Importance of Good Dog Food
So, you’re in search of the best senior dog food? Older dogs have different nutritional needs than their younger counterparts. Your dog food is an important part of keeping your dog healthy in their old age.
Older dogs who do not have their nutritional needs met tend to suffer ailments more frequently. Cheap foods or foods that do not provide your dog with the right vitamins and minerals can mean the difference between an older dog who is youthful or one who shows his age.
When you are searching for the best senior dog food, you want to keep in mind that older dogs do not have the same energy requirements. You want a food that helps keep weight off your less-active dog while providing added joint support.
Five Best Senior Dog Foods
In my years as a Certified Dog Trainer, I have worked with a wide variety of clients. During that time, I’ve heard from many different pet parents about the foods they use with their dogs. I’ve used that experience to provide you with an all-encompassing guide to the best senior dog foods on the market.
Each of these foods has a certain scenario or feature that sets it apart from the rest: taste, all-around use, value, etc. It is difficult to provide an all-encompassing choice of which is the best dog food, but we have ranked them in terms of quality, price, versatility, and more.
Here is our unbiased review of the top 5 best senior dog foods available!
All-Around Top Pick
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Review Highlights:
“… We’ve gone through four bags now of the Chicken Adult Recipe, and she still flips out with excitement to eat her meals… she LOVES this stuff. …”
“… She loves it. No abdominal upsets… Highly recommended for all dogs …”
“… I ordered Nutro Max and switched [dog foods]… It difference was immediate… she stopped stinking so badly and stopped shedding badly. I’m sold for life with this food… it’s the only food I’ll buy …”
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This food is a great wholesome choice that works well as an all-around senior diet. It contains no additives, wheat, corn, or soy, so you know your dog is getting only the best ingredients.
Feature Highlights:
- Real chicken meal is the first ingredient.
- Uses whole grains for added fiber.
- Contains 25% protein, 12% fat, and 4% fiber.
- Contains no by-products, corn, soy, or wheat.
With Nutro Max, your dog is getting wholesome nutrition with quality ingredients that are carefully sourced. Nutro formulated this food with senior dogs and their needs in mind.
Your dog receives added glucosamine and chondroitin to help support their aging joints and prevent painful arthritis. The first ingredient is chicken meal, carefully formulated to provide just the right amount of protein to fuel your dog’s minimal energy needs without putting on extra weight. Recommended for: Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Shih-Tzus, and more.
Best All-Natural Choice
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Review Highlights:
“… Been using this dog food for almost 12 years and have zero complaints. Never had any stomach or digestive issues… I wouldn’t even dream of feeding her anything other this. …”
“… I will use this food for the rest of my doggies lives! They love it and it’s good for them. They have never refused it and never became sick from it …”
“… What I like most about this formula and brand is that she gets the nutrition she needs without a lot of the added fillers and junk that just run right through her …”
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We follow up our all-around favorite with another Nutro food. Wholesome Essentials is a great choice for your pet. It is all-natural and made with wholesome ingredients and grains to keep your senior dog healthy.
Feature Highlights:
- Real farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient.
- Contains no by-products, corn, wheat, or soy.
- Added antioxidants and fatty acids for immune and skin health.
This food contains wholesome, all-natural protein as its first ingredient. All the ingredients are carefully selected from top-notch suppliers around the globe, and the food is made in the USA.
Your senior dog needs only the best, and if you are looking for all-natural food, this is the choice for you. This food contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It also contains no chicken by-products, and added vitamins and minerals for the health of your pet. Recommended for: Pitbull, Yorkies, Maltese, Beagles, Shetland Sheepdogs, and more.
Best Value Senior Food
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Review Highlights:
“… I am very pleased with both the price and the quality of this product and would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable high quality Senior kibble. …”
“… it was the best decision ever to switch them to this food! They are seriously running around and playing with the energy of puppies! They also LOVE it, no hesitation to eat it… make the switch! …”
“… Our dog loves the flavor of the food… I would definitely recommend Diamond Naturals Real Meat Recipe Premium Senior Dry Dog Food as it has proven to be a good nutritional food for our dog …”
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You simply will not find a better combination of value and top-notch quality than you see in Diamond Naturals. With an incredibly affordable price and real wholesome ingredients, you know your senior dog is getting only the best.
Feature Highlights:
- Made with high-quality ingredients for your pet’s health.
- Real chicken is the first ingredient and the second!
- Contains added probiotics for digestive health.
This food does a great job of providing high-quality ingredients at the best price point you can find on the market today. When you compare this food to similarly-priced competitors, it blows them out of the water.
You don’t find any artificial flavors or junky preservatives with Diamond Naturals. Even better, your senior dog gets added probiotics to help encourage a healthy digestive system, as well as added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. Recommended for: Bulldogs, Labrador Retrievers, Shih-Tzus, Boxers, and more.
Best Food for Small Breed Senior Dogs
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Review Highlights:
“… Blue Buffalo is a trustworthy, quality brand that doesn’t disappoint. I truly believe that this food positively affects my older girl. You can’t go wrong with this food! …”
“… [My] dogs have been using it for a couple of months now and they LOVE it. It is nice to be able to just order online and have it delivered to you …”
“… Great dog food. I have a senior dog that I adopted [with] some bad teeth. She loves this food. Regular size dog food hard to chew …”
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This particular brand is one of my favorites for specific large and small breed diets. The small breed senior Life Protection Formula is a great choice for your senior dog. It provides everything your small breed dog needs, plus a little extra oomph.
Feature Highlights:
- Real, all-natural meat as the first ingredient.
- Formulated specifically for senior small breed dogs.
- Made with exclusive Lifesource bits that contain added vitamins and minerals.
This food is a wonderful choice for small breed dogs. With only all-natural ingredients, and no poultry by-products or other potential irritants, your senior dog will be ecstatic with this food and you will feel good about your dog’s health.
The exclusive Lifesource bits in this brand contain everything your dog needs for all-around holistic health. They add vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to help bolster your dog’s immune system. As an added benefit, with wholesome brown rice, you don’t have to worry about the potential complications of a grain-free diet. Recommended for: Dachshunds, Shih-Tzus, Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and more.
Best Dog Food for Large Breed Senior Dogs
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Review Highlights:
“… I am thoroughly pleased with Blue Buffalo dog food. [My dog] runs around like a puppy. Full of puppy-like energy and has has the nicest sheen on his coat …”
“… My doggies love it! The old gal loves it and is doing great! She looks healthier than ever! …”
“… We love Blue Buffalo. He is 9 years old with great teeth and very healthy, which I think has a lot to do with his good nutrition …”
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Senior large breed dogs have potentially the most to gain, and lose, from their dog food. Larger breeds need much more joint support than smaller breeds because of their added weight. Thankfully, this product helps you maintain your senior large breed’s healthy weight and joints.
Feature Highlights:
- Only real meat as the first ingredient.
- Formulated with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Contains added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
This food contains wholesome protein sources, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. It provides your senior dog with everything they need to remain happy and healthy into their golden years.
Added glucosamine and chondroitin give your pup a little more bounce to their step, as they support joint health. This product also features numerous vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for immune and overall health. Recommended for: Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, and more.
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