How And What To Feed A Senior Dog

Your treasured family dog is getting on in years.
He's realized the more youthful part of his life
and is now starting to show the ravages of time
as we all do. His diet needs to match the
transitions his physique is going through. He
may not have the same energy that he once had
but he still needs healthy and balanced,
nourishing meals that will keep him as healthy
and balanced as possible. In addition to
available remedies and more frequent vet visits,
he 'll need your love and a recognition of what
his dietary requirements have evolved to.

What Changes Can I Expect?

Between the ages of 5 to 7 years of age, dogs
begin to exhibit their age-related changes. In
addition to changes in their physical
appearance, they also experience immunological,
metabolic and body composition changes too. Some
changes are inevitable; others can be controlled
by adopting alternative dietary agendas. Of
course, breed has a lot to do with aging. The
larger the breed, the sooner they begin to
develop aging issues.

Changes may include:

Arthritis

Dental Problems

Skin and Coat Deterioration

A Lesser Ability to Fight Off Infections

Obesity

Intestinal Problems

Loss of Their Muscle Mass

Fiber and Protein, Yes, Calories and Fat, No

An older dog's diet should still be
well-balanced but with more fiber and less fat
and calories. There also should be a generous
portion of high quality protein. If your dog's
diet already consists of those element, then you
might be able to continue their regular diet but
in smaller quantities. Or, you may need to
consider a specially formulated diet for senior
dogs.

If your dog has kidney problems, you'll want to
keep the protein at about 14% of their diet. If
not, you can consider a regular commercially
prepared senior dog diet with about 18% protein.
The lower protein diet offers less of a workload
making it easier on their weakened kidneys. The
lower the fat, the lower the calories so fat
levels should around 10% to 12%.

Supplemental Additives to Consider

Older pooches are more likely to develop
constipation, thus the requirement for higher
fiber. The fiber content should be between 3%
and 5%. Aging may affect your dog's intestinal
bacterial growth, which may produce symptoms
indicating a gastrointestinal disease. To help
combat that, an older dog's diet should include
fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which promotes the
healthy growth of beneficial bacteria.

Consult with your vet about increasing your
pooch's Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) intake. It's
an omega-6 fatty acid that helps maintain
healthy coat and skin. Normally produced in your
dog's liver, it tends to diminish with aging.

Also, Antioxidants like beta-carotene and
vitamin E help your dog eliminate damaging free
radicals that can cause signs of aging and
damage body tissues. Older dogs' diets should
include a higher level of those compounds.
Antioxidants can help your dog's immune system,
too.

Try to include dry dog food in their diet. It
will help in the reduction of gum disease and
tartar build up on their teeth.

Once your dog reaches the golden years, it's
super important to maintain a daily routine and
be consistent with it. Abrupt changes, stress or
variations in their daily routine should be
avoided. Periodic vet examinations are very
important.

Lastly, it's important to connect with your pet
daily; hugs and attention are good and will go a
long way toward helping your best friend
maintain a good attitude and be happy.

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This article intends to provide information on
senior dogs and their diets. Your vet will be
able to offer advise based on the specific breed
and age of your pet. Resourced
http://www.chudleys.com

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