[anonymously]

Age 7 is considered a senior, the vets often recommend an exam and lab work at this stage, if you haven’t done so. Excessive licking and hot spots is an indication that something is wrong, I think a visit to the vet may be in order.
I would discuss diet changes with the vet before taking her off of a prescription food.

“Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea that in itching problems”.
http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm

Check the search engine here for allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies You may find some helpful information at this site.

Regarding bladder stones:
/forums/topic/crystalstone-in-bladder/

Often when the infection is treated (antibiotics) and water intake is increased the condition clears up, unless they have another type of stones, also. They can have more than one type. Often there is a genetic component.

The best thing you can do is to increase water intake and offer frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate. Sure, dogs can hold it, but that’s not good for this condition, You want to keep the bladder flushed. Stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to stone formation.
PS: Has your dog had an x-ray to rule out calcium oxalate stones?
I use a potassium citrate/cranberry supplement I get from Chewy.com. It depends on the type of stones.
It is best to get approval from the veterinarian that is treating the dog before adding anything, and I would go along with the prescription diet for now. PH levels fluctuate and it takes a while (sometimes weeks) to see changes, at least that is what my vet told me.

you may find this site helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/ Recent blog about cranberry supplements.

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/ Regarding raw diets.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by anonymously.

[anonymously]

“She was looking to learn raw since her dog was experiencing Cushings symptoms from taking steroids for 4 years as a treatment for allergies”.

That is why it is best to consult a specialist/dermatologist if the allergy symptoms have been going on for more than 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief despite treatments from the regular veterinarian.

Prednisone is usually ordered to stop the suffering caused by excessive scratching/pruritus. It is a temporary fix. Most likely the allergies are environmental and have nothing to do with the diet, that was my experience.

A lot of folks refuse to consider going to a specialist because of the cost……therefore the regular vet has no choice but to continue to treat the symptoms.

My dog enjoys seeing her dermatologist, since she is stable we only go once a year.
PS: She can eat a variety of foods, chicken included, cooked of course!

My senior dog gets constipated if he doesn’t have water soaked kibble (Nutrisca) everyday.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by anonymously.

[Susan]

Hi, Patch 7 yrs old suffers with IBD, Helicobacter-Pylori (bad Acid Reflux) & Pancreatitis sounds like the Pepcid isn’t working anymore or he doesn’t need it any more or what are you putting in the Kongs ?? its not Peanut Butter? or his kibble needs changing its making him feel sick …..IBD can make them feel sick especially after they eat…Patch wakes up feeling good he eats breakfast then from 9am to 12pm he doesn’t feel well some mornings. Grass seems to be the only thing that makes him feel better, I have stopped giving the ant acids now…. only use as needed..

Try stopping the Pepcid for a couple of days & see if he feels better, Patch vomited when he took the Pepcid & was put on Zantac (Ranitidine) instead given 30mins before breakfast & dinner given every 12 hours, then after 3 months it didn’t seem to work anymore, he still had bad acid reflux & was still grinding his teeth & vomiting yellow acid some mornings but he was eating a vet diet that had fish oil & Beet Pulp in kibble that made his acid reflux worse…
I now only give liquid Mylanta 4-5mls in a syringe kept in the fridge only when he needs it, the Mylanta seems to work the best…..
I started to realise Patch wasn’t making enough stomach acid & some days he wasn’t getting acid reflux & I was still giving him ant acid medication, so stomach wasn’t working properly…. as we get older we make less hydrochloric acid it’s called “Hypochlorhydria”

Vet didn’t want Patch on Losec (Omeprazole) cause its a Pump Proton Inhibitor (PPI) & you can not just stop taking a PPI Losec after you have taken it for more then 3 weeks but vet did say I can give Patch the Losec 10mg for 3-4 days then I stop but only when Patch has bad acid reflux…Zantac & Pepcid can be stopped at anytime…So be careful if vet puts him on a PPI…

I have found I have to keep changing Patches kibbles & rotating them & no vet diets, if he stays on the same kibble for more then 2 months, his acid reflux starts to come back also I read when they have acid reflux they need a low fiber kibble 3-4% fiber & no Beet Pulp, Does the kibble he’s eating have “Beet Pulp” ?? it makes their poos look beautiful & firm, so everything looks OK cause poos are firm & look good, its the beet pulp making the poos firm…most vet diets use Beet Pulp….
When the Kibble has beet Pulp it made Patches acid reflux bad again, I started doing so much research & read low fiber diets are best when they have Acid Reflux thru IBD & if you can start feeding a balanced cooked diet will be better then eating a kibble, feed lean meats boil some potatoes, sweet potato & green vegetables, Google Dr Judy Morgan she has easy to follow recipes on You-Tube & she uses the Honest Kitchen Base Mixes in some of her meals you just add the meat & the Base Mixes balances the meal, she also has supplements to balance the cooked meals also have a look at the Honest Kitchen Zeal its low in fat & excellent for dogs with Pancreatitis & IBD…you just add warm water..
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/zeal
I started feeding cooked chicken breast, sweet potato & broccoli & replacing 1 kibble meal, I’m feeding “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain now, I’m going to try Canidae Pure Land you cant have too much high fat in a kibble with acid reflux so I normally stay around 10-14% for fat but in Australia we have 1 low fat grain free kibble & the fiber is high 5%….I’m waiting cause Canidae has 4 new grain free formulas, Pure Meadows, is for seniors & is 10% fat & limited ingredients & grain free, if you live in America you can get the Canidae Pure Meadow.. I also want to try the Pure Wild its boar & Pork…
I was feeding Patch Salmon & Sardine kibbles but I think the fish gives him his acid reflux also certain kibbles he starts getting his pain right side pancreas/stomach area & wants me to rub the chest area, he starts his whinging when he has his pain again & doesn’t really want to eat so I change his food, I have to introduce the new kibble over 1 week……I make sure the kibble doesn’t have fish oil & has limited ingredients…. I wish they could talk….. if you can cook & freeze meals give it a try cause kibble is hard to digest especially on the pancreas….

[Susan]

Hi Tamara change vets, I went thru 3 vets before I found Patches good vet, she’s into natural healing, feeding fresh foods as well….
I can’t see how boiled vegetables will kill your dog, they have no fat in them at all… have you joined the “Canine Pancreatitis” Face Book Group?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1435920120029740/
The ladies in the Canine Pancreatitis group are very helpful. Look in the files… click on “Non RX foods” all wet tin foods that you can feed your dog will come up that are feed to dogs with Pancreatitis……Your dog can’t just live on boiled chicken, he needs his vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acid etc he’ll start to get dry itchy skin & loss weight…
The Honest Kitchen Zeal is low in fat-8.5% & is for seniors & dogs with Pancreatitis, IBD……all you do is add water, don’t add too much water, some people say its a bit sloppy, so add less water then is recommended….
Dr Judy Morgan uses the Honest Kitchen “Base Mixes” you just add your lean meat, Judy makes a few meat loaves for her sick little girl… you can find Dr Judy Morgan recipes on You-Tube she also sell supplements & has a Face Book page & answers all post & msg…. The Honest Kitchen sell samples, so you can try a few Zeal samples first, your dog will probably love it & its balanced & human grade ingredients … http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/zeal

[Sherry S]

My blue healer/terrier has cushings disease. She is on vetoryl 30 mg daily. She has lost weight and now weighs 24 lbs. I would like to get her on a healthy food. Vet said I have to be careful of salt in the food. He carries science diet and hills. I don’t see in the list. Anyone know of any good food to put her on?

[anonymously]

Just curious, what test indicated she had all these “food allergies”?
Oh, and food sensitivities fluctuate.

Has the dog had a senior workup? There very well could be other reasons for symptoms (although you never described any) have you ruled out medical, via lab work and a good physical exam by a veterinarian?

“Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea that in itching problems”.
http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm

Check the search engine here for allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies You may find some helpful information at this site.

[Donna G B]

have a fur senior that has so many allergies. Main: Egg, Beef, Potatoes (both white and sweet) shellfish and tomatoes. He’s 13 years old and I give him shots. I didn’t go into boarder line, like rice and a few others. Trees, weeds, bugs etc. He smelled like yeast most of the time and had spots of little red bumps that itched horrible. I started bathing him in a shampoo especially for killing yeast on the skin and you know, haven’t had one red spot or itching. He is also on a antihistamine but he was before and had the red spots anyway. Sometimes itching so bad that he got bigger sores and had to have medication. So, he was put on z/d dry and canned. I HATE SCIENCE DIET but I give it to him because I was to scared to try anything else. Well, I’m not anymore:
How about his z/d dry and for canned: Wellness 95% meat: Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Salmon etc. Home cooked mixed vegetables and cooked oatmeal? I don’t know how to give him the right amounts but he is also on “Snip It’s” and I put him on Vetri Science Canine Plus Senior” do any of you think this would work? Not one thing he is allergic to. I hope you answer me. Thank You \: Donna from Iowa.

P.S. He has been tested and that is the shots I have been giving him. He’s been to Ames, IA at the ISU clinic and to our family dogtor. He has other issues as well, but if I can bring his food and other things up to good nutrition it can only help him in all aspects. I know it won’t make him live longer BUT it will be better for him while he is alive. Hugh?

[C4D]

Hi Michael,

There is no food that provides enough glucosamine and chondroitin. I’ve had several dogs with joint issues for many years. I feed grain and potato free (potatoes exacerbate inflammation) and supplement with human grade fish oil and joint supplements. You have to be careful if using human joint supplements that there aren’t added vitamins. Your vet might be willing to give you suggestions. You also have to adjust the dosage. My current senior dog is doing well and still extremely active.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by C4D.

[Katrina T]

Hello!

I am the proud Mom of two dachshunds (Easley and Carson) and a random furry dog (Jasper) 🙂 (plus a smattering of cats)

Jasper and Easley are senior dogs and used to have another senior dachshund friend who had some really specific food allergies so they were all fed her diet… after she passed last summer we sought to switch them to something more their taste. The rescue we got puppy Carson from was feeding taste of the wild so we just kept him on that – and the big dogs started stealing his food. (so did the cats)

We have been considering switching EVERYONE to the brand as it seems to have gone over well – but wanted to get everyone’s opinion. It has 4.5 stars but isnt an editors choice? Is there a specific reason for this? Something I am missing?

I just want to make sure I am feeding them the best I can afford!
(unfortunately i am a vegetarian and making them food from animals on my own is out of the question – meat makes me sick)

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙂

[anonymously]

Unless your dog has a medical condition and a veterinarian has recommended a low-sodium diet….. Healthy dogs usually do not need a special dog food that is low in sodium. Most brands have a minimum amount of sodium, .3%, for maintenance of body functions that require it.

That being said, I read that Orijen has less sodium than other brands. However, the price might be a deterrent. With the better brands you will find you need to feed less kibble, it is dense and less like sawdust as with the cheap brands.

My dogs do well on Nutrisca dry as a base, with a topper such as a spoonful of scrambled egg (made with water) cooked chopped lean meat or chicken, tuna, a spoonful of homemade chicken broth (nothing added) just boil a chicken for 3+ hours, debone, defat, freeze 2-3 day servings, it makes about a quart.
Check chewy.com for prices. If you get a large bag you can freeze 1/2 of it and store the rest in an airtight container, in the fridg if you have room, or at least in a cool dry room.

I add a splash of water to the food, my senior gets his kibble presoaked with water.

Dogs that are prone to weight gain do well with a one hour walk per day, even at a leisurely pace.
Offer meals twice a day, if he doesn’t eat pick it up store in the fridg and offer at the next meal time. He will eat when he is hungry, if he doesn’t eat times 3 days consult a veterinarian. Make sure he is drinking adequate water. Oh, and he is old enough for adult food.
Also, if his bowel habits don’t stabilize soon, I would take him to the vet.

[Ann-Christin S]

I live in Norway and have a hard time finding good food for my dogs.
What do you think about this food ? :

Hypoallergenic LAMB & RICE Formula for Senior Dogs of All Breeds.

Composition:

lamb meat meal (35%), rice (35%), dried apples, chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols), dried beet pulp, natural flavors, salmon oil (2%), brewer’s yeast, hydrolyzed crustacean shells (a source of glucosamine, 260 mg/kg), cartilage extract (a source of chondroitin, 160 mg/kg), mannanoligosaccharides (150 mg/kg), herbs and fruits (rosemary, cloves, citrus, curcuma, 150 mg/kg), fructooligosaccharides (100 mg/kg), yucca schidigera (100 mg/kg), inulin (90 mg/kg), milk thistle (75 mg/kg).

Analytical constituents: protein 25 %, fat 12 %, moisture 10 %, crude ash 7 %, fibre 4,2 %, calcium 1,5 %, phosphorus 1,2 %, metabolizable energy 3 550 kcal/kg,

Nutritional additives: vitamin A 20 000 IU, vitamin D3 1 500 IU, vitamin E (alfatocopherol) 500 mg, E6 zinc 80 mg, E1 iron 70 mg, E5 manganese 35 mg, E2 iodine 0,65 mg, E4 copper 15 mg, E8 selenium 0,25 mg, Biotin 0,6 mg, Choline-Chloride 600 mg, Folic Acid 0,5 mg, Calcium Pantothenate 10 mg, vitamin B1 1 mg, vitamin B12 0,04 mg, vitamin B2 4 mg, vitamin B6 1 mg,

[Donna G B]

I am new to Food Advisor, I have 3 fur kids: Seniors, Willie Bill 13 years old, full of Allergies, takes shots for the Allergies, has a leaky valve in heart, heart murmur #4-6, little growths on kidneys etc. Poor baby is such a good little boy. He has been on Science Diet for years z/d, I HATE IT. He is allergic to so many things, Food: Sweet Potatoes, white potatoes, eggs, beef, tomatoes, shellfish and borderline on so many others: Rice etc. I need to get him off this z/d but it is scary to try.
My other two are: Walley: Rescue, 8 yrs. All teeth pulled except 4. Had pancreatitis and was put on I/d Science Diet for such a long time. I HATE THAT and put him on Royal Canine for Intestinal problems (with a new dogtor) well THAT is full of grains, etc. So, I decided to put him on “Wellness” Senior Formula just getting ready to switch him and my other Yorkie (Willow) little over 5 lbs. 10 year old Yorkie that has had pancreatitis also, and I find the word CARRAGEENNE in the ingredients. Look on computer and that is NOT GOOD, so called them. They told me it was “Food Grade” and not the harmful one. I BELIEVED THEM and then looked up “Food Grade Carrageene” and it is just as bad, I guess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see much advice on this site for Senior, low fat Canned Dog Food. Not much about seniors at all. Maybe not looking in the right place. HELP!!!

[Coonhound Mama]

If you look below any of the reviews for a dog food you’ve selected, the analysis of fat content should appear in a pie graph chart. Is there a certain fat percentage you’re shooting to feed at or below? A high protein diet (senior dogs need more protein than most realize) with lower fat would probably be ideal, but for something more specific I would say consulting a holistic vet would be best. My dog did very well on the grain free, carageenan-free Nature’s Variety brand canned food, although I realize the fat content (in the upper 30s) on these may not be doable for your dog.

[Stephanie B]

Hi Teresa B- I totally understand not wanting to return to diarrhea issues!! And it sounds like she’s getting lots of exercise, that’s great! We adopted ours as a senior and she weighed 94lbs…she’s gotten down to 84 with about 6 more pounds to go. Do you feed treats between meals? I know those can add up so if you do you should factor them in to her daily calories (there’s a calculator on this site that helps you figure out the recommended daily calories for a dog’s ideal weight and activity level.)

I’ve never used Natural Balance foods so all I can go off of is the label and lower ratings here due to the high carbohydrate content and low protein (Potato is listed as the first ingredient…ideally I’d try to find something with the protein(s) listed first.) That being said if your pup really does well on it and you can’t find an alternative that isn’t causing diarrhea, it’s only 375/cup which is not excessively high. The very high quality protein rich foods (Acana, Orijen, Wysong, etc.) are in the 450-500cal/cup range. So, you could cut back just a little on the serving size per meal of her current food (either mixing in wet food or not) and see if it aids in weight loss. As far as suggestions see below:

Ones that I’ve tried and like (or I should say Heidie liked 🙂 ) are:
Wellness Core Reduced Fat 360cal/cup
Dr. Tim’s Metabolite 268.6cal/cup
Weruva Caloric Harmony Venison & Salmon w/ Pumpkin 348cal/cup
Orijen Senior 445cal/cup (this one is higher calorie so I tend to mix 50/50 with either Wellness Core RF or Dr. Tims Metabolite to cut down the cals per meal)

Some I’ve researched (but haven’t fed yet) that could be viable options to try are:
Annamaet Grain Free Lean Low Fat 350 cal/cup
Nature’s Variety Instinct Grain Free Healthy Weight 347cal/cup
Premium Edge Healthy Weight I 347cal/cup
Nulo Freestyle Cod and Lentils 368cal/cup
Dr. Tim’s RPM Salmon & Pork Grain Free 389cal/cup

If it seems like your dog is having a lot of digestive issues with new foods it might be worth getting an allergy test done to narrow down what foods you can try based on their ingredients.

Hope this helps…all the best!

[Donna G B]

I am new to Food Advisor, I have 3 fur kids: Seniors, Willie Bill 13 years old, full of Allergies, takes shots for the Allergies, has a leaky valve in heart, heart murmur #4-6, little growths on kidneys etc. Poor baby is such a good little boy. He has been on Science Diet for years z/d, I HATE IT. He is allergic to so many things, Food: Sweet Potatoes, white potatoes, eggs, beef, tomatoes, shellfish and borderline on so many others: Rice etc. I need to get him off this z/d but it is scary to try.
My other two are: Walley: Rescue, 8 yrs. All teeth pulled except 4. Had pancreatitis and was put on I/d Science Diet for such a long time. I HATE THAT and put him on Royal Canine for Intestinal problems (with a new dogtor) well THAT is full of grains, etc. So, I decided to put him on “Wellness” Senior Formula just getting ready to switch him and my other Yorkie (Willow) little over 5 lbs. 10 year old Yorkie that has had pancreatitis also, and I find the word CARRAGEENNE in the ingredients. Look on computer and that is NOT GOOD, so called them. They told me it was “Food Grade” and not the harmful one. I BELIEVED THEM and then looked up “Food Grade Carrageene” and it is just as bad, I guess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see much advice on this site for Senior, low fat Canned Dog Food. Not much about seniors at all. Maybe not looking in the right place. HELP!!!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Tara L-
I feed my dogs Whole Earth Farms Pork, Lamb and Beef. It is poultry free, and I think it is fairly low in protein and fat, but maybe not as low as you are looking for. There really is no standard set for senior dog food. You may want to check out three and four starred foods on the review side. They tend to be lower in protein. Good luck to you!

[anonymously]

I have 3 small breed dogs, two are seniors, one has allergies. They all do well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea dry as a base, I add a topper (1/3rd of the meal) such as cooked chopped chicken or scrambled egg, meat…canned food when I’m desperate.
All 3 (annual checkups) have had lab work within normal limits recently, so I hesitate to try anything new. Although, Orijen and Fromm look good. I may try them at some point.

PS: Add a splash of water, a lot of dogs don’t drink enough water, for seniors soak the kibble in water overnight before serving. Check Chewy.com for prices.
Also, if you pour a tablespoon of homemade chicken broth (no chemicals) over the kibble (any kibble)….they will eat it, unless they are sick.
Kibble all by itself is boring. You have to add at least a spoonful of something. Just my opinion.

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

[Marjorie M]

There are 2 foods that we purchase. The moist food is ordered directly from the Robert Abady company which makes a low phosphorus/lower (but good) protein foods for both dogs and cats. For my 7 year (recently adopted) Lab with kidney disease we use Beef-based formula for maintenance & stress for adult dogs.
The kibble we use is a Blue Basic Limited Ingredient Senior which is also low phosphorus/low protein. That is not the only food he gets but the rest is a meal regimen which is all fresh food.
Yes, aside from baby carrots and lettuce, he is given 2 different dog treats which are seem to be within the acceptable range.
He is also given supplements daily as well as probiotics and occasionally digestive enzymes along with certain protein in an attempt to keep the BUN levels withing normal range. BTW, his last CBC showed everything in the normal range!

[Mallary P]

Hi all:

My beloved (spayed) Shih Tzu will be 9 years old this year and I’ve recently [this month] switched her to the Fromm Surf and Turf Grain Free food, which she seems to enjoy. My dog has LOTS of food allergies and we spent about two years plus lots of trial/error to find her a good food. In the beginning the vet had her on Science Diet and steroids for about a week, but that was not a long term solution. She gets whelps (almost like acne) all over her and it’s very itchy. Poor baby. For a long time, she was on Nature’s Recipe limited Ingredient Chicken and Sweet Potato Food. She did well on it [no breakouts], but it wasn’t as great when I read the report on her. Given that she is moving into her senior years, I want to make sure she has the best quality everything because I love her and I want her around for a long time. She gets a decent amount of exercise for a Shih Tzu and is a good weight–according to the vet.

I see some of the forums on here suggesting that they given their dogs different high quality foods in rotation. She’s really enjoying Fromm, but I would like to give her another high quality food to give her some variety. Any recommendations? Acana, Orijen, etc?

She generally does better with Chicken, Salmon, and duck. Beef, Pork, and too much diary has proven to be no-nos in our house. She loves raw carrots as a treat and antler bones to chew. Sometimes I give her high quality canned food, so if I could get both kibble/ canned food recommendations that would be great!

[aimee]

Hi Micheal and Diane,

The phosphorus content of all these foods mentioned are far above what would be desired for a kidney patient and are not what would be considered low phosphorus foods. The phos level on a percentage basis for a kidney diet would be about .3% The Lotus senior diet at 0.5 % would be closest but as I said any OTC food will be higher than what is desired for a dog that needs phos restriction.

[Michael C]

Solid Gold Lil’ Boss, that I mentioned before, is .88% phosphorus. Also, Solid Gold also has Sunday Sunrise with Lamb that is .73%, Native Sun with Buffalo and Dream Catcher with Rabbit that are .74%, Holilstique Blendz with Ocean Fish meal that is .75%, Leaping Waters with Salmon that is .81%, Mmillennia with Beef that is .85%, Fit and Fabulous with Alaskan Pollock and Wild Eye Dreamer with Duck that are .86%, and Star Chaser with Chicken that is .89%. I’m pretty sure my vet once told me that anything below 1% phosphorus is considered low, but check with your vet. Lotus has a senior dog food that is .50% phosphorus.

[C4D]

Changing their diet to a better rated food should help with the gas. Take a look at some of the 3-4 star foods on DFA. I do like the foods suggested by InkedMarie, but if they are older dogs and have been on low quality food their whole life, you will need to do a very slow transition, no matter what better quality food you switch to. I never feed my older dogs senior food. If your dogs are overweight, choose one that is lower in fat and make sure you are not overfeeding them. If this doesn’t help with the gas, you might try to switch to a different protein.

Sorry I can’t help with the poop eating. None of my dogs have ever done this.

[Paula C]

I recently adopted a 10 1/2 year old senior shih-tzu and after 3 weeks she stopped eating. She lost 2 of her 14#.
She became severely dehydrated, requiring hospitalization. Her liver panel numbers were more than doubled — except ALT (not to be over 240) came in at 4300. Medication for her liver helped slightly but not too well for her appetite. She’s had 5 additional blood panels run and her 4300 went down to 3700, then 2400, then 2000, then 800, and now at 329. We are headed in the right direction — WITH the EXCEPTION of her eating. I have tried premium dog foods, dry and wet — home cook a recipe the vet gave me — none of these have any appeal for her. I finally gave her Cesar tubs which she will occasionally eat. I found Shep tubs (turkey) at Aldi’s and she LOVES it — I found Shep dry food rating online which was extremely poor — but I can’t find any nutritional information online for the wet dog food. Can you help me? I’ve had her for 2 months and my vet bills are out of sight. This little sweetheart needs any helpful information you can provide. I should also mention that between her 3rd to 5 week, she would go into “trances” and was totally out of touch. She would stand stock still and stare at the wall for 10-15 minutes at a time, not responding to me at all. Thankfully, that has subsided.

[InkedMarie]

The only way to really stop poop eating is to pick it up as soon as they go.
Neither food you’ve fed is very good. I assume your dogs are seniors and/or need to lose weight. Senior dogs don’t need a senior food; most of them are too low in protein for senior dogs, the exception being Orijen senior.

If they need to lose weight, look at Annamaet Lean or Wellness Core reduced fat. Both may help with the gas; you can try a probiotic as well.

[Susan]

Hi, Holistic Select Senior digest easy the protein-26% fat-10% fiber-3.5% & has 3 proteins… as dogs get older sometimes high fat & high protein diets can cause problems like pancreatitis, acid reflux so keep that in mind…..Holistic Select Guaranteed money back
http://holisticselect.com.au/senior-dry-dog-food-chicken-meal-and-rice#ingredients

[C4D]

InkedMarie is right, but transition slowly if you’ve never rotated your dogs’ food before. A good idea for all dogs, including seniors is to add some fresh or wet food. It will keep them more hydrated, which is important for all the organs body functions. It’s helpful for seniors as their sense of smell tends to diminish as they age.

[InkedMarie]

You dont need a senior food. Most of them are too low in protein. Senior dogs need higher protein. Orijen senior is the exception; very good food. Any high quality, higher protein food is what you want. Head over to the review side & choose a 4 or 5 star food.

Foods I like are Annamaet, Dr Tim’s, Farmina, Natures Logic, Acaca, Orijen

[John H]

Looking for dry food that others have had good results with for senior dogs. No major health issues, etc. just looking to be able to offer my senior Vizslas–age 10 and 11, a different food that may tickle their taste buds. Thanks.
John Heycock

[Rick Dunn]

No disrespect intended here but unfortunately Jakes_Mom “A healthy dog eating appropriate food does not need vitamin supplements.” could not be more wrong.

Even the best researched, sourced and prepared foods either commercially available or homemade (which includes raw diets) fall short in all of the essential vitamins, minerals, metals and nutrients that a dog is intended to have in it’s body by nature. Subsequently their bodies become out of balance which in turn compromises their immune systems. This is a proven fact and just can not be disputed, justified or excused away by anyone.

Proper supplementation brings the body back into balance and allows the immune system go back to its normal level. You can deny this all you wish… my statements are factual, backed by scientific research and proven in dogs for more than 30 years.

What is a Supplement?

Pet supplements are defined as either dietary or therapeutic supplements. Dietary supplements (also called dietary nutrients) are substances added to pet foods to make them nutritionally complete and balanced. Therapeutic supplements (also called nutraceuticals) are foods or food nutrients that are taken orally to provide a health benefit, either for prevention or treatment of disease. To have this therapeutic effect, a nutraceutical is usually taken in a larger dose than the daily requirement of that same food when used as a nutrient.

What is Dr Kruger Pet Supplements?

It is the only complete supplement on the market, covering all aspects of a dog’s health. Dr Kruger Pet Supplements naturally correct commercial, home made and natural pet food’s deficiencies in three crucial ways by adding essential vitamins and minerals, important digestive enzymes for complete food absorption, and beneficial intestinal bacteria to supercharge the immune system. Each formulation has additional ingredients to focus on those particular areas of the pets health that it is deficient in.

Our formulas meet the specific needs of your pet through each stage of life. Whether your dog is a puppy, adult or senior; one that is active, in show or spends most of his time indoors, there is a Dr Kruger Pet Supplements formula that is just right for his needs.

Why use Dr Kruger Pet Supplements?

Since 1986 our supplements have been alleviating gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, loose stools, vomiting and gas as well as itchy skin, hot spots, shedding and allergies. Our Supplements will help with both occasional and chronic digestive problems such as bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), toxic gut syndrome (TGS), torsion, sensitive stomach, inflamed bowel, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Other conditions helped by our supplements include allergies, arthritis, inflamed joints, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and a host of others.

Dr Kruger Pet Supplements, when used daily provide the necessary vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, digestive enzymes, microbes and other probiotics for the health of your pet. Made from all natural ingredients, Dr. Kruger’s Supplements provide a holistic approach to your pets health helping your dog or cat absorb more nutrients from their diet. When used in combination with a healthy, organic food, Dr. Kruger’s Supplements ensure better health through better digestion… naturally!

Dr. Kruger’s approach was to address the “Whole Dog” not just a symptom, this is why our supplements work so well. Everyday Health Formula is in ALL of our Formulas as the foundation; we then add specific elements to address and make up the additional Formulas we offer. The final reason our Formulas have worked for so many years is Dr. Kruger knew that a dogs health requirements will change over it’s lifetime. He developed his Formulas to address those changes from the beginning of life through the twilight years.

Puppy & Pregnancy Formula
Everyday Health Formula
Healthy Skin & Coat Formula
High Performance Formula
Healthy Skin & Coat Formula
Healthy Joint Formula
Senior Health Formula

All of our ingredients are:

Human Grade
Non-GMO
All Natural
Sourced in the USA Only
Manufacture in the USA
There are NO Fillers in our Formulas; our Formulas are dosed by the dogs food intake as that is the only true way to know how much supplementation should be administered.

The importance of healthy digestion is critical to overall health of your pet. That is why we recommend that at least the Everyday Health Formula to be a consistent supplement to your pets food every day!

We prove this EVERY SINGLE DAY!

[Mary Susan S]

We have two bichons. One of them (now almost 12) has been diagnosed with allergies ever since she was two, and the baby of the family (now three) may be developing them. We want to feed them the same kibble in any case. The senior dog’s allergies got worse last year, and we started looking at a food component for the first time.

We have the joy and trouble of having a very particular veterinary allergist. She wanted originally to sell us a prescription diet, which “is not rated due to its intentional therapeutic design” here on the DFA. But the ingredient list speaks volumes: “Dried potato, venison meal, coconut oil, potato protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, natural flavors, vegetable oil, fish oil, ….” I dug my heels in. Luckily for me, they had added the hydrolyzed soy protein when my allergist’s back was turned. Supposedly, this doesn’t trigger allergies the way plain soy does, but I could claim principle. Really, I objected to feeding my dogs potatoes flavored with venison!

At that point, the doctor wanted us to cook for our dogs, which I also refused to do on the grounds that I don’t cook for us, either. However, if you are willing to do so, you will definitely know what your dog is getting. With otc kibbles, apparently, you don’t, not really. Even a high-quality company (one that actually makes their own kibble) probably makes different formulas on the same equipment, and might or might not clean thoroughly enough in-between runs. My allergist knows of a website that helps with balanced recipes for dogs, and if you like, I could find out what it is.

But we forged onward, valiantly. Our allergist likes Champion because they make their own kibble and in general maintain very high quality. So first I went for ACANA Lamb & Okanagan Apple Singles Formula. However, doc cited research at Cornell that a diet limited to lamb is linked to heart disease in dogs. Pork is a common allergen, too, so we first picked a rabbit-only kibble that did fine in terms of allergies but had our younger dog eating dirt. I wish Acana made Singles in the more unusual meats, like venison! But we then tried Acana Singles Pork and Butternut Squash, and fortunately, our dogs seem to be doing well enough on it. (Yes, on top of drugs — Atopica — for our senior dog.)

It’s been rough, because our babies like their treats and kongs and such. The only “limited diet” canned food I’ve been able to find that my allergist didn’t promptly dismiss out of hand is Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet. (Although I have to confess, she really wants us to go with baby food. Sadly, the only single-protein baby food we could find was too runny to keep inside a kong.) At least rabbit or pork (and nothing else) treats have been findable on Chewy.com, although they’re expensive.

The key to what you’re doing is to know your kibble ingredient list, cross your fingers and hope that that is actually all that’s in the bag, and not buy anything else. No treats from the table (except for steamed or raw vegetables), that sort of thing. (Oddly, peanut butter was fine with a veterinary allergist!) Oh was there joy in this house when we got to the point of adding cheese back into the dogs’ diet!

Be especially careful with eggs, by the way, because it’s in just about all the quality foods (like the Fromm brand you’re talking about), and is apparently a very common allergen. We probably won’t ever try putting it back. You need to go at least two months with a given set of foods before adding anything, and then one at a time.

I hope this helps, especially the warning about an all-lamb diet. Unfortunately, I don’t have an actual citation for it.

[C4D]

Hi jenne e,

jakes mom is right. If your vet did a needle aspiration and said it was a lipoma, I would just leave it alone. Lipomas are not cancerous, some vets don’t even like to call them “fatty tumors” because it gives people the impression of being a cancerous or dangerous condition. My dogs have had them and my current older lab has a couple of small ones. My vet also recommends leaving them unless it becomes a comfort or mobility issue.

There are various theories as to what actually causes them. Some breeds, like Labs, seem to be more genetically prone to them. Middle age and overweight are often other contributing factors. Some of the more natural, holistic vets think it might be linked to toxins in the body. I have no scientific proof, but after my first Lab mix had several lipomas as he aged, and my current senior Lab started developing a couple of small lipomas (definitively diagnosed) I have started feeding fresher foods, including fresh meat and premix and/or commercial raw as a part of the daily meals. Her lipomas have stayed very small. I’m not sure what you’re feeding now, but better, fresher food is better for the dog’s health overall. It may not help prevent lipomas, but it will improve the dog’s general health.

[Bill K]

Can anyone make some suggestions on a food that our babies can eat that won’t upset their systems.?
Please help. We survive on a very small Social Security payment to feed us all. We are just about broke, but my two little dogs come first. They eat first before we do.

They are both rescues. Our boy, Little One is the oldest and Our girl, Zoey is the latest addition to our family. We got her this past Thanksgiving. A Utah judge was going to put her down if someone from out of state did not take her.

Our sweet boy, is a near blind and completely deaf 16 yr old male 10.5 lb Jack Chi with cancer that is very food sensitive. He wonders why Mommie and Daddy won’t talk or sing to him anymore now that he’s deaf. He looks up at you with so much love and wonder. After several surgeries for his cancer he still is not doing well. He vomits and coughs all the time so what he eats is very important. We need to try to make his last years good.

Our little girl is a six year old, debarked, 4.5 lb Chi that doesn’t even know how to play, or that she is a dog. She was kicked, punched, yelled at, thrown out in the cold and hot every day. Never being trained on how to be indoors without having “accidents”. Her owner kept her inside for 12 to 20 hrs, locked up in a room while she was at work. The owners Mom was home all day but would not do anything but leave her locked in the room, so while locked up she had no choice but to go in the room she was in.

When her owner finally came home, she was kicked, beaten and thrown like a object outside for the night. The next day would be the same. Bring her in, lock her up and throw her out. No one ever showed her any love or gave her the least bit of training. They didn’t even give her food or water often. She now has no idea on how to act at all. I have never seen such terrible abuse on a sweet little one. All she can do is freeze motionless except for shivering, wondering if someone will hit her again since whatever she does is wrong. So she does nothing…
So please help us out with some good brands to keep them healthy and happy that won’t break our bank.

[Marjorie M]

Although it is a small company, I’d like to suggest The Robert Abady Company which makes a canned food which we’ve found very helpful for our recently (within the last 7 months) adopted dog with kidney disease.
As I recall, I found this food because of the contribution of someone on this site.
Although our most recent CBC results were not entirely based upon the Abady Complete Beef-based formula for Maintenance & Stress, life has been less stressful for me knowing that this food has only a maximum of 0.51% phosphorus and uses “good” protein sources.
Having both his creatinine and BUN levels fall to within normal range has made it easier to stick to a 3 meal a day schedule which includes supplements, egg, sweet potatoes, beans and probiotics.
BTW although he is only about 7, because of the kidney disease he was started on Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Senior before we adopted him. That is the kibble he is still devouring.

[Carolyn H]

Actually, I think there is a a very good reason senior foods are lower in protein. My eight year old has developed hepatic nodular hyperplasia, which is a lesion on his liver and is extremely common in middle aged to old dogs. It was discovered when an ultrasound was done after his liver enzymes were measured and found to be extremely high. The high protein and fat in dog foods increases liver enzymes, and as dogs get older they are more prone to get these lesions. In one study, lesions occurred in ALL dogs over 14 years old.
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_dg_hepatic_nodular_hyperplasia

[El]

Hi Sadie’s Mom

I’m so sorry that your pup is not feeling well 🙁

I’ve read your current posts, and your previous posts about Sadie’s “slipped disc”. Pitlove was right on target when she told you;

“More often than not, when a dog that was once a very food motivated dog suddenly stops wanting to eat with the same enthusiasim, there is something wrong medically”

In Sadie’s case, a 9 year old overweight Dachshund with disc problems, her back is going to be a problem area for sure! Whether there is something else going on, I can’t say.

When you take her to the vet on Tuesday, I would have him do a complete physical (if possible) and a senior blood panel, with a urine analysis (if possible). I would make sure he checks out her back, her teeth, as well as the the rest of her.

– Moistening her kibble could help if she has an oral problem

– Adding canned food could also help if she has an oral problem, and it will also boost the overall quality of her diet. I would mix it in thoroughly so she can’t eat the canned without eating the kibble. For your other dogs you could mix in a little less.

– Please try to get her on the lean side, please, please, please.

I hope that Sadie feels better soon 😉

[Pitlove]

Hi Sadie’s Mom-

More often than not, when a dog that was once a very food motivated dog suddenly stops wanting to eat with the same enthusiasim, there is something wrong medically. Sounds like you’re taking the right steps in bringing her into the vet next week for the tooth. It’s probably time to have a full exam and maybe blood work done since she is a senior. Not sure how recently she’s been in for her senior blood work and check up.

Don’t forget- not all dogs will act like they are in pain or something is wrong.

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

[InkedMarie]

Anne,
I agree with a vet visit but a) Blue ihas had their share of problems; a quick google search will show you.
Your dog doesn’t need a senior dog food. With the exception of Orijen senior, most of the rest are too low in protein for senior dogs. Pick a high quality adult or all life stages food. I’d say do a slow transition to a new food but since he’s having issues with Blue, use a probiotic and digestive enzyme, slow transition anyway & expect tummy upset.

[boobear27]

Thanks Pitlove!..I’m gonna try mixing the canned food in with the dry..I guess she might be associating her upset stomach with her food..She did fine eating that kibble for 4 months and now she won’t eat it..She use to eat Wellness for small breed but she was gaining alot of weight..She is also a senior dog..I gradually switched her to Wellness core reduced fat and she shed the pounds and started to be more active.

[anne g]

Hi! I have a mix rescue dog, about 12 years old, 60 lbs. We became concerned about the Beneful rumors concerning quality. Also, since he’s getting older, we wanted to make sure he was getting the best food. About 6 weeks ago we switched from Beneful to Blue Buffalo for senior dogs food. He’s since experience a lot of gas and diarrhea. We’re going to switch food again. Any suggestions? Thank you!

[InkedMarie]

Hi Rani,
I have not fed any senior type of food for my senior dogs. I do feed grainfree (grains can be inflammatory & I also don’t believe dogs need grains) with highr protein and supplement for joint and any other issues. I currently use green lipped mussel but in the past have had good results with Dog Gone Pain, In Clover Connectin and Glycoflex.

[anonymously]

I don’t know if this would meet the criteria for your dog, but my senior likes it as a topper http://www.chewy.com/dog/newmans-own-organics-grain-free-95/dp/44975
Newman’s Own Organics Grain-Free 95% Turkey Dinner Canned Dog Food

[InkedMarie]

September,
Senior dogs need a good higher protein food. Most senior foods are way too low in protein, the exception being Orijen senior.
I have had many senior dogs, three of which came to me already old. One was obese on arrival so she got a lower fat food but the other two just got good food. I supplement with green lipped mussel for joints and any other issues.

[C4D]

Hi September D,

I’ve owned a lot of dogs over the years. I’ve never fed a senior dog food to them. Senior dog food is really just a marketing ploy. My large breed dogs live well over their expiration date. The most important thing is to watch that they don’t gain too much weight, get exercise on a daily basis, and address any health issues they might have as they age or due to injuries they have sustained. I also get yearly checkups and do blood panels on a regular basis. That let’s you know if there are any issues that might need addressing. My vet once said to walk my dogs for as long as they could walk. I’ve always done that. I’m not saying this is a miracle cure, but dogs need exercise and they need a job. That’s their job and they love it. I have a senior right now, 11 yo Lab along with other older adult dogs, but if you didn’t know her age, you wouldn’t think she was that old. She has bad knees too, but she walks briskly almost 2 miles daily and runs the yard after everything she sees. She does get supplements (fish oil, joint care) and I am very careful about her diet to keep her lean. I also feed her a combination of kibble, canned and fresh/raw food daily. So, I’ll get off my soap box now. Best of luck with your pup!

[Mike Sagman]

Hi September D,

Thanks for your suggestion. We’re planning to publish an article with specific advice on what to look for when choosing a dog food for senior pets. And we hope to post that article sometime during the current year.

Until then, you should be able to use the search box on our website and enter the search term “senior” or “mature” to help you get started — until we post our article.

However, please keep in mind that there’s more to think about when choosing a dog food for your senior pet than just seeing the words “senior” or “mature adult” in the name of the product.

Hope this helps.

[crazy4cats]

Hi September-
I’m not sure you necessarily have to feed a senior food to your dog because there are no official AAFCO requirements for that life stage. It is up to each company to decide what they want to market as a “senior” dog food. Just visit the websites to check out what the companies are all about when deciding. That being said, I have fed two formulas that were marketed as senior/healthy weight that I thought were good for my dogs. They are Nutrisource and Victor. I agree with anonymously that it is good to add a little something to their base kibble meals. Best of luck with your pup.

[anonymously]

Check Wysong http://www.chewy.com/dog/wysong-senior-dry-dog-food-5-lb-bag/dp/50242
It is always best to add a spoonful of scrambled egg or something, make it more interesting. Think of the kibble as a base.

[September D]

This website and forum is wonderful! I would like to ask, that if possible, some time be given to reviewing senior dog foods, particularly kibble. I have a 10 year old poodle. He doesn’t need to lose weight but should have benefits of other things that will be good for him as he ages. Since you have stated that senior dog foods for the most part are terrible, I would like to know which ones are actually good. I’m sure others would appreciate this info too. Perhaps a category could be made for them. Just a suggestion.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by September D.

[Rani I]

Hello all, I have a 72-pound hound mix; Titus has been on Rachel Ray Grain Free for about 2 years and I would like to switch him to something comparable but cheaper (I’m about to switch two seniors to mobility diets).

4Health is less expensive and overall looks like a good brand (very similar to Rachel Ray) and comes in a 30lb bag versus 28lb. Has anyone had any poor experiences with it? My concern is that Diamond manufactures the Grain Free series and is known for having recalls.

Secondly, I’m trying to determine which bag will last me longer. I’ve tried to read other forums and could not find the answer that suits my specific situation.

How long does a 30lb bag of 4Health Grain Free or any 30lb bag with the values; 3,450 kcal/kg (323 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy last you based on the number of cups you feed?

Based on the values and my dogs normal intake I will be feeding aprox. 3 cups a day.

Thirdly, I appreciate any input on a quality mobility food for Seniors.
What brand do you use?
Do you offer vitamins or pain medication, in addition?
If so, what kind? Regularly or as needed?
Did you see a drastic change or is it keeping them comfortable?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

[Amateria]

Had no idea were to put this “none” haha so I put it here, anyways I recently received my order of the k9 natural which is fine it looks good no noticeable hairs on that one, but the Sunday Pets grain free senior baked version has a tonne of hair in it and I mean every single piece is filled to the rim with hairs, black hairs at that in a lamb formula, there is also white hairs and there’s more whites than there is blacks.

Is this even as safe as everyone says it is? I mean if you see 1-2 hairs its probably not a big deal but this is like a hair festival :p, the company assured me via email that their ingredients list is meant to be read as meat and meal and meat and bone meal lamb, however its been 4 months since they said they were in the process of changing the packaging and their website info and I feel that maybe there’s more lies going on here than truth and that these hairs are from extra animals been mixed together not just lamb and fish.

Also here’s the ingredients list so you don’t have to look it up, it looks really good except for the top part, which does kinda look fishy.

Our Ingredients/ Composition:Meat & Meal(min 78%) including Meat & Bone Meal, Free Range Lamb, Fish Meal. Vegetables(min 10%) including Potato, Carrot, Pumpkin, Celery. Fruits(min 5.5%) including Apple, Blueberry. Egg(min 1%), Apple Cider Vinegar(min 0.6%), Manuka Honey(min 0.6%), Green Lip Mussel(min 0.4%), Kelp(min 0.1%), Flaxseed(min 0.1%), Fennel(min 0.07%), Molasses. Nutritional Additives: Vitamins -Vitamin A 16 kIU/kg, Vitamin D3 1 kIU/kg, Vitamin E 400 IU/kg, Vitamin B1 0.9 mg/kg, Vitamin B12 0.5 mg/kg, Thiamine 50mg/kg (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 45 mg/kg, Niacin 450 mg/kg, Pantothemic Acid (Vitamin B5) 50 mg/kg, Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 38 mg/kg, Biotin 1 mg/kg, Folic Acid 5.2 mg/kg, Choline 2700 mg/kg, Ascorbic Acid 55 mg/kg. Minerals- Magnesium 0.1% , Manganese 27 mg/kg, Potassium Carbonate, Cobalt 0.47 mg/kg, Selenium 0.9 mg/kg, Iron 240 mg/kg, Zinc 200 mg/kg, Copper 26 mg/kg, Iodine 1.8 mg/kg.

[Shawna]

I’ve read research discussing illnesses associated with palatants (specifically MSG and free glutamic acid) but I’ve never heard of them associated with copraphagia. Additionally, several of the supplements given for copraphagia have MSG or a form of free glutamic acid in them. Although they don’t work for all dogs, they do seem to work for some. I’m not sure what other palatants are used in pet foods?

Although I never had copraphagia, 🙂 I did have pica for about 15 or so years. I didn’t have digestive issues of any kind but turns out I had villous atrophy from a caseine sensitivity (I react to both cow and goat dairy products, raw or pasteurized, organic makes no difference either). My blood work was normal however my iron was on the very low side of normal. I also developed slight hypothyroid symptoms but test showed no issues. Anyhoo, I was finally diagnosed at age 39 by a wonderful M.D. who is also a Certified Clinical Nutritionist. She put me on an elimination diet. The only ingredients that jump out at me in Barking at the Moon would be the lectin proteins in the pea protein and the potato. I’ve not seen either of those lectin foods associated with villous atrophy but so much about lectins is still not yet known…?? Treats might be a potential source?

I currently feed commercial raw but used to feed home prepared (my time is limited now). Three of my dogs used to make a game out of eating bunny poo. That completely stopped when I started giving digestive enzymes. I never felt they were necessary in raw fed dogs but those three showed me differently. An adult foster dog came in eating poo. She was also a little over 20 pounds overweight. We got the weight off but no matter what we’ve tried she is a poop eater. She’s been an ideal weight (12 pounds) for several years now (we adopted her) but she still to this day has a snack given the opportunity. She won’t eat all poo though, so I’m assuming my senior dogs are not thoroughly digesting the proteins despite the added enzymes.

I don’t know if any of this is relevant to your pup but thought I’d put it out there.