Choosing the right food for your dog can feel overwhelming. With so many brands and so many different ingredients covering the shelves at your local store, it can be tempting to simply grab the cheapest one you can find and be on your way.
That’s not the best way to choose food for any dog, let alone a senior pooch. The food he eats can have a huge impact on your pet’s health, happiness, and behavior.
Dog Digz wants you to ask yourself things like, “Have you noticed your dog slowing down in various ways? Has your veterinarian already suggested that you switch your dog food for a senior product?”
If you answered yes to either of these questions, or you have simply decided that it’s time to start taking your dog’s diet seriously, you should choose a high-quality dog food that will provide your beloved pet with these benefits.
It Can Keep Your Dog More Mobile
It’s normal for dogs to slow down as they age. That doesn’t mean you want your dog to slow down too much. It’s important for canines of every age to get exercise and to play, even if it means shorter walks and less time spent in the backyard.
Unfortunately, many senior dogs suffer from weight gain and ailments, like arthritis, that can make it difficult for them to move around. Dog food can address these sorts of issues.
Senior dog food contains less calories, so your pooch won’t put on the pounds as he ages and becomes a bit lazier than he was in his younger years. Ingredients like glucosamine can relieve arthritis and joint pain, encouraging your dog to get up and move around more.
It Can Provide Your Pooch With More Energy
You should never expect your senior dog to have as much spunk and energy as his younger counterparts, but even the oldest dogs should demonstrate spurts of energy every now and again!
Providing your dog with a high-quality diet that includes protein and carbohydrates from whole foods can help ensure he has plenty of energy to go around.
Just make sure you avoid food with too many fillers. Not only can they cause your dog to gain weight, they also provide almost no nutritional value whatsoever, so they will only slow your dog down.
It Can Address Various Medical Conditions
There are a lot of problems senior dogs can develop. Just a few things your dog may struggle with as he ages include:
- Kidney disease
- Deafness
- Blindness
- Dementia
- Incontinence
Although all of these things can’t be addressed by diet alone, you may be surprised to discover that the right food can make some of these problems better. For example, if your dog suffers from liver, kidney, or heart disease, choosing a food that doesn’t contain too much phosphorous, protein, and sodium can really help. Finding a formula that includes antioxidants can help your dog fight oncoming dementia.
It Can Make It Easier for Your Pooch to Chew
Dental problems are common in canines. As many as 85 percent of canines over the age of four have some form of gum disease. Older dogs have been dealing with dental problems for many years, and they can really take a toll. It isn’t uncommon for senior pups to stop eating simply because it’s too painful to chew.
You can really help your dog by choosing a food that makes it easier for him to chew. That way, he eats like he should and gets all the benefits he can from the ingredients in his meals. Wet food is the obvious answer, but additives, like chicken broth, can also be added to dry kibble to make it easier for your dog to eat.
It Can Help Him Live Longer
We all want our canine companions to live as long as possible. Unfortunately, there are many ways we could be sabotaging our pets’ longevity without even knowing it.
Choosing the wrong diet for your dog is one way to shorten his life.
A canine food that contains whole, healthy ingredients and addresses all of your pet’s specific needs is the best way to give him a few extra weeks, months or even years with your family.
Choosing the right food means more than just choosing a formula for your dog that tastes good. When you choose the right food for your senior companion, you’ll ensure his golden years are as happy, healthy, and long as possible.
