Optimal nutrition for old dogs

Despite different challenges: some feeding recommendations apply to most old dogs:

1. Prevent obesity - aim for ideal weight

The focus should be on the ideal weight, especially for old dogs. This is because both overweight and underweight are an enormous burden for senior dogs.

Overweight: Older dogs generally become more cosy, sleep more and their metabolism slows down. This reduces their energy requirements. Anyone who now thinks that reducing the previous food is enough should be warned ! This would mean that the dog would only get some of the necessary nutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements)!

This is precisely why a suitable senior food is so important: it contains less fat, more fibre and an adapted ratio of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to optimally support the well-being of pensioners.

Underweight: Very old dogs in particular often lose weight and are then very fragile and vulnerable. Very often there are medical reasons behind this, which must be clarified by a vet. For example, toothache or diseases of the internal organs, which are often accompanied by loss of appetite or nausea. As a result, the senior eats less and loses more and more weight. After appropriate clarification by the vet, high-energy food can then help to revitalise the dog. If you have previously fed dry food, you can also try to motivate the dog to eat with wet or soft food .

2. Lubricate joints

Many dogs show signs of wear and tear as they get older. Factors such as injuries, excess weight or the generally reduced elasticity of joint cartilage in old age favour the development of painful changes to the cartilage. Certain additives in the feed can provide relief here. Such as the green-lipped mussel, whose superpower is the formation of new cartilage mass and the positive influence on the supple consistency of the synovial fluid. This can prevent or alleviate painful changes in the joints and sometimes even regenerate them.

Tip: As the positive effect of green-lipped mussels has also been scientifically proven, we at PERRO use this in many of our products. In addition, with PERRO Pro Gelenk we offer an outstanding supplementary feed that can be administered preventively as early as to keep joints healthy for as long as possible.

PERRO Pro Joint

3. Support intestinal flora

A high-fibre diet is very important for old dogs. This is because the intestines also become more sluggish with age. The food then remains in the intestinal windings for longer, but water is removed from it. As a result, the intestinal contents become firmer, which can lead to problems when defecating at the latest - especially if joint or back problems are added to this. In the worst case, this can lead to life-threatening constipation.

Dietary fibres swell in the intestine, bind water and thus improve intestinal activity and the consistency of faeces. They also have a prebiotic effect, i.e. they nourish the microbiota (also known as intestinal flora) and thus strengthen the immune system at the same time. Fibre also reduces flatulence, which often plagues old dogs.

Tip: For fibre to swell in the intestines, the dog must drink enough. If the dog does not drink enough by itself , water can be added to the dry food.

4. Keep an eye on dental health

As is so often the case, prevention is better than cure when it comes to dental health. It is therefore advisable to take meticulous care of your dog's teeth before they reach senior age. Tartar is a particularly common problem in older dogs, which can lead to painful inflammation of the gums, gum recession and tooth loss if left untreated.

Various chewing articles for dogs can help here. But caution is advised here too: Popular chews such as pig's ears, dried rumen or bullwhips are not suitable for old dogs due to the hard-to-digest protein, as it puts too much strain on organs such as the liver, kidneys and intestines.

However, older dogs often find it difficult to eat despite all the dental care measures. Here soft food or wet food specially formulated for senior dogs can bea good alternative .

PERRO Plaque Control

5. Maintaining muscles

Muscles do an important job in the dog's body because they stabilise the entire system. With increasing age and decreasing physical activity, the four-legged friend's muscles usually also lose their strength. This in turn makes them more susceptible to injury. Therefore, even in retirement, light but regular exercise is the order of the day.

However, the dog burns muscle protein during exercise and this needs to be replenished in a high-quality form. Easily digestible proteins with a balanced amino acid pattern are primarily suitable for this. This is because proteins with many amino acids make it possible to cover an old dog's requirements with relatively little protein. This is particularly important because too much protein is problematic for older dogs. Excess protein places an unnecessary burden on the detoxification organs and therefore needs to be prevented.

6. Relieving the liver and kidneys

Relieving the detoxification organs is essential for old dogs. This is because the organs also becomeless efficient with increasing age . Protein plays a central role here. Too much protein is a burden for seniors, because excess protein is converted to urea and removed via the kidneys in the urine. And the liver also has to work at full speed to break down the excess protein.

A vitamin and mineral composition adapted to seniors additionally supports liver and kidney metabolism. For example, a reduced phosphorus content and a sufficient supply of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are helpful. High-quality fibre also reduces the strain on the liver and kidneys (see Intestinal health).