[Dori]

Lazaro. If you are feeding a high quality dog food from a company you trust then no, I see no reason to add any vitamin supplements to their food. If you have a dog that is a senior or ill, then the only vitamin supplement that I would recommend is from Standard Process. Canine Whole Dog Supplement.

I’m a commercial raw feeder to my three dogs. The only one that gets a vitamin supplement daily is Hannah, my Maltese. She’ll be 16 years old in September.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Dori.

[Lazaro B]

My dog currently eats Natural Balance Fat Dogs because he was slightly overweight. The food has about 7 grams of fat per cup and has about 250 kcal per cup. He has lost weight, but I was wondering if I should switch him to Blue Buffalo weight management. I’ve read several comments about Blue Buffalo that it gave there dogs gas or they won’t buy it anymore because of loose stools. What is your take on blue buffalo weight management for small breeds? My dog is about 23-24 pounds Pom poodle mix. He is neutered and is 6 years old. At what age should I switch him to senior dog food? What is there recall history?

Thanks

[MaggiesDad]

Yeah, they work really well in the warm weather and keep the dogs occupied for ages…
If anyone wants to give the food a try, Allprovide do a starter box of 8 lbs Chicken complete food for $15.20 with free shipping, but will swap that out for 8 lbs Senior food if you ask 🙂

[MaggiesDad]

You might also want to check out Allprovide’s Senior food: http://www.allprovide.com/senior-blend-with-vegetables-enhanced-formula-complete-senior-dog-food-4lbs/ – the ingredients are listed as:
INGREDIENTS – Fresh chicken (USDA – Grade A), beef liver, butternut squash, carrot, broccoli, green kale, beef trachea (Natural Source Glucosamine), beef kidney, sprouted organic adzuki bean, sprouted organic mung bean, milled flax seed, milled organic whole brown sesame seed, salmon oil, organic coconut oil, sea kelp powder, oregano leaf, organic turmeric root, wheat germ oil (natural vitamin E)
They don’t use potato, grains, cereals or other fillers, and the trachea is a great source of glucosamine which can really benefit some senior dogs.

[Wanda B]

I am one of those dog people that does a ‘senior exam’ even on a young dog every year. We just did blood,chem panel and stool. Still need to capture urine but everything was perfect so I don’t suspect it’s medical though I so appreciate your comment. I just have no idea how she was fed with her former owner. She was purchased from a pet store in PA so I do suspect she was from a puppy mill….and like I said barely out of her crate. He was 86 and fell over her and hurt himself. Should never have sold this kind of dog to him but what do they care? I was mixing canned with her kibble in the beginning, but she just stopped eating all of it. Purina Beyond canned salmon was a huge hit until the second can….very frustrating. Thanks again, Riley.
Sheryl, I will try the eggs! When my dogs were under palliative care, two of them at the same time, I had food issues with my Lucy, a BC Shepherd mix. This situation brings all of that back to me and I think I tend to panic a bit. But I want her to be happy about eating, you know? And, she’s not happy. I’m using a treat ball right now and that seems to work but finding the right kibble is a tough one. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Wysong senior? http://www.chewy.com/dog/wysong-senior-dry-dog-food-5-lb-bag/dp/50242?utm_source=bing-pla&utm_medium=cse&utm_content=Wysong&utm_campaign=f

or Nutrisca lamb and chickpea http://www.chewy.com/dog/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-lamb/dp/35037

Regarding environmental allergies: /forums/topic/nutriscan-results-suggestions/
Frequent bathing with Malaseb might help…a lot of allergens are airborne.

[Ryan K]

Yes, I have actually tried Fromm’s Pork and Peas formula with her and she wouldn’t even touch it. It shocked me. I have noticed that most other Fromm’s (even in the Four Star) use Potatoes in their ingredient list. I’m not a big fan of Fromm’s for either of my dogs. My Dachshund/Terrier mix will eat ANYTHING and even he hasn’t been won over by Fromm’s. I now stay away from that brand since both the dogs have never shown interest in eating the foods from them that I have tried.

I think it might be a combination of seasonal allergies for her though like Susan mentioned. She won’t stop licking and chewing at her paws and I am wondering if it’s just because she has been in the grass/yard more lately? I wanted to get her off the Kangaroo though just based on the price. It’s costing me an arm and a leg to feed her and my other dog (he’s on another food!) and I am curious if there are alternatives to that food that would be free of the potato.

Any thoughts on Natural Balance Legume & Wagyu beef? I only had one outing with Natural Balance and the potatoes in the blend I got were a disaster. That was around the time I was discovering her response to potatoes. The Wagyu beef food is free of potatoes but it seems to have a lot of starch. I’m not sure if the overall guaranteed analysis is good for a senior dog or not. I’m not sure what levels I should keep an eye on for a dog her age? Is the protein supposed to be higher or lower as they age?

[DogFoodie]

Orijen Senior would be a good choice. It offers the higher level of quality protein that seniors need while lowering fat a bit and increasing fiber. While any “all life stages” food would be appropriate, this is just one option. It’s far from the limited ingredient food you were feeding though and occasionally, when you have a dog with one food sensitivity, it’s not unusual to end up with more.

Here are the ingredients: Boneless chicken*, chicken meal, chicken liver*, whole herring*, turkey meal, boneless turkey*, turkey liver*, whole eggs*, boneless walleye*, whole salmon, chicken heart*, chicken cartilage*, herring meal, salmon meal, pea fiber, chicken liver oil, red lentils, green peas, green lentils, sun-cured alfalfa, yams*, chickpeas, pumpkin*, butternut squash*, spinach greens*, carrots*, Red Delicious apples*, Bartlett pears*, cranberries*, blueberries*, kelp, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, Enterococcus faecium.

Protein – 38 %
Fat – 15 %
Fiber – 8 %

[Ryan K]

My dog has been on California Natural’s Kangaroo and Red Lentils. She has allergies and she is 13 years old and weighs 68 lbs. She has had allergies to Lamb and potato based foods. I want to get her on something different though since it seems like her allergies are back. I wonder if there is a food that is better for a senior dog that is free of potato and lamb?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the specific problems of the individual dog. Remember supplements and food are not medication, so at best, it’s hit or miss. They don’t have to be regulated by the FDA

I like to add fish oil and glucosamine to my old guy’s water soaked kibble because he shows signs of arthritis and has dry skin, potassium citrate, because he has a history of bladder stones.

To get specific advice and dose recommendations, I would consult a homeopathic vet.
Otherwise, it’s just a guessing game, or see a veterinarian that specializes in geriatric issues, there may be prescription medication that can keep your seniors comfortable.

PS: I have never given milk thistle to my pets, I took it myself once years ago, I forget why…but I think it made me sick…

[Bobby dog]

pitlove:
Wellness, by Nature, and Red Barn are the only real hearty stews for dogs I have come across. But, I don’t normally look for stews, don’t know why. I like 4H and Pure Balance stews, they just aren’t as hearty as the others I mentioned. I don’t recommend the 4H GF for dogs, they are really, really high in fat. My cats don’t like 4H either, only my senior kitty liked the GF whitefish & chic.

If you haven’t tried Pure Balance canned for your dog, give it a try. The stews are a decent budget friendly food, $1/can. I feed the tubs too, they are about 70 cents each. I don’t feed or recommend the PB 95% due to the high fat %. I feed mostly the stews and throw in the tubs here and there. Here are DFA reviews for all three:
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-tubs/
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-dog-food-canned/
/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-95-canned/

I have only tried the PB GF chicken pate’ and GF chic & turkey in gravy for cats. They didn’t like the chic and only my senior female liked the chic & turkey. It’s worth a try they are $1/tub. My Wal-Mart only carries one other salmon recipe; I try to stay away from larger fish species. I plan on trying the others whenever I get to another store.

I haven’t tried WEF yet. I am planning on it for both the dog and cat foods.

Another budget friendly canned dog food is Costco’s Nature’s Domain. You have to have a membership (or know someone who does). You have to buy it by the case, I think it’s a little over $20/case. C4C is the expert on all things Costco.
/dog-food-reviews/natures-domain-grain-free-canned/

I have a BJ’s membership and buy Berkley & Jenson chic dinner, 6 cans/$8.99.

[Bobby dog]

pitlove:
You’re welcome, I didn’t take your questions that way at all!

I just don’t like for anyone to feel that my choices are best for them. I like sharing my experiences with pet food, just don’t want someone to feel that’s the only direction to take. I believe the most important thing is thinking outside of the box rather than following trends, doing the best within your means, and keeping your pet’s healthy.

4Health is a good option IMO. I wish my cats liked it. I feed a few of their stews and the senior canned recipes to my dog.

[Bobby dog]

Pitlove:
Here’s my list of grocery store foods. There are other recipes in some lines that fall into my criteria; this list only includes food my cats will eat. All have ingredients I don’t like. None contain soy, wheat, or corn, some contain fish, but are not fish based recipes, and if starches are included most are either rice or potato. Most carbs are 12% and under DMB some are a little over; %’s are in parenthesis using info from the company’s site.

Fancy Feast – Turkey and Giblets Feast Classic GF, no fish (7), Tender Liver & Chicken Feast Classic GF, no fish (7), Tender Beef & Liver Feast GF, no fish (7)

Pro Plan line:
True Nature – Chic & Liver Entree Classic GF, no fish (2)
Savor – Beef & Carrots Entrée Classic GF (10), Chic & Spinach Entrée Classic GF (10), Turkey & Veg Entrée Classic GF (10)
Focus – Chic & Beef Entrée Classic GF (5), Kitten Chic & Liver Entrée Classic (2)

Friskies – Poultry Platter (11), Special Diet Classic Pate’ Turkey & Giblets Dinner no fish (9), Special Diet Classic Pate’ Beef & Chic no fish (8), Classic Pate’ Turkey & Giblets (14)

Beyond – Chic & Sweet Potato Pate’ GF (11) and Chicken & Brown Rice pate’ (10)

Sheba – Turkey Pate’ (7), Chic & Liver (7), all Sheba recipes are grain free and fish is only in the recipes with seafood in the title.

Iams – chicken (13), chicken & liver (13), beef (14) pates’

Purina One – Classic Turkey GF, no fish (7), Classic Chic GF (7), Classic Beef GF (7)

My seniors have not taken to a rotational diet, they are 17 and like what they like. I am always on the lookout for new foods to try. My current rotation includes a few Wellness CH recipes, Innova cat & kitten, CSCLS, Cali Nat’l, BB kitten pate’, Grandma Mae’s, Nutrisource, Triumph turkey, Weruva Marbella Paella or CITK Fowl Bowl & Chic Frisk a’ Zee, Tiki Cat sardine or shredded chicken recipes, and my senior female likes Pure Balance GF Chic & Turkey. A few times a month the seniors will also eat NV raw chic or beef medallions, Primal FD Turkey, and Stella & Chewy FD Chicken Dinner, but they all still demand their kitty crack.

I contacted Purina and asked what types of meat they source and if they use any 4D or 3D meats in any products. Here’s their reply:

“Thank you for contacting Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.

We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry. Our Company is extremely committed to food safety and quality control. Keep in mind that our products are formulated by professional pet nutritionists and veterinarians and are produced under strict quality standards. To learn how we ensure this quality, please visit: https://help.purina.com/answers/how-does-purina-ensure-the-quality-of-its-products.

Purina only uses high quality meats. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company purchases its meat from suppliers who process meat for human consumption under the supervision of a U.S.D.A. inspector. All meat used in our pet foods comes from facilities certified by the U.S.D.A. where the animals are inspected by a U.S.D.A. inspector. These suppliers are carefully selected by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, which provides detailed ingredient specifications to those suppliers to help ensure the integrity of the meat it purchases. We do not utilize dead, downed, disabled & diseased meats in our products.

We hope that this information is helpful and that you will contact us again should you have additional questions.

Again, thank you for contacting Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.”

Regardless of their reply I would never risk their health by only offering foods they won’t eat, however this reply was a bit of a relief for me.

weezerweeks:
I checked my cat food list. The only brands that I have fed that come in larger cans are Friskies, 4Health (Tractor Supply Co. & Del’s Feed house brand), Wellness, EVO, and Innova. FYI, Fromm’s canned dog foods contain taurine. I have not fed it to my cats, but I used to feed NV canned dog foods to my cats before they reformulated it and took taurine out. At least I think it was NV, it was before I kept a cat food list. 😉

[crazy4cats]

Hi Weezerweeks!
I’m so glad all the kitties made it. That is quite an accomplishment. Are they free to come and go or are they enclosed? I’ve seen Wellness in large cans, but it is quite a bit more expensive. And, actually 4Health may also. It is a budget food, but only sold at Tractor Supply.

Hi pitlove-
Thanks for checking out the cat thread! We needed some new input! I also use Friskies in my rotation due to having 4 kitty mouths, two large dogs and some humans thrown in there too. I like BDog, have a senior kitty that has a thyroid issue and has to eat or would have a serious health condition. She loves Friskies, Fancy Feast and Sheba. I also feed Nutro Max, Wellness and Halo canned foods as well at the current time. You never know when they decide they don’t like something, however. I try to use coupons whenever possible.

[Bobby dog]

Labs:
4 Health is a decent food for cats, however mine don’t care for the brand. My one senior female will eat the GF Whitefish and Chicken dinner occasionally, but I really don’t like feeding a fish based food wet or dry too often. If I do, I prefer smaller species because they are likely to contain less contaminates. Wellness and Tiki cat have recipes that use either sardines or menhaden that I prefer.

pitlove:
This is a long thread and you would have to have the time to read through our trials and tribulations of transitioning our cats to a more species appropriate diet. The regular posters on this thread have written about spending several years trying to transition to other foods. We mostly have dry food addicts; not a healthy form of food for kitties. My cats grew up eating grocery store foods and like what they like. They are 7, 10, 12, and two are 17 years old. It is very dangerous, even life threatening, for cats to go on hunger strikes. I for one am not willing to risk my cats life if it comes down to a hunger strike. So rather than dwelling on the negatives of Purina I keep my cats eating consistently for good health and keep searching for other foods to try. As far as Purina products go I have a list of a few recipes from different lines I feed that IMO have the least offensive ingredients for my cats. Some have little or no fish, none have glutens, most have no added colors, some no grains, all are under 11% carbs for UT health, and probably other things I have forgotten about. Since wet foods make up a majority of their diet any food I feed must be 12% DMB carbs or under for their UT health.

A quote from Dr. Pierson, DVM of catinfo.org:
“…I would much rather see a cat eat any canned food versus any dry food – regardless of quality level of the canned or dry food. This includes Friskies, 9-Lives, Fancy Feast, etc., canned options.”

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

My cats have transitioned to about 3/4 of their diets being canned foods. Wet foods are the healthiest for cats. My cats have passed all wellness visits (blood work included) over the last several years and the couple that were chubby have lost the extra weight. Paying attention to the recipes regardless of the quality of the brand has made a significant difference in their health.

I feed them a variety of commercial raw, canned, and dry foods. I only have one cat that is not finicky so my dog gets any leftovers from a new food that does not go over well with them. If you would like my list of what I call my cats’ “grocery store foods” just post and I will be happy to share. I also have a list of premium foods wet/dry/commercial raw if you are interested. And, welcome to the Cat Rec thread. The cat lovers on DFA post here about any cat topic!

Here’s my favorite cat sites:

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

Home

http://www.naturalcatcareblog.com/
http://www.felinecrf.org/
The last site is for a specific feline health issue; I have found the site helpful in regards to foods to try.

[Anonymous]

I never heard that, about the potassium supplements. The recommended amount, 1 or two tabs a day didn’t lower the ph in his urine enough, so the vet gave me the green light to increase the dose. I have never noted any side effects.
My dog was on the prescription food too, but he didn’t like it, he likes Wysong senior (soaked in water overnight) with a little cooked chicken or lean meat.

homemade diet: http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Erin G]

Hi All – I know a lot of you are subject matter experts when it comes to dog food as I have relied on your comments and advice over the past 5 years being a mommy to my senior rat terrier. Dogs change lives and my sweet girl has been the best blessing ever and has led me down an endless path of trying to provide her with the best life possible…including supplements, herbs and especially nutrition. This started first as a need…she is a picky eater and also has Cushings…but has now developed into a real interest of mine. As I have yet to find the perfect food that my girl will actually eat (she will only eat home cooking right now) I keep fighting the urge to throw myself full in and start a formal education on canine nutrition with the goal of developing a new dog food. I should add here that I know there are suitable foods out there for her (she loves most pre-mixes except they all contain items to which she is allergic – potatoes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes) but all that she can tolerate are inedible to her or leave her pooping 5 times a day!

I thought this would be a great place to start to hear some feedback from y’all on what would be a dream dog food if you could invent one. Or maybe you can tell me about a brand I haven’t discovered that is sweet and white potato free, preferably dehydrated or freeze-dried so I can control her protein (she has a sensitive stomach) and doesn’t leave a dog pooping 5 times a day (which was the issue with Honest Kitchen and also she didn’t like it…I thought it smelled great!)

[Tal R]

Hi!

I would love to hear opinions about Acana Ranchlands (an “Acana Regionals” sub-type).

/dog-food-reviews/acana-dog-food-grain-free

The review is for Acana Grasslands but they got overall 5 star review for the brand and for the “Acana Regionals”, and “Enthusiastically recommended”…

My dog is a large (25 kg.) female elderly (14.5 y/o) mixed breed (probably mostly German Shepard) – more details here: /forums/topic/the-difference-between-senior-and-regular-dog-food/

I’m not sure if there’s potatoes in the ingredients though… in their website they mention “Burbank potatoes” as one of the ingredients but it doesn’t appear in the ingredients list (see below)… I am inquiring their customer support about that…

http://www.acana.com/products/regionals/ranchlands

OVERVIEW
————
FRESH, LOCAL FRUITS & VEGETABLES
ACANA Ranchlands is loaded with a full 40% of fruits & vegetables including Red Delicious apples and Bartlett pears from the sun-drenched Okanagan valley, and butternut squash, Burbank potatoes and spinach greens from the black soils of local prairie farms – all bursting with goodness to support peak health and immunity.

INGREDIENTS
—————-
Deboned beef, beef meal, green peas, deboned lamb, lamb meal, whitefish meal*, herring oil, field beans, red lentils, salmon meal, deboned bison, beef liver, lamb liver, sun-cured alfalfa, pea fibre, whole apples, whole pears, yams, whole pumpkin, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, spinach greens, cranberries, blueberries, kelp, chicory root, juniper berries, angelica root, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, lavender, rosemary.

Regards,
T.R.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Tal R.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Tal R.

[Anonymous]

How about adding some fish oil once a day? My 14 almost 15 yr old peke has shown improvement on Wysong Senior, he even lost a couple of pounds (gradually over a few months) He gets a little chicken or meat mixed in too, I feed him 4 small meals a day and soak his kibble, I also add water to his meals (hx of bladder stones)

PS: Nutrisca salmon and chickpea is potato and grain free, my other dogs like this and I was going to put my old guy on it, but he is doing so well on the Wysong, I think I’ll keep him on it.
I don’t analyze the ingredients and information on the packages, because I figure just like with people food, they lie, use different names for similar ingredients. I do pay attention to the reputation of the company and reviews and what veterinarians have to say, and of course how well my dogs do on the food.

[InkedMarie]

I am not in favor of senior foods. I think one difference is senior foods have lower fat. If someone has a senior dog who needs to lose weight, there are better foods to feed.

Senior dogs need a higher protein and most senior foods are too low in protein.

Grains can be inflammatory so for your dog, I’d recommend a grain free food, one without potatoes. Look at the Dog food ingredients forum here, on top, highlighted in yellow, my list of grain & white potato free foods. I need to update it so use it as a starting point.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by InkedMarie.

[Tal R]

Hi,

Basically, I would like to know the main differences between senior and regular dog foods and should an elderly dog that already gets joint support food supplements and doesn’t have a weight problem be given special or regular dog food?

In specific, my dog is a large (25 kg.) female elderly (14.5 y/o) mixed breed (probably mostly German Shepard).

She is in relatively good health, especially since i started giving her food supplements / drugs over the last 2 years to improve her joint problems (everything was done consulting the veterinarian of course). Her hind legs still show weakness but the condition has improved to a point that she even sometimes jumps now days.

Over time the list of supplements/drugs evolved to the following:

1/2 pill of Previcox (Firocoxib) every 2 days (56.75 mg per day on avg.).
1 pill of 20 mg. Omeprazole a day.
1 tablet of Glycoflex 3 (1000 mg Glucosamine, 1000 mg MSM) a day.
2 tablets of Power Supplements SAMe (400mg) a day.

I would appreciate any advice or tips.

If any additional information is required, let me know…

Thanks!
T.R.

[jakes mom]

LM, the above posters have it right. This has gone on too long and we’ve just all had enough. I would be saying the same but they’ve beaten me to it. No need to repeat it. As far as educating Akari? She knows the dog needs a dental, she’s in vet tech school. What she needs to be educated on is priorities. Doesn’t have the funds to pay for a dental but just bought a cat condo and raised food bowls for the other dogs? Boasts about the stockpiles of food and litter she’s amassed. How about backing off on that stuff and paying the vet?
I’m a “single mom” to 5 cats and a dog, all seniors. Pet care is the biggest part of my budget.

[Beth F]

I’ve used the natural dog food company ever since they started out 10 years ago with my jack Russell.. he is now 17! and going strong.
No signs of muscle loss, weight gain or joint problems and I honestly believe it is because of the food. I use the turkey/senior one and he loves it.
I usually order on the phone and they are so friendly, there are very eager to give any advice you need and even sent me samples of all the different flavors so I could see which one he likes best before buying.
It is one of the more pricey ones however you don’t have to feed as much as others so it balances it out pretty much. And knowing that all the ingredients are uk based human-grade food is nice, as I know i’m giving him the best 🙂

[Beth F]

I use their senior turkey/light for my 17 yr old miniature jack russell and its done him the world of good. Just browsing their website and came across their treats, wondering if anyone has had these before? They seem to be quite simple looking – I need something that has a lot of taste as he is quite picky with treats. Thanks in advance 🙂

[misjea]

Have been researching dog foods because I am about to make a change. My goldendoodle is 8 years old and has been on Royal Canin chicken based dry food for entire life (Vet recommended). He has always had itchy skin so considering possible allergy. Had settled on Wellness Core Ocean Formula, but realize he is actually a senior now. Any recommendations?

[Jennifer H]

When my yellow lab hit around 13-14 she started doing that. Just a little bit, and it happened whenever she would go from laying down to standing. I assumed it was just from old age, as she had been house trained her whole life. I would suspect its from her age before I even began to suspect it had anything to do with the food – especially after 6 months.

At 13 she is getting to be quite an old dog, and senior dogs come with a lot more medical conditions and ‘quirks’, so to speak, lol. My girl suffered from one bout of vestibular, and as she hit the 14 mark started suffering from more pronounced arthritis and even showed signs of dementia, along with the fecal incontinence. I started taking her out more often and encouraging her to potty, and it seemed to help with the incontinence.

I don’t know if it’s something any medication can fix, I think its just something that comes along with old age imo. I would still take her to the vet ASAP just to double check, but to me it honestly sounds like she’s just getting old. Think about how many elderly people have to wear diapers and it doesn’t sound so strange that our pets lose continence as they age.

[Ryan K]

I have a senior Old English Sheepdog. She is 13. She has been on California Naturals Kangaroo and Red Lentils for about 6 months now. It has really done a great job of keeping her dermatitis and constant licking at bay…However, in the last couple months we have noticed that she leaves poop balls (I have no other way to describe them! Sorry!) on her bed or on the floor where she sleeps. It’s almost constant. I have never seen the poop actually come out of her body but they are suddenly almost always there. Yesterday, she literally pooped all over the foyer for the first time since she was a puppy. This is a completely house trained dog who knows that outside is where she should be going. Is this something to do with the food or could this be something more serious? Is this just an old age problem? I have had dogs my whole life but none of them had a pooping issue that sprang up late in their life. Should I change her food???

[crazy4cats]

Hey-
Welcome to the club! Pretty much everyone on here is obsessed! I don’t really feel qualified to comment much on protein levels for a dog with a health condition. There are others on this site with some actual education in the field that may be more helpful. Generally speaking, however, a healthy senior dog is recommended to be fed a higher more quality protein level because they start to lose the ability to process it as well. Just like us humans. But as far as feeding the same brands of dry and wet together, it is not necessary. I feed mine all different brands of canned. Mostly Kirkland, 4Health, and Pure Balance Stews. I buy Wellness if I have a coupon! I mostly feed Victor kibble and they don’t make canned food. Welcome to DFA!

[Cheryl H]

Hi Crazy4cats. I just read some of the posts you referred me to regarding food rotations and I now have another question. During Winston’s recent illness my vet stated that since he is 7-1/2 years old, he should eat a diet lower in protein. She also recommended “senior” dog foods, specifically Science diet.9 Before he got sick I had already purchased a bag of Fromms 4 Star Grain Free Lamb and Lentils and fed him a small amount to start a transition process away from the Blue Buffalo. Although I’ve read there is controversy over her assertion regarding lowering protein levels for older dogs, I decided to try Wellness Simple rather than Fromm’s because of the lower protein content and because he is still under her care. I am going to mix Wellness Simple canned with Wellness Simple dry. I am considering a Fromm’s rotation, but the Fromm’s canned that I hoped to try is hard to find locally and I’d like to try a couple of test cans before committing to the rotation. Should the same brand and formula of the dog food be used when feeding a canned/dry mix?

Did I mention I’m obsessed?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Nancy D-

/frequently-asked-questions/aafco-nutrient-profiles/

The above is a link to information on AAFCO standards. To date there are only two categories: 1.) Adult Maintenance and 2.) Growth and Reproduction. The growth and reproduction includes puppy and all life stages dog food. There is no official large breed category. Therefore, when a company labels a bag as such, it is their interpretation of what a large breed dog food should be. Since I have large breed dogs, I have looked at large breed dog food and have found that most companies decrease the protein as well as fat in their LB recipes.

So, you just have to read the ingredients and the guaranteed analysis on the bag to see if it fits your needs. I have actually fed my dogs who are three years old food labeled as senior food because I liked the fact that it was lower in fat than their all life stages recipe.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Check the reviews for Solid Gold…..I believe they changed their formula recently.

I’m sticking with Nutrisca (as a base) for now, it works for my dogs.
If you look hard enough you will find something you don’t like about all the brands of dog food.
The only thing left would be a homemade diet. As it is, I do 1/2 kibble and1/2 homemade.
My dog with the history of bladder stones continues to do well on Wysong (senior), but when I run out, he’s going on Nutrisca (salmon) too.
Easier and cost effective for me to go with one brand.

[theBCnut]

Research has shown that protein does not cause kidney problems in dogs, but there was old faulty research that said protein was a problem. The old research was done on rats or mice, not dogs, but vets don’t seem to be able to grasp the new research, which is still many years old.

In reality, older dogs lose some of the ability to get protein out of their food but their need for protein is not reduced AT ALL. Because of this, senior dogs may actually need as much as 50% more quality protein just to get the same amount of protein from their diet. BUT quality is the key phrase, real meat is healthier than more kibble

[InkedMarie]

The I mean no offense to your vet but he is wrong. Do some googling; senior dogs need more protein, not less! The food he recommended is one he sells, right?

[Cheryl H]

Nothing more specific than “senior” dog foods contain lower amounts of protein and are better for older dogs.

[Anonymous]

What kind of fistulas? Are they related to allergies? Blocked anal glands?
My dog with allergies does well on Nutrisca (fish), assuming your dog can have fish, I know it contains no potato or grains. Wysong has a vegetarian blend.
I may start getting my Nutrisca from chewy.com because the prices are better.

I like Wysong and consider it to be a quality food and still feed it to my senior dog. However I noticed my dogs seemed to be drinking more water, so I worried that maybe it’s high in sodium? If that’s a concern I think someone at their company could answer your questions.

PS: Consider consulting a homeopathic vet, they may have some treatment ideas different from the traditional vets http://www.vitalanimal.com Some of them do phone consults, if there isn’t one located near you.

[Nancy B]

Jennifer:

My two senior rescue dogs loved their THK and I stuck with it for 2 years, struggling with the price. Recently i switched to another food when our vet found no reason looking at lab results why one dog had been losing weight and excessively urinating. I switched to Champion Foods’ 5-star Orijen and all symptoms disappeared and the cost is 1/3 that of THK. Champion makes Acana and Orijen, but someone mentioned a problem with puppy Acana, so I don’t know.

[Anonymous]

First, make sure there isn’t a medical reason. Decrease in appetite, refusal to eat, just as changes in behavior, can be red flags that something may be wrong. Time to see the veterinarian (imo).

Otherwise, I would consider a higher quality food, I like Nutrisca (for my allergy girl), Wysong for my senior. I have also used Wellness Simple. My neighbor likes Fromm for her picky eater. Maybe add a little water or homemade plain chicken broth to her food. Mix in a spoonful of canned or a bite of chicken…
Newman Organics is a reasonably priced quality food, I think.
Or consider homemade with kibble as a base. http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Anonymous]

If you wet her serving of kibble with water and put it in the fridg overnight, and a few hours prior to her afternoon meal, it softens up nicely. I do this for my senior dog for 2 reasons, he doesn’t have much left for teeth and it gives him some more moisture in his food, as he rarely goes to the water dish. If you have homemade plain chicken or bone broth you can use this instead of H20.

I assume where she was a rescue she was seen by the vet prior to adoption, did they tell you the condition of her teeth? Anyone that has owned dogs for a while may be able to take a quick look and a sniff and tell you if they think she has a problem…..but it’s best to have a vet examine. If anything in her mouth hurts, she is likely to bite.

[jpjhooper]

After reading a heated discussion on the merits of the Merrick brand (one we currently use and do not have a problem with) as with any pet parent you wonder if what you are feeding your dog is enough. Here is the run down.

Over a year ago we were feeding our 7 year old Pom/Australian Shephard mix (not even sure how that happens) Blue Buffalo when that company had some issues so we switched to Grandma Lucys freeze dried grain free chicken. Did well on that but pooped like a German Shepard. Recently started feeding Merrick grain free Texas beef with no ill effects. Pooped less and not as loose but stinks to high heaven.

We shop at a local natural pet food store and there are so many to choose from its overwhelming. Do you stick with what you know? How do you decide what is best for your pet? I notice a lot of people switch around between 2 or 3 different foods.

After getting teeth cleaned we had him on Merrick canned chicken senior food until his gums healed up and still not a lot of waste which I hope means he is actually absorbing more of the good stuff.

Long winded I know. Thoughts?

[Bobby dog]

Mike A:
I would ask your Vet what protein, fat, and fiber %’s to look for in a new food. Each dog with pancreatitis will have a different threshold for what they can tolerate. When you find a brand you like I suggest calling the manufacturer and asking what the maximum percentages of each are in the food; most times they only list minimums.

I feed lower fat kibbles to my dog to help maintain his ideal body condition. I am not sure if these foods would be appropriate for your dog, but here’s a few I feed Annamaet Lean, Nature’s Variety Healthy Weight, Wellness Core Weight Management, and Precise Holistic Complete Senior. For low fat canned foods I feed Wellness Core Reduced Fat, Innova Large Breed Sr., and Weruva’s Marbella Paella, Paw Lickin’ Chicken, and Bed and Breakfast recipes. I have Fromm’s Four Star Shredded Chic or Beef and Petsmart’s Simply Nourish bisque or stew foods on my list to try.

Here’s a few articles about pancreatitis:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2014/august/new-recommendations-feeding-dogs-pancreatitis-31941#
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2214
Good luck!

[pugmomsandy]

An article from b-naturals:

https://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/is-it-necessary-to-reduce-protein-in-the-diet/

An article from mercola pets:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/05/surprising-findings-from-tufts-study-of-37-senior-dog-foods.aspx

And this comment has some research links it it:

/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-grain-free-dog-food/#comment-1829102659

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by pugmomsandy.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Caro-
There is no AAFCO guidelines or requirements for “senior” food. Therefore, it is up to each brand to determine what they are going to call their senior food if they carry one. Some brands’ senior foods are a little lower in protein and fat. Making them a little higher in carbs. Some brands maintain the protein level while dropping the fat and calories. Most of them have added glucosamine and/or chondroitin.
So, you see, it would probably be best to pick a four or five star kibble and add some high quality canned or fresh protein to it to make it more digestible for your dog.
I have fed the Nutrisource Senior food to my dogs. They are only three years old, but I liked the ingredients and analysis of the food. My dogs seem to be better with a little lower fat kibble as I add canned to many meals and it tends to be a little higher in fat.
Another thing to keep an eye on is fiber. Some senior and healthy weight dog food tends to have high fiber which could be good or bad depending on your pup.
Hope this helps. Good luck!

[theBCnut]

Senior dogs have decreased ability to use the proteins in their food, so they may need as much as 50% more high quality protein just to get the same amount out of their food. This may mean that senior dogs should not be fed kibble at all, but it definitely does not mean that they should be placed on a decreased protein diet. That can lead to all kinds of problems.

[Dori]

It is a marketing ploy to appeal to the guardians of senior dogs. Senior dogs do not need a senior food. In fact, more senior dog foods on the market are totally inappropriate for senior dogs. Senior dogs need more protein, not less. It is out of date thinking to advertise lower proteins to senior dogs. I have a very senior dog and the foods I feed her are between 38 – 68 % protein. 38% is on the very low end of what I would feed her or her two sisters.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Dori.

[InkedMarie]

Caro,
Alot of us, myself included, don’t see the benefit of senior food. Senior dogs need a higher protein food and most of them have too low protein.

[Caro E]

I wish you had a Senior Dog Food category, just as you have one for Puppies.
Is it going to happen?

[crazy4cats]

It was one of my cats that had the crystals that caused a blockage and I am still feeding him a small amount of the RC urinary prescription dry food, along with mostly canned. I am being very cautious about letting his bladder completely heal after our ordeal. I will probably continue to feed mostly canned. And yes, it is soooo expensive. Believe it or not, canned cat food is even more expensive than dog. And I have four of them! Yikes! But, his emergency vet bill was over $2000 and we are still paying on it. I could have bought a lot of canned food for that. Not to mention some new furniture! LOL!

Again, a blockage is much less likely in a dog, especially in a female.

I’ve heard a lot of people recommend Wellness Core reduced fat with great results. I have fed my dogs Nutrisource Senior dog food as it is a little lower in fat and calories than than the norm. BTW, my dogs are only three years old, but I like the guaranteed analysis on a lot of senior foods. Right now I’m feeding California Natural grain free pork. It has a lot less ingredients and lower in fat than most foods. It is a little expensive though. I only feed it if it is on a good sale! I have lab mix brothers and one of them tends to get chubby. The are 80 and 85 pounds.

It sounds like your dogs are in good hands. Good luck!

[JANIS F]

I’ve started my 5 english setters on Victor about 1 month ago. Gradually weened them from Evangers (which they did marvelous on) The two senior dogs (15 1/2 and 11 1/2) on senior food, are doing well, however, the others are different. I’m still doing 1/2 and 1/2 of both foods for the others. The 8 and 5 year old are fine, but the 3 year old that is actively showing and in great coat, has to be enticed to eat food, (I put a little bit of can food on top) and now has diarrhea often. I have them on the 5 star Hi-Pro. Any advise? Should I go back to Evanger’s for her? She’s in the top ranking of English Setters (#1 Owner Handler and #12 in breed standing at only 3) I don’t want her condition to change!! She’s never turned her nose up at food before, she’s not in season or anywhere near going into season. HELP!!

[pugmomsandy]

If a food is rated for “all life stages”, you can feed this to puppies and adults and seniors. An all life stage foods includes foods that meet “growth” and “maintenance” requirements. You can also feed a “puppy” food to puppies and adults and seniors. Is that confusing? Puppy foods tend to have controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus, a little more fat, protein and DHA. There’s nothing in a puppy food that an adult can’t have. Since your dog is going to be about 35 lbs full grown, I wouldn’t consider him a large breed so you don’t have to worry about choosing an appropriate large breed puppy food. I would feed him a puppy food or all life stage food though till at least 12 months and then try out other foods. But you don’t have to move on to just “maintenance” food. Not sure if this helped.

[Pam P]

I know this isn’t food related, but it seems your dog has some serious issues and it might not be all due to food. Pet healthcare is a lot like traditional healthcare or sickness care (as I call it)….it’s big business. Dogs are way over vaccinated, and traditional vaccines have mercury, formaldehyde and other toxic substances that can affect a dog’s health over time. Metal toxicity is a serious issue as they aren’t eliminated from the body. They are stored in the organs and joints. The core vaccines are usually good for life. A titer test can determine the antibody levels. A holistic vet uses vaccines that have no mercury or heavy metals. My holistic vet detoxifies the dog immediately after giving a vaccination. If a dog does need the 3 core vaccines, he does them in 2-3 week intervals so the dog isn’t overloaded all at once. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to do the kefir diet for 30 days or more to detoxify the dog and get all the junk out of their system, and then gradually get them back on a very clean, healthy food. I still give our Mastiff all the oils I mentioned previously; just no kibble or meat. I also give her a tsp of organic turmeric at each feeding. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and there is obviously some serious inflammation going on with your dog. I mix it with the kefir and she downs it. I start with a small amount and build to a tsp each meal. Just like with humans, a detox diet can make them feel worse before they get better; as all the toxins are being released and coming out of the body, the dog can appear worse for a while. I detoxified the Mastiff gradually starting with Nature’s Logic, then raw, then kefir. She’s a senior dog so didn’t want to overload her system. The kidneys and liver are the detoxifying organs so didn’t want to take a chance to overload them. Just some more suggestions.