While old age is not a disease in itself, the bodily changes associated with aging make older dogs more vulnerable to the onset of certain pathologies. Cancer, osteoarthritis, confusional syndrome as well as kidney and heart disease are among them. However, taking into account its specificities and an adequate diet can help reduce the risk of developing certain diseases and chronic conditions in older dogs.
When should you change your dog's diet?
Dogs are considered old when they are in the last quarter of their life expectancy, which depends on the size and breed of the dog.
Small breed dogs cross their threshold of senescence around their 10 years old while medium to large dogs are considered old around their 9 years old and very large dogs from their 7 years.
It is at these respective ages that it is important to consult your veterinarian in order to judge the relevance of a change in diet, in order to switch from a diet for adult and mature dogs to a diet for senior dogs.
After a thorough physical and metabolic assessment of your pet, your veterinarian will be able to determine the specific needs of your old dog, based on his body condition and state of he alth.
What does an older dog need?
The organism of an elderly dog, without any particular he alth problem, can nevertheless accuse:
- Significant metabolic changes which may lead to a drop in energy needs and weight gain which will require choosing a more or less rich food according to your body condition and/or recalculating your rations according to their new needs.
- A slowing down of intestinal motility and a drop in the digestive capacities of proteins and lipids which justify the transition to a hyperdigestible diet composed of good quality proteins and enriched with omega-3 fatty acids to fight against pro-inflammatory state that accompanies old age.
- An increased oxidative stress against which it is possible to fight by providing a diet enriched with antioxidants.
Should proteins be limited in older dogs?
Proteins have a bad reputation in older dogs because they are accused of being toxic to the kidneys! In fact, high protein foods have never been shown to cause kidney disease in he althy dogs, although they may contribute to the progression of kidney disease once kidney function is compromised.
To the question "should proteins be limited in older dogs? », the answer is therefore no for dogs kidney function is normal! Proteins are essential for maintaining a dog's good physical he alth in the face of aging: they are used in particular to maintain muscle mass and to preserve the animal's digestive tract.
In he althy older dogs, proteins are therefore not to be limited: we must choose a food that provides good quality proteins and in quantities adapted to the breed and the activity of the dog. animal, identical to that of an adult dog.
On the other hand, if there is an element toxic to the kidneys of dogs - and even he althy dogs - it is phosphorus. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the food of your senior dog has a reduced content of this mineral. To do this, choose kibble with a phosphorus content of less than 1%. If you feed your animal using a classic household ration supplemented with a vitamin and mineral supplement, swap your usual supplement for a phosphorus-free supplement, specially formulated for older dogs.