[Angie W]

My 19yo’s collie puppy (16 months old) got the Rimadyl that my German Shepherd was taking off the counter and ate the entire bottle. It was two week’s worth of Rimadyl and my GSD had only been taking it for two days (had just had surgery).

We didn’t find out that it had been eaten until about 12 hours afterward. I left for work and my oldest daughter found the chewed up bottle about 30 minutes later, but thought it had been an empty bottle from the recycle bin (she’d been on Rimadyl before the surgery too), so she didn’t say anything or think anything of it. I found out when I went to give my GSD her pain medication after work and found the chewed up bottle.

We took all the dogs (also have a Golden Rottie mix) to the emergency vet and they were on IV fluids for 5 days. At that point their BUN and creatinine were normal. They never had any symptoms during this time and still have not shown any symptoms.

At this point, the collie puppy has creatinine 1.8 and is starting to spill protein. This is after one week off of IV fluids. We are going to do a full panel in four weeks to check everything.

The vet said that at this point we do not want to restrict her protein or phosphorus and is worried about blood pressure possibly becoming an issue as well. She said to keep her on her regular kibble, but add water to it. If our golden rottie mix (6yo) has an increase in creatinine, then she said she will recommend switching her over to a senior food for lower protein but not putting her on a prescription diet yet unless her creatinine goes up much higher. Right now the collie puppy’s creatinine is 1.8 and the golden rottie’s creatinine is 1.9.

What I have been feeding her is Kirkland Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables Formula. The local Tomlinson owner is very knowledgeable about dog foods and recommended using Lotus Dog Food. I do like that they list the actual values in their food rather than minimums and maximums.

Any specific recommendations? The collie puppy does not like canned food and never has. She likes crunchy dry food, so I don’t know how she’s going to react to having water added to it. We are going to start adding it in a little at a time and hopefully she just goes along with it. She’s a picky eater

[a c]

Hey,

Can you please recommend any meat base, low fat, and non grain free kibbles with at least 4* for senior dogs with pancreatitis history? I am looking for something with less peas, chickpeas, lentils…

They are currently on a plant base, grain free, and 5* kibbles as a base. I want to rotate them with another brand.

Thank you in advance!

[Robert S]

I used caculator on this site. If I use 11lb it is 301 calories per day for senior dog. I think I just answere my guestion. The 311 KCal is for a cup 8 oz not total can of food I feed. So if i give my dog 50 calories of treats per day I would decrease the 301 to 251 calories. since i feed 2 x’s daily shecwould get 125 kCal each feeding. about 3.3 oz each feeding or 6-7 oz per day. So a can of dig fod with 311 KCal, 13. oz can should last 2 days. (I was trying to make the 860 number for the can and 311 for a cup however mathematically it didn’t work. So I started wondering if the 311 was for the can 13. oz.)

I recently went on wet food. I weigh them often since on wet food. I have tried different food and KCal can be different. So I was just trying to understand the label. They love the wet.

Our female will be 15 in july and has a nass in her abdomen which we assume is slow growing cancer. Plus she has lost some teeth.
Anyway putting her on Canidae Pure Grain Free lamb & chicken has made her into a different dog.

Our male wire hair dachshund has started seizures. I believe that he is a carrier of or has Lafora so I lowered the starch he gets. I feed him Castor & Pollux Butcher and Buhels grain free stew (if on sake) or Merrick whole Earth Grain Free stew. I usually mix some kibbles EVO with his to keep cost down.

Thanks for your help. I have better understanding.

[Jayni]

Hello everyone,

I have bought supplements for my senior dogs, both 10 years old, to help with their joints so I am getting the glucosonine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM, calcium and have started also buying frozen mackerel and sardines recently for omega 3 and arthritis, especially my big lab (not fat).

Question is: how many mid size sardine fish should I give my 77 lbs lab and 37 lbs beagle? Both could stand to shed 2 pounds and are still very active, but lab has slowed down considerably. And at what frequency or intervals?

Question 2 – do I still need to give them their daily supplements along with the sardine fish, or is the latter good enough, or would it be too much together or unnecessary?

I have 2 Supplements – Pro-Sense Joint Solutions, Advanced strength (4 tablets for lab; 2 for Beagle x) and another (not open yet) +PetNaturals of Vermont Hip + Joint tablets (would be in the same portion amounts as the latter).

Or, again,if there are better supplements (since these do not show omaga 3), I’m open to recommendations for senior dogs with Arthritis who already eat fresh sardines, but cooked cuz my lab won’t eat a raw fish. He’ll take it and walk off but won’t rip into it like the other.

Thank you! I know this was long to read! Am looking forward to hear your advice.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Blaire-
Sorry to hear about your pup. I just did a search on Chewy for senior healthy weight recipes and came up with this:

https://www.chewy.com/s?rh=c%3A288%2Cc%3A332%2Cc%3A294%2CLifestage%3ASenior%2CSpecialDiet%3AWeight+Control

Looks like Wellness Complete Healthy Senior Food might be a good option for her. Wellness is a highly regarded brand on this site.

There are a couple of others that might fit your needs as well. Did the vet recommend a prescription diet for her?

[Blaire S]

Vet diagnosed our 8 yr old Tibetan terrier mix as being on the edge of kidney disease. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Vet wants her to lose weight, limit her protein to 20-25%, and fat to 10%.

[a c]

Hi Nancy,

My senior schnauzers are on Annemaet grain free lean low fat kibbles for about 8 months now. I am thinking about rotate them with Wellness Core reduced fat. Annemaet is good, but it has a very strong smell of green tea/herbs? I have to use wet food to cover up some of the smell. I also use Freshpet, can sardines in water, can from Costco, and other fresh meat on our menu as topper for them, and add some warm water to the mix to create a grave like meal.

Do you give yours digestive enzyme or probiotics?

There are so much information out there. I got overwhelmed sometimes. Let me know what you find out.

[Anonymous]

Hi, again, Nancy

Yes, I understand about pancreatitis — my female has it, and we know all about watching the fat intake. The Wellness Core Tender Bites that I have been feeding my pups for about 5 weeks has 21% crude fat, versus the 6% or so in the canned foods (also Wellness Core) I was feeding. But — I’m happy to report — absolutely no problems so far. And I have not had to throw any of the Tender Bites away, whereas I tossed TONS of the canned foods away, uneaten. I was making a lot of my own dog food from chicken breasts (baked), carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. The pups ate this, but not with gusto. I also give them two Nutri-Vet senior vitamin tabs a day. But, so far, they’ve been doing really well on the Tender Bites (but I still offer the canned), which are 70% raw, gently dried.

I should mention that my male pup is sensitive to wheat — it was a long process to determine this, as it was by trial and error. When I avoid wheat in both food and treats, he does really well. I took him to a dermatologist several years ago (he’s 11), but they didn’t test for food allergies. Why???? So I had to do my own food testing. Many dog food products are “grain free” in the last many years, so it’s relatively easy to avoid wheat. Treats are the worse offenders. You might want to try staying away from wheat for awhile to see if this is a problem for your Schnauzers. My male is the one on Apoquel for various other allergies — Apoquel was a LIFE CHANGER!

My pups are mixed breed, but predominately Jack Russell terriers. They are litter-mates, but soooooooo different health-wise. The female has pancreatitis, but no other health issues. The male has diabetes, cataracts (he had surgery for this), and lots of allergies. We have only ever fed them premium foods recommended by DogFoodAdvisor, with the exception of Dr. Marty’s, which I bought from the infomercial.

Stay in touch, Nancy. Best of luck with your food search.

[Ryan K]

I am pretty sure my dog is dealing with tracheal collapse. He is an 8 year old dachshund-terrier mix and he has been gagging for a month now. I have had him to the vet and checked for kennel cough and even had him on a round of antibiotics. My question is this.is there a good supplement to help strengthen the trachea and does anyone have any recommendations? I would need something Brewer’s Yeast free. I was looking at glucosamine supplements but most seem to have that and I know he gets ear infections if I give him anything with even a tiny bit of that in it. I figure I should start him on glucosamine or something similar as it is since he has slipped a disc in the past and should probably strengthen those things now that he is a senior dog. Any brands that are chewy and good for a 24 pound dog would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Mike Sagman]

Most senior dog foods are terrible. They’re based on the myth that older dogs need less protein. Or that high protein causes kidney disease, which is not true (unless your dog has already been diagnosed with a renal disorder).

You should still feed a food that meets the AAFCO nutrient profile for Adult Maintenance. But favor quality (4 and 5-star) recipes featuring moderate calories and above-average protein.

Pay close attention to your dog’s weight each month. Chronic obesity is the number one most common problem associated with senior dogs. Obesity can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis and a host of other life-shortening diseases.

The food you choose isn’t nearly as important as how much you feed.

No matter which food you select, monitor your dog’s Body Condition Score (BCS) every month. And adjust your pet’s serving size slightly up or down to maintain your pet’s ideal BCS. Don’t miss the one-minute video in the center of the article.

And be sure to read our article about “How to Determine Your Dog’s Ideal Weight“.

One more suggestion: While you’re logged into the Editor’s Choice area, click on the link that reads Create Your Own Custom Editor’s Choice List. Select “Type 3” and click the “Senior” feature. You’ll get a list of some of the very best senior dog foods on the market.

Hope this helps.

[Bazuhi]

I have both large breed seniors and many of them and now I have a senior small breed along with younger ones and as long as their weight is great I continue to feed them high end 5 star rated all stages food.
My labs lived to 12 and 16 year with no issues and never ate senior dog food

[InkedMarie]

Why is your vet so set on senior food? With very few exceptions , most are too low in protein.

[sean w]

Hello
I just joined and was hoping to get some specific information on senior dog food. You only have it listed as type 3 dog food but my vet says i definitely should switch to a senior specific formula of food.

Thanks

[anonymous]

I would go by what a veterinarian that has examined your dog recommends.
I would not give over the counter medications or supplements, unless the vet approves.
I would consider making some diet changes as he probably can no longer tolerate raw and would do better on a bland commercial food, but first take him in for a vet visit, labs, senior workup.
There is probably a lot you can do under the guidance of a vet to keep your dog comfortable.
Best of luck.

[Leslie K]

Westie has always had sensitive stomach with occasional bile vomit and refusing of food. Only occurs in early morning accompanied by noisy stomach / intestines. In the last month has been virtually every morning. Murphy is 14 yrs old and has been on a twice a day feeding of prey type raw diet his entire life which eliminated skin allergies.
Have tried splitting his dinner and giving 2nd portion before bed as well as just giving him some sweet potato or 1/2 slice of bread at bedtime. That works occasionally but not enough. Any suggestions on what my senior boy might need in his elder years to make it through the night without waking with stomach distress? Maybe probiotics?

[Alex D]

We just took home our 10 week old Vizsla puppy and were sent home with some of the Pro Pac Ultimates food she’d received since being weened, along with some TruDog Boost as a topper for the dry food (1 tablespoon per meal).

I’d not heard of Pro Pac before and checked the review here and discovered that he puppy formula appears to receive 5 stars. That said, we’d given our old girl, who recently went to the Rainbow Bridge, grain free food (Blue Wilderness Senior among others over her life) and she seemed to perk up when we moved her to grain free. I also am not able to get Pro Pac Ultimates locally whatsoever–I’d be relegated to online ordering only which isn’t a problem (I’d always ordered from Amazon/Chewy/etc. in the past) but it’s nice to have the option to pick up locally in an emergency.

Accordingly, before we picked up our new little girl, I’d looked at the potential dog foods from the Editor’s Choice list and was contemplating Wellness Core (puppy) given it’s high rating, relative availability both locally and online, and the fact that I’d have a better idea about where they source their ingredients.

Pro Pac Ultimates is certainly cheaper than Wellness Core, and is likewise cheaper than the Blue Wilderness we’d fed our old girl, but my wife and I are willing to spend more for a better product if needed (and within reason).

Curious for input on whether Pro Pac Ultimates is a quality natural dog food (especially for puppies and with/without the TruDog Boost) or if I should consider transitioning to Wellness Core or another grain-free brand. Alternatively, would it be best to keep her on the Pro Pac until about a year old when we’d move her to a non-puppy formula anyway and try a different brand at that point?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

[Ryan K]

Hello!

My 8 year old dachshund/terrier mix has recently had a bout of bad vomiting that I wound up bringing him in to my vet for. He has been acting so strange for about a month now. I started him on Royal Canin HP and despite it working so well for his skin I almost instantly noticed him acting super unlike his normal self. He seemed…agitated and his stomach would be audibly grumbling. Well, I switched him off of that and didn’t transition slowly…I wound up putting him on Tuscan Naturals Chicken Meal & Rice recipe…he ate it but wasn’t thrilled so I switched him right away to Zignature’s Catfish recipe…this was the day the vomiting began. I did do something a little unusual when starting this food in that I put the kibble in warm/hot water to soak it in and make it more appealing. Well, He wound up throwing up once earlier in the day and then a second time later on in which a ton of liquid and balled up grass he had been eating in the yard came up. The vomit smelled slightly foul…far more pungent then normal vomit…so I brought him in to the vet. They did an x-ray and said they didn’t see anything. I mentioned that he had also been “wretching” and “gagging” a lot lately so they examined him for Kennel cough but said it seemed super unlikely since he hasn’t been around any dogs and he wasn’t responding when they pressed into his throat. They told me to put him on a bland diet which I have had him on for 2 days now. He hasn’t thrown up again but I have noticed him doing the “gag-cough” thing and he still seems…unhappy. Just so you know, the cough he does looks and sounds just like what I have seen on youtube for kennel cough but my dog truly is never around other dogs so I have no idea where that could come from if it WAS that. Should I be concerned about Heart disease? I remember my Australian shepherd growing up had that and was always coughing when he got excited. My little guy now just seems to randomly hack for no reason. How concerned should I be? Could this just be a case of me being really bad about the transitioning of the foods and making him sick? Should I get blood work done? This vet (she’s not my normal one-my normal vet was out of town) didn’t seem concerned about that being done but I was nervous that maybe it was his pancreas or something else that would cause vomiting that could be seen in bloodwork. Am I going crazy or should I just let him adjust some more to bland food? Is he just sensitive now that he’s a senior dog?

Side note about my dog…he slipped a disc last year and I did at home treatment to get him better. The surgery was far too expensive and I was just not able to come up with the cost of it. Luckily, keeping him bedridden for 2 months worked and he went from fully paralyzed in the back legs to walking within a week and has moved fine since with the help of laser treatments for a couple weeks and keeping him totally confined. But, during this event my vet and I discovered that he is SUPER sensitive to any pain meds and to gabapentin and all those things that he NEEDED during this period. He actually developed CRAZY pica and wound up scarfing down 3 full tube socks when I wasn’t looking. He threw them up whole. I had to leave him there to make sure he was ok for a whole day after that incident. He just gets really sick on those drugs. Had to share that bit of history about his stomach issues.

Sorry this post was so long. I’m rambling. I wanted to fit a lot of his recent medical history in here. I am probably missing something though. Haha

[anonymous]

Thanks for providing your input. Even if it is incorrect. You may want to read the “commenting policy” here at this site.

Personal attacks are discouraged.

I find it comical that you are calling a board certified veterinarian’s opinion based on scientific research or lack of, false.

If any vet that I went to suggested I try milk thistle on a dog (especially a senior). I would immediately find another vet.
Not all supplements are benign.

PS: I took the stuff myself once, years ago. I vomited within 2 hours. The crap smells horrid.
The OP’s vet must be “homeopathic”.
No thank you!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by anonymous.

[anonymous]

Before switching food (I have never used Instinct but if it is one of those raw foods, I wouldn’t recommend) Small breeds are notorious for not doing well on raw foods. Not worth the risk for any dog (imo)
I would take her in for a veterinarian visit, senior workup complete with dental check, labs and whatever else your vet recommends (if you have not done so already).
I doubt if her symptoms have anything to do with “dry air”.

If she has had a recent vet check then I would put a call in to your vet and see what he thinks.
There are many things that could cause the symptoms you describe, it’s impossible for anyone over the internet to guess, nor should they try.

[anonymous]

Yes, just always add a little warm water to the kibble and maybe a bit of scrambled egg or something.
I think you are making the right decision.
Also, seniors do better with 2 or 3 small meals per day rather than 1 large meal.
Something to consider.
More information here
.http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

[anonymous]

I would hold the med and call the vet asap. NOW
. Some dogs cannot tolerate NSAIDS
She is a senior, she may be dehydrated.
It may take a week or two for her to get back to baseline.
There are other medications the vet can prescribe.
Bloody diarrhea and crying all night are next.

Did you see the thread on Galliprant? Three pages, similar issues./forums/topic/galliprant-for-osteoarthritis-anyone/

[anonymous]

That may or may not be true, however there are a lot of things that you can do to keep her comfortable.
I would not rule out prescription medication.

Most heart murmurs in small dogs are benign (especially seniors).
Often it is age related.
If the condition was concerning I am sure your veterinarian would have recommended medication or referred you to a specialist.
Most supplements are scams and are a waste of money.
Any symptoms?
Most of my small breeds had heart murmurs, asymptomatic, no treatment required.

[Liz T]

Halo changed its ingredients to be more digestible on both wet and dry food. Unfortunately my springer 10 1/2 its too digestible and caused diarrhea. So after ten and half years I need to change foods – I fed a combo of both wet and dry. My dog is considered a senior but she is a springer so she doesn’t know how to slow down. Need advice on what to switch to – feeding rice and chicken per the vet until I decide on a new brand and gradually work in in. Help ?

[a c]

I did. The puppy like it. However, 28% fat content in dry matter is a little too much for my other two pancreatitis prone seniors. I use Nature Receipe GF tub for the seniors, but I just realized those were from Thailand. Do I need to worry about that?

I used to live in SC when Diamond has that recall. I remembered passed by Diamond plant and realized that’s the plant that manufactured the poinised dog food. Many dogs were affected. So sad.

[a c]

Found it. 28% fat in dry matter. Too high for my pancreatitis prone seniors. I guess the puppy will have it all to himself.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

Senior food isn’t necessarily a bad thing! It tends to be lower in calorie and fat so sometimes, depending on the brand, you can feed close to the same amount you were feeding of the regular adult food. It can be dangerous to cut back too far on some foods because they may not be getting all of the nutrients they need for their size. When my guy was laid up with an injury, I fed him Canidae Platinum to help manage his weight until he was cleared to at least start swimming.

[anonymous]

Plus, your dog is a senior. Mine was too. It takes them a little longer.

[Kenneth A]

Thanks to everyone that has responded to my posts. Many people have described labs as always being hungry and will eat almost anything. Describes my Earl perfectly and he will eat 7/8 cup of Pro Plan (three times per day) in approximately 15 seconds when fed in a standard bowl. We now feed him using a bowl full of internal rings which slows him down to approximately 1 min per feeding.

Since his surgeries Earl has been on a walking regiment of approximately 5 miles per day and we have reduced his quantity of food. His weight is down to 80 lbs. from 88 so I feel I contributed to the ruptured ligaments in his knees (totally unintentional – just did not know). The specialist that conducted the surgeries would like to see Earl down to 75 lbs and I do not want to put him on a Senior Dog Food since he is only 2 years old (Jan 6th birthdate). I should also note that prior to his surgeries Earl was being fed a lot of treats (cookies) purchased from the local Pet Store. Unfortunately, I did not think about the extra calories I was feeding him and now his treats consist of baby carrots.

So, after Earl had the TPLO Surgeries I have learned so much about the requirements of being a good and hopefully responsible pet owner. Earl’s local Vet. told me that many retrievers have or need TPLO Surgeries because of the pressure they place on their knees when they run, jump and cut. He said the TPLO Technique was developed to allow field trial dogs to be able to return to field trial work. However, being 10 lbs. or so overweight, in my mind, definitely contributed to Earl’s knee issues.

I have had discussions with my Vet. about Pro Plan Focus prior to the TPLO Surgeries. His feedback was that Pro Plan is a good food, Earl was not experiencing any food related issues and to possibly consider a different food sometime down the road. Well, here I am two surgeries and $8000 later!

Thank you again for the advice. I have two bags of Pro Plan to use (Petco double shipped me last month) and toward the end of consumption Earl will be transitioned to a new food. My goal is to find one quality kibble and stick with it unless Earl demonstrates a need for a change.

Ken

[Deb B]

Hi Kenneth, We have a 14 year old female lab, named Darcie. Our girl ate Pro Plan until about 3 years ago, when we switched to ACANA which she loves, and we think is a great food ( she is on the Senior Formula now) We always wanted to keep her lean ( she never weighed over about 65 lbs, until now because she can’t manage as much exercise) When Darcie was 2, we put her on the Pro Plan weight management formula, which I believe was instrumental in keeping her weight down…and we never fed her what the bag recommended. Because of the weight formula…we could give her a little more to keep her satisfied. Two main feeds morning and night, and a small scoop at lunchtime. When she was able, she got lots of exercise… I also think keeping her weight down saved her hips.
I should say she is an ” American ” lab…but Canadian in citizenship!! So has the longer legs, more slender face and build…The ACANA food is highly rated and I have to say I wish I had switched her sooner.
Anyway…our vet and breeder also felt Pro Plan was fine, and she did fine on it until 12!! I just felt like I should spoil her in her old age…can’t believe she’s almost 15…hoping she makes that birthday…Good Luck!!

[anonymous]

“Do you recommend monitoring my dog ph level at home with ph strips?”

I never bothered with that. PH levels fluctuate, it takes at least a month to see a significant change.
If your vet advises routine PH testing, take the dog in about every 3 months, collect a urine sample if you can.
Otherwise the vet tech can strait cath him, only lakes a second and doesn’t hurt.
That would be the most accurate imo.
Once he has been symptom free for 6 months to a year, my vet said we didn’t need to do testing unless the dog had symptoms, he was a senior and had other issues that took priority.

[Michelle A]

My beagle has put on some serious weight in the past few years as he’s now a senior and just not as active. He’s always had food allergies, and our vet is now recommending a grain free, chicken free diet food, suggesting salmon, sweet potatoes, whitefish, etc.

Any ideas where I can find this?!

[Ivy K]

My Shiba was recently diagnosed with CHF. I emailed Wellness and they quickly replied with the info below. Hope this helps.

Wellness® Dry Dog

Complete Health Grain Free Chicken:
As Fed: 0.16%
Dry Matter: 0.17%
Complete Health Grain Free Lamb:
As Fed: 0.30%
Dry Matter: 0.33%
Complete Health Grain Free Fish:
As Fed: 0.30%
Dry Matter: 0.33%
Complete Health Grain Free Puppy:
As Fed: 0.45%
Dry Matter: 0.49%
Complete Health Grain Free Large Breed Adult:
As Fed: 0.23%
Dry Matter: 0.25%
Complete Heath Grain Free Large Breed Puppy:
As Fed: 0.40%
Dry Matter: 0.43%
Complete Health Grain Free Small Breed Adult:
As Fed: 0.33%
Dry Matter: 0.36%

Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 0.15%
Dry Matter: 0.16%
Complete Health Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe:
As Fed: 0.41%
Dry Matter: 0.45%
Complete Health Lamb & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 0.29%
Dry Matter: 0.32%
Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 0.14%
Dry Matter: 0.15%
Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 0.13%
Dry Matter: 0.14%
Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 0.41%
Dry Matter: 0.45%
Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 0.23%
Dry Matter: 0.25%
Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 0.40%
Dry Matter: 0.43%
Small Breed Complete Health Adult Turkey & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 0.30%
Dry Matter: 0.33%
Small Breed Complete Health Adult Whitefish, Salmon Meal, & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 0.31%
Dry Matter: 0.34%
Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 0.47%
Dry Matter: 0.51%
Small Breed Complete Health Senior:
As Fed: 0.15%
Dry Matter: 0.16%
Small Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 0.28%
Dry Matter: 0.30%
Toy Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 0.20%
Dry Matter: 0.22%

Wellness® CORE® Dry Dog
CORE® Grain-Free Original:
As Fed: 0.53%
Dry Matter: 0.58%
CORE® Grain-Free Ocean:
As Fed: 0.69%
Dry Matter: 0.755
CORE® Grain-Free Reduced Fat:
As Fed: 0.50%
Dry Matter: 0.54%
CORE® Grain-Free Puppy:
As Fed: 0.37%
Dry Matter: 0.40%
CORE® Grain-Free Small Breed:
As Fed: 0.23%
Dry Matter: 0.25%
CORE® Grain-Free Large Breed:
As Fed: 0.22%
Dry Matter: 0.24%
CORE® Grain-Free Wild Game:
As Fed: 0.22%
Dry Matter: 0.24%

[anonymous]

What did the vet recommend? How old is your dog? How high/abnormal were his protein values? Slight anomalies in lab work are not unusual for senior canines.
However, regarding homemade: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=homemade+diet
I would stop the homemade immediately.

Maybe prescription food/therapeutic diet for a month or two or three (whatever your vet suggests) then retest?
If the labs are normal I would then go with something bland, how about Pro Plan Focus for sensitive skin and stomach. Add a little water or plain chicken broth.

PS: Wait, the labs are from 6 months ago? If so, time to return to the vet.

[Linda J]

American Journey and Wellness Core are both rated well here, and have smaller than usual kibble. My older mini poo loves both, as do my bigger dogs. They fit well in treat balls too/

[Diana L]

I rescue senior chihuahuas. Since they have had poor dental care they have had several teeth extracted. I need small kibble for their meal. I feed
Wet food twice a day so kibble for when extra hungry. They picky eaters so need wet food suggestion too

[Jim T]

Rudy, our Westie is 14 years old. What is the best Editor’s Choice dog food for senior dogs digestive system.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

I’ve known many people who have used Under the Sun Whitefish as a weight management food. There’s a dachshund rescue that often sees seniors come in severely overweight and that is the food they use for their chunky guys. It seems to work well for them.

[Tania S]

Need help finding good quality senior dog food or supplement with dog food for a great pyrenees that will also help with hairgrowth. Dog is at least 10 years old, not sure exact age because we rescued him. Not sure of his medical history. He was clipped when it was hot outside and now his hair is having trouble growing back.

[InkedMarie]

You don’t need a senior food. Most are too low in protein, Orijen senior being an exception. There are many foods without chicken. I have a dog who needs a lower fiber food or she poops too much. We stick with 3.5% or less.Earthborn Primitive Natural is the one we use the most often.

[Susan S]

Hi, I have a 2 1/2 year old Great Pyr/Golden Retriever/Beagle Mix (95 lb) and an 8 year old Black Lab/Great Dane mix (100 lb). They both have problems with chicken and some skin allergies so I trying to find a dry dog food for both of them. I am using Nutrish Just 6 Lamb and Rice, but they still seem to poop to much on that too. I am trying not to buy two different kinds of food, but I’m not sure what to do. Buy senior food for him and adult for her, but cannot have chicken or other poultry in it. Any suggestions. Thanks

[Joni F]

Will you send me the sodium list please. My senior dog also has chf. Thank you. Send to jonif86@gmail.com

[Melissa K]

I am also looking for a high quality food that is appropriate for senior dogs (12 y/o border collie mix and 16 y/o basset/corgie mix). They have been on Merrick Grain Free Limited ingredient Turkey & Sweet Potato and producing very large poops so I don’t think they are getting much out of it. Can you tell me, do you like Taste of the Wild (other than it not being low fat), and Royal Canine? Thanks!

[Melissa K]

I have two senior dogs (12 and 16) that I started on Merrick about three months ago after trying a few other brands in search of a high quality dry food that was appropriate for seniors. Their poops have gotten significantly larger (at first I thought a big dog was jumping the fence to poop in our yard lol). Anyway, I was afraid it wasn’t a good thing, and this thread has confirmed it. I haven’t noticed any other issues, but I’d love to get them on a high quality senior dog food that they can actually absorb. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Susan]

Adriana,
dont be fooled if it’s cheap it’s not good, Purina Chow got those 5 star cause it didnt have all the toxins & contaminates some of these high end more expensive foods cut corners & fly under the radar they have a good name & people think their ingredients are good cause its ” blare blare” brand but they’re NOT, people think cause they’re paying more money the dog food has to be really good, if you seen a cheaper food on the Clean label toxin site & your dogs do well on it & its cheaper then feed it. Don’t be fooled cause its grain free its better cause its not its just more expensive…. if you can cook & make a batch of cooked meals then cook & freeze them, cooked meals are healthier for your dogs then dry processed kibble, if your dog does well on cooked chicken & rice then why not feed a lower fat chicken & rice kibble?? especially if she is vomiting the fat may be too high in the food she is eating & causing her acid reflux like my boy gets, alot of dogs as they age suffer in silence with bad acid reflux & their owners dont even know, Canidae has their All Life Stages Platinum for all ages & seniors formula, you could feed all your dogs the Platinum dry formula & rotate & feed another brand as well for their other meals thats what I do for Patch, breakfast Patch picks which kibble he wants to eat then for lunch he gets a scramble egg, then dinner he gets either the same kibble he had for breakfast or he gets another brand kibble it all depends if he has been well thru the day, a few dogs with Pancreatitis & stomach problems do really good on Canidae ALS Platinium formula, some Puppy formula’s are higher in fat & protein, maybe you girl cant handle the higher fat & higher Kcals ?? the higher the Kcals the harder the kibble is to digest cause its more dense…if your trying to keep weight on a dog (this is something my boy with IBD has had a a problem with his weight) I feed 5 smaller meals a day 7am, 9am, 12pm, 5pm & 8pm, you work out how many cups of dry food she should be eating a day & add another 1/4 to 1/2 a cup extra of the dry kibble then you divide up her meals over 4-5 meals a day….
Have a look at Hills Science Diet Youth Vitality 7+ small breed & toy breeds wet & dry formula, it has all the supplements she needs for an aging dog & its easy to digest & she should gain weight the fat is 15% & the Kcals are 363Kcals per cup feed her more then the recommended amount & make sure she is eating her food by herself & the other dogs can’t take any of her meal or look at Hills Science Diet adult 7+ small breed & toy breed formula its for small breeds with special needs, stick around 350-370Kcals per cup this will be easier for her to digest & is not as dense as a kibble thats over 380Kcals per cup, you never see a vet diet over 370 Kcals for cup when it for Intestinal digestive problems the vet diets are around 350-360kcals per cup she probably need to be put on the Hills I/d Low Fat Restore wet stew canned food & teh dry kibble look at the Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach its often on special its very easy to digest, how you know if its easy to digest get a glass of warm water & put about 2 kibbles in teh glass of warm water the kibble should float to the top & the kibble should go soft within 15-40mins, the Hills Sensitive Stomach goes soft & swells up within 20mins, I was minding a rescue dog a few months ago for a few days & the rescue group put him on the Hills SD Sensitive stomach Egg & Rice & he was doing really well & Patch kept wanting his Hills Kibble & the dog kept wanting Patches kibble, so I ended up buying Patch a small bag of the Sensitive Stomach Egg & Rice it was on special its always on special either online or at teh Pet shop & its money back guaranteed so you cant lose if after your girl doesnt get better orgain weight take it back & get a refund I email Hills & they end up giving me vochours + I got my refund at the pet shop this was for another hills vet diet formula, while Patch was eating the Hills Sensitive skin he gained weight & now after eating teh Nutro essential he finally weighs 18.6kg he was weight yesterday at the vets I’ve never had him at 18.6kgs in the whole 5yrs Ive had him 18kg is the highest in weight I have gotten too but he was active & went on daily walks etc also he has been sleeping alot lately & seems very unwell & is going into vet hospital Tuesday & have an Endoscope & biopsies on his throat & stomach, I’m praying he doesnt have esophageal or stomach cancer but something is defentley wrong with him, he’s not the happy go lucky Patchy everyone knows, instead he’s following me around all day whinging & crying today he has been a bit better, he just turned 9yrs old Novemeber & looks really good, his teeth are white, there’s no blue in his pupil of his eyes, not much grey fur, some dogs are grey all over but not him he runs & acts like a puppy people who first met him think he is a young teenager dog, I thought cause we have just moved he’s a bit depressed then I went into hospital & when I came out Patch was so unwell my daughter said there’s something wrong with Patch he’s not listening he just stands there with his head hung low he looks like he’s drug up…This is what happens when we have pets they break our heart & get sick & I wish they could talk & tell us where hurts & what is wrong. Patch normally shows me where’s sore or hurts but this time he’s not showing me soo its internally something inside is very sore…
Good luck with your dogs & finding a few foods that agrees with them. I’ll post the info about the lawsuit that has been filed against Wellpet who make Wellness foods, this lawsuit is cause of the finding in the CLP toxin test/study so if these toxic test/study were Baloney like anon says it would not make it court, Anon does NOT know anything when it comes to dogs foods & diet especially when they are ill with stomach/bowel problems.

[Joni F]

Rufus is 15 yrs and is on blood pressure meds and Lasix for CHF. He also has a collapse trachea. He has a good appetite with his the kibble I have fed called I and love and you. But I need to find a low sodium food. I tried wellness core but he won’t eat it. I even added canned to it, he only eats the wet food. I don’t want to make his food, but will try a better wet food that is not expensive. Or is there a more tasteful kibble out there that meets his needs. He is old but I want him to enjoy his food with the little time he had left. Appreciate any suggestions 🤔. Joni

[Susan]

Hi Adriana,
Have a look at “Canidae Pure” line & Canidae Pure Petite line only has 5 ingredients for petite dogs with food sensitivities/allergies, all of the Canidae Pure line is really good for dogs with stomach/bowel & allergies & for your 9yr old have a look at “Canidae Pure Meadow” Senior, it’s excellent for aging dogs, the Protein is 28%min email Canidae for max Protein % you usually add another 1-5% more when it says min but with Canidae it’s only about 1% more, the fat is not high at 10%min-fat, that’s what I like about the Pure Meadow Senior formula, as dogs age their stomach doesn’t work as well as when they were youger dog, the fat is only 10.80%max, I’ve already emailed Canidae & asked them what is the max fat %, the Pure Meadow Senior has all the supplements needed for aging dogs, it’s high in omega fatty acids for skin, coat, brain, heart etc & Glucosamine + Chondroitin for bone & joint health. Canidae grow their own vegetables, fruit & source ingredients from local farmers, their ingredient are fresh & their foods are made in smaller batches, the kibble size is nice & small so very easy to digest….
Here’s the Canidae link https://www.canidae.com.com/dog-food/products

also google “Toxins In Dogs Foods” then look for a company that has
completed a study of 1,084 pet food products from 80 brands. Products were screened for over 130 toxins including heavy metals, BPA, pesticides and other contaminants with links to cancer and other health conditions in both humans and animals….Canidae formula’s & Canidae’s other brand “Under The Sun” did really well when tested for 130 Contaminates & Toxins….You’ll see the 5 star dry dog foods, 3 stars then the 1 star dry dog foods.
I stay away from dry dog food brands once I see 1-2 of their formulas with 1 star rating that means they probably will have more foods that are full of toxins & contaminates..
A few of Wellness formula’s did poorly, Wellpet make Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack Holistic Select had a few bad formula’s get only 1 star…. Simply Nourish LTD Sweet potato & Lamb formula, Nutrisca Lamb & Chickpea they all got 1 star as well which means they were high in toxins…

[anonymous]

I recommend Nutrisca salmon for a dry, but add a little water to kibble and add a topper.

I have a senior small breed that has some unexplained weight loss, so I am giving her 3 or 4 small meals per day instead of two
I am adding a bit of Mighty Dog (small cans) to meals, dogs love Mighty Dog, the dog food snobs will tell you it is bad, but I have had good results with it.

[Susan]

Hi Deb,
I too live Australia & was having no problems with TOTW Lamb formula it actually seem to be the best kibble for Patches IBD when I started feeding Patch about 2 yrs ago until this last bag of TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb 6kg bag I ordered my pet food thru Pet Circle (Pet Circle is excellent & quick for delivery they dont use Australia Post they use Couriers Please) I opened the TOTW Lamb bag 1 month ago & the smell seems different now also the kibbles were really small 1/2 their normal size, I thought OK the smaller kibble will be easier to digest when he doesn’t chew his kibbles & swollows them, Patch eats 4-5 meals day cause of his IBD after he ate his cooked meal or another brand kibble he wasnt eating grass or looking ill & whinging but after eating the TOTW kibble Patch kept eating grass & seem very unwell cause I had just moved I thought he’s a bit depressed & his IBD is playing up from all the stress of moving then one morning he just refused to eat the TOTW, in the whole 5 yrs I’ve owned Patch he has only refused to eat 2 times the first year I rescued him when he became real ill with Colitis & Pancreatitis, he always eats even when unwell, I contacted Pet Circle & they are really good they refunded my $70 & said to give the remaining 5 & 1/2 kg of the TOTW to rescue/pound or a friend then at the end of our conversation the lady said maybe throw the whole bag of TOTW in the bin & she wrote everything down & was sending it off to TOTW Australia.

You are better off feeding Australian made & owned brands like “Meals For Mutts” “Ivory Coat” Ivory Coat is Australian made but has just been sold to a big Chinese company that’s still making the Ivory Coat here in Australia & taking Ivory Coat to America & all over the world, probably cause its Australian made & the Kangaroo & Lamb formula will reall sell dogs love Kangaroo its a very strong rich meat, the Ivory Coat has proper Kangaroo Meal in it the American made Kangaroo formula’s write “Wild Kangaroo” we dont eat our wild Kangaroos they are full of disease & parasites & they add Lentils to up the Protein % & add less kangaroo, the Ivory Coat will be heaps better Kangaroo pet food when does come to America, but I’d say it will be expensive unless the Chinese start cutting corners & change the ingredients & start adding Chickpeas & Lentils to up the protein% & take away some of the Kangaroo Meal & Lamb Meal, we’ll have to see what happens with Ivory Coat …
MfM is a really good kibble also sold oversea to asian countries, “Canidae” is really good, Candiae is American made & they grow their own veggies & source from local farmers like some of our Australian made pets foods do, look at their “Canidae Pure” formula’s & “Canidae All Life Stages” formula are really good & sell out by the end of the month, you can get a 20 kg bag for $99.95 of the Canidae All Life Stages formula from Pet Circle it’s on Special at the moment, here’s the link
https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/canidae-all-life-stages
also look for “Canidae Pure Meadow” Senior formula for your 9yr old dog, it has all the supplements needed for aging dog, the Pure Meadow is excellent, I’ve put a few eldery dogs on it where I use to live & they went from a itchy, dull coat, sick looking, stiff old dogs to dogs that think they’re puppies again, there was very big improvements with these dogs, they were eating cheap Aldi & Supermarket cheap kibbles, My Pet Warehouse sell the “Canidae Pure Meadow” Senior it’s new it came out last year there’s Pure Wild Boar & Pure Resolve weight management formula’s came out aswell….
Look at “Nutro” new grain free formula’s & their Frontier formula’s they are made in Australia they look pretty good theyre on the Pet Circle link above, I quickly had to order a another food when Patch wouldn’t eat the TOTW & the Nutro Essential was 1/2 price $18 so I got a bag it came the next day & Patch loves it & no eating grass & there’s been no following me & whinging. Im buying a bag of “Meals For Mutts” new CN Vital Health Hypoallergenic Holistic Remedy Diet Turkey & Veggies today too try, Patch was feed TOTW & I’d rotate with other brands, TOTW was his go to food if poos went sloppy etc now I need a new go to food if Patch becomes unwell with his IBD.

Canidae & TOTW & a heap of other best selling Amerian pets foods & treats were tested for Contaminates & 130 Toxins last year, Canidae did really well & so did their other brand called “Under The Sun” But TOTW did poorly with a few of their formula’s, their Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon formula & their High Prairie formula were very high in contaminates & toxins, I’m not allow to post their link or mention the company name on this site but if you google “Toxins in pet Foods” you’ll see the site click on it & look at the American pet foods we get over here in Australia, Holistic Select, TOTW, Wellness, Earthborn Holistic they all were very high in toxins they were on the worst top ten dry dog foods back in March 2017 testings & some of these brands formula’s were in the August testings last pages with 1 star for being very high in toxins again….

Go onto the Australian “Pet Food Review” site he reveiws all our dog foods that are sold here in Australia & he post the name of the company that tests Pet Foods & Baby foods in American, I think it’s really good its about time we know what pet foods & which treats are high in Toxins & Contaminates, he also tells us when there’s a problem with certain pet foods & writes in RED warning us when a pet food is BAD like “Baxters” kibble & treats from Woolworths is killing dogs & Woolworths wont remove it from their shelves they have only removed a few formula’s but they left the Senior & Adult Baxter formula, healthy puppies & adult dogs died within 24-48 hours of being feed a new bag of the Baxter dry dog food, he also posts information on his “Dog Food Review” Facebook page…

[Max and Lucy]

How old is your dog? It is my understanding, that just like people, when dogs get older they need less fat and more fiber.My old(10 year) aussie had blood as well. Switched to royal canin because I was desperate. I don’t like the food or the ingredients ,however it did solidify problems.I’m going to try acana for senior and if need be ,add a teaspoon of pumpkin to up the fiber. I have a puppy on Acana(puppy formula) and she is doing well. It is such a concern when our furry friends are sick.Best of luck to all!!

[Sandra Christiana]

I saw about cbd oil from here: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine(dot)com/cbd-oil-for-dogs/
You know this is a popular magazine for pets.

Here “”A senior Staffordshire Terrier had a 6cm mammary tumor and metastasis that disappeared in 3 months and didn’t come back …
A Jack Russell Terrier had a severe heart murmur and painful arthritis and, after a month, he wanted to go for long walks and his murmur was much improved …

These are two examples of how Australian veterinarian Edward Bassingthwaighte discovered how CBD oil could be a critical part of his holistic veterinary practice. “I simply can’t explain the improved heart murmur” says Bassingthwaite. “They normally don’t get better.” “”

You can see in this article. But my queston is, if the cbd is bad, then why these products are sold so many? Or I don’t see any negative sides in google. Did you?