Pet tips: Feeding senior dogs

As a dog ages, health issues may arise, including:

– deterioration of skin and coat
– loss of muscle mass

– more frequent intestinal problems

– arthritis
– obesity

– dental problems
– decreased ability to fight off infection

Follow these tips to give your pet a happier, longer life:

• Feed a diet with a lower caloric density to avoid weight gain, but with a normal protein level to help maintain muscle mass.

• Feed older dogs diets that contain optimum levels of highly digestible protein to help maintain good muscle mass.

• Talk to your veterinarian about increasing your senior dogs GLA intake. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that plays a role in the maintenance of healthy skin and coat.

• Aging can affect a dog’s intestinal bacteria, which can result in symptoms of gastrointestinal disease. Senior diets for dogs should contain FOS (fructooligosaccharides) to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.

• Select a senior diet that contains higher levels of these antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants can increase the effectiveness of the immune system in senior dogs.

• Maintain their daily routine and annual or biannual veterinary examinations. Stressful situations and abrupt changes in daily routines should be avoided.
Since smaller dogs live longer and don’t experience age-related changes as early as bigger dogs, size is used to determine when it’s time to feed your canine a senior diet:

Small breeds/dogs weighing less than 20 pounds—7 years of age
Medium breeds/dogs weighing 21 to 50 pounds—7 years of age
Large breeds/dogs weighing 51 to 90 pounds—6 years of age

Giant breeds/dogs weighing 91 pounds or more—5 years of age