Feeding a Geriatric Dog

Different breeds of dog will reach old age at different times; giant breeds may be classed as senior when they reach 5 years of age, whereas medium sized breeds will be classes as senior at 7 years of age. Generally a dog will be classed as senior when it reaches the final third of its expected life span.

As healthy dogs age they will not only have a reduced skeletal function but have a reduced metabolic rate and a reduced digestive function, therefore they will require a diet which will support and slow these changes. They will require much less energy from a diet than an adult of the same body weight as they will have a reduction in lean body mass and generally will be much less physically active. Because of these reductions there is an increased risk of obesity in senior dogs, but some elderly dogs will have a reduced appetite due to a reduced sense of smell and taste and possible dental problems and these dogs are at risk of becoming underweight, so diets must be fed to suit particular conditions.

There are high quality commercially available diets, specifically designed for senior dogs, the chosen diet needs to be complete and nutritionally balanced, highly palatable, highly digestible and containing a reduced protein content. The diet needs to contain the correct levels of vitamins and minerals to promote healthy skin and coat and to support ageing bones and joints. These specifically designed diets will often be low in salt as elderly dogs are more prone to heart disease

Find out more from the following video on senior pet care;

026 Senior Pet Care