Unfortunately, our pets life spans are much shorter than ours and a dog that is around d8 or 9 years old could be considered a senior citizen even though his looks may not show it. When your dog gets a little older, his nutritional needs change so you want to be sure to feed him a good quality senior dog food.
The older dog requires a well balanced diet that is lower in calories, fat, protein with high fiber content, it may be possible to continue feeding your dog the food they are used to but smaller portions are advisable. In some cases a specially formulated senior diet may be required, if choosing a commercially prepared diet the level of protein is around 18% where as dogs with a diet for renal failure is around 14% protein.
The older dog has a higher risk of developing constipation, so a diet high in fiber is far better for the senior dog. Feeding dry dog food helps to control tartar build up on his teeth and reduces the risk of gum disease.
Older dogs can benefit from added supplements as their nutritional needs change with age, and unfortunately they, like humans can be prone to arthritis. If you think your dog is not receiving adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals through his food it may be worth consulting your vet for advice about which supplements to give your dog. If, for instance, the animal has oral disease they may not receive their daily needs of vitamins and minerals.
If you have a dog suffering with constipation wheat bran is a good source of fiber to use or you can try a senior dog food that is formulated to have more fiber. Sometimes, aging dogs can get a bit thinner but if your dog starts to look incredibly thinner quickly and lacks appetite this needs immediate attention from the vet to rule out any possible disease problems. If everything turns out normal then you may be advised to modify your dog's diet in order to get him to eat more.
Those of you who feed dry food may notice your senior dog having a hard time chewing the food. Try feeding a food that has smaller sized kibble or moisten the food with water making them softer and easier to chew. If you warm any canned or moistened food in the microwave to increase the aroma and your dog's appetite, always be sure to stir the food before serving to avoid any hot pockets in the food.
To tempt the animal you could always try adding the juice from tinned tuna or sardines not those in tomato juice though. Another tempting teaser is to add some finely chopped cooked chicken and mix them around in the dry food; this may help to increase their appetite or finely chopped vegetables like carrot, cabbage can be tempting and have some added vitamins as well.
Finding a good senior dog food that has the adequate nutrients for your dog is important for his continued good health and longevity so when your dog gets to his "golden years", take the time to assess his nutritional needs and find a food that meets them.
Constipation In DogsLee Dobbins is an avid dog lover who has owned many different types of dogs from a 90 pound Shepherd mix to a pure bred Pomeranian. She shares her years of research and experience in an Ebook and newsletter which you can download for FREE at [http://www.dogcareandtrainingtips.com]