As dogs grow older, they often go through many changes. For them to stay healthy, you should be aware of their changing needs. As a result, it’s crucial to adapt their diets to their age.
Other than normal changes like a less active immune system and slower metabolism, older pets frequently have concurrent health issues like kidney disease or osteoarthritis. It means that feeding them a proper diet is critical, but it might not be easy.
If you don’t know where to get started, below are some of the tips to feed senior dogs:
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Feed Your Senior Dog With Probiotics
It’s essential to feed your dog a high-quality and well-balanced diet. It means using food without artificial colors, chemical preservatives, low carbohydrate content, and quality meat-based protein. Not only can it eliminate or delay age-related illness, but it also may help prevent constipation which older dogs are prone to.
To boost your senior dog’s immunity, it’s crucial to find the right dog probiotics, which are loaded with good bacteria and produce neurotransmitters necessary for brain health. Probiotics also help with the uptake of critical minerals and vitamins. They may even synthesize essential hormones like serotonin.
Daily probiotics are recommended to keep your senior dog’s digestive system in tip-top shape. It can be added to your dog’s dinner or breakfast.
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Choose The Right Dog Food
All major dog food brands offer specialized senior dog foods. These are formulated to suit the changing eating habits or nutritional requirements of your dog. More often than not, senior dog foods are packed with quality protein and designed to be easy to digest and chew.
Senior dog foods also contain a balance of nutrients that will help keep your dogs healthy and happy. They also contain a good combination of fatty acids and antioxidants to support your dog’s immune system and joints.
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Keep Your Senior Dogs On A Specific Diet
If your dog is suffering from health problems, caring for them and keeping them well-fed can be a challenge. Part of managing issues such as kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetes is done by feeding your pet specific diets made to help with such problems. Depending on your dog’s underlying illness, such diets have less protein and can be low on sodium.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to convince senior dogs to eat special diets. As chronic issues and age progress, they might get fed up or lose appetite with eating that kind of food often.
Although dietary management is hard, never give up on it easily. If you’re struggling with it, ensure that you approach your vet with your concerns and help you determine the perfect balance suited for your senior dog.
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Include A Joint Supplement In Your Senior Dog’s Diet
Like older people who experience joint issues, senior dogs are also at risk of pain and arthritis. While many commercial dog foods are formulated to support joint health, additional dog supplements are appropriate.
At present, there are several types and brands of joint supplements. Due to this, it can be overwhelming to select one. To make it easier, you may choose a product that contains ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin as they promote healthy joints.
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Serve Wet Dog Food At Room Temperature
If you want to bring out the smell and taste of your senior dog’s food, make sure to serve it at room temperature. Keep in mind that when you store senior dog food in the fridge, never serve it cold and wait until it has the right temperature. If you want to save time, you can microwave wet food to warm them.
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Give Your Senior Dog Vegetables And Fruits
All dogs can benefit from eating vegetables and fruits, especially obese dogs. With that in mind, don’t forget to add fiber to your dog’s meal in the form of steamed fresh green beans and wheat bran.
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Feed Your Dog In A Quiet Place
During your senior dog’s mealtime, feed them in a quiet place so they can eat peacefully without dealing with any interruptions. If you have several dogs, feed them separately. This will help you prevent them from snatching food from the other dogs.
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Never Overfeed
Senior dogs can be prone to weight gain. Therefore, it’s crucial not to overfeed them. If you’ve changed your dog over to a new food, make sure to follow the product’s feeding guide at first. Always monitor your dog’s condition as time progresses. Then, adjust the amount to keep their ideal weight. As an essential part of their diet, your dog will need clean drinking water throughout the day.
Conclusion
Since senior dogs have a slower metabolism, it isn’t unusual for older dogs to put on some weight. While weight gain is expected, gaining too much can be a problem. Canine obesity may result in some serious health problems, particularly as your dog gets older. If you’re worried about your dog’s weight, contact your vet to get recommendations regarding your older dog’s changing metabolism and changing lifestyle.
