As pets age, their nutritional requirements will change.  Just like with humans, babies have different requirements than adults, and senior citizens have even different nutritional needs.  Having the proper nutrition can go a long way in keeping senior pets healthy.

Senior pets need less phosphorous, protein, sodium in their diets to help maintain kidney and heart health.  Many senior or mature adult diets also have fewer calories than normal adult diets as older pets tend to slow down a bit and don’t need the same amount of calories as younger pets.  Good quality senior pet foods also have good sources of antioxidants to promote a healthy immune system as well as glucosamine and chondroitin to help with aging joints and cartilage.

Common problems in aging animals include obesity, arthritis, and dental disease.  All can affect and be affected by nutrition.

Obesity often comes about when pets are feed a high fat diet, too many treats, and don’t get enough exercise.  As animals age, like humans, they tend to slow down.  They don’t need as many calories as young, active animals.  Obesity and aging can lead to joint problems, including arthritis.  Pets in pain tend to slow down even more, making calorie restriction even more important.

Dental disease is seen in pets of all ages, however is often worse in older pets who have not had the benefit of routine home dental care or previous dental cleanings.  Bacteria in the mouth can easily get into the blood stream, affecting the health of the internal organs.  If a pet has a painful mouth, he or she may stop eating or not eat as much, leading to weight loss and malnutrition.  Sometimes pet owners become concerned that their pet is not eating and try various pet foods, including lower quality foods or treats, to entice their pet to eat, which can cause weight gain and still not fix the primary problem.

So all around, a good quality senior food is important in keeping aging pets healthy.  However, older pets diagnosed with various health conditions may be prescribed a special diet available only through your veterinarian.  These diets often target specific problems or areas of the body.  For example, there are low fat diets for obesity and pancreatitis.  There is a joint diet for arthritis.  Kidney issues are common in older pets and there is a diet to help maintain kidney health.  There’s even a special diet for cognitive dysfunction.  While these diets (and other special diets) may not cure the disease or problem, they can help slow the progression of the disease and allow your pet to live longer.

**Please note that some pets require specific diets for various illnesses or conditions, so a senior pet food may not be recommended for that pet.  Please consult your veterinarian before making any diet changes.