Instructions
How to Select Mature Dog Food
Select a food free from meat byproducts, corn, wheat, preservatives and dyes. Your dog can't digest these and some veterinarians suggest that certain preservatives may even be harmful.
Look for food with a lower percentage of protein. Though it's important to choose a food with high-quality protein such as turkey, chicken or beef, selecting a brand with a lower protein percentage -- lower than 20 percent -- will cut additional calories. This will help your dog keep the weight off.
Selecting brands with fish as the main protein is a good way to cut calories while still giving your dog an ample amount of protein. High-quality senior foods are often supplemented with high-quality grain, such as barley and oats.
Look for brands with healthy fruits and vegetables, which provide extra vitamins and antioxidants. Healthy vegetables include green beans, squash, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli and potatoes. Dog-friendly fruits include apples, bananas and most berries.
If your dog is losing teeth or suffering from dental problems, select wet food rather than dry food. However, if your dog has teeth, eating kibble helps clean your dogs teeth, so continue feeding it as long as possible.
How to Choose the Best Mature Dog Food
While young, growing dogs need additional protein and fat to grow, older dogs need reduced calories as their bodies begin to slow down. Your mature dog may even have special needs as it grows older, such as food for liver and kidney damage or diet dog food. However, this doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice quality. It's even more important to choose high-quality food as your dog ages so its body can operate at peak level.