¿Hay que cambiar la alimentación de un perro senior?

This is one of the questions that I have been asked by some people who see how their senior dogs are gradually losing their appetite.

The answer is yes: just as puppies have certain nutritional needs and adult dogs have others, senior dogs also have their own nutritional needs to improve their quality of life at this stage.

What is a senior dog

A senior dog is one that enters its third age and will depend on its size to be able to know approximately when our dog becomes older.

Although gray hair gives us some clue, in small breeds a dog can be considered older when it turns 10-11 years old, in medium-sized dogs 8-9 years old and in large-sized dogs at 7 they would already enter old age. dog

It is important to take this into account because, although we do not realize it, our dog is developing certain changes in his body internally: osteoporosis problems, joint pain due to osteoarthritis, mental deterioration, greater fatigue, lower appetite, loss in your senses of smell, vision, hearing, etc.

Food for senior dogs

Food for senior dogs must have all the properties necessary for the senior dog to feel active and energetic.

Food is one of the most important aspects to take into account at this stage, as is exercise, both physical (which will obviously have to be reduced in intensity and duration) and mental (let’s not forget that our dogs’ brains also slow down and stimulate it). with games it is essential).

One of the key points in canine nutrition is to prevent the dog from developing overweight or obesity as much as possible, which is why it is very important to maintain a caloric diet adjusted to its weight.

We must not forget that at this stage of its life the dog is no longer as active and, therefore, does not spend as much energy, so we cannot be giving it more calories than necessary.

Diabetes can appear if we feed the dog whims and/or overfeed it, significantly affecting its weak joints, bones and even internal organs.

Senior dog food

Food for senior dogs should be based on quality proteins, because only a food based on quality proteins will be able to keep the dog’s muscle mass strong.

Let’s remember that muscle mass protects bones from breaking. When I talk about quality proteins, I mean that you should opt for lean poultry, beef or fish, fresh and natural without chemical additives. The more truly you feed your dog, the better he will be and the greater quality and life expectancy you will ensure.

Food for senior dogs that come prepared in feed format or canned format, as long as they are of premium quality, contain all the nutritional requirements that older dogs need to be able to feel like a «kid.»

In addition, they are designed so that senior dogs want to eat them, they are easy to chew and they are easy to digest.

Why is it necessary to change your diet?

These are the reasons why you should opt for a specific diet for senior dogs:

• To strengthen your immune system.
• To strengthen your joints.
• To reduce problems that may appear at the kidney, liver, etc.
• To slow down degenerative processes on a physical and mental level.

As you can see, when our dog reaches old age, it is essential to devote ourselves to pampering and caring for him, where correct nutrition is essential.