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The best senior dog food provides tailored nutrition for aging pups. Your pup may benefit from foods for older dogs if they show signs of aging, such as decreased mobility, muscle loss, or cognitive decline. These foods often include beneficial additions like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, antioxidants to counter the effects of aging, and extra omega fatty acids to reduce inflammation. Cat Treat
Backed by research and veterinary advice, our recommendations are a great starting point for choosing the best dog food for seniors. Our top picks include Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Chicken and Rice Formula, a dry food with healthy extras like omega fatty acids and glucosamine, and Wellness Age Advantage Recipe Adult 7+, which contains chicken and whitefish plus omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Because the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) doesn't set standards for senior pet foods, the diets can vary significantly, says Dr. Julie Churchill, a veterinary nutritionist and professor of nutrition at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. However, the best dry and wet food for senior dogs will meet the AAFCO nutritional standards for adult maintenance or all life stages. Senior pups also have a lower metabolic rate than younger dogs, so some senior diets may contain fewer calories. Others are higher in calories to meet the needs of older dogs who eat smaller portions. Foods with added protein to help maintain lean muscle may also have more calories.
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Wet dog food has a higher moisture content, typically 75% to 78%, whereas dry dog food contains only about 10% to 12% moisture. This is a perk for pups prone to dehydration or ones with reduced kidney function, which is common in older dogs, says Dr. Mark Freeman, a veterinarian and assistant professor of community practice at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.
Senior dogs who have multiple tooth extractions or dental disease may also benefit from a soft food diet such as canned or fresh food, says Dr. Emily Luisana, a veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC.
While you'll find wet food generally contains more fat per serving than dry food, it tends to have fewer calories per serving than kibble, and the water content can be more filling. When it comes to protein, the AAFCO recommends a minimum of 18% for adult dogs, but Luisana says senior dogs experiencing muscle loss may need more, and pups with renal or liver disease may need less.
If your dog finds wet food easier to eat or your vet recommends it, consider our picks below for the best dog foods for seniors. They're full of healthy ingredients, like blueberries and cranberries for antioxidants and healthy carbohydrates like barley and sweet potatoes.
This food contains protein sources of chicken broth, chicken, and whitefish. Carbohydrate sources include barley, bran, and sweet potatoes. Vitamin C, zinc, and cobalt round out the ingredients list. A 12.5-ounce can contains 36% protein, 18% fat, 4% fiber, and 379 kcal, or about 30 calories per ounce.
Beef, liver, chicken, and meat byproducts make up the protein in this senior dog food. Carbohydrates include rice, wheat, and soy, and healthy extras include omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and niacin. The food contains 52.7% protein, 17.7% fat, 0.6% fiber, and 304 kcals per tub or 30.4 kcals per ounce.
Pork byproducts, pork liver, chicken, chicken byproducts, and pork plasma are the main protein sources in this recipe. Top carbohydrate sources include wheat flour, wheat gluten, and beet pulp. Beneficial additions to this food include L-carnitine, glycine, and fish oil. The food contains 39.13% protein, 15.21% fat, 12.63% fiber, and 345 kcals per can or 25.5 kcals per ounce.
If your senior dog has eaten kibble all their life and continues to enjoy it, you don't need to switch to wet food unless your vet recommends it. In fact, Luisana says some of her patients with no teeth still prefer kibble. However, she recommends feeding your dog a grain-inclusive senior diet, as long as they aren't sensitive to grains. Freeman says some evidence suggests grain-free dog food can increase the risk of specific types of irreversible heart damage in dogs — namely, canine cardiomyopathy (DCM), which leads to an enlarged heart. "Taking that into consideration, grain-free diets are not recommended for any dog," Freeman says.
Our picks for the best dry dog foods for seniors come from trusted brands that employ animal nutrition experts who formulate the recipes. Purina also conducted feeding trials on its Pro Plan formula, which means the brand has deemed it safe and palatable after feeding it to a group of dogs.
Chicken and poultry byproduct meals are the main protein sources in this food that’s undergone feeding trials. It includes rice, corn, wheat, barley, omega fatty acids, and glucosamine. With 29% protein, 14% fat, 3% fiber, and 423 kcal per cup, we recommend it for active normal-weight dogs.
This food counts chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal as its main protein sources. Carbohydrates include brown rice, oatmeal, barley, quinoa, apples, and carrots. Omega fatty acids from salmon oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin are healthy extras. We recommend it for moderately active normal-weight dogs. It contains 27% protein, 15% fat, 3.5% fiber, and 381 kcal per cup.
This senior dog food’s main protein source is deboned lamb. Standout carbohydrates consist of rice bran, whole grain barley, and whole grain brown rice. Healthy extras like omega fatty acids from fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin from chicken meal round out the list. With 27% protein, 12% fat, and 4% fiber and 307 kcal per cup, we recommend it for moderately active, normal-weight dogs.
Luisana says the right food for your senior dog depends on their lifestyle, body condition, and overall health. Since quality options are available at various price points, budget doesn't need to be a limiting factor when prioritizing your dog's nutritional needs. Based on your veterinarian's insight, you may prioritize recipes that include antioxidants from foods such as blueberries or cranberries, lean proteins such as turkey and chicken, or omega fatty acids from fish.
While Freeman doesn't recommend any specific recipe, he says he's an advocate for brands that have done their due diligence to ensure their food meets the nutritional needs of pets. He gives Purina One as an example quality brand. However, all our picks for budget-friendly wet foods meet his qualifications. They also have nutritious ingredients like chicken, liver, brown rice, and blueberries. These foods do have different protein levels, so ask your vet if your dog should eat a high-protein or low-protein diet.
Meat byproducts, chicken, and chicken byproducts are the main protein sources in this recipe. Top carbohydrate sources include brown rice, wheat flour, and wheat gluten. Beneficial additions to this food include glycine, flaxseed, and fish oil. The food contains 24% protein, 10.5% fat, 5% fiber, and 274 kcals per can or 21 kcals per ounce.
Turkey, chicken, liver, and pork lungs make up this food’s main protein sources. Standout carbohydrates include barley, oatmeal, carrots, and spinach. Beneficial additions include glycine and fish oil. The food contains 40.5% protein, 34.6% fat, 1.2% fiber, and 419 kcals per can or 32 kcals per ounce.
This food lists chicken as its main protein source with pork liver as an additional animal-based protein. Barley, whole grain corn, and corn gluten meal provide carbohydrates. Other ingredients include vitamins C and E, which have antioxidant properties and support immune health, and various minerals to support heart and kidney function. It contains 22% protein, 15% fat, 2% fiber, and can contain 375 kcal per 13-ounce can or about 29 calories per ounce.
Contrary to what you may have heard, byproduct meats and meals help make pet foods more affordable, sustainable, and nutritious, Luisana says. That's why many budget foods will contain byproducts — typically organ meat, like liver, says Dr. Nancy Welborn, a veterinarian and associate professor of community practice at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. "Meals are cooked meats or bones, ground up. They provide things like calcium, phosphorus, and protein," Welborn says, adding that pet food companies aren't permitted to include inappropriate animal parts in their products.
Instead of solely relying on the ingredient list to evaluate food quality, Luisana suggests considering other factors. For example, most quality brands will employ veterinary nutritional experts, provide ingredient tracing, maintain quality control measures, and contribute to research efforts.
High-quality diets, regardless of cost, keep skin and bowel movements healthy. Our budget-friendly picks for the best senior dog food include quality ingredients and healthy additions, like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and pre- and probiotics for healthy digestion.
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, and chicken fat make up the proteins in this recipe. Top carbohydrate sources include brown rice, barley, oatmeal, peas, and potatoes. Healthy additions include probiotics, L-lysine, glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids from fish oil. The food contains 18% protein, 10% fat, 7% fiber, and 357 kcals per cup.
Chicken, chicken byproduct meal, dried egg product, and chicken fat make up the proteins in this senior food. Main carbohydrate sources include ground barley, ground whole grain corn, and carrots. Beneficial additions include marine microalgae for omega fatty acids, L-lysine, prebiotics, and L-carnitine. The food contains 24% protein, 10.5% fat, 5% fiber, and 349 kcal per cup.
Chicken and chicken byproduct meal are the main proteins in this food. Top carbohydrates include whole grain corn, corn germ meal, oatmeal, whole grain wheat, and carrots. Healthy extras include glucosamine and l-lysine. The food contains 28% protein, 13% fat, 4.5% fiber, and 363 kcals per cup.
Luisana says the age at which dogs are considered seniors can vary based on breed size. Smaller dogs may not reach senior status until age 10 or 11 since they generally have longer life spans than other pups.
Freeman says it's not unhealthy to transition older dogs to a senior diet based on their age alone. However, a more reliable indicator is overall healthier rather than age. Some dogs remain healthy throughout their senior years, so they may not need or benefit from a senior diet like other dogs might, he says.
One aspect of health to consider is dental health. Freeman says some senior diets consist of softer kibbles, and Luisana adds that smaller kibble size is the most common feature of a smaller breed diet. Our picks for small breeds have extra small kibble that is easier for dogs with smaller mouths to chew. They also have healthy extras like antioxidants, l-lysine, and probiotics.
Dog Treats Chicken meal is the main protein in this small kibble senior recipe. Top carbohydrate sources include pearled barley, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, whole grain oats, apples, broccoli, and carrots. Beneficial additions include cranberries for antioxidants, l-lysine, and l-carnitine. The food contains 19% protein, 13.7% fat, 2.4% fiber, and 353 kcal per cup.