
Blindness
Visual impairment is a common issue that comes with age. We recommend a diet rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and beta carotene to help improve vision in older dogs.
Kidney disease
Kidney dysfunction is prevalent in senior dogs. Diets containing lower amounts of higher quality proteins are beneficial to dogs facing this health issue to avoid straining their kidneys.
Limiting phosphorus and giving wet food is recommended.
Cancer
Cancer greatly compromises the immune health of older dogs. As such, a grain-free diet containing high proteins and high fats is great. While the protein will help tissue building, the fats will safeguard the new tissues.
Dementia
As dogs age, they may face impaired cognitive function characterized by forgetfulness. Diets rich in omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, vitamins C & E, carotenoids, flavonoids, and selenium is appropriate.
Do older dogs need protein or less?
Since older dogs tend to lose muscle as they progress in age, they need increased amounts of proteins to help rebuild the muscles and maintain a healthy weight.
How to Choose the Right Food for Senior Dogs
- Get your dog assessed by your vet for the best advice on the kind of diet based on your health profile.
- Go for higher quality protein sources to aid in building new tissues to replace damaged ones.
- Ensure you include whole grains as easily absorbable proteins
- Go for natural ingredients.
How to shop for senior dog food
Here’s what to consider
Wet vs dry vs grain-free
As senior dogs have slower metabolic rates, wet food is preferable since it’s easier to digest compared to dry food. Grain-free food is also better as senior dogs are prone to gastrointestinal issues.
Senior dog food vs Regular dog food
Specially formulated senior dog food is necessary especially if your dog has underlying age-related health conditions.
Senior dog food key ingredients
| Ingredient | Benefit |
| Antioxidants | Supporting the immune system |
| Omega 3&6 Fatty Acids | Help in reducing inflammation and supporting kidney health |
| Chondroitin and Glucosamine | Improving joint health |
| Controlled Phosphorus | Maintaining healthy kidneys |
| Low sodium | For maintaining normal blood pressure |
| Fiber | Controlling constipation, improving digestion |
Tips for feeding senior dogs
- If your dog has no health issues and is feeding on a healthy, balanced, and quality nutrition no need to switch to senior dog food.
- You only need to keep a keen eye on the calorie level and make adjustments when necessary
- Most importantly, seek your vet’s advice on your dog’s dietary needs
- Discuss with your vet before giving dietary supplements.
Read our article on Senior Dog Diet- Why it’s Important for Aging Frenchies
Senior Dog Food FAQs
What is the #1 cause of food-related illness to senior dogs?
Obesity is the leading food-related illness to senior dogs resulting from reduced physical activity and slowed metabolism. To help lose or maintain weight, a low-calorie diet is advisable.
How much food should I feed my senior dog?
The prediction of the ideal serving is not possible given the uniqueness of each dog. It’s however recommended to follow the feeding instructions on the package and adjust with time.
Should I switch my dog to senior food?
If your dog has no health issues, there is no need to switch to senior food. However, ensure that the food is balanced with more animal-based proteins and fewer calories.
Should senior dogs use supplements?
Aging dogs with underlying medical conditions like arthritis may have special nutritional requirements. As such, the use of supplements in a bid to control these issues is highly beneficial.
Read our article on 10 Best Joint Supplements for Dogs Vet Recommended
What can you do if your senior dog refuses to eat?
Take it to a vet to rule out the possibility of underlying medical conditions. Try also to entice it with home-cooked meals as long as it does not contain harmful ingredients.
Wrapping Up
As a pet mom, all you want is for your oldie but goldie pal to be in perfect health and live longer with you. What better way to ensure this than by giving him the best age-appropriate nutrition available.
Senior dog food is helpful in many ways. From giving energy, reducing muscle and joint pain, helping with rehydration to maintaining a healthy weight.
Take note of your dog’s health condition and help him live a happy, healthy life in his golden years by choosing the best food that suits him from our list. Remember to consult your vet first.
All the best.