[InkedMarie]

I can’t answer about the Editors Choice but senior dogs don’t need a senior specific food. Most of them are too low in protein. Senior dogs need higher protein, not low.

[MJ H]

What is your Editor’s choice for senior large breed dogs?

[JANIS F]

I’VE BEEN USING EVANGER’S…MADE IN ILLINOIS. I VARY THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES SO THE DOGS DON’T GET BORED WITH IT AND IT’S AN ALL STAGE DOG FOOD, FROM PUPPY TO SENIOR, WHICH SURE HELPS WHEN YOU HAVE 5 DOGS RANGING FROM PUP UP TO 15 YEARS! THEY ALSO MAKE A GRAIN FREE. ANYONE ELSE USE THIS FOOD?

[Susan]

Hi Karra, my boy eats the Hills I/D Low Fat GI Restore wet BUT I can not feed the Hills I/d Low Fat GI Restore kibble it has Wheat, Barley & Oats, which gives him real itchy skin, I have him on the Vet diet “Eukanuba Intestinal” the fat is only 10% the Eukanuba has corn but it doesn’t seem to affected his skin, the I/D Low fat GI Restore kibble has 7.4% fat you could probably go to 10% fat & under in a kibble, try & find a kibble that is either grainfree & low in fat or a kibble without the Wheat Barley & Oats, maybe rice, I emailed Hills & asked them why is the I/D Low Fat GI Restore wet tin food have different ingredients to the I/d Low Fat GI Restore kibble a man rung me back & said they need to bind the kibble, I said but 3 grains why not just use rice instead of grains that make dogs itch…then he said try the Z/D Ultra kibble but the fat is 13.3% my boy cant have higher then 10% fat…someone might know of low fat kibbles, 10% & under, I know that a lot of senior kibbles are normally around 10% in fat but that’s min 10% fat so you have to email the company & ask what the max % of fat they are, where the vet diets are the max% in fat, Oh have you joined the Dogpancreatitis yahoo group, a few ladies use the “Canine Caviar Special Needs” dog food here’s their site the fat is 9% just slowley introduce the new kibble with the old, I do it over 1-2 weeks, but as soon as u stop the Hills I/d Restore kibble you watch the difference NO MORE SCRATCHING….. http://www.thecaninecaviar.com/product/special-needs/

[Dori]

Hi Deanna. Life stories are always welcome. It lets us all know background stories and whether one is old or new to the world of companion animals.

If your vet is a traditional vet than he/she will give you all the cons of feeding raw. Bacteria, yada yada yada. None of that, in my experience is true. All dogs have a bit of salmonella in their guts. It is dogs that have been fed kibble and/or inferior foods that will or could have an issue with salmonella in foods. A healthy dog (gastrointestinal health I’m speaking of) have no issues with a commercial food that may have a little bacteria in it. I’ve actually never known or heard of a commercial raw fed dog that has fallen ill from bacteria of any sort from a commercial raw diet. The issue with salmonella contaminated raw foods is more of an issue with the animals owners (humans) and not the owners. We are the ones that will get sick BUT only if we are slovenly. I’m sure cooking for yourself and your family now or in the past you have handled raw meats and poultry. When done you are always cautioned to clean all surfaces, clean all utensils and scrub your hands and all surfaces that the raw foods have touched. It’s the same thing. Raw meat and poultry is raw meat and poultry regardless of whether your feeding it to yourself and loved ones of the human variety or your animals. A lot of the traditional veterinary community seem to think that commercial raw feeders are indiscriminate as to what we feed our animals. I’m not sure where some of these vets are getting their education from or lack thereof. They don’t really keep up with the times and would prefer to just scare you off.

As to how much I feed my dogs, specifically Hannah, as she weighs 7 lbs. like your yorki does, it depends on what I’m feeding. If I’m feeding Primal Pronto (it’s a complete and balanced diet from Primal made in little “kibble like” bits frozen) then I scoop out 1/4 cup in the a.m. or p.m. just as I would have done with a kibble. If it’s in a pattie form, then I read the packaging for her weight and feed her accordingly. Typically it’s 1/4 of the pattie per meal. For varying meals even though all three of my girls weigh a little bit differently I pretty much feed them all the same amount. Lola, my 5 lb. girl is very very hyper so she burns everything off quickly. If she’s awake, she’s in motion. Katie my 6 lb. girl is tall for a Maltipoo and very petite in structure. She was the runt of the litter and due to be put down before I rescued her into our family. She has a lot of issues food wise, environmentally and muscoskeletal so I’m always making sure she keeps her weight on. Hannah, my true couch potato, and at her age that’s okay with me, she stays on the lean side. Because she is 15 1/2 years old and a touch of old age arthritis I keep her on the lean side. I’m not big on having a scale to weigh them on a regular basis. I feel my dogs. If they have a little bit of coating on their ribs that I don’t mess with the amount I feed them. If I feel one of them and can too readily feel their ribs where with my fingers I can actually feel an identation then I know that dog needs a bit more food. If I have to press down too much to feel ribs, then I feed a little less for that dog. Kind of like ourselves. We have heavier days and lighter days. Winter we’re indoors a bit too much in the summer we’re very active.

I got both Lola and Katie both when, I guess I was around 61 or so. I thought I’d go insane. Literally, I was shedding tears all the time. I then thought it was one of my bigger mistakes. It was tough going having to 9 week old puppies at the same time. I hadn’t had a puppy in so long I’d forgotten the colossal amount of work let alone having two. Well, now that all is said and done I have to say that Lola and Katie are the best of pals. They are not siblings in the true sense of the word but you’d never know it. They sleep by each other, they rough house, play, everything together. But honestly I didn’t think I’d make it through those first couple of years. Hannah was none to happy about any of it either. Now they all pal around together. When I call them to let them out in the back Hannah won’t go out until she waits for the other two to catch up. All three wait for each other by the back door before they’ll come back in. Very very cute. Of course, if one of them barks, they all start barking even though the other two haven’t got a clue why or what they’re barking about. Very funny. Some times irritating but mostly have given me so much love and quality to my life. At 66 I’d probably be able to handle a puppy again but certainly not two at a time. Though I think I would rescue a senior at this point in my life. At one point in your life you want babies and are all about babies and as you get older you see the need that seniors (whether they be humans or dogs) need.

One last point on commercial raw feeding. Once you do it you’ll wonder what took you so long and what you were so worried about. Also, feeding commercial raw foods is not at all what you think it’s going to look like. It’s not like you’re going to toss a whole animal at your dog for dinner. I couldn’t possibly handle that. Really it just looks for the most part like ground meats in shapes of hamburgers. Other than the “kibble like” bits that are meant for the squeamish kibble feeders trying to make a transition into raw and also because they defrost so darn quick.

[Laura L]

My lab mix just had a bout of pancreatitis. The vet said we caught it as it was starting and as a result she had a quick recovery, only requiring 1 night and day of IV and pain meds at the vet. She came home on the Purina EN diet which makes me cringe when I look at the ingredients. I have been researching foods for after this initial phase (we have acupuncture in a week that will also serve as a recheck) and found the Artemis fresh mix weight management formula with 6% fat and 20% protein. I have found that many of the foods that are low fat are also high protein so this seemed like a good combo. Does anyone have any ideas about this food or alternatives. My Cammie is almost 13 and is overweight at 80 pounds (lab mix). I also have another dog in the home so I would love to find something both of them can eat if possible (My other girl is very picky and is currently on Natures Variety Prairie but she rarely finishes her food and I would love to eliminate the risk of Cammie eating her food.

[Giles123]

Does anyone know of a good food for a senior dog with liver issues. We have our 14 year old Rottweiler mix and she already takes denamarin for her liver. She’s been on chicken and rice for a while since she gets some type of colitis intermittently. She literally has water coming out her back end at times. Currently she gets her chicken and rice and a bit of the brothers complete turkey and egg allergy food. Lately she has trouble with that food. Her vet recommended a senior food that is easily digestible. Thinks the other food is possibly too nutrient dense and hard for her to process. Anyone know a good dry food to put her on that hasn’t had recall problems?

Kelly james
Kellyjames@cox.net

[Bobby dog]

I have fed
EVO: GF Turkey & Chic, GF Red Meat (Bobby loves) dog kibbles, Turkey & Chic canned dog food, and for cat food 95% Chicken & Turkey canned, and Turkey & Chicken canned. Cats didn’t really like them too much.

Innova: cat & kitten canned (in permanent rotation), Nature’s Table GF Chic & Turkey (cats don’t really like it), and Nature’s Table GF Salmon cat kibbles, for canned dog foods Large Breed Puppy, Large Breed Adult, Adult Low Fat, and Large Breed Senior.

Cali Nat’l: Chic & Brown rice canned dog food, GF Chicken cat & kitten kibble

[InkedMarie]

I’ve had two dogs with arthritis and/or hip dysplasia. They came to me as seniors. I have no idea what the first ate at her first home but I know what she at the shelter and it wasnt high protein. The second didn’t have high protein food in her home either. Both had arthritis/HD when they got here and it sure wasnt caused by a high protein food.

[Nancy B]

Although pricey, I don’t think you can beat human-grade food like SoJo’s or The Honest Kitchen for senior dogs. I adopt seniors from all backgrounds, and on these foods they become strong, immune to disease, strong heart, lungs, kidneys, and generally thrive. Currently my two rescues are 12 and soon-to-be 13. The oldest is a recovered heart worm girl from the South that I adopted at 9.

[Valerie B]

Hi DogFoodAdvisor,

I’m a long-time user of the site, but have recently been experiencing issues with my 9 year old Boston Terrier, and am posting for the first time seeking specific advise.

Murphy developed a perianal tumor and subsequently had to have some big surgery on his little bum. After a couple rounds of chemo to shrink the tumor, 1/3 of his rectum was resected to ensure that the tumor would not grow back, and then we did a few more rounds of chemo. The surgery occurred August 1, 2014, and tests say that they were able to remove ALL of the cancer =) YAY! Now, several months later, Murph is still having some trouble controlling his bowels. He is able to keep most of it in, but if we wait too long to take him out, or, more frequently, when he is relaxed while sleeping, some poop will slip out (he usually wears a diaper, but wearing one too frequently causes the surgery site to become irritated). This was especially an issue with Blue Buffalo as his poop was too soft. I switched him to Nature’s Recipe Senior, and it really helped firm things up and make it easier – we were diaper free for over a month – but then his skin started getting REALLY itchy. Living in Wisconsin currently, I have a humidifier going and I’m using vitamin E and coconut oils on his coat, but I’m pretty sure it’s another food allergy (he developed some bumpy skin).

I’ve noticed that he seems to be most sensitive to gluten. Are there any foods that have rice (for the filler to firm up the poop) but no wheat? Or, do you have any other suggestions? I’m becoming really frustrated even though I know this isn’t his fault. Thank you for your consideration of my story!

Best,
Valerie and Murphy

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

DogFoodie,
I hate to jinx it so far, but her stools are good, I thought they would be like cow pies since the

HK is soft, bit so far so good. And some people who commented on the HK thread mentioned loose stools were a problem with HK, so I always was afraid to try it. But after her last vet visit the only choice I had was a vet brand hypoallergenic food( which i have been fighting not to have her on) I decided to give it one last try, I have been dealing with this since I have had her. She has been on the Mercola digestive enzymes as well as their probotics. I got a sample of the HK perfect Form and if a few small amts. are any indication, I think it works better for her then the Mercola.
And it may be wishful thinking ,but I think her energy is better on just a few meals of the HK. She has lost a bit of weight (which she needed) since taking her off the kibble.And she was on a good kibble Amicus senior

She has been eating cooked sweet potato w cooked organic ground turkey or organic pumpkin puree -i think she is so overjoyed getting a little variety.I am keeping my fingers crossed that the HK will be something she can.
OH I am a schnauzer turn coat for cutting their beards-but hey they must look clean!!

[Dori]

I agree completely with the Nut and Marie. I feed my three dogs, one of which was 15 years old last September high quality, high protein foods. All are grain free. I feed a rotational diet to all three and the proteins in the foods I feed vary. The lowest protein I feed is 38% and the highest is around 54%. I’ve been feeding this way for approx. 3 years now and all my dogs are doing really very well. As a matter of fact, since starting the high protein grain free foods my senior is more puppy like than she’d been in the previous years. She used to sleep a lot, had lost interest in most activities and had lost her spunk. As the Nut stated, seniors need more protein not less. It’s antiquated marketing that would have us believe that puppies, adults, seniors, active, less active, yada yada yada all need their own special diets. Puppies would probably do best on an all life stages food with the exception of large breed puppies which need less calcium with the correct ratio of phos. so as to slow (or not speed up) down their growth rate. I don’t have any large dogs but from all I’ve learned on this site I believe what I’m saying about large breed puppies is correct. I may not be wording it correctly. Anyway, seniors do better and need a higher protein food not less.

[theBCnut]

Since senior dog’s ability to get protein out of their diet decreases by as much as 50%, they need more, not less, high quality protein. Most senior dog foods assume your dog is in advanced stages of kidney disease and decrease the amount of protein. We don’t suggest senior food for healthy seniors. A good quality All Life Stages food is ok for kibble, but canned, raw or fresh is best.

[Sarah H]

I’m a new member here and learning the ins and outs of the site.

I am currently involved in the animal rescue world and am hearing conflicting reports regarding dog food. I’m in desperate search for an answer please.

I’m curious to know what dog food is best for senior dogs?

My senior dogs are a 13 year-old, female, pit mix, 45 lbs and a 12 year old, female, Siberian Husky, 50 lbs. Neither one of them have a debilitating disease or major health concerns.

A few years ago my vet suggested Purina Pro Plan, Savor, Adult 7+. I have been feeding it to them since the vet’s suggestion. They have lost some weight and seem more active. However, I recently heard terrible things about it and truly want THE BEST senior dog food for them immediately.

Any suggestions please?

Thank you!

Sarah

[DogFoodie]

Thank you, Charlotte, for adopting a senior who was obviously in need of a loving home. 🙂

I’ve had the very best luck, by far, with Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diets. I can’t use the NVI LID canned foods, because they contain flax, one of my dog’s triggers. My dog isn’t a fan of raw, which is OK with me for various reasons. Raw is a great way to go if it’s an option for you. Lots of folks have great success with raw for dogs with food intolerance / allergy. It’s OK if you choose another route.

If your pup is OK with peas and tapioca, you’re good to go with the NVI LID There are several proteins to choose from…, our best are duck and turkey. I’m not a fan of the lamb only because the protein is lower and the pea protein higher subsequent to a recent formulation. That said, if lamb was the only option for my dog, I’d use it. NVI also makes a LID with raw boost in the lamb formula only.

I continue to look for other foods to rotate with the NVI LID. I just had another strikeout, so we’re back on the NVI until things stabilize, then we’ll try something else again.

[Akari_32]

Oh boy, this’ll be fun lol

Haley and Dweezle: Natural Balance Ultra Small Breed. Only got it because it was $1 a pound after coupons– I’m not very happy with, so after the two bags I have are gone, I’ll not buy it again. However, they like it. But they like anything, regardless of how eatable it is lol They also each get a salmon oil pill in their food. Next will be Wellness Toy Breed Complete Health Senior and Wellness Toy Breed Complete Health Adult, mixed 2:1. These dogs are 60 and 130 lbs, btw LOL after that will probably be Ideal Balance puppy, then Wellness Core Puppy and Small Breed mixed, then who knows. I have a good sized stash to chose from. I try to keep it interesting.

Bentley: SSLL mix, with coconut oil (won’t eat the mix plain, the little brat!) and a nice de-boned raw turkey leg. He gets a random pick of turkey or chicken (bought whole and cut up and separated into white meat, dark meat, and bone-in meat), ground pork, or beef or chicken hearts every day.

Ginger: half Wellness Small Breed Simple Salmon and Potato, and half Wellness Toy Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight. She’ll be moving to Purina Veterinary Diet Joint Mobility when I have the money in my account to order it, her Wellness Simple was running out, so I’ll put it off a bit longer, so she’s not switching arounf too much. Her stomach just can’t handle it. Nothing Purina is my first choice except for a very select few of the canned cat foods due to cost, but I’m at my wits end at what I can do to help her poor old joints, and not break the bank (not that there’s much of a bank to break at this point…). I can get it less than what the same size bag of Wellness is, so it’s worth a shot. Her treats today was a half of an Amoxicillin pill in the morning and tonight. She eats it like it’s the most delicious thing she’s ever tasted, so I just let her think that LOL

Usually they all get some form of Zukes or Pet Botanics treats, but no one got any of those today, except the cat, who did high-fives, shakes, and up’s for his G-Zees treats :p He also got 3oz Wild Kitty raw cat food mix (made with chicken) for breakfast, and a 5.5 oz can of Friskies Ocean Whitefish as a very special treat. I don’t do fish or any other Friskies other than two flavors of Special Diet for him very often, but I’ll grab something fish based every now and then for something that isn’t turkey, chicken or beef. Gotta have something different when your crazy mommy limits you to very specific flavors from very specific brands lol I’ve also been giving Bentley a few pieces of Natures Variety Instinct Raw as a treat a few times a day. He loves to eat the little pieces still frozen. I think he likes the texture, and the fact that it’s red meat, something I can’t afford for his rotation very often. Innova Prime Red Meat used to be his favorite kibble before we realized he had carb allergies and before Innova got bought out.

Just a side note on the Wellness Toy Breed Complete Health forumlas: I’m extremely happy with all of them. Typically, even in the rest of the Wellness line, senior and diet foods are just complete crap, but these are comparable to other puppy and adult grain inclusive foods. They have good protein (close to 30%), and low fat (which is what my three old farts need), and are still high calorie (high 400’s!). Would definitely recommend either of these to anyone with a dog that needs a low fat diet, or to any owner who likes to feed lower fat diet food, small or large breed. It’s pretty decently priced, too, especially if you have coupons 😉

[Akari_32]

She’s got a few smaller spots like this on her face, as well. Not all crazy shaped, they’re still round, but I can tell they are the makings of something just like if they ever get that big.

I have not canceled the vet appointment. The thing still bleeds when it’s bothered. If it needs some antibiotic cream or something to help it heal over (provided it doesn’t need to be removed) or something else needs to be done to it to keep it from getting nasty (or nastier, anyways), I want to do it. Tuesday will also have been a week since she’s been on her ear drops, and I’m supposed to call and tell him how she’s doing on them, so he can adjust the dose, so we might as well just do it all in person. I’d also like him to peek in her mouth and see if the antibiotics are clearing her mouth up. The poor things gums were bright red, and she’s been snipping at me when I get too close to her mouth during ear and cheek rubs. I wish I could get her to chew bones or something. I can’t stand the thought of putting her under anesthesia at her age, and she needs a dental some sort of terrible. She just doesn’t know how to play and have fun, much less chew a bone. Her idea of a good time is a bowl full of food lol I did buy her a dental chew for Christmas (I think it’s Fruitables brand, actually), as I’ve gotten her to eat greenies before, but it’s pretty hard. I may just buy her the senior greenies, as they are softer, even though greenies aren’t the best. The dog can’t live on antibiotics the rest of her, weather they’re free or not! lol

[Dori]

Hi Akari. Sorry, I don’t know how I missed this entire thread other than to say life gets crazy around the holidays.

You mentioned that Ginger weighs 11.2 lbs. Has you vet told you what her optimum weight should be? It is very very important to keep dogs that have musculoskeletal problems on the thin and trim side. Every added ounce overweight adds to their pain and discomfort.

But this is really what I wanted to tell you. You say that you are dumping the glucosamine/chondroitin in her food. Glucosamine/Chondroitin should never be given with food. It most definitely needs to be given either one hour before food or two hours after. Otherwise it WILL NOT WORK! That is one of the main reasons why foods that are marketed as being good for dogs with arthritis and contain glucosamine/chondroitin don’t work. They also don’t put enough in to be beneficial but even if they did, the supplement must be given one hour before meals or two hours after twice a day or more often if indicated. That could very well be the reason you are not seeing any improvement with Ginger even though you are giving her the supplement.

Just trying to help.

If you do decide to go with the Purina JM you still need to give the supplement one hour before her meals or two hours after. I don’t have an opinion on the food. Obviously you know it’s not a great food by anyone’s definition but you have financial constraints and are doing the best your pocket book will allow. She’s a senior dog that you don’t have a lot of history about. If you can find one single food that she does well on, give her the supplement the way it is suppose to be given, then I would do that for the remainder of her life. The object is to find some quality to her life. It’s not about how many years you can add to her life, the concern is how well she gets to live the time she has left in her life. She obviously has musculoskeletal issues, she’s had them since you got her and since there’s no way to really know what happened to her before you got her to know what exactly is wrong with her or to do expensive CT scans, X-rays, MRI’s, surgeries, if they are indeed called for, you do the best you can through a food that doesn’t upset her digestive system and give her supplements. My advice to you would be, for right now, to keep her on the Wellness that you are feeding her before you switch her food since her tummy seems to be doing better and start the supplement as it’s suppose to be given and see it it makes a difference. I think it will. Another supplement that you can give her, if money allows you to, is Sam-e. Though it’s marketed as a liver support supplement it is a great anti-inflammatory. You would still need to give her the glucosamin/chondroitin. Sorry my post is so long I was just upset with myself for not noticing your thread on this issue and just happened to catch the sentence where you mention putting the supplement in her food bow.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by Dori.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Peggy,

Has Tebow had a check-up recently? What does his stool look like?

I’d be concerned about the solid, distended abdomen and labored breathing. I would probably err on the side of caution and get him checked out to rule out any potential health issues. Labored breathing isn’t to be taken lightly.

I’m not a fan of Blue Buffalo, so I’d look for a new food to switch him to anyway. I would choose a different canned food also. Are you by chance amember at Costco? Nature’s Domain Turkey & Pea Stew is $18.99 for 24 cans – great quality product, too. Was he eating higher protein and fewer carbs before, by chance? Yes, I’d also feed him two smaller meals and likely reduce his portion size. Are you making sure he’s not eating the other dog’s food? If you’re wanting a weight loss food for him, a few of my favorites are Go! Senior, Orijen Senior and Wellness Core Reduced Fat.

[pugmomsandy]

Wellness Complete Health Senior canned 32/14
Freshpet Select Homestyle tubs 27/18
Wysong Anergen canned 28/12
Wysong Adult Maintenance canned 28/16
Canidae Life Stages Platinum canned 24/18
Avoderm Weight Control Chicken and Rice canned 23/14
Natural Balance LID Chicken and Sweet Potato canned 25/16
Addiction Summer Brushtail dehydrated 23/11
Addiction Kangaroo Feast dehydrated 24/11
Addiction New Zealand Forest Delicacies dehydrated 25/13
Addiction Beef and Zucchini dehydrated 22/11
Addiction Venison and Cranberry dehydrated 25/15
Addiction Fig’licious Venison dehydrated 22/11
Addiction Country Chicken and Apricot dehyrated 24/17
Back to Basics Grain Free dry 27/16
Fromm Gold Reduces Activity dry 26/12
Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult dry 26/13
Pro Pac Ultimates Lamb Meal and Brown Rice dry 24/13
Pro Pac Ultimates Mature Chicken Meal dry 23/13
Pro Pac Ultimates Grain Free Overland Red and Meadow Prime dry 26/13

This article has the explanation and formula to convert foods into dry matter:

/choosing-dog-food/dry-matter-basis/

[Akari_32]

I feed my 130 pound, almost 11 year old rott mix 2.5 cups a day (it does say he should eat about twice that, however). So what the calculator came up with may not be too far off if you did it correctly. Just tweak how much you feed him until you find what works. I’d probably start with 2-2 1/2 cans a day if he’s moderately active for an older dog. My guy just lays around all day, only getting up for food or potty breaks. He’s extra lazy, even for a senior dog LOL

[Dena v]

Thank you for your help.

I’m still needing some help.

I entered
Ideal weight ….80
Activity…. . Inactive senior
Kcal cup or kcal kg …. 873

It said
Your dog’s ideal weight

 pounds   kilograms

Step 2

Your dog’s activity level

select an activity level…TypicalActiveOverweightHighly ActiveSenior, neutered, inactiveWorking Dog (light duty)Working Dog (moderate duty) Working Dog (heavy duty)

Step 3

Your dog food’s calories per serving

 I did both kcal / cup and   kcal / kg and it said the same calories…

Your dog requires 1333 kcal / day
Feed your dog 1.53 cups / day

Which baffles me a bit cause that would be 1 and a half cans (13.2 oz) a day.

But the can itself reads
80 lbs
1330 kals day
Feed 4 cans a day
(13.2 oz)

That’s a big difference. I know she should eat lead cause she’s 11 years old senior and inactive. But is 1 and half cans a day too little?
What do you guys think? Thank you so much for your help!!!!

[Dena v]

Hi, I currently feed dry fromm to my lab/Shepard mix. She’s 11 years old. Very inactive. Lays/sleeps a lot. She use to be over weight but she’s been not wanting to eat her dry food as much. Which makes me think I need to switch her to wet food because it would be easier on her teeth. She has had merrick before so I want to switch to that. But I need help figuring out how much to feed my inactive senior.

Merrick senior wet says
Calorie Content

873 kcal /kg or 332 kcal per 13.2.oz. can ME (metabolizable energy) on an as fed basis (calculated).

^^^ I don’t quite get what it means. Or how to enter that into the dog food caculator.

Your dog food’s calories per serving

 kcal / cup or    kcal / kg

what number would I enter into the caculator?

I’m totally confused. Tia!

[Bobby dog]

Yes, the end of a semester is both a blessing and a curse! 😉

If my dog was ill I would think outside of the box and certainly try different approaches to ease pain and discomfort. An Rx food would not be out of the question and I have fed them in the past! I really can’t comment on this food other than the reviews I read about it. BTW, the comments I read weren’t from the Purina website. lol I was looking into some supplements for my friend’s dog that has been a little stiff.

Deals are wonderful, but you need to consider Ginger’s health and comfort. Senior pet care can be pricey. My senior horse’s supplements are almost triple the price of my younger horse’s. That’s a decent price for Rx food IMO.

[InkedMarie]

Rich, a relatively healthy senior dog needs more protein than younger dogs:

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

there is a good article to read. My seniors eat the same as the other dogs, they just get added supplements (I just posted in your other thread)

[Rich]

I found an earlier post in this forum which answers my concerns listed.
Webmaster, if my post can be deleted please do.
The other topic concerning this is here: /forums/topic/senior-dog-food-recommendations/

[Rich]

Ok, I have a 7-9 year old mixed breed 45 pound bundle of joy. All these ratings and reviews are wonderful but I’m confused as to which is best for specific animals and age groups. Senior dogs require different needs than puppies or ‘adults’ but I haven’t found one mention on this site concerning Senior dogs nor breakdowns as to which dog food is best for which breed or age group.

Are there plans of starting a link on this site which will cover this topic?
In the meantime, please offer suggestions for me now, I’m an A type personality and not knowing the answers for my best friend is driving me nuts! 🙂 🙂 Thanks to all…

[Akari_32]

I routinely use puppy foods for my 11, 12, and 14 year old dogs. All that stuff in puppy food is great for them. It’s lower in carbs and higher in protein, which is what senior dogs need. Don’t worry too much about labeling, and go for any food that says its for puppies, all life stages, and adults.

For such a small dog, you may even look into a pre-mix for raw. I have an 8 lb jack russell mix on See Spot Live Longer and a variety of protein sources, and it only costs about $20 a month to feed him.

If you don’t want to go that route, I’m a big fan of Wellness. Their non-small breed formulas have kibbles that your little guy probably can’t chew, but they do have several Small and Toy Breed foods out, and they are releasing more. They come in grain-inclusive and grain free varieties, and they also always $5 off any size bag coupons on their website. Just click the “Check Your Bag” button, and follow the promts.

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/index.aspx

I also use Nutro Natural Choice LID Lamb and Rice (in the dark green bag), and their Small Breed line looks fantastic as well, but the prices and lack of coupons drive me away (those are in pink bags). Nutro Ultra looks like a great food.

Be careful when selecting foods while trying to stay away from Diamond. They make Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul, Precise, Premium Edge, and many more. And While I used to love Innova and Evo, I can personally no longer recommend them. They are now owned by Mars– the candy company. Since the buy-out of Natura (P&G, then Mars) the protein levels have dropped and more carbs have been added. Mars also owns others brands of pet foods. If they make your candy bars, should they *really* be making pet food?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101566238#.

Good luck with your little guy! I think I speak for all of us when I say “PICS!!!!” 😉

[Akari_32]

Anyone seen this yet? Just got an email for it this morning (I like to get Purina emails for the giggles– is that bad?? LOL).

https://www.proplan.com/dog-food-products/bright-mind

https://www.purina.com/meet-purina/nutrition/innovation

It’s supposed to have all sorts of good stuff for senior dogs to promote motility and brain function, and isn’t just the run-of-the-mill senior food with less protein and more carbs like most others are. I’m tempted to email them for the giggles and see if they’ll release the ingredient list to me.

I’m not a Purina fan, but honestly, I’m considering trying it for Ginger. By the time this comes out, it’ll be cold all the time, so it’d be a perfect time to try it out and see if it actually helps, along with her normal glucosamine and such. She’s doing pretty good on Wellness, but I think she’s still having trouble with something about it, and she goes though phases of diarrhea every couple weeks regardless of what I do. She was on Royal Canin before I got her, so going to Wellness was a pretty big jump for her system. Maybe going to a mid-grade food would benefit her. We all know not all do well on higher end foods.

Anyone have any thoughts on this new food?

[Steve L]

I am giving her the following meds and supplements by Vet prescription.

Carprofen 100 mg 1/2 tab every 12 hours (anti-inflamatory??)
Tramadol 50 mg 1 every 12 hours (pain??)
Thyroxine .6 mg 1 every 12 hours (thyroid – for past 6 years)

Glucosamine/Chondroitin 1500/1200 mg per day.

Tried Fromms Senior – she likes and eats well. No wet food – but she does lick plates – a dog biscuit twice a day (lunch & bed). We used to take 1-2 mile walks every day but recent pain, and the increased staggering in rear have severely cut into walks. She has been steady at 60 pounds for the last 7 years.

[InkedMarie]

Seniors, unless they have specific medical issues, require no special diet. They need as much protein as other dogs, which is a higher amount of protein. In fact, studies show seniors need more protein than younger dogs!

At 14, she may have some arthritis. A grain free food would be best as grains are inflammatory. Are you giving her a joint supplement as well?

[Steve L]

Looking for a way to sort recommendations to what is best for senior dogs. I have a 14 year old Border Collie mix. She is in relatively good health although staggering slightly on hind legs. Vet has ruled out hip dysplasia. Back to food. Am I missing a way to sort Editor’s choices to those for seniors?

[Martin C]

I have an 18 year old YorkyPooh. She has no teeth. We need a quality soft food, but her stomach cannot tolerate wet food for some reason. She is eating Purina Moist and Meaty. She tolerates it ok. Wondering if there is anything similar that is better. She has some skin issues. Thanks Martin

[Pluto.the.St.Bernard]

Hi, all this information is so helpful, but just a tad overwhelming for me (so many opinions). I am curious about your opinion on a few things, I have a male st. benard pupp just about 20wks, been feeding him Natures Variety Instinct Dry($$$), and honestly looking to switch to something with less of a price tag, but without loosing quality as I want him in the best shape inside/out. His weight is good, looking/feeling healthy. I noticed the other saint owner was inquiring about Wellness Core Puppy, I am also curious about this brand of food –>> “Orijen product line includes six dry dog foods, five claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and one (Senior) for adult maintenance”. Noticed it wasn’t on your list of approved large/giant breed foods, would you recommend (I’ve read pretty good things)? One last question what toppings would you suggest if not homemade food recipe ?
Hope none of this confuses you, thanks.

[Akari_32]

My thoughts exactly, Patty! If I wanted a bag full of corn, I’d buy some Ol’ Roy or Dog Chow.

Wellness is a great food for a similar price. Actually a little cheaper, I think– Science Diet comes in 3.5 and 12 lbs for their smaller bags, and Wellness comes in 4 and 12-14 lb bags, and it’s typically a few dollars cheaper in my area. Plus they always have awesome coupons! 🙂

It’s funny you mention the small breed Simple recipes, Susan. I had never seen them before today, when I scored a 4lb bag of the Salmon and Potato for a whopping $2.48 after clearance and coupons! Then I sign on here today and you’re talking about it lol Guess thats all I’ll ever see of it here, though, as is was the last bag in the store. Bummer, too, because Wellness doesn’t have much in the way of small kibbles that isn’t senior or diet. Ginger does great on Wellness, but I hate to just keep her on the Small Breed Core and Toy Breed Complete Health Adult all the time, and she can’t chew the larger kibbles, even when softened with canned food. Thankfully she doesn’t eat much, so the small bags do last a while with her.

Gloria, definitely check out the review side of DFA. You’ll find that many foods that used to be really good have gone down the toilet, and the prices have been jacked up. It’s extremely unfortunate for those who remember those days, where picking out a dog food was easy (not that I’m old enough for that, but I’ve heard stories!). You’ll also find other foods that claim to be good as well, when really they’re just a bunch of junk (Diamond brands, Purina and Hill’s are the first that come to mind).

[Kaye K]

Hi,
When we subscribed to this site one of the things we were told we would get was the source of the ingredients in the dog foods listed. We have a senior BC and would really like to give her the best nutrition possible avoiding ingredients sourced from China and the like. Can anyone direct me to where we will find the source of ingredients on this site? Since there is no search option for this site we are having trouble finding all the things promised with my membership.

Thanks For The Help

[Lord F]

I just barely made the switch to raw for two of my dogs, we feed them raw in the morning and kibble in the early evening. For my 4 month old puppy, he gets half of his food raw, so his full morning meal. We expect him to get 35lbs. For our senior, we starting off by feeding him 1/4 raw per day, so he gets the same portion as the puppy, with a cup of kibble added. He’s 100lbs! I just started this a week ago! I just went out and bought their meat for this week. I’m so new to making it completely balanced and that’s why I’m starting with half kibble, until I get this down. Here’s what they got last week each:
Friday/Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday AM:
5.7 oz Boneless, skinless chicken breast
1.3 oz beef kidney
Saturday/Monday/Wednesday AM:
5.7 oz pork stew meat (boneless)
1.3 oz beef kidney
1 egg
They got turkey necks and cow feet throughout the week as well. This week I switched to a different menu:
Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
1 pork rib
1.3 oz pork liver
2 oz beef heart
2 oz turkey gizzards
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday:
1.3 oz pork liver
3 oz turkey gizzard
2.7 oz beef heart
1 tbs canned salmon
In the PM they get either Acana or Orijen, we switch between the two every night. I now give them an egg once a week, they get turkey and pork necks throughout the week. I’m gonna stop by a Whole Foods tomorrow to get whole raw sardine and feed them this twice a week in addition to the regular meal and omit the canned salmon. I know it’s really basic, but I just wanted to know what I can do to make it more varied and more balanced. I’d like to start now for when I switch them off kibble. My senior also gets probiotics in capsule form to help with his digestion, he gets gas easily. What can I add to his food instead of giving him 4 capsules a day? THANKS!

[Julie H]

I so appreciate all of the responses to my post. Great comments and suggestions. I decided to call Chewy.com and also discuss it with them this morning. They are so impressive! Last week I had placed my first order with them when I ordered more Orijen Adult dogfood. I explained to them the concerns I have and asked if I could exchange the Orijen Adult dogfood that I had just received for Orijen Senior dogfood. To my surprise they told me they would credit my account and I could place a separate order for what I wanted. They suggested I donate the Orijen Adult food to a local dog shelter! Wow was I impressed! They now have a customer for life. What a great company.
I was measuring her food but just need to cut back on the amount. I love the suggestion of using warm water to make a broth to pump up the volume, etc. Can’t wait to implement these changes and hopefully see her lose weight
Thank you all for comments! I am new to dogadvisor and am thankful for finding others who love their dogs like I do.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Just found this thread, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU for taking in a senior pup! I have volunteered with a local senior dog rescue, and I just love the oldies. There is also a great Facebook page called Susie’s Senior Dogs, that posts senior dogs up for adoption along with success stories and resources: https://www.facebook.com/susiesseniordogs

One question for Dori about the glucosamine supplements, I give the stage 1 version to Lily for mild luxuriating patella. I did not know that it was good not to give it with food, is that only for advanced care? Thanks!

[Tracy L]

For the last 13 years, I have been told by the vet that my poodle had seasonal allergies. She has always licked her paws like crazy and it would drive her and my husband crazy. I have tried several pet foods (such as Science Diet, Nutro, Blue Buffalo, etc.) and 1. she hasn’t liked them, and 2. she still licked. However, recently, I visited a local pet store (not a chain) and the lady recommended Fromm for my picky eater. She also gave me some Stella and Chewy’s Super Beef Patties to help put some weight on my little girl (she stopped eating as much). My poodle seems to like Fromm, but she LOVES the Stella and Chewy’s patty. Also, she has not been licking her paws at all! I sure wish I would have figured out her food allergies sooner. 🙁 I also wish my several vets across the country would have mentioned that there was better pet food available.

Now, I’m torn. She is 13 and I want what is best for her that she likes the most. Which dog food would you recommend for my allergic, picky eater senior poodle? She is in great shape (can walk 3 miles straight with no issue), but she does have a sensitive stomach at times.

Thank you!

[Dori]

Glad to hear you like them BC. I’ve recently added the Beef, Tripe and Fish to the girls rotation. Hubby is quite the squeamish one when it comes to feeding raw so this is as close as I can get if he has to feed a meal because I’ve dared to not be home at the girl’s meal time. I wish they didn’t have the freeze dried potato in their ingredients but as you know I feed rotational diet with every meal it really won’t be a big deal. I don’t like to feed Hannah with anything that has white potatoes because of her touch of arthritis.

cindy q. I believe that some of us have stated (not just me) that for an adult or senior dog this is a great food to feed in a rotational diet. Also most of the regulars on this site feed rotational diets so that what they may miss in one meal (if, indeed, that is the case with any food you may feed) they will pick it up in the next meal. Every single meal does not have to be “complete and balanced”. Complete and Balanced has to be met over a period of a week. If you feed a rotation diet then you really should not have any problems when feeding quality foods. If you’ve followed any of my posts on the DFA site I’m a firm believer in both raw and rotational feeding. My three dogs are my proof (for me) that this is the best diet for them.

I’ve never owned a large dog so have never had to research large puppy requirements in a dog food. I believe it has to do with the calcium in a food so as to not have their bones growing quicker than they should. Others would be knowledgeable in that area. I believe this food would also be fine for puppies of medium, small and toy dogs. I would have no issue feeding puppies this food but, again, I don’t feed any food solely.

[Akari_32]

When I put the steps in moms room, I put them to the night stand. They are the same height, but the night stand provides Ginger and Bentley that extra room to get up on to the bed, rather than a shear drop from the bed to the stairs. Moms bed is 31 inches tall, which we couldn’t find any stairs to reach, so we decided the night stand was a good height. It is for Bentley, but just a bit too tall for old Ginger. I’ll be finding a rug and a bit of 4×4 to make an extra step on the night stand, and make the surface non-slip (again, not a problem for Bentley, but a problem for Gingers short little legs and old bones).

I actually bought the Toy Breed for my almost 12-year-old, 60 lb retriever mix, Haley, because it’s high in calories, and she doesn’t like to eat much. Got a bunch if 2 and 4 lb bags free with coupons, along with the Wellness Senior cans :p Having only $10 a week budgeted for now three dogs (12, 60 and 130 lb), a cat, and various fish and reptiles, I’m oportunistic with my pet food coupon deals (but not so much so that I’ll buy food of questionable quality– I still have standards, which works out for me with the great Wellness deals I get). I typically buy puppy foods because of Haley, but the protein and calories on this line were where I wanted them for the most part, and is figured variety is the spice of life LOL

Also, the small kibble size seems to be working well for Ginger because of her teeth. They are just so gross, and I imagine they hurt to some degree. I don’t think this dog has ever seen a bone of any kind in her life. I do plan on seeing how she does on other foods I’ve got stashed away that have larger kibble sizes though. I’ve got one 6lb bag of Pro Plan small breed puppy (only cost my 3 bucks!) and about 15 lbs of Nutro Natural Choice puppy that all have larger kibbles (and of course my bunches of Wellness Toy Breed lol). I’ve got some EVO in the freezer, but those are like as big as her eye, so I think that’s out of the question…

[Akari_32]

So an update on Ginger is in order.

Mom, once again, is a complete idiot. She put the doggy stairs up to her bed, which in and of itself is great, and I’m glad she’s remember to do that, but her bed is a good 10-12 inch taller than the stairs are!! She expects this 7 inch tall (probably less!), 14 year old dog to get from the top of the stairs to the top of the bed. Even worse, she expects her to down. Ginger fell down the stairs getting down while I was at work the other day, and now she’s limping on her front right leg, flinching away from contact, and biting (mouthing and snarling, really) when being picked up. She’s also pacing the house, obviously uncomfortable, and doesn’t seem to know what to do. Hopefully she’ll just need some Previcox and down time to recover, and nothing more.

On the Previcox note, I can’t help but wonder if she’s at a point where she needs pain management to live comfortably. I’ve been thinking this side before the steps incident, because she never has fully stopped flinching away from certain contact. She’s also got another fatty tumor forming very quickly on the side of her stomach– I can’t help but wonder if it’s hurting her with how fast it’s forming, or if it’s something else. She also went out peed the other morning, then came in, drank a ton of water, then peed straight water on the floor. Had no color at all to it. The vet said she maybe be diabetic or have some other problems (just looking at her you can tell she’s not in the best of health), and to try and get a pee sample (he said that before the even happened). Either way, vet in the morning. Thankfully orthopedic exams are free, so that’ll save me some money…. Lol

Some good news though, I can’t believe how nice her coat has gotten over the last two weeks I’ve had her. She was eating Royal Canin Dachshund, and now I’ve got her on Wellness Toy Breed and various canned foods (was Pure Balance, now on Wellness Senior), as well as coconut and fish oil rotated on a daily basis, and kefir daily. She’s very soft and shiny and doesn’t shed as much. I may put her on Wellness CORE Small Breed. Depends on if I can get a good price, and how she adapts to changes in just the canned food for now. Lord knows she’s probably been on that one Royal Canin for her entire life.

[crazy4cats]

Here we are, Ray T! I’m never sure what people mean by a food is too rich for their dogs. Do you mean that it has too much fat, too much proten, or both?
A lot of the healthy weight and senior recipes tend to be a little lower in fat. In fact, I just bought the Nutrisource senior formula for my two dogs who are only three years old. I feel like I add toppers that tend to be a little high in fat so I should try a lower in fat kibble. I haven’t opened it yet. I’ll let you know how it goes. It has 26% protein, 10% fat, 5.5% fiber and 392 calories per cup. It’s a chicken and rice formula.

[Bobby dog]

Very nice pics! I haven’t seen pics of Haley or Dweezle before, they are very nice looking dogs. I think it is only fitting that Alec is in the middle! He is the king of the castle after all. 😉

Have you tried brushing her teeth? It may not be as bad as it looks.

I hear you, unfortunately senior pet care is a little more costly than it is for are young pups. You’re right, getting her teeth checked for quality of life and life threatening issues is important. But, from your description it does sound like trying to save her teeth is probably not the best or safest. Getting some teeth pulled is much better than living with discomfort or future illness if that’s what she needs.

My senior kitty has lost two this past year alone. The last one was a surprise, but the one before that might have left behind a little of the root which meant surgical removal if that was the case. Luckily for him (and I guess my bank account) the root wasn’t left behind and it healed over nicely with the help of some antibiotics. I just hate the thought of putting him under anesthesia at his age. But, it is what it is and it’s just something I have to monitor in his golden years. Like Ginger, he’s got really bad teeth too. Good thing he loves canned food, that’s the only thing he is going to be able to eat soon! He’s the pet that’s going to have every senior ailment known to man as he ages, my other three you would never know they are 14+ years old. lol

[Akari_32]

Nails are done! Whoo! I tried to do them myself, but my clippers are just too small. I did trim them, at least.

But today at the vet, we had some down time, so I walked home and grabbed Ginger, and walked back over. Managed to muzzle her in one try, and got her flipped on her side to hold her down very easily.

I feel like if we had rushed into this sooner, she would have been so stressed and scared. But she didn’t even growl or try to bite. I held her down while the tech I’m shadowing did the cutting. When I get some bigger clippers, I’ll try it at home again, when it’s time to do it, of course. I’ll have someone hold her while I cut. Hopefully, though, daily walks will keep them down at this point.

Speaking of walks, when we were walking home, I started up the driveway, and she was still walking down the sidewalk LOL She really loves to walk. We walked about a half mile yesterday, and we got home and she was just so happy. I’ve never seen her eyes so bright, despite the fact she was so so tired out her tounge was almost touching the floor, even with her head held up LOL I always say I hate Flexi leashes, but I do walk her and Haley on one. She has such little legs that she lags behind if she’s not running (you know she’s excited when she’s running LOL), and I don’t want her to tangle in the leash. She also stops abruptly for potty breaks, and I don’t want to jerk her (and hurt her) on accident. And then Haley just needs a quiet verbal command, or even a just hearing the lock start to click on the leash to know what I want her to do. And neither of them approach random people we pass, either. But you’ll never catch me walking a dog like Bentley on a Flexi leash! He’s stupid enough to run out into the road or run up to dogs that clearly want to eat him. The only Flexi leash I would consider for him is the Flexi City, which is a 6ft retractable, and is absolutely genius. But I ain’t paying $20+ for a leash, so that’ll never happen unless I find one at goodwill (where I got my other two full size ones lol). He gets tangled in his leash all the time because he can’t just walk in a straight line like a normal dog. I hate walking him sometimes, but someone’s gotta do it… Lol

Anyway… Lol Ginger is doing good, and eating well. I started her on a 1/2 teaspoon of keifer every day, and her poops look much better than they have been. Not all runny and smelly like they’ve been the last week. I think I’ll just keep her on it every day. I’ve been giving it to Bentley as well, the same amount, to mix the SSLL mix into, along with some canned food and coconut oil or fish oil. I also need to up her food, I think. I’ve been giving her 1/3 cup with a couple tablespoons of canned Wellness Senior (my free cans! LOL), but I think I’ll start giving her a little more of the dry, especially since she loves walks so much. Gotta keep some meat on her bones.

That’s all I’ve got for now, I think. She’s passed out on the couch, sleeping off her nail trim lol

[crazy4cats]

Hi Mandy-
How low of fat are you thinking? A lot of the senior or weight reduction foods are lower in fat and higher in fiber. Have you looked into any of those? I think some of the Nutrisource kibbles are a little higher in fiber than average, but I’m not sure if they are as low in fat as you are looking for. I try to use lower fat foods as well, but my dogs can eat chicken, luckily. Also as you mentioned, you can always add fiber to their meals. Good luck to you!

[Ivan L]

Hi
I’m very new on this dog food subject.
I have three dogs and I’m lost of what is the best way to feed them.
I have a 10 years old cocker spaniel and 2 shih tzu that are 4 years old.

Should I use dry food or wet food?
Should I mix them?
What food do you recommend taking in consideration one is a senior dog all of them are small breeds?

Thank you for the advises

[Audrey C]

I am looking for a moderate to low phosphorous canned food for my 13 year old 45 lb. hound dog. I add Chinese herbs to his food to help strengthen his kidneys and the Blue Buffalo “Blue’s Stew” is the only canned food that “absorbs” the bitter herbs so he enjoys his meal. Can you tell me if either the Blue’s Stew and/or Blue Buffalo “Senior” canned foods have low phosphorous level and appropriate for an aging dog? They don’t list phosphorous level in the nutrition analysis on the cans. Thank you.