Senior dogs are no exception to the rule regarding dietary needs. Your dog’s changing nutritional needs can be even more challenging to understand as it ages. This commonly leaves pet owners with a ton of unanswered questions.
Valuable Tips When Providing Food for Your Senior Dog
You might expect your dog to undergo numerous changes as they get older. You can not stop time, so why not embrace it? There is excellent news: the correct nutrients can help your aging dog stay healthy and happy for as long as possible. With numerous variables to take into account when selecting senior dog food, there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution.
Depending on the breed and size, a dog can be called senior at a younger or older age. With your dog’s particular requirements and choices in mind, it’s ideal to see a veterinarian before customizing their diet. The following are essential considerations to bear in mind when providing a senior dog’s food.
Give Them More Protein
Many people assume that senior dogs should eat less protein. Muscle growth in older adults necessitates increasing protein intake, not reducing it. In elderly dogs, muscle mass loss is a considerable concern. Some seniors shed so much muscle mass that they can no longer walk alone. Protein requirements for older dogs are around 50% higher than for younger dogs.
On the other hand, adult dog maintenance diets frequently lack adequate protein to satisfy these requirements. For healthy older dogs, studies suggest a protein content of 28-32% on a dry-matter basis, precisely when weight loss is required. On top of that, ensure your senior dog gets a constant checkup and routine vet exam from the vet to keep an eye on their health. You can be sure your dog will live a long life in this manner.
Add Supplements
Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin are found in some senior diets to help relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. While omega-3 fatty acids aren’t vital to a healthy diet for seniors, they might help prevent osteoarthritis and cognitive decrease. For ideal health, it is recommended that you feed your dog a diet that is abundant in vitamins and minerals.
A dog’s health may be adversely influenced by an excess or deficit of these essential nutrients. Buying a vitamin or mineral supplement without further investigation is terrible if you’re concerned about your dog’s diet being deficient in these nutrients. Before giving your dog vitamins or any internal medicine, always see an animal internal medicine vet. Click here to learn more.
Make Their Food Chewable
When it involves feeding your dog, there are numerous valuable considerations to remember. Chewing might be hard or agonizing for older dogs because of dental issues. If you can not treat your dog’s problem, you may wish to explore moistening their food or providing them with canned or soft food as an alternative. A smaller kibble size may be all that is needed if you are feeding dry food.
You can get aid from a dog dentist if your dog has dental problems to ensure they can eat their beloved foods later in their later years.
Bottom Line
Every dog’s health requirements are unique, and at this period of life, each dog’s needs will progress at a variable rate. Providing your elderly dog with a high-quality diet will help them remain happy and healthy as they approach their golden years.
