Dog owners often wonder about this. You might have heard that a dog becomes a senior at 7 years old, but it’s not that simple. Many factors influence when a dog enters their senior years.
- Breed: Generally, larger breeds tend to age faster than smaller ones.
- Genetics: Your dog’s family history can play a big role.
- Medical History: Past health issues, even a dog's spay/neuter status and the age it occurred, can affect how quickly they age.
- Diet: A dog who has eaten a natural, gut-friendly diet their whole life will likely age more slowly. Highly processed foods contain substances called Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs), which can speed up the aging process.
- Toxin Exposure: Things like flea and worm medications, as well as environmental toxins, can disrupt your dog’s hormones and gut health, leading to faster aging.
- Behavioural History: Believe it or not, chronic stress can also speed up physical aging. It all comes down to the connection between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis.
So, how can you tell if your dog is entering their senior years? Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Weight loss
- Reduced hearing and eyesight
- Increased fatigue or less willingness to exercise
- Stiffness
- Changes in appetite or increased thirst
- New lumps or bumps
- Loss of balance
In the beginning, these signs might be subtle, but they can become more pronounced as your dog gets older.
A Senior Dog's Nutritional Needs
As dogs age, their bodies go through a lot of changes that require some dietary tweaks. Key areas that are often affected include:
- Gut health: An older dog's digestive system can become less efficient at absorbing nutrients.
- Brain health: Cognitive decline can be a natural part of aging.
- Joint health: The gut-joint connection is powerful! A healthy gut can lead to healthier joints, and most senior dogs need extra joint support.
- Dental health: Dental issues are common in older dogs.
- Kidney and Heart health: Chronic kidney disease and heart disease are statistically more common in senior dogs.
Let’s look at the key nutrients your senior dog needs to stay happy and healthy.
Protein
Protein is vital for everything from building muscles and ligaments to producing hormones. As dogs get older, they can have trouble absorbing protein, which can lead to muscle loss. That's why a diet with moderate to high levels of meat-based protein is so important for senior dogs.
Fat
Since older dogs are often less active, a lower-fat diet might be a good idea to prevent weight gain, which puts extra stress on their joints. However, not all fats are created equal! Omega-3 fatty acids are great for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with joint pain. We’ll talk more about this later!
Carbohydrates and Fibre
Complex carbohydrates that are high in fibre, like sweet potatoes, quinoa, kale, and broccoli, can be a great addition to your dog’s diet. They help with digestion and support the immune and nervous systems.
As dogs age, their ability to produce fibre can decrease, which can mess with their gut health. That’s why I recommend feeding a diet with plenty of dietary fibre and at least one source of prebiotics.
Important Micro-nutrients
Beyond the basics, certain vitamins and minerals are especially crucial for older dogs:
- Vitamin D: Dogs can’t get Vitamin D from the sun, so it has to come from their diet. A deficiency can weaken their immune system and increase the risk of things like cancer. Foods like oily fish, egg yolk, and liver are great sources.
- Zinc: Zinc deficiencies are common in senior dogs and can affect their skin, eyes, brain, and hormones. You can find zinc in foods like oysters, beef, lamb, and turkey.
- Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This powerful antioxidant helps fight against free radicals, which can cause a lot of health problems, from poor joint health to cognitive decline. CoQ10 is also a superstar for heart health. You can find it in oily fish, organ meat, poultry, and broccoli.
Is your senior dog’s diet providing all the nutrients they need? Let’s talk about specific nutrients for senior dogs! Call me (Martina) at 1 844-486-4789 or email us at: info@yourcaninenutritionist.com
Helping senior dogs thrive is our passion. If you’re seeing some changes in your older pup and think a better diet could help, please reach out. We understand how special these years are and want to support you every step of the way.
Has your vet given your fur baby a diagnosis that requires a change in their diet? Martina can create a custom nutrition plan to help your dog feel their best.
You may also want to read my blog: How Proper Nutrition Resolves Common Health Issues