9 Best Senior Dog Foods for Your Older Pup

Age, they say, is just a number—and that goes for our canine companions, too. With regular veterinary care, a healthy lifestyle and plenty of love, your senior dog can live their best life and make the most of their golden years.

One of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle? Nutrition. Just like humans, dogs require a nutritious, high-quality diet to thrive, and their dietary needs change throughout the course of their life. If your four-legged friend is getting older and wiser, it’s time to reevaluate their diet and ensure they’re set up for success with the best senior dog food.

Why Do Older Dogs Need Senior Dog Food?

Some things about your dog will never change—for example, the way they look at you when you walk through the door, or the way their ears perk up when they hear the word “bacon.”

However, dietary needs change as our dogs age, explains Dr. Jessica Herman, DVM, a small-animal veterinarian based in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

“It is very important to feed your dog appropriately for [their] life stage,” says Dr. Herman. “Senior pets require a lower-calorie product that is high in fiber and has a higher-quality protein. Our aging pets do not exert the same amount of energy as they did when they were puppies, nor are they growing, and do not require high-calorie foods.”

At what age is a dog considered a “senior”? Different breeds age at different paces, so there’s no “magic number,” but the breakdown below provides general guidelines:

• Small breeds: 10-12 years old
• Medium breeds: 8-9 years old
• Large breeds and giant breeds: 6-7 years old

Many senior dog food formulas contain joint supplements. For this reason, Dr. Heather Frankfurt, DVM,  a veterinarian at Hillside Veterinary Clinic in Dallas, Texas, advises having a conversation with your veterinarian about your dog’s changing dietary needs around age 7, and possibly even younger.

“I recommend all dogs over the age of 7 be on a joint supplement,” she says. “For larger breed dogs, I recommend them starting one at an even earlier age.”

What Is Senior Dog Food?

There’s no single senior dog food that’s best for all aging dogs. Instead, the best dog foods formulated for seniors typically contain a combination of the following features to promote wellness and address age-related conditions:

Fewer calories: Because older pets typically have lower activity levels and exert less energy, senior formulas usually contain fewer calories to help maintain a healthy weight, explains Dr. Frankfurt. In addition to dangerous health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, excess weight can lead to arthritis in aging joints. “Obesity is something I take quite seriously, because of the toll it takes on our pets’ bodies,” she says. “Weight is a topic I discuss quite frequently.”

More fiber: Additional fiber helps promote gastrointestinal health and can be beneficial for pets with a sensitive stomach, while having the added benefit of helping pets feel fuller while consuming fewer calories.

More protein: Muscle mass tends to decrease with age, which is why many senior formulas contain increased amounts of animal protein. “Quality proteins help to maintain healthy muscle mass to keep mobility, and are important for elderly dogs,” says Dr. Herman.

Joint supplements: Senior formulas frequently contain supplements, including glucosamine and chondroitin, to support joint health.

Tastier flavors: Sometimes, it’s important to encourage a senior dog to consume more calories. Dogs undergoing treatment for medical conditions such as cancer may lose their appetite, so highly palatable formulas and meal-enhancing “toppers” can make mealtime more enticing.

Softer textures: Regular dental care can ensure that your dog maintains healthy, happy teeth as they age. However, for dogs who have had multiple tooth extractions or no longer have any teeth, wet formulas, which are softer than kibble,  can make mealtimes more comfortable.

While the above-mentioned qualities make senior dog foods appropriate for many older pups, other dogs can continue to eat standard adult formulas, notes Dr. Herman. This differs from growing puppies, she adds, who must eat specially formulated puppy formulas to meet nutritional requirements.

How To Find the Best Senior Dog Food

If shopping for senior dog food feels overwhelming, you’re not alone—the ever-expanding pet market is flooded with options, and not all formulas are created equal. Consider the following when selecting a diet for your aging pooch:

Your Veterinarian’s Input

Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, have a conversation with your veterinarian about your individual dog’s needs and any age-related concerns you may have. Your vet should be able to recommend brands and formulas that suit your one-of-a-kind four-legged friend.

AAFCO Standards

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a private, non-profit organization that sets the nutritional standards for pet food. These AAFCO “nutrient profiles” detail the amount of macronutrients, like proteins and fats, and micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals, dogs need at different life stages. When selecting a product, look on the packaging for a statement that says it meets AAFCO standards. “Anyone can create a food product for pets, market it, then sell it without the food being analyzed for nutritional balance,” cautions Dr. Herman. By feeding a dog food that meets AAFCO standards, “you know that the product your dog is consuming has the correct nutrient content for his or her health.”

Ingredient List

On pet food packaging, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight—meaning the first couple ingredients make up the majority of the formula. Your best bud deserves the best quality ingredients, so make sure the list starts off with the good stuff (such as chicken, salmon or beef) and not cheap fillers (including soy, gluten and wheat).

Guaranteed Analysis

Perhaps even more important than the ingredient list is the package’s “guaranteed analysis,” which breaks down the food’s nutrient content. Per AAFCO standards, adult dog food must contain a minimum of 18 percent crude protein and 5.5 percent crude fat on a “dry matter basis” (a mathematical calculation that compensates for the varying amounts of water that pet foods contain) to meet nutritional needs. Note that AAFCO does not provide guidelines specifically  for senior pets and these percentages can vary significantly, so it’s important to have a conversation with your veterinarian about your dog’s individual needs.

Kibble Size

Kibble size is always important to consider, but especially with senior dogs, who may have had tooth extractions. When selecting a food, ensure that the kibble is the appropriate size for your dog to comfortably chew. This can vary greatly among dog breeds.

Canned Food vs. Kibble

Some dogs thrive on dry kibble, while for others the taste and texture of wet food are preferable. If your dog is a picky eater or experiencing health issues that can cause decreased appetite, a canned formula may be a better option.

Supplements

If joint health is a concern, consider a recipe that includes supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to improve mobility in dogs with arthritis.

Humane and Sustainable Ingredients

If you’re an animal lover, you might consider choosing a formula made from humanely raised meats and sustainably caught seafood. While the health benefits for your own furry friend may be marginal, responsible farming and fishing practices improve the lives of farm animals and wildlife.

Best Senior Dog Foods

If you’re considering a senior-specific food for your distinguished dog, you’ve come to the right place. We rounded up the best-selling and top-rated senior dog food brands and recipes among Chewy customers to help you find a quality product that fits your pet’s changing needs. These are the best senior dog foods of 2024, according to senior dog parents like you.