Dog owners are some of the most loyal pet owners in the world. Along with this type of love comes choosing to provide the best of the best dog foods. As time goes by and your dog ages, it comes time to switch your dog's diet to something that can benefit them as a senior pet. It can be daunting to make a decision which is why we will discuss some of the best senior dog food brands and their benefits.
Life with a Senior Dog
1. What Is the Best Senior Dog Food?
2. How Do I Know When My Dog Is a Senior?
3. How Does Senior Dog Food Work?
4. Where Can I Buy Senior Dog Food?
Reviewing the Best Senior Dog Food
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The following products were reviewed based on the following parameters: key features, price, ingredients, additional benefits, and any recalls that have happened recently.
Overall Price Range of the Best Senior Dog Food
Out of the 10 best senior dog food lines we will analyze, the highest-priced is about $90 for a 30-pound bag while the lowest-priced is about $40 for a 30-pound bag. Much like the food we eat, you definitely get what you pay for—so the higher in price, the higher the quality of the food is.
What We Reviewed
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CANIDAE All Life Stages Dog Dry Food
- OPTIMAL PROTEIN FOR ALL DOGS: All Life Stages Less Active Formula is crafted with 27% less fat and 10% less protein than our Multi-Protein All Life Stages formula, while still providing an optimal level of nutrition for less active dogs of all breeds and sizes.
- CREATED WITHOUT ANY WHEAT, CORN, or SOY: There's nothing questionable in a bowl of Canidae All Life Stages.
- HEALTHPLUS SOLUTIONS IN EVERY BITE: Probiotics added to every kibble after cooking to support healthy digestion, antioxidants to support a healthy immune system, and omega 6 & 3 fatty acids to support beautiful skin and coat.
Features
Canidae All Life Stages Dog Dry Food is a great formula because even though it is intended for all life stages, its ingredient list specializes in aiding overweight dogs to help maintain a healthy weight and senior dogs to still feel young and rejuvenated. It has a low-fat percentage which is why it's great for overweight and senior dogs. This formula is great for those who have several pups at different stages in life.
The first few ingredients in this line are chicken meal, brown rice, white rice, peas, potatoes, turkey meal, and lamb meal. We especially like this because chicken and turkey meals have nearly 300 percent more protein than raw meat. However, there are many grains in this formula, which could be problematic for those looking for a grain-free diet.
Pros
Cons
Where to buy
Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food
- Contains One (1) 30 Lb. Bag Of Nutro Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food With A Trio Of Proteins From Chicken, Lamb And Salmon (New Look, Same Product - Packaging May Vary)
- Features Trio Of Protein From Chicken, Lamb, And Salmon-Chicken Is The #1 Ingredient-Specially Formulated For Senior Dogs
- Our Premium Dog Food Kibble Is Made With High-Quality Ingredients And Provides Complete And Balanced Nutrition For Senior Dogs In Every Bowl
Features
We love Nutro because its formula includes 12 “super ingredients.” These super ingredients are sunflower oil, tomatoes, flaxseed, coconut, egg, pumpkin, spinach, kale, blueberries, apples, carrots, and chia seeds. Don't these sound like ingredients you would feed yourself? We think so, too. At the top of its ingredient list is chicken meal, which is a great source of protein, and chondroitin and glucosamine which help with arthritis and joint health.
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Fromm Gold Nutritionals Senior Dry Dog Food
Features
Fromm is one of the highest-rated best dog food brands because of its extremely high-quality ingredient list. Packed with duck, chicken meal, chicken, oatmeal, brown rice, pearled barley, menhaden fish meal, potatoes, and lamb, we are very satisfied with this formula. The Gold Nutritional formula focuses on a low-calorie diet as well as chicken cartilage which helps with digestion and salmon oil to help make for a healthy and full coat of fur.
Pros
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Diamond Naturals Real Meat Recipe Premium Specialty Senior Dry Dog Food
- Only quality ingredients used in our products
- Made in the USA
- Health source of vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbs
Features
If your senior dog has some digestive issues or is sensitive to certain ingredients, then consider the Diamond Naturals formula for seniors. This formula helps strengthen joint health while also offering chia seeds and fruits and vegetables for top-notch nutrition. However, Diamond Naturals has a nasty history of recalls and shipment suspensions from its US-based plants.
Pros
Cons
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Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Grain Free, Gluten Free, 28 Lb. Resealable Bag
- High In Protein
- Wholesome Antioxidant Nutrient-Rich Natural Vegetables And Fruits
Features
Earthborn Holistic is our list's first grain-free formula which great for seniors since consuming too many grains can be disruptive for digestion. Although the name implies that this isn't a formula specified for seniors, quite the opposite is true. Earthborn is packed with excellent sources of protein, such as chicken and turkey meal, and fatty acids and vitamins great for overall health and digestion. However, though not specific to the Earthborn brand, the FDA is currently investigating a potential link between grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs.
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Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Senior Dog Food
- Complete Health: Complete And Balanced Everyday Nutrition To Support Your Dog'S Healthy Weight
- Healthy Weight Formula: Reduced Calorie Diet Made With Delicious Deboned Chicken And Peas To Help Satisfy Hunger And Maintain A Healthy Weight
- All Natural: Contains Only Premium, All Natural Ingredients With No Wheat, Corn, Soy, Meat By-Products, Artificial Flavors, Colors Or Preservatives
Features
Wellness Complete Health for seniors is filled with high-quality chicken and protein in each kibble. Unlike the other brands we've looked at so far, Wellness also has taurine in its formula, which is especially great for cognitive functioning in your aging pup. However, low on its ingredient list is garlic which is questionable as it's been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.
Pros
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Solid Gold Dry Dog Food
- HEALTHY BALANCED WHOLE GRAIN & FISH-BASED PROTEIN: Perfect for sensitive stomachs, Holistique Blendz is carefully formulated with a balance of ocean fish meal, healthy whole grains like pearled barley, and a unique blend of whole superfoods.
- PERFECT FOR ADULT & MATURE DOGS: This potato free and all natural protein formula gives mature dogs the food they need, while providing the flavors they crave.
- IDEAL FOR SENSITIVE STOMACHS: Made with easily digestible single source protein, probiotics and balanced or optimal fiber to promote healthy digestion in mature & adult dogs. With controlled levels of minerals like calcium, phosphorus and sodium, this recipe makes for a delicious and satisfying combination supporting your dog's gut health and overall immune support.
Features
Though this formula flavor is herring and salmon, it is actually also quite rich in cottage cheese, which is very high in protein and has 70 percent less lactose than other dairy products. This is great for dogs who have a low tolerance for dairy products or are lactose-intolerant altogether.
Pros
Where to buy
AvoDerm Natural Health Solutions for Senior Health
- One (1) 24 Pound Bag - Avoderm Natural Senior Health+ Grain Free Lamb Meal Dry Dog Food
- Supports Joint, Eye, And Brain Health: Natural Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine & Dha Helps Support Senior Dog'S Joints, Eyes And Brain Function
- Promotes Healthy Skin & Coat: Premium Natural Dry Dog Food Made With California Avocados To Promote Healthy Skin, Coat, Immune System And Overall Health
Features
AvoDerm is an avocado-based formula that is also grain-free for senior dogs. Avocado is a super-food and a great source of nutrients alongside alfalfa, peas, lamb, chicken, and salmon. Sometimes dogs have an allergy to chicken, but the lamb and salmon may counteract it. The AvoDerm Senior Health formula is rich in essential fatty and amino acids.
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Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Senior dog food delivers a diet rich and varied in fresh, whole animal ingredients from free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs
- With 85% quality animal ingredients, ORIJEN nourishes dogs according to their natural, biological needs
- Using fresh and raw animal ingredients, including meat, organs, cartilage, and bone, ORIJEN is the Biologically Appropriate, grain-free diet that dogs have evolved to eat
Features
Next in line is Orijen. Orijen dog food is wildly popular for its freeze-dried raw food formulas, but its dry food is just as good. The first few ingredients in the Orijen senior formula are fresh chicken meat, fresh whole eggs, fresh turkey meat, fresh whole herring, fresh chicken liver, fresh whole flounder… Need we go on?
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Hill's Science Diet Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food
- Supports an older little dog's joints and mobility using omega 3s from fish oil
- Provides your small breed dog with balanced minerals that support heart, kidney and bladder health
- Maintain your senior dog's healthy skin and shiny coat with nourishing omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin E
Features
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so even your toy chihuahua needs a good senior diet. Sometimes it's challenging to find a breed-and size-specific diet, which is why we are happy to share the Hill's Science Diet for small and toy breeds. This specific diet is great for dogs that are 11 years old and older. It is formulated with amino acid essentials that help maintain the functions of internal organs and boosting your elder pup's immune system.
Hill's Science Diet is consistently recommended by veterinarians since the nutritional courses in veterinary school are sponsored by Purina, Science Diet, and Royal Canin. This raises questions about the authenticity of a vet's recommendation.
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Which Is the Best Senior Dog Food?
When it comes to caring for your dog, it is difficult and overwhelming to narrow down the best senior dog food. Luckily, it's possible. Today, we evaluated, analyzed, and rated 10 high-rated senior formulas and analyzed their key features which included ingredients, benefits, price, and any red flags like past recalls.
Based on the ingredients, benefits, and price, the best senior dog food is Earthborn Holistic Primitive dry food formula. This is chock-full of proteins, vitamins, and fatty and amino acids. We mentioned that currently, the FDA is investigating whether grain-free diets are beneficial or harmful to dogs, but until that theory is proven, we still highly praise grain-free diets.
Featured image by Pixabay
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