Senior Nutrition: Accounting For Your Dog's Size

One day you'll look at your dog and notice he's grayed around the muzzle. He's slower to get up in the morning, and more content to snooze in the sun. He's become a senior---and while it's a little sad to think he has entered his golden years, you're to be congratulated for getting him there. But your work's not done yet. 

The age at which dogs become seniors depends in large part upon their size, with toy dogs remaining youthful up until their double-digit years, but giant breeds showing their age as early as 5 or 6 years. This means that the age at which you may consider switching your dog to a senior food may differ depending on his size. 

Senior foods tend to have fewer calories compared to adult foods because like people, dogs tend to put on weight as they age. More than 40% of dogs between the ages of 5 and 10 years are overweight or obese. Changes in metabolic rate cause fewer calories to be burned, and more to be stored as fat. A recent study showed that mature dogs require 20% fewer calories in order to maintain the same weight as younger ones. Dogs entering old age may benefit from eating a food with less fat and fewer calories. Research also suggests that L-carnitine, a vitamin-like compound made from amino acids found in red meats, fish, chicken and milk, may help divert fat into cellular mitochondria where it is turned into energy. However, not every older dog is overweight. If your dog shows no outward signs of aging, and isn't overweight, there's usually no pressing need to switch to a senior food. 

Some dogs, especially larger ones, develop joint problems and arthritis with aging. These dogs may benefit from senior foods that have supplements such as chondroiton and glucosamine that may help joint function. 

Aging may also bring on dental problems, especially in small dogs. Small breeds have comparatively less jaw bone density to support their teeth compared to large breeds. Their teeth are comparatively large for their mouth, and can be crowded or have somewhat shallow roots. Many factors promote plaque build-up, which in turn leads to tartar, gingivitis, gum recession, and tooth loss. Being vigilant about dental care, with frequent tooth brushing, is the best way to care for a small dog's teeth, but using a kibble designed to scrub the teeth can also help. These kibbles, unlike run-of-the-mill hard food, allow the tooth to penetrate deep inside the kibble before the kibble breaks, and the kibble also has abrasive properties that scour the tooth surface. But if a small dog already has dental problems, it may be painful for the dog to chew. In that case, besides getting veterinary attention for the problem, you may need to feed him a small kibble he can swallow whole, or canned food. No matter what size dog you have, it's important to attend to his teeth and make sure that eating is comfortable for him. 

Speaking of comfort, where does your dog eat? Large dogs often develop back or neck problems or weakness in the hind quarters that can make eating off the floor while standing up difficult. It can be even more difficult if you feed him on the slippery kitchen floor as so many people do. Consider feeding your larger senior dog on a carpeted area and from a raised surface so he doesn't have to reach down. Or see if he'd rather eat lying down. 

Some dogs may have age-associated health problems, such as early heart or kidney disease, that call for diets with reduced sodium or other nutrients. Have your senior dog checked at least twice yearly so you can detect any problems that are affected by diet. Talk to your veterinarian to see if a senior diet is appropriate for your dog, or if you should switch to a prescription diet aimed at specific disease. But remember, even the best diet is no good if your dog won't eat it.