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Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
WHEN TO SWITCH TO SENIOR DOG FOOD
This is a personal question that only you and your pet can decide when to switch to senior dog food. Bags of dog food generally state adult dog food ages 1-7 years old on the bag, so we assume once your furbaby is 8 years old then that is when to switch to senior dog food.
This is not always true. Since senior diets can vary in nutritional value from one company to the next company. It is generally assumed that older dogs have different nutritional requirements. However, the nutritional requirements they have can vary greatly depending on their health and lifestyle.
For example, one senior dog might need more fat or protein 1Do Dogs Need High-Protein Dog Food? | Purina or calories due to their age and/or lifestyle, meaning they are not as active.
Or maybe certain organs are not functioning as well as other dogs their age and they require a senior specialized diet.
You can have an older healthy dog who is active at 10 years old or maybe even 12 years old and you may not have switched to a senior dog food yet because that food is still working for your dog. This is not necessarily bad if your dog is still getting the nutrition they need from the food your are currently feeding.
However, you might have a 5-year-old dog that has special dietary needs and you may need to reduce the calories if they are already less active or overweight. There are several different types of dog food for your furbaby out there and they range from low fat, low calorie, low phosphorous for kidney health, even ketogenic dog food diets.
You don’t necessarily need to switch to senior dog food just because your dog is getting older. You will want to consult with your veterinarian and address any issues or concerns you may have regarding your furbaby’s health or age.
There are many different varieties of dog food out there that are able to suit your specific pets’ requirements. Protein may not necessarily need to be reduced in older dogs but then again in certain instances you may need to increase the amount of protein in your senior dog’s life.
Again, it depends on your furbaby, their overall health and their lifestyle.
One food brand that I absolutely love that allows you to take control of your furbaby’s food options is Dr. Harveys, they are organic dehydrated base mixes that come in serveral varieties ranging from veg-to-bowl, paradigm which is grain-free and for diabetic dogs, and this canine health miracle dog food that’s human grade with grains and vegetables.
The directions tell you whether you are feeding for a puppy, adult or senior. How much protein to add (you choose the protein you want) and how many scoops you need to provide and how much oil you need to provide (you choose the oil from his list of recommended oils)
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