Senior Dog Food?

I’d ask my vet.

I prefer some of the premium brands for better ingredents, less corn, and pverall better product. Current pup is on Natures Recipe LID and does well.

I use Costco lamb and rice. It works great and unless the dogs develop weight or other issues when older, I don't change it. Moose-dog turned 11 this past August and is in great shape. He's a newfie/shepherd/poodle so 11 is getting old for him - but other than a touch of back leg stiffness, he's got no issues.

Bat-dog is 7 and, as long as she doesn't manage to steal too much, her weight is nicely managed on the costco. She can tend to weight issues so I'll watch her as she ages, but she's done great on it so far.

When Moose-dog was young, he ate 4-1/2 cups per day. At about 7, I dropped it to 3-1/2 cups. When younger, his metabolism was extremely fast, now it's just fast.. He's maintained a nice 85lbs throughout.

Bat-dog has been on 2-1/2 cups per day and maintains a nice 65lbs.

Their coats are in great shape and no skin issues. And the lamb and rice has been good for Moose-dog's sensitive stomach.

I wouldn't change if they're doing well on it. IMO specialty foods--other than perhaps large breed puppy foods--are just marketing gimmicks. To control their weight you can slightly reduce the amount you're feeding to account for their slowing metabolism. Add in some (unsalted) canned or frozen green beans or other low calorie veggie if they need the bulk to feel satisfied.

Pawz4me wrote:
I wouldn't change if they're doing well on it. IMO specialty foods--other than perhaps large breed puppy foods--are just marketing gimmicks. To control their weight you can slightly reduce the amount you're feeding to account for their slowing metabolism. Add in some (unsalted) canned or frozen green beans or other low calorie veggie if they need the bulk to feel satisfied.

:B Ditto

Especially with skin issues, I wouldn't change if you've found something that works.

Pawz & Doc, that's always been my line of thinking but I've read that too much protein isn't good for older dogs. My coon hound ate crappy food (it's all he'd eat) and I never changed it. He lived to 12 with no health issues at all.

Crowe wrote:
Pawz & Doc, that's always been my line of thinking but I've read that too much protein isn't good for older dogs...

When kidney function becomes compromised, that's absolutely true. But you have to consider the whole body and all the systems as a whole. With skin issues, unless there is evidence of renal issues I don't see any reason to change. Even then, it's a balancing act: pros vs cons.

I think it's also good to realize that not all "adult" dog foods are that high in protein. Many have no more or only slightly more protein than the senior foods.

The only reason Bizmark is on premium food is that beef and chicken make him itch. He was on Kirkland food before this issue cropped up, and did really well. Now, he's on Nutrisource Seafood Select. He does fine with the occasional beef bone or chicken treat, it just can't be his everyday food. He's 11, and maintains his weight really well on 2 1/2 cups of food per day (he's a 60# bowling ball of a dog).

Casper, the puppy, is growing like a weed on Kirkland puppy formula. There's no reason to give her the more expensive stuff.

Our Vet said we should put our almost 12yr old Elkhound on senior food. He will not eat senior food we have tried a couple of different brands and he just walks away. He was never over weight. As soon as we put the senior food out he stopped eating and started loosing weight. He is back on regular dog food and is eating again.