Instructions
Give your aging dog the four basic ingredients that all dogs need. These nutrients don't change at all from when your pet was younger. Your dog needs proteins to help transform food into energy. Your dog needs carbohydrates from plants that are a great energy source. Your dog needs fats to keep your dog's hair and skin healthy, encourage healthy digestion and to stabilize your pet's body temperature. Your dog also needs vitamins and minerals to process the protein, carbs and fats.
Monitor your dog to determine the right times to adjust his or her diet. Most experts agree that a senior dog should have a very similar diet to a younger dog except when you start noticing problems in your pet. When your dog ages, it's very important that you watch your pet more closely than ever to discover changes.
Increase your dog's protein intake as your dog ages if you notice organ problems. Added protein levels in senior dogs can help make sure his heart and kidneys continue to function properly.
Give your dog a special diet if she has been diagnosed or has the signs of cancer. Use special senior dog foods that can slow down tumor growth and stimulate your cancer patient's lower appetite.
Feed your senior dog a dry food called Prescription T/D if you notice dog teeth and gum problems that are common in older dogs. Prescription T/D is designed to clean the teeth of your dog while he eats. But this dry food is available only by a prescription from your vet. Iams also has a daily dental care product that can reduce tartar buildup.
Ask your dog's vet about other specific diet changes you may need to make as your dog ages. Your dog's vet knows your dog better than anyone and can make recommendations.
How to Adjust a Senior Dog's Diet
Dogs that are aging have different dietary needs than do puppies or middle-aged dogs, yet their basic food needs are still the same. When your dog gets older, change your dog's diet gradually or your dog might reject the diet changes.