Nutrition for Senior Dogs

This article is in honor of my best friend, Chase.

Any of you who are familiar with my story know that Chase is the reason I have committed my life to helping dogs live as long and healthy as possible through nutrition. I have learned so much from our ongoing journey together, and I am grateful every day that because I was so proactive, Chase is here by my side as I write this. He is now about 15 years old, and I shudder to think that if I had not learned what I did about nutrition, our time together could have been much shorter.

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As I write this, it’s hard to believe that January will mark 14 years that Chase and I have been together. I don’t know Chase’s exact age because he is adopted and was not a puppy at the time. I do know that he is at least 15, and for a Shepherd mix, I count our blessings that while he has some arthritis, he is still healthy, happy, alert and has an amazing zest for life (and food!). I don’t care if I strain my back lugging all 56 pounds of him on and off the bed. I will do anything for him and that, of course, includes feeding him the best possible diet for his age.

After all, while we all want our dogs to enjoy a long life, we also want that life to have quality. Quantity + quality = the best of both worlds for the relatively short time we get to spend with our best friends.

This article is Part 1 of a two-part post. This first part discusses the general nutritional needs of seniors, as well as specific foods that lot of nutrition for senior dogs. An important aspect of Part 1 is the key nutrient that senior dogs need more of, and that many people get wrong and feed less of as their dog ages. This devastating mistake has shown to lead to earlier disease and death in older dogs.

In Part 2, I will discuss specific nutritional support to help keep your senior dog’s brain healthy.

The good news is that it is never too late to begin feeding your older dog a diet that will promote optimum health and help him enjoy quality of life in his senior years.

A Background of Aging and Disease

Some changes associated with aging in dogs are normal and expected physiologic changes, such as a decrease in metabolism, eyesight or hearing function. Other changes, however, are pathologic, such as cancer.^[1]

Like many older people, senior dogs are falling victim to an increasing number of chronic lifestyle-related diseases. Are these diseases the result of many years of eating a diet that is not species-appropriate? While no studies I am aware of have been conducted on this issue, research has drawn a clear relationship between diet and chronic disease, and so I think it is reasonable to question whether many of the illnesses manifesting in older dogs are the result of a lifetime of improper nutrition “catching up” with them.

The good news is that both physiologic and pathologic age-related changes in senior dogs can benefit from nutritional intervention.^[1] Chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus and heart failure are just three examples of age-related conditions responsive to diet.^[2]

As we discuss nutrition for dogs, it’s important to remember that there is no clear-cut age at which a dog becomes a “senior.” Unlike people, the expected lifespan of dogs varies widely depending on factors such as breed and size.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) Senior Care Guidelines Task Force, companion animals should be classified as seniors when they are in the last 25% of their predicted lifespan based on their species and breed.^[3] Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine when your dog officially joins the ranks of the senior population.

Here are some key dietary recommendations to help prolong the length and quality of your dog’s life:

Watch the Calories

One of the most important things you can do to promote a long life in your dog is to keep him fit and trim. Studies show that overweight and obese dogs live an average of two years less than their ideal-weight counterparts.^[4]

Fat promotes inflammation, and inflammation is a key factor in chronic disease. Extra weight also puts additional strain on the joints, which is the last thing that an older dog suffering from arthritis needs to deal with.

In general, older dogs require about 20% fewer calories than their younger counterparts.^[1] However, be aware that your dog’s caloric needs will depend upon his individual situation, including his percentage of lean body mass (LBM) and his activity level. I know of older dogs who are still active, and younger adults who are “couch potatoes”, so it can’t be assumed that just because a dog is older he needs to consume fewer calories. The best way to determine if your dog is receiving the proper amount of calories is to check his Body Condition Score (BCS) every couple of weeks.

Here’s how to check your dog’s BCS:

• With your dog standing on all fours, palpate his shoulder blades, spinal column, ribs, hips and underside of his belly. You should be able to feel them through a thin layer of fat, but they should not protrude. This equals a BCS of 3 on the 5-point scale.
• View your dog from the top when he’s standing on all fours. He should resemble an oblong hourglass—wider at the ribs, narrower at the waist and wider at the hips. If you look down and see two straight lines, your dog is carrying too much fat.

Protein: Essential to a Healthy Senior Dog

Protein is a key nutrient for senior dogs. Protein is essential to life and just about every chemical reaction that takes place in the cells. Protein provides essential amino acids and is responsible for building and repairing muscles and tissues. Protein provides the structure for skin, hair, nails, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and muscle fibers. Proteins also help keep the immune system strong by protecting it from foreign “attackers” such as viruses, bacteria and toxins. These are just a few of the vital functions that proteins carry out every day.

Protein is also the subject of a lot of misinformation – misinformation that could prove harmful, or even fatal, to your senior dog.

Many people mistakenly believe that protein requirements decrease in older dogs, when in fact the opposite is true.

Healthy older dogs need more protein – about 50% more protein – due to an age-related decline in protein synthesis and an increase in protein turnover.^[5][1]

When the diet does not contain adequate protein, the body “steals” protein from the dog’s LBM to support essential protein synthesis. Aging dogs already have less LBM than younger dogs, and inadequate protein intake accelerates this loss. Even if the dog looks healthy, he will have less ability to respond to environmental assaults, including infections and toxins. Loss of LBM is a predictor of morbidity and mortality in older dogs. On the other hand, abundant dietary protein slows the loss of LBM.^[2]

Older dogs should receive at least 25% of their calories from high quality protein, from a diet containing at least 7 g protein/100 Kcal ME.^[5]

In cases where older dogs must receive fewer calories to manage their weight, the proportion of energy in the diet provided by protein should be increased.^[1]

Up the Antioxidants

Older dogs have a decreased immunity and so are less able to fight off disease than younger animals, which means they are more susceptible to a wide range of potentially serious health issues, from infections to cancer. Oxidative stress, a state in which the body produces more damaging free radicals than it can detoxify, is a key factor resulting in age-related decline.^[1] We will talk a lot more about the effects of oxidation on the aging canine brain in Part 2 of this two-part article.

The immune system is also affected by oxidative stress, and oxidative damage is a key player in many diseases.^[2] Providing your senior dog with additional antioxidants (nutrients that help prevent and reverse oxidative damage) may increase immunity and help to reduce the risk of age-related illness. Research shows that dietary inclusion of antioxidant vitamins C and E improved the ability of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to kill bacteria.^[1]

Offer Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation related to a wide variety of canine health conditions, including obesity, osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal disease, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, cancer and heart disease, making these essential fatty acids vital to the health of senior dogs.

EPA and DHA from fish oil and other marine sources are far better sources of omega-3s for dogs than plant-based ALA. Although dietary ALA can be metabolized into EPA and DHA in the body, dogs do not efficiently make this conversion. Therefore, they should consume EPA and DHA directly to gain maximum benefit.

Excellent sources of EPA and DHA for dogs:

• Anchovies
• Fish oil
• Halibut
• Herring
• Mackerel
• Salmon (wild-caught, not farm-raised)
• Sardines

Dogs can also benefit from a high-quality EPA/DHA supplement from fish oil or other marine source. Just bear in mind that the more omega-3s your dog receives from fresh food sources, the less you will need to supplement.

Dose: Research shows that 250 mg omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish oil per 100 Kcal (ME) of the dog’s diet provide significant benefits for canine osteoarthritis.^[2]

In our book, Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health, Dr. Jean Dodds and I stress the importance of purchasing a pure, human-grade fish oil supplement from a reputable manufacturer. Unfortunately, much of the fish in our food supply is contaminated with heavy metals and other industrial pollutants, and you definitely don’t want to supplement your dog’s diet with these toxins.

Products made from smaller fish, such as sardines and anchovies, are preferable, since these fish don’t accumulate dangerous levels of toxins like their larger, carnivorous relatives (e.g., tuna and swordfish).

While fish oil contains an immense amount of beneficial anti-inflammatory properties it can also increase oxidation in the body. When you supplement your dog’s diet with fish oil, be sure to also include extra vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, to help counteract these effects.

Feed these Functional Foods

The best source of essential nutrients are fresh, whole foods. In our book, Dr. Dodds and I recommend the following nutrient-rich foods for seniors:

• Apples: protect the heart, help control diarrhea, improve lung capacity, cushion joints.
• Bananas: protect the heart, strengthen bones, control blood pressure, help control diarrhea.
• Beets: combat cancer, strengthen bones, protect the heart.
• Berries: combat cancer, protect the heart, stabilize blood sugar, boost memory (we do not recommend strawberries due to a potential allergic reaction).
• Coconut oil: supplies medium-chain triglycerides, supports healthy brain aging.
• Cranberries: provide powerful antioxidant power, coat the bladder lining to help control urinary tract infections.
• Curcumin (the active ingredient in the herb turmeric): a powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial and antineoplastic (prevents or halts tumor development).
• Fish (low mercury, per above) and fish oil: excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory, protect the heart, combat cancer, support a healthy immune system, support brain health and much more.
• Pomegranates: antioxidant, help buffer against cell damage, help cardiac oxygenation.
• Raw honey (not pasteurized): aids digestion, increases energy (not for puppies under one year).
• Yogurt (from goat or sheep’s milk): strengthens bones, supports the immune system, supplies probiotics, aids digestion.^[6]

I hope this article provides you with valuable insight to feed your older dog the nutrients he needs to become a “super senior” – just like my beloved Chase. And be sure to watch for Part 2, where I discuss specific nutrients to keep your senior dog’s brain in tip-top shape.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please scroll down and leave a comment below.

References

1. ^[1] Larsen JA and Farcas A.(2014). Nutrition of Aging Dogs.Veterinary Clinics of North America:Small Animal Practice, vol. 44, pp.741-759. ↩
2. ^[2] Laflamme DP.(2012). Nutritional Care for Aging Cats and Dogs.Veterinary Clinics of North America:Small Animal Practice, vol. 42, pp.769 –791. ↩
3. ^[3] Epstein M, Kuehn NF, Landsberg G, et al.(2005)AAHA senior care guidelines for dogs 
and cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, vol. 41, pp. 81–91. ↩
4. ^[4] .Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, Mantz SL, Biery DN, Greeley EH, … Stowe HD. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 220, no. 9, pp. 1315-1320. ↩
5. ^[5] Laflamme DP.(2008).Pet Food Safety:Dietary Protein. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 23 August, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 154-157, Retrieved fromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18656844 ↩
6. ^[6] Dodds WJ and Laverdure DR.(2015). Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health, Dogwise Publishing, Wentachee, WA. ↩

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