Senior dogs, who are generally eight or older, need special food with the right ingredients to ensure long-term health as they age. When you’re shopping for the best senior dog food for your canine companion, be sure to keep these key things in mind:
- Does your dog’s diet provide for its nutritional needs? For instance, many senior dog foods will have vitamins to prevent kidney disease and similar aging conditions.
- Does the dog food offer additional benefits? Certain dog food brands can help your dog build muscle mass in all life stages, including aging dogs.
- Is the food approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)? If so, it’s usually a good choice.
- Does it have chicken by-product meal or preservatives? You may want to avoid certain ingredients, especially if your dog has a more sensitive stomach.
- Is the food made with quality ingredients, like real protein and whole grains? Omega-3 fatty acids are also good for senior pets.
- Is the senior formula a canned dog food or dry dog food? Either can work depending on the preferences of your pup and the state of their teeth.
As always, it’s best to consult a veterinarian about when to switch for your dog, and introduce any new food slowly to allow your pet’s stomach to adjust and to see if he has an allergy or other reaction. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at 11 excellent senior dog food choices you can purchase this year.
Best for Joint Health: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Senior Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 15-pound bag, chicken and brown rice flavor
This senior dog food is a particularly good choice if your puppy is struggling with joint health. Thanks to ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, it’s a good option to ensure your senior dog gets all the nutrients they need while also feeling full and satisfied come mealtime.
Pros
You might prefer this senior dog food for a variety of key reasons:
- Excellent ingredient composition
- Provides essential proteins and carbohydrates for energy levels
- Also has plenty of antioxidants for immune system support
- Only natural ingredients, no by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives or artificial flavors
Cons
However, you might also want a different dog food due to these downsides:
- Somewhat expensive compared to other senior dog food options
- Some senior dogs might find the flavor to be a bit boring
Best for Small Breeds: NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Small Breed Senior Dry Dog Food
Key specs: Five-pound bag, chicken and brown rice flavor
Here’s an excellent option if you have an older dog of a small breed. You only get five pounds for your purchase, but every bite is packed with excellent nutrients.
Pros
There are plenty of excellent elements included in this senior dog food option:
- Uses real ingredients, like real chicken, as its first ingredients
- Also has plenty of antioxidants for immune system support
- Kibble pieces are relatively easy to chew for smaller pups whose teeth might be having trouble
Cons
At the same time, tThere is only one flavor available, which might cause you to look elsewhere for your senior dog solution.
Best for Dieting Dogs: Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 21.5-pound bag, chicken and rice flavor
Your dog might require a little assistance with weight loss. In that case, this diet senior dog food is a great option, as it will keep your dog feeling full while also helping them shed pounds progressively over time.
Pros
If you want a new senior dog food, consider Hill’s Science Diet Food for these reasons:
- Solid choice for dogs who need to lose weight
- Contains plenty of ingredients for brain health, energy level maintenance, and vitality
- Healthy coat support with vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids
- Natural ingredients
- Made in the United States
Cons
Or you can opt for an alternative senior dog food choice because of these possible disadvantages:
- One of the most expensive senior dog foods on the market
- Only one flavor available
Best for Mental Sharpness: Purina ONE High Protein Dry Senior Dog Food Plus Vibrant Maturity Adult 7 Plus Formula
Key specs: 31.1-pound bag, chicken flavor
If you want a high-protein formula for your dog, this could be just what you need. It’s an excellent senior dog food option thanks to ingredients that facilitate and maintain mental sharpness as your dog gets older.
Pros
If you try this pet food for older pets, you’ll find several benefits right off the bat:
- Lots of excellent ingredients, like MCT-rich vegetable oil, which can help to promote mental sharpness in dogs
- Helps dogs maintain their activity levels over seven years of age
- Features various vitamins and minerals for healthy skin and coat
- Several flavors are available with different ingredient concentrations
Cons
However, you might also encounter some potential downsides that you can’t ignore:
- Your dog needs to transition to this food over time, not all at once
- May not be appropriate for smaller dog breeds
Best for Proactive Protection: IAMS Healthy Aging Adult Dry Dog Food for Mature and Senior Dogs with Real Chicken
Key specs: 29.1-pound bag, chicken flavor
Here’s another dog food option for mature and senior pups, formulated with real ingredients and natural chicken. More importantly, it’s one of the best dog foods overall if your pup is approaching senior age and you want to make sure they maintain adequate nutrition.
Pros
If you’re in the market for excellent senior dog food, you’ll like this option because of the following benefits:
- Made primarily with high-quality animal protein and vitamins
- Tailored specifically to senior dogs, but alternative options are available for younger adult dogs as well
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Comes formulated with premium vitamins and minerals for immune system support
Cons
That said, you might want to look for a different senior dog food because of the following:
- Pellet sizes could be a little small for your dog depending on their eating habits and jaw size
- It can be tough to know whether you need the medium or large breed variety
Best for Hip and Joint Support: Nulo Freestyle Premium Grain-Free All Breed Senior Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 26-pound bag, trout and sweet potato flavor
This dog food option is designed to provide your dog with superior nutrition as they enter their senior years. The concentration of high animal-proteins within a grain-free formula features the nutrients your dog needs to support the health of their hips and joints.
Additionally, it aims to support their metabolism so they can experience healthy digestion and maintain a healthy weight.
Pros
Plenty of pet parents love this senior dog food thanks to the following:
- Good for joint health, energy management, and weight management
- No corn, wheat gluten, soy, or artificial preservatives
- An expert-approved exclusive dog food formula
Cons
Other pet parents prefer different dog food, however, because of these downsides:
- Premium dog food that can be pricey
Best for Comprehensive Nutrition for Small Breeds: Merrick Lil’ Plates Small Breed Dog Food, Grain Free Senior Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe, Small Dog Food
Key specs: Four-pound bag, chicken flavor
This senior dog food is another popular choice for the comprehensive, tasty nutrition it provides for smaller breeds. The crunchy kibble bites are flavorful, and you don’t need to supplement this food with wet food or anything else, provided your dog doesn’t have health issues.
Pros
There are many positives to this senior dog food option, including:
- Tasty and irresistible
- Uses natural ingredients like deboned chicken without any grains
- Perfectly crafted for senior dogs, plus comes packed with probiotics and prebiotics for digestive support
- Supports senior metabolism
Cons
Simultaneously, there are a few possible disadvantages you might encounter should you choose this small breed senior dog food:
- You may need to purchase several bags at once, since you only get four pounds per purchase
- Only one flavor is available
Best for Skin and Coat Health: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 24-pound bag, chicken and turkey flavor
This particular senior dog food is great if you want to prioritize skin and coat health for your pup. Thanks to its ingredient composition, your dog’s fur will look better than ever due to its nutrient-rich superfoods.
Pros
Plenty of senior dogs benefit from this grain-free food because of the following:
- Packed with excellent ingredients from start to finish
- Also helps to support joint and heart health due to antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and taurine
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Made in the United States using globally sourced ingredients and non-GMO foods
Cons
However, tThis food might not be the best choice for your pup, as it could require use of some supplementation or wet food.
Best for Grain-Free Feeding: ORIJEN Senior Dry Dog Food, Grain Free Dry Dog Food for Senior Dogs
Key specs: 23.5-pound bag, variety flavor
This senior dry dog food is great for parents who want to prioritize grain-free feeding for their pups. In this way, you can ensure your dog only eats natural ingredients and what they need, not any unnecessary by-products.
Pros
There are many things you might appreciate about this senior dry dog food:
- First five ingredients are natural and fresh chicken, turkey, salmon, chicken liver, and herring
- Made in the United States
- Excellent protein source with 85% animal ingredients
- Nutrient dense
Cons
On the other hand, tThis option is extremely expensive compared to other dog food options, so you may find yourself wanting to look elsewhere.
Best for Sedentary Dogs: Evanger’s Heritage Classics Senior & Weight Management for Dogs
Key specs: 12.5-ounce cans, 12 cans, variety flavor
If your dog could use a little extra hydration or weight management help, this dog food might be right for you. This canned food is easy to serve and can help prevent obesity if your pup is a bit more sedentary than usual.
Pros
If your dog is a sedentary canine companion, you might like this senior dog food thanks to these elements:
- Great for dogs at risk of weight gain
- Complete nutritional content for senior dogs
- Other varieties are available for puppies, as well
- Provides a little extra hydration
Cons
Certain factors might make this a less-than-solid choice for your particular pup, however. For example, tThis food is not ideal for high-energy dogs.
Best for Large Breeds: Royal Canin Large Aging 8+ Senior Dry Dog Food
Key specs: 30-pound bag, chicken flavor
Large senior dogs will enjoy an exclusive blend of key antioxidants to support larger breeds, making it a great choice for pet parents who want to make sure their big dogs stay healthy for years.
Pros
If you’re in the market for a large breed senior dog food solution, this could be just the ticket for you because of the following:
- Excellent antioxidant support
- Precision nutrition is blended for dogs 8 years or older and those that weigh 56 to 100 pounds
- Kibble pieces are easy to chew
- Also supports digestive health for larger dogs
Cons
However, you may prefer a different dog food because of these possible downsides:
- Kibble pieces aren’t suitable for smaller dog breeds
- Can get expensive given how much you have to purchase for your dog at once
The Bottom Line
All in all, any of these senior dog foods could be just the ticket depending on your pup’s breed and your preferences. For instance, the Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food is a good all-around choice with extra benefits for skin and coat health, while the IAMS Healthy Aging Adult Dry Dog Food for Mature and Senior Dogs with Real Chicken is an even better choice for middle-aged dogs about to become seniors. If you’re in doubt, speak to a veterinarian about what the best choice will be for your dog’s golden years!
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