As your dog ages, you may start to notice that the fur around his mouth and nose begins to turn grey. As a responsible pet owner, you’ve likely started thinking about whether you should change your Golden Retrievers food to one that’s specifically designed for senior dogs. We’ll take a look at the best dog food for senior golden retrievers, as well why senior dog food is important.
Senior dogs require more protein than puppies so that their muscles don’t end up wasting away. This article will look at the nutritional needs of a senior Golden Retriever. We’ll also provide details of the best dog food brands for an aging golden retriever and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about looking after an older dog.
Food for senior Golden Retrievers
Large breeds of dogs such as Golden Retrievers have a shorter lifespan than many smaller dogs. The American Veterinary Association considers Golden Retrievers to be when they reach about six years old. This is middle age for a Golden Retriever as they tend to live for between ten and twelve years. If your pet is over six years old, you may like to discuss with your vet whether you should switch to dog food that’s been specifically formulated for senior dogs.
Golden Retrievers often remain as playful as a puppy for much of their adult lives, even when they are older. To ensure that your dog can maintain his health and energy levels into his golden years, you’ll need to provide your pet with a good quality dog food that contains plenty of protein. Older Golden Retrievers require protein as they need to replace wasting muscle mass. The breed can also be prone to joint pain as they age, and feeding the essential vitamins and nutrients will help your dog to maintain his joint and bone health.
Protein
Senior Golden Retrievers require a dog food that is rich in lean meat-based protein. A diet high in protein will be beneficial as it will put less strain on an older dog’s kidneys. If you have a Golden Retriever that’s been diagnosed with kidney issues, you should speak to your vet about an appropriate diet. Your dog may even be able to prescribe the right food for your dog.
Calories
Look for a brand of senior dog food that contains at least 27% protein. The food you feed your pet should contain meat-based protein and a moderate amount of calories. Ensure that your Golden Retriever is eating the correct amount of food for his size as the breed is prone to overeating, and this can cause health problems as they age. Obesity is the biggest cause of chronic disease in older dogs, and it can even cause premature death.
If your dog is carrying extra weight, this will stain your pet’s joints, making them work harder. Senior dogs often have inflamed joints due to arthritis, and carrying around excess weight will only make the problem worse. Golden Retrievers are also prone to hip dysplasia or luxated knee caps. These problems will be less severe if your dog stays at the correct weight.
Older dogs require about 20% fewer calories than younger dogs as their metabolisms start to slow down, and they will likely be getting less exercise. You should consider this when feeding an older Golden Retriever and consult the packet for portion sizes.
The Best Dog Food For a Senior Golden Retriever
Here are some of the top dog food brands which will help keep your Golden Retriever happy and healthy well into their senior years. Many different dog food brands are available from Amazon; it’s essential to choose the best dog food for a senior Golden Retriever as your pet requires good nutrition as he ages.
Eukanuba Large Breed Senior Dry Dog Food
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Eukanuba Senior Large Breed Dry Dog Food, 30 lb | See Latest Price |
Eukanuba has created a fantastic Senior dog food for Golden Retrievers and other large breeds of dog. This dry food contains all the nutrition a senior dog over seven years would require. The food has been specifically formulated to protect against common complaints that older dogs are likely to suffer from. The food contains nutrients to keep your dog’s joints mobile and also support muscles in active dogs. The food contains chondroitin sulfate, as well as 50% more glucosamine than regular dog food.
Eukanuba helps to support healthy brain function in older dogs. It contains beneficial antioxidants as well as carbohydrates to help your dog’s energy levels.
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs
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Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Rice Recipe,... | See Latest Price |
Hill’s Science dog food has been created using easy-to-digest ingredients that help support the health of senior dogs. It’s a great food that will provide your pet with plenty of energy throughout their senior years.
This dog food has been produced using balanced vitamins and minerals, which help promote a strong and healthy heart and healthy kidneys. It contains omega-6s and vitamin E, which is beneficial to the health of your dog’s skin and coat. It also contains high-quality protein, which will help maintain lean muscle in senior dogs.
All Hill Science products have been scientifically formulated and manufactured in the USA, using ingredients you can trust. It’s the brand that’s most recommended by vets across America for senior dogs.
Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ High Protein Senior Dry Dog Food
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Purina Pro Plan Senior Dog Food With Probiotics for Dogs, Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula -... | See Latest Price |
Purina Pro is fantastic high-energy dog food for senior dogs. It’s made using a blended chicken and rice formula, which will provide your pet with all the protein and carbohydrates your dog requires as he ages. This dog food has also been fortified with live probiotics that help support digestive and immune health in older dogs.
Purina’s hard kibble mix contains omega-3 fatty acid and glucosamine to help support joint health and mobility.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many choices when it comes to feeding your senior Golden Retriever. Ensure you choose a good quality dog food that contains high protein levels from a good quality source. Dogs need to increase their protein intake as they age. Also, look for a food containing omega 3 and 6’s as these will help improve your dog’s joint health as he ages. If you need any advice about the best dog food for a senior Golden Retriever, you can also ask your vet for advice.
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Last update on 2023-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API