“Vegetables are great,” Metzger says. “Most dogs like carrots and apple slices.” But avoid grapes and raisins because they're harmful to dogs. Dogs may also need more water as they age. “The body's ability to maintain water balance is decreased as they get older,” he says.
What should I feed my senior dog?
Canned, fresh, or raw foods are often more palatable than dry foods to picky dogs (of any age) due to the extra moisture inside. Adding a little water to kibble is also an option. Pick an energy-dense food. They are usually higher in fat and therefore more palatable for many dogs.
How much should senior dogs eat?
In terms of dog food for senior dogs, you should start by feeding about 2% of their body weight, and adjust to suit their needs and activity. A 50lbs senior dog of moderate activity level would be eating roughly one pound of food per day.
Should senior dogs eat senior food?
To summarize everything we looked at in this article, most dogs will not need a special senior dog food to live a healthy life. If your dog has been eating a certain kind of dog food for years, there's no reason to switch them to anything else just because they're older.
What should you feed a senior dog when she gets weak and skinny?
Older dogs can lose their appetite, which can make it difficult to maintain their weight. But you can help by making their food as enticing as possible. This often means abandoning the dry kibble for aromatic wet food or you can also add gravies to their kibble to make it more enticing.
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