Paying special attention to your dog’s life stages is part of being a good and responsible pet owner. One of the more challenging periods to deal with is when your dog becomes a senior. At this point in their lives, there are often health concerns that you will either already be dealing with or trying to prevent. It is only natural that you would want to feed your pet the best senior dog food you can buy. But which of the many is the best food for senior dogs? With all of the choices out there, a trip to the pet store can be extremely confusing, and it is no surprise that many owners just give up. If you want to know what the best food for senior dogs is, read below to make an informed choice!
Best food for senior dogs with no teeth
Even when recommended dental care procedures and schedules are met, it is common that senior dogs are missing teeth. To ensure that they are still getting the proper amount of nutrition, it is critical that you choose a food specially made for pets who suffer from this ailment. For the majority of pets, this will mean a diet of canned food. The soft texture is easy for dogs with no teeth to chew, and a high-quality brand will ensure that your pet is receiving all the nutritional benefits they require.
Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Pâté Adult & Senior Wet Dog Food
Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Pâté Adult & Senior Wet Dog Food is what you are looking for. It contains ingredients that your dog will love—salmon, chicken, lamb, and Nutro’s unique superfood blend. The first ingredient on the label is real chicken—no by-products found here! Chock full of real vegetable pieces, it is also grain-free, making it an excellent choice for those who are combating allergies. There’s also no artificial preservative, color, or flavor.
Best food for senior dogs with mobility issues
Another common issue with senior dogs is their predilection towards mobility issues. Although certain breeds are more likely to have issues in this area, any dog can have mobility issues. There are many excellent choices on the market for what to feed your senior dog. These options listed below are the best that we could find for your pet to choose from:
Nulo Dry Grain-Free Senior Trout & Sweet Potato
This is a top tier choice. With 82% of the protein from animal sources, you can rest assured that your dog will look forward to mealtime! Besides being grain-free to combat allergies, Nulo Dry Grain-Free Senior Trout & Sweet Potato incorporates the well-known supplements Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate into their recipe. Both have long been used to relieve and sometimes reverse the symptoms of arthritis both in humans and pets. In addition to assisting with hip and joint health, Nulo also includes L-Carnitine. This amino acid helps dogs who no longer have their previous activity levels to metabolize fats, preventing weight gain.
Diamond Naturals Dry Senior Chicken, Egg and Oatmeal
Along with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Diamond Naturals Dry Senior Chicken, Egg and Oatmeal offers some extras in one package you will not find anywhere else. Even though it is not grain-free due to the oatmeal, this natural food is made of cage-free chicken as the main protein source to keep your dog’s body in perfect condition. With its amazing blend of fatty acids, you can also guarantee that the coat and skin are well taken care of. Add in superfoods, fruits, vegetables, and vitamins and minerals, and you have a recipe your pet will love. You will not find any wheat, corn, fillers, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior Chicken & Brown Rice
This holistic formula features real meat as the first ingredient. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior Chicken & Brown Rice‘s superior quality chicken protein will ensure that your dog builds and maintains healthy muscles and tone. With plenty of fruit and veggies, along with whole grains, no dog will turn up their nose. Mobility and joint health are protected with the addition of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, and Blue Buffalo has you covered with their LifeSource Bits, an exclusive and precise blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, supporting their life stage requirements and overall immune system. There are no poultry by-products, artificial preservatives or flavors, soy, corn, or wheat contained in the recipe.
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Deboned Turkey Recipe
This changes it up a bit from all the chicken foods on the market (although it does contain chicken meal). The exceptional proteins are the main ingredients in every bite, along with nutritional supplements and superfoods that are nutrient-dense. To support hip and joint health, Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Deboned Turkey Recipe counts on the addition of both Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine Hydrochloride. All the ingredients are natural, and you will never find any meat by-products or artificial colors or flavors.
CANIDAE Pure Senior Recipe, Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Premium
The CANIDAE Pure Senior Recipe, Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Premium is made using only 9 premium ingredients. The high-quality protein comes from real chicken and features good for your dog extras like sun-cured alfalfa and garbanzo beans. With nothing added that shouldn’t be in a bowl of kibble, this recipe is even suitable for dogs with celiac disease! Made from whole foods, every kibble receives antioxidants, Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, and probiotics after it has been cooked. The formula takes a “whole dog” approach to care, supporting both the immune and digestive systems and leaving your pet with a gorgeous coat and skin.
The Choice is Yours
Which food from this list you ultimately choose for your senior dog, you can be sure that you are choosing among the best of what the pet-food industry has to offer. Although they may not be considered cheap, especially when compared to conventional dog food, you want to do what is best for your dog, and any of the above-mentioned options will ensure that is exactly what you are doing!
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