5 Tips for Feeding a Senior Dog: How To Support Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs

As our dogs grow older, their needs change.  

Everything from veterinary checkups to joint and mobility support to diet will look different from when your senior dog was younger. Nutrition plays a significant role in helping them stay active, comfortable, and healthy. 

1. Understand How Your Senior Dog’s Nutritional Needs Change

The goal isn’t just to feed your dog; it’s to give them the nutrients they need to support their changing body. As metabolism slows down, older dogs burn fewer calories, which increases the risk of obesity and loss of muscle mass.  

Aging also affects digestion. Changes in the digestive system may alter stool consistency and make senior dogs more prone to an upset tummy than when they were younger. 

Organs like the kidneys, liver, and heart may not work as efficiently as they once did, and a poor diet can accelerate health decline. 

While every senior dog is different, most need some adjustments to their diet to help maintain a healthy weight and muscle tone, reduce inflammation, support mobility, promote a healthy gut, and protect vital organs.  

“When choosing a food for a senior dog, it’s important to consider not just the information on the bag or package, but also the overall company, their formulation expertise, manufacturing practices, and quality control procedures,” says Nikki Giovanelli, RVT, BS, ​​​​and nutrition instructor for the Senior Dog Veterinary Certification Program. 

Your veterinarian can help you find a diet that fits your dog's health, activity level, and medical conditions. 

2. Choose the Best Senior Dog Food Using the Label, Not the Marketing

Many diets are formulated for senior dogs, which can make it difficult to feel confident in your choice. To choose a quality senior dog food, it’s essential to understand how to read the label. 

Before diving into the details, do a bit of research on the company itself—its formulation expertise, quality-control procedures, and manufacturing practices all matter. Here’s how to break down the label. 

Guaranteed Analysis 

Start with the guaranteed analysis. This section of the label lists the crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content of the food. Keep in mind that these values are listed on an “as fed” basis, meaning they’re influenced by the food’s moisture content. 

Ingredient List 

Next, look at the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed from heaviest to lightest by weight. Though it might seem like a helpful way to compare foods, it’s often not that straightforward.  

Pet food companies sometimes use ingredient panels as marketing tools. Because moisture-rich foods weigh more than low-moisture foods, those items appear higher on the list even when they contribute fewer nutrients.  

Companies may also “split” ingredients to push them further down the panel, or include very small amounts of trendy ingredients after items like salt so they can advertise them, even though they may or may not be at levels high enough to provide benefits.  

Ingredient lists also cannot tell you anything about the quality or digestibility of the ingredients.  

In short, use the ingredient panel to understand what’s in the food, not to make assumptions about its overall quality. 

Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)  

The AAFCO Nutrient Statement tells you whether a diet is complete and balanced, and which life stage it’s appropriate for. For most senior dogs, diets labeled for “adult maintenance” are preferable over “all life stages” or “growth.” “All life stages” and puppy formulas tend to have higher mineral content, which may be too much for your senior dog’s kidney and liver. 

However, none of the information on the label alone tells you about the food’s safety or true quality. For that, check the company’s website or contact them directly. Ask who formulates their diets, what quality-control procedures they use, whether they own their own manufacturing facilities, and how they evaluate incoming ingredients. 

3. Focus on the Key Nutrients Senior Dogs Need Most

Once you’ve found a reputable company and a complete balanced senior diet, take a closer look at the nutrients inside to decide whether it’s a good choice for your senior dog: 

• Protein: Should be high-quality and easily digestible. Chicken, turkey, salmon, beef, lamb, eggs, and organ meats like heart, liver, and kidney all provide amino acids needed for muscle maintenance. 

• Fat: Healthy fats supply energy and support hormone production, brain and eye function, cell development, immune function, and skin and coat condition.  

  • Omega-3 sources: Fish oil, algae oils, and marine oils such as green-lipped mussel (EPA and DHA)  

  • Omega-6 sources: Poultry fat and oils like corn, sunflower, canola, and safflower (including linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid for dogs)  

  • Flaxseed oil and hempseed oil both supply ALA, a less usable omega-3 fatty acid for dogs that may still be useful for its omega-6 fatty acid content  

  • Other fats (such as lamb fat, beef fat, or coconut oil) may boost palatability and energy density of diets. MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides, a highly purified version of coconut oil) may support heart and brain function. 

• Fiber: Supports digestion, bowel regulation, and weight management. Senior dogs benefit from a balanced mix of soluble fiber (beet pulp, chicory root, psyllium husk) and insoluble fiber (cellulose, pea fiber, rice bran). Weight-management diets often have a higher crude-fiber content than other diets.  

• Vitamins and minerals: Support energy metabolism, organ function, immune health, and overall vitality. Essential vitamins for senior dogs include A, D, E, and the B vitamins (B1, B6, B12, niacin, and riboflavin). 

A well-balanced diet provides the foundation for your senior dog’s health, but specific medical conditions often require targeted nutritional adjustments:

• Arthritis or joint disease: Increased omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) plus supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, and green-lipped mussel to support joint health and ease inflammation. 

• Kidney disease: Lower protein and phosphorus to reduce the strain on the kidneys. 

• Heart disease: Reduced sodium to help manage fluid retention. 

• Diabetes: Higher fiber and lower fat for weight and blood glucose management. 

• Obesity: High-fiber, lower caloric density, and increased nutrient density to support satiety and weight management without malnutrition. 

• Liver disease: Lower protein and added antioxidants to support liver function. 

• Dental disease: Adjusted kibble size (larger to help clean the teeth or smaller to be easier to chew) and ingredients such as soluble pyrophosphate to clean the teeth. 

• Cognitive decline: Increased B vitamins, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and MCTs to support brain function. 

Many of these nutritional strategies are built into specific commercial or prescription diets designed for senior dogs with health conditions, such as Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d Joint Care, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets CC CardioCare, or Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Satiety Support Weight Management.  

You may be debating a few diet choices—some prescription and some over-the-counter. Prescription diets are formulated for specific medical conditions and require a prescription from your veterinarian.  

Over-the-counter senior diets support general aging. Your veterinarian can help determine which is best for your dog’s unique needs. 

4. Add Supplements Carefully and Only When Needed

Beyond diet, some senior dogs may also benefit from targeted supplements alongside a balanced nutrition plan. Identify your dog’s specific needs—such as joint, heart, or digestive support—and choose reputable brands.

Look for third-party certifications (NASC, USP, NSF) to ensure the product has been tested for quality and consistency. Additionally, review ingredient names and amounts carefully, and be cautious of vague labels, “proprietary blends,” or any supplement that claims to cure a disease. 

Chat with your vet about the most common dog supplements to determine which ones would work best for your pup. 

Keep in mind: Supplements can interact with medications or they can duplicate nutrients already in the diet. Always check with your veterinarian before adding supplements or changing your pet’s diet. 

5. Transition Slowly and Adjust Based on Your Dog’s Response

When you’re ready to start a new diet, introduce it slowly so your senior dog’s system has time to adjust. Follow label instructions for feeding amounts, and make the switch gradually over the course of a week to prevent stomach upset.  

Monitor your dog for signs that the new food isn’t a match, including loose stools, excessive gas, constipation, or behavioral changes like excessive licking or itching. If you notice any of these issues during or after transitioning to a new diet, contact your vet. 

If your senior dog refuses the new diet, try to determine whether the issue is simply a matter of preference or a medical concern.  

For picky eaters, take a little longer to transition from the old diet to the new one and try warming the food or adding low-sodium beef or chicken broth, canned pumpkin, or a small amount of canned dog food such as Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind. 

If your dog continues to refuse to eat, consult your veterinarian. Dental pain or other health issues can affect your dog’s appetite, and your veterinarian can help identify safe meal toppers that are appropriate for your dog. 

Feeding your senior dog is ultimately about finding the diet and feeding routine that support their changing needs, and adjusting along the way so they can continue to thrive.