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Backed by Dr. Susan Recker, Dr. Laurie Coger & 2 others...
As your dog ages, you will begin to see an accumulation of their life between their genetics, environment, age, and diet. During this time there are significant ways you can support their body through diet. The most impactful tool is their base diet. Your dog’s base diet can either decrease inflammation in their body or increase it. It’s what supplies their body with energy and feeds cells.
Pet parents often throw a variety of supplements at each problem area in hopes that it will provide their aging dog some relief. While supplements help fill gaps in the diet, focusing on the base diet and limiting the inflammation supplied to your dog’s body is the most important. Regardless of the diet being fed, you can still support your senior dog by including a diverse array of minimally processed meal toppers like pureed produce, lean meats, and fatty fish.
What to know about senior dog food.
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Of all the life stages, feeding senior dogs appropriately is among the most misunderstood. The most important component to tackle is protein. There is a common misconception that protein should be restricted for older dogs as they age. Not only is this incorrect, it is potentially harmful as their muscles begin to waste with old age.
Within your dog’s aging body, amino acids also have many important functions. They support healthy muscle mass, aid cognitive function, help the immune system, and are essential to continued organ function. All things that often decline with age. As our pets age, many organs begin to slow down (most commonly the kidneys and heart). Amino acids improve tissue function within these organs and assist with vital blood flow to them as well.
Among the many important nutrients to include for your senior dog, Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants have both been studied for their ability to combat the aging process.
As dogs age they are prone to sarcopenia, a natural muscle wasting. Sarcopenia causes proteins in muscle to be broken down to support normal bodily processes such as digestion. The body attacks muscle for its protein needs.
Your senior dog’s diet should contain more highly digestible protein to combat Sarcopenia. Due to the quality of ingredients and processing used for many kibble and canned foods, the digestibility of these foods is lower than that of minimally processed foods.
Leucine, Lysine, and Methionine have been shown to slow muscle loss related to sarcopenia. Tryptophan and Tyrosine are the amino acids essential for neurotransmitter production like serotonin and dopamine and also aid in healthy sleep cycles. Glutamine and Arginine help with cellular repair which is extremely important and aids immune function and tissue repair. Beyond this, your pets organs require a constant and adequate supply of these amino acids in order to perform daily functions.
Amino acids go hand-in-hand with protein. When you increase your dog’s protein from high-quality, lean animal sources, it will help ensure appropriate amino acid consumption.
Omega-3 fatty acids have long been studied for their ability to combat the aging process. Most notably, EPA and DHA have been shown to improve cognitive function. Beyond their cognitive impact, they are also anti-inflammatory and can combat joint inflammation.
EPA and DHA are mostly found in fish. They can also be found in algae oil and the brain (organ meat).
Antioxidants have an impressive track record scientifically for reducing damage from oxidative stress, increased dietary antioxidants can help combat signs of aging from stressed joints, to improved organ function, and slowed cognitive decline.
For increased antioxidants, include foods such as wheatgrass, decaf green tea, kale, spinach, blueberries, kiwi, goji berries, pineapple, broccoli sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, turmeric, and shiitake mushrooms.
One of the most impactful dietary therapies you can implement for your senior dog is an anti-inflammatory diet. An anti-inflammatory diet will supply bioavailable sources of proteins, fats, and fiber. This will actively help to combat inflammation in your dog’s body. These diets are minimally processed as heating fats makes them inflammatory. Due to the intense heat treatments kibble and canned diets undergo, both are considered inflammatory. As canine nutritionist Autumn Somers explains, “All of the supplements in the world cannot make up for an inflammatory diet. The supplements will constantly be fighting an uphill battle because the primary source of energy supplied to the body is encouraging inflammation every day.”
It’s never too late to make adjustments to your senior dog’s diet. Even senior dogs with “sensitive stomachs” can adapt with a little support and time. It’s normal for your dog to experience GI changes during a diet transition, particularly if they have been fed the same diet for long periods of time. A gradual transition over a period of 7-10 days can be helpful to allow your dog time to adjust. The inclusion of digestive enzymes and psyllium husk may be beneficial during this time to ease symptoms, such as loose stool, and help them to digest the new diet.
There are a number of whole food ingredients and supplements that can be used to support your senior dog. Organ meats contain many essential micronutrients, B vitamins (particularly beef organs), and essential amino acids. Eggs are nutrient powerhouses. Not only are they a complete protein, but pasture-raised eggs also contain anti-inflammatory omega 3s and are concentrated sources of micronutrients and antioxidants.
Fatty fish, such as sardines, mackerel, salmon, and anchovies, are an excellent source of EPA & DHA. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense greens per ounce. It’s also a great source of fiber and contains calcium, manganese, and plenty of antioxidants like Vitamin C. Decaf green tea will supply your senior dog with antioxidants and quercetin. Lion’s Mane mushrooms help to support healthy cognitive function. Bone broth supports joints and gut health.
For antioxidants, include sunflower seeds for their potent Vitamin E content. Ensure the sunflower seeds are well ground and soaked overnight in a light saltwater bath to breakdown natural phytic acids (an antinutrient). While dogs can synthesize Vitamin C, it can help revitalize Vitamin E so increased dietary vitamin c with vitamin e can be particularly helpful. Kiwi contains a concentrated amount of vitamin c and beneficial fibers.
Rotate your Omega-3 sources as each will supply different Omega-3 fatty acids in different ratios. Cold pressed, unrefined flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil, and chia seeds will supply ALA Omega-3s. Fatty Fish, Brain, Fish Oil or Algae oil will supply EPA & DHA.
When selecting oils it is important to consider the quality, as highly rendered, poorly stored oils can make them inflammatory. When supplements gain popularity, every company out there starts producing their own, they are not all created equal. Many pump bottles flush air up through the product every time they are used, oxidizing the product quickly. Pumps that do not do this can be designed and do exist.
Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) like those found in coconut oil have been studied for their effects at improving cognitive function in senior dogs. A recent study also found that MCTs can improve metabolism efficiency in dogs as well.
Glucosamine is another tried and true supplement for joint health and it can be found in a variety of whole food sources, such as chicken feet, duck feet, poultry necks, green-lipped mussels, bone broth, and more. If your pet is suffering from joint pain a concentrated glucosamine supplement along with omega-3s can be beneficial. Deer Antler velvet contains glucosamine and chondroitin which work synergistically.