Feeding Your Senior Dog

PetSmart - PetSmart
April 24, 2009

Join the weight watchers
Older dogs tend to put on weight as their metabolism slows and creakiness sets in. But excess weight puts added pressure on sore joints and backs, says Dr. Wynn. Forgo weight-reducing or senior diets, which may not have enough high-quality meat ingredients. Instead, give your dog slightly smaller servings of a high-quality food. Supplement the diet with fresh vegetables. Pretty soon you'll have a thinner -- and healthier -- pooch.

Stop the handouts
Resist the temptation to slip your dog table scraps. They won't help his weight, and his tummy will take even less kindly to rich food than it did when he was younger. "Even a tiny piece of Easter ham is a tough thing for an older dog to handle," says Dr. Wolf.

Tantalize his taste buds
Loss of appetite can be a sign of illness in any dog, young or old. But if your older pet has a clean bill of health and still doesn't go for his food, it might be that his sense of smell has diminished. "You can make mealtimes more drool-worthy by adding some smelly, low-fat additions to his food, like tuna oil or clam juice," suggests Dr. Wynn. "Or try heating some canned food in the microwave to warm it up and bring out the aroma, then serve it with his regular meal."

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