The best place to get help and advice about dog diets is your pets veterinarian. Only you and your veterinarian know any of the specific needs your pet has. Discuss with your vet your concerns and voice any questions as well. He or she will suggest any changes, or if indeed any need to be made to your dogs diet.
If your senior dog does not have any trouble with there health and has a healthy weight, there will be not a need to change your dogs diet from adult to senior dog food. But, if weight is the an issue, consider giving smaller portions of dog food to your pet. This may be the only change you need to make to your dogs diet requires.
A senior dog is classed as a dog in their last third of their life. Larger breeds, for example a Great Danes, live to be about 9 years old. about the sixth year of their life, you may want to consider the possibility of a senior dogs diet. A poodle, on the other hand will not reach senior status until the age ten, this is due to the longer life expectancy of this breed. Principally, the judgment to change your dogs diet should be based on health condition of your pet, rather than actual age in years. Your vet will help you to make up your mind, when the right time is to alter your dogs diet.
Dog food that is prepared for senior dogs typically would have less calories. This is a big help to combat any weight issues. The senior dog food will also contain more fiber for the different needs in your senior dogs diet. When dogs age, they tend to suffer with constipation, the extra fiber will help cure this problem.
Renal failure can be a health problem for senior dogs. How can your dogs diet help with this problem? Cutting down the amount of protein in your dogs diet will decrease the work load of the kidneys. For the most part, this is the reason, senior dog food often has lower protein content than regular adult formulas.
Whenever possible, allow your dog to eat dry dog food to encourage excellent dental health. The dry kibble helps to reduce plaque and tartar buildup. If your older pet refuses to eat the food dry, you may need to moisten it with water or purchase moist canned varieties.
If your vet recommends supplements may be helpful as part of your senior dogs diet. It Is because, some pets are unable to eat properly due to oral issues. Other older pets are unable to gather all of the nutrients from their food for various health reasons. Supplements such as daily vitamins and glucosamine can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy diet for your dog.
Glucosamine helps to promote joint health. For senior dogs, glucosamine can help to combat arthritis and hip displasia.
Vitamins C, A, and E, are helpful in preventing the natural aging process and promote better health for senior dogs. You should always talk with your vet before adding such supplements to your dogs diet.
We all want what is best for our pet. Your senior dog should have a diet that meets their nutritional needs. You and your vet should work together to determine what is the best diet for your senior dog. Your dogs diet will directly affect their health. Take care of your pet by supervising your dogs diet closely with the help of your veterinarian.
G D Williams is an up and coming authority on pets and pet health. For more free help dog diets, try visiting Dogs Diet Tips. A popular website that supplies advice and resources to include help Avoid Table Scraps in Your Dogs Diet.