[DogFoodie]

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

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

Protein – 38 %
Fat – 15 %
Fiber – 8 %

[Ryan K]

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

[Anonymous]

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

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

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

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

[jakes mom]

Could someone just speak generally about supplements, what they give their dog (or cats, I have both) and why? There’s so much info out there! If you’re not giving a medicine, supplement, etc for a specific problem ( and see an improvement) how do you know it’s helping and worth giving? Just believe the literature and hope it’s helping? Heartworm season is upon us, and I’ve been hearing about milk thistle after hw meds. I hear about supergreen capsules, coconut oil, fish oil, on and on. With no FDA oversight, how do I even know if it’s got what the company says it has and I’m not wasting money? I’d like to hear from people who regularly give their pets supplements, what kind and how much (per # of animal), and what companies you trust. Right now dog gets joint supplement and also RMBs and dog and cats all enjoy some coconut oil. They’re all seniors. What would you be giving them if you were me? Thanks in advance!

[zcRiley]

It would be really cool (one day) if we could be in any review category (any list/page) and have a pull down menu to sort thru things faster. Like when shopping online. I know it’d take a lot of revamping/programming. The following are a few samples:

Price high to low
Price low to high
Protein low to high
Protein high to low
Senior food, Big Breed food, etc.
Recalled btwn Enter date thru Enter date
OR
Enter ingredient (i.e. flaxseed) and all foods containing that will show up, but only in whatever star rating list you’re looking at.
Enter “no potato” and all foods containing the word potato will NOT show up.
Enter Made In “location” (i.e. Canada).

Or will this complicate things, LOL. Anyway, thanks for reading, guys! 🙂

[Bobby dog]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[crazy4cats]

BDawg-
If I remember correctly, the old list doesn’t have Iams on it? Coincidentally, i have been buying a few cans of Iams here and there lately. My cats will USUALLY eat it. It’s not a bad price either. And, btw, I am going to start calling you Aimee, jr., you tend to be mentioning a lot of Purina foods lately, Hmmm? LOL! I confess, my crew does share at least one can of Friskies or Fancy Feast every morning. Also, since most of mine, except my senior are getting chubby so I have been feeding less. They beg for more, but I’m staying strong. However, what I have found is they are being a little less picky when they are hungry. Fancy that, LOL!

All-
Regarding stews, mine will eat the carrots, but not the peas. Except for my picky sr. kitty, will go to every bowl and suck the peas right up! It’s the funniest thing. It’s the little things in life that amuse me now! I still think most stews are a bit of a rip off though. They are way too expensive to be full of veggies (fillers) and water rather than meat!

[Bobby dog]

AGT:
That’s too bad. My Wal-Mart only has three (?) of the recipes. I haven’t bought any lately. They don’t like the chic pate’ and I bought the GF Turkey & Chic w/sauce by mistake that I recommended to you. My cats never like gravies or diced recipes of any kind. So I was bummed when I opened that and here my senior girl ended up loving it. I hope the other tub works out for you. Finding food they will eat is ridiculous.

The Muse just looks like the Beyond line except it includes toppers and broths. I guess that will be their “natural” line for pet stores and the Beyond will be sold in grocery stores.

[Bobby dog]

Hi cat lovers:
I have some food reviews for you. I tried Canidae Life Stages canned foods. I believe these are new recipes, or it’s also possible I just never noticed them. I was surprised at the price, 50 cents for the grain inclusive 3 oz cans. The GF recipes were around $1. I tried the Turkey and the Lamb grain inclusive entree’s. The food is a small chunk style and very hearty. Even though it’s in gravy it holds it form. None of my cats liked it. It is the type of food that smells like human food, like it’s seasoned. My cats don’t seem to care for those types of recipes.

I gave Halo a try again. Although they would not disclose their manufacturers I was comfortable giving them a try after they confirmed they do not use Evanger’s or Diamond. I picked up the Vigor Turkey & Quail pate’ canned food. I didn’t have much hope for it because my cats seem to be pretty much chicken, turkey, or beef eating kind of cats. I fed a small serving to my very picky senior male. He gobbled it up. I ended up feeding the rest of the 5.5 oz. can to him. He finished every morsel. He will barely eat 2 oz./ per meal. I know at least one cat likes it anyway. I am going to give the other flavors a try.

Finally, for my crunchy addicts, I tried I and Love and You Poultry a Plenty. My grocery store started carrying their products, that makes it real convenient. The cats loved it; adding it to my rotation. The carbs are fairly low, 18% DMB. The company would not disclose their manufacturers either, but confirmed they do not use Evanger’s or Diamond.

[Bobby dog]

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

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

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

[Bobby dog]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Thank you for contacting Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Bobby dog]

Thanks Jakes mom!! Such is life, right? You must keep moving forward.

That is so funny, my hyper-t kitty will eat Primal FD regularly too. Luckily for me, he still eats other foods! The other two most senior kitties will eat it once or twice a month; they are the kitty crack addicts and I don’t think that will change in their lifetime.

[Pitlove]

My little girl is only 7 months old and no health problems so I guess I have a lot less to worry about. I remember having my senior cat, but that was before I had a clue and he ate an all dry diet of probably bad food ( can’t remember what it was). The only food she has had stomach issues with was Nutro Natural Choice. The main ingredient that I noticed in all of them that she has never had was Pork Broth. Maybe the culprit? Other than that her poops stay good on any other canned food.

Edit: Just read your post about WEF. I tried it the minute we got them at work (Petco). I wasn’t that happy. The pate sticks to the top of the can and the “sauce” was completely hardened already. Could be a bad batch delivered to my work. Willing to try it again though.

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

[crazy4cats]

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

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

[Bobby dog]

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

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

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

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

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

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

Here’s my favorite cat sites:

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

Home

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

[Anonymous]

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

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

[Anonymous]

/forums/topic/amonium-urate/ /forums/topic/struvite-crystals/

This subject has come up before, check the threads above for some helpful tips.
My dog with a hx of stones is doing well on Wysong senior (soaked in water), potassium citrate tabs, 4 small meals per day with water added, and frequent bathroom breaks

[Anonymous]

/forums/topic/amonium-urate/ /forums/topic/struvite-crystals/

This subject has come up before, check the threads above for some helpful tips.
My dog with a hx of stones is doing well on Wysong senior (soaked in water), potassium citrate tabs, 4 small meals per day with water added, and frequent bathroom breaks

[Erin G]

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

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

[C4D]

Aj K, I used Derramax years ago because I had a lab mix and knew the issues with labs and Rimadyl. Even though I used small occaisonal doses and was careful, it did a number on his liver and ultimately his kidneys. The adequan is a very good choice and I realize the dog is senior, but Tramadol (more of a morphine like based pain killer but no damage to liver or kidneys) might be a better choice. We switched to that when the kidney failure set it. Fish oil supplements would be helpful and Dori offered some supplement suggestions that could be useful. Good luck with your baby!

[Tal R]

Hi!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Regards,
T.R.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Tal R.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Tal R.

[Anonymous]

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

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

[InkedMarie]

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

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

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

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

[Tal R]

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

I would appreciate any advice or tips.

If any additional information is required, let me know…

Thanks!
T.R.

[DeAnah G]

Thank you for your response CockalierMom, I was hoping someone on here could relate. I was thinking of doing the same, cooking her own chicken and rice but didn’t know how she would get all her nutrients. The senior multi vit added is a great idea. I will call the vet tomor in regards to the changes I would like to make. Besides, if she is already taking a diuretic why be on such a low sodium diet? I don’t want her to get dehydrated..? I would much rather her last years be happy ones rather than miserable. He also said her heart won’t get any better anyway unless she gets a heart transplant, so what’s the point right? I will check into the correct natural foods and vitamins that will be best for her, thanks again!! 🙂

[CockalierMom]

One of my previous cockers had an enlarged heart, tracheal problems and fluid build up and she was on similar medications. She started coughing when she was 7 years old and enlarged heart was diagnosed. Vet put her on theophylline at that time and was on it for 5 years before changing her to Enalapril and Lasix, which is a diuretic like Furoquid. The meds did help and she lived to 14 1/2 with a very good quality of life during the entire time. For the last 3 or 4 years, I home cooked chicken and brown rice with vegetables and gave her a senior multi vitamin to help with missing nutrients. This was several years ago when chicken and brown rice was recommended for heart conditions–don’t know if it is still the recommendation now.

I am sure some of the other people here have more knowledge about this than I do and they will be along to give assistance.

[jakes mom]

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

[Beth F]

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

[Beth F]

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

[Anonymous]

Any kibble with chicken (salmonella), or any jerky/treats (China) are suspect, no matter what the brand, imo.

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry food is the food that my small breed that has allergies and a sensitive stomach likes. Her specialist/dermatologist agrees it is the right food for her, limited ingredients.

I like Wysong, but she had some GI upset with it, however, my senior small breed does best on Wysong senior.

[Jan E]

Age has a way of creeping up on us all…I have 3 seniors now – 11 y/o Rotti/malamuteX w/ diabetes and low thyroid, 14 y/o Australian Kelpie X w/ arthritis issues, & 10 y/o lab/Rotti X. I have seen the “same poop balls” from my 10 y/o this past winter, I assumed it was from drinking less water as the consistency seemed dry in these “chunks”. He is fed a 5 star kibble w/ a 5 star canned topper. I started soaking his kibble prior to feeding and the incontinence cleared!
Best to you!

[misjea]

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

[C4D]

I hope everything works out well for your senior girl. It’s always tough when they get to the geriatric stage. We had a 15 year old Husky mix that started urinating at night. Have you thought of putting a doggie diaper on her just to keep her dry and clean? Also I think you mentioned that she had arthritis. Have you tried adding just a bit of fish oil to her diet or some of the commercially available arthritis dog meds like cosequin? Adequin is a vet prescribed injection that you can be taught to use by the vet. There is always turmeric (my own preference) if you want to try a more natural approach. Easing the arthritis pain has helped my older dogs and while it might not help with the incontinence it could make her more comfortable. The only thing I never recommed are any of the NSAIDS. We used them in very small and occaisional doses and ended up with liver issues and quite possibly the kidney failure that occurred. Good Luck with your girl!

[Debra C]

I have a finicky 11 year old mini schnauzer who knows when it is 7:30 every night and goes to wait for her petite senior Greenie. I know they had some issues a few years ago, but apparently took care of them. As much as she loves them, I like that they also help to clean her teeth. She also loves Zuke’s mini natural peanut butter treats. The ingredient list is good and since her kibble is dry (with a mix of beef , chicken, or turkey) I think she enjoys the soft texture of these and a different taste.

[Anonymous]

I have a 14+ year old small breed, he needed emergency surgery 3 years ago for bladder stones.
He is stable now, but I agree with Jennifer, frequent bathroom breaks. My guy is doing well on Wysong senior, I soak the kibble in water. He gets 4 small meals per day.
I want to keep him comfortable….so far, so good. He sleeps a lot, but still appears to still enjoy his time outside in the yard. There is nothing wrong with his appetite, he does have an occasional accident…..but only when I forget to take him out every 2 hours.
I’m glad you went to the vet.
PS: He has trouble walking, sometimes I have to carry him outside. He has good days and bad days.

[Jennifer H]

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

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

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

[Anonymous]

I would see the vet, at age 13 she is a senior, and if she hasn’t had a checkup and lab work done in the last 2 years, now would be a good time.
Sudden changes in bowel habits such as fecal incontinence, are always red flags.
Her problems may have nothing to do with her diet.
Good luck and please give us an update (if you feel like it)

[Ryan K]

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

[crazy4cats]

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

[Cheryl H]

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

Did I mention I’m obsessed?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Nancy D-

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

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

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

Hope this helps!

[shawn a]

what are some other good grain free kibble beside taste of wild,4health,earthborn that is budget friendly for my senior cat

[cdubau]

I have that on my list to try as well as:

Whole Earth Farms (lowest fat I’ve seen) healthy weight

Horizon senior

Eagle pack.

[Anonymous]

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

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

[Anonymous]

Another idea, if it is really that difficult. Maybe you could ask your vet for a sedative to give her 1 hour prior to the nail clipping?
However, I have found that it is usually not necessary, as long as you have someone that is experienced in nail clipping….it can be done very quickly.
In my area Especially for Pets does it for $7 and it goes to charity, so call around.

I understand the dilemma regarding putting a senior dog under anesthesia, I monitor my old guy closely and I don’t want to go there either…… but if I think he is in pain, I will not hesitate to take him to the emergency vet and go along with what they recommend.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really see any bulge. But, the next time you have the opportunity I would get her nails clipped, the back ones look like they are starting to curl under. Or, it could just be the camera angle…
I have to do my senior once a month, otherwise, it can become painful for him to walk.

[crazy4cats]

Oh, Akari, Baby Girl-
Yes, I’m adopting you as my internet daughter since I only have boys! Just do not be forwarding me any parking or traffic violation tickets like they do! LOL! I’m glad you have a plan of action for Ginger. I hope it goes well. The bigger bulge can’t be good. The good news is that she still is eating and is happy when she is awake! Again, she is so lucky to have you guys to spend these difficult times with.
My senior kitty does have a rotten tooth. We are trying a different type of medication (topical in her ear) to get her thyroid levels down before we think about putting her under anesthesia. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Keep smiling! 🙂

[theBCnut]

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

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

[InkedMarie]

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

[Cheryl H]

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