Recipes – senior dogs
A dog is considered to be senior around 9 or 10 years of age, a bit earlier for the largest breeds, a bit later for the smaller ones. However, as much as this can differ by dog size and breed, it also differs between dogs of the same size and breed because, just like humans, some of us can run marathons in our 80s while some of us barely have the energy to reach for the remote control!
As your dog ages, they will need more proteins and fats as their bodies won’t be as efficient at producing some of their own vitamins as they used to. This means cutting down on carbohydrates to make way for the extra protein and fats. The carbohydrates they do eat should be wholegrains and vegetables, not sugar, so that they are easily digested. And they need a good variety of foods to ensure they’re getting all the nutrients they need. This means eating more meat, liver, vegetable oils and other plant originated oils, poultry, eggs, soyabeans, oat/wheat bran, green vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish.
Commercial dog food is available for senior dogs, adjusted to their differing requirements. Make sure your transition to senior food is done gradually over a couple of weeks to help your dog adjust without any tummy upsets. If you are in any doubt what to do, when or how, then speak to your vet who will be happy to advise.
As always, you should also ensure that your dog is getting plenty of water, excercise (as appropriate for their age) and time outside in the sunshine.
Here are the recipes we recommend for senior dogs: