Senior dog food crafted for your dog's golden years
As a dog eases into its senior years, its needs change slowly and almost imperceptibly. Activity levels tail off a little, digestion becomes more delicate, and joints and muscles call for more support than before. Our senior dog food is composed precisely for that stage of life, when a dog still has plenty of appetite for living but needs a meal that works with the body rather than burdening it. In this collection you'll find OLDER from Our finest British Heritage Kitchens, prepared with 78% free-range British chicken and duck, fresh Scottish salmon and trout, alongside meal boxes that let you put together your own favourites.
OLDER is grain free and prepared from human-grade ingredients and fresh produce with a generous proportion of meat and fish. Beyond the animal ingredients, the meal contains glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, sweet potato, flaxseed, seaweed, probiotics and a handful of fruits and berries such as blueberries, cranberries, apples and pear. It's a nutritional profile that supports joints, skin, coat and digestion, without unnecessary fillers.
How to choose dog food for older dogs
Moving on to food for older dogs is rarely a matter of a particular birthday. Large breeds show the signs of senior life earlier than small ones, and two dogs of the same age can have entirely different needs. Look out for the subtle signals: your dog takes longer to get up after a rest, sleeps more deeply, puts on weight a little more easily, or needs more pauses on the walk. When you notice them, it's time to consider a meal suited to the body's new pace.
Weight is one of the most important factors in the senior years, because every extra kilo puts pressure on joints, heart and circulation. If you're unsure where your dog sits, take a look at our guide to a healthy weight in dogs and adjust the portion accordingly. If you have questions about the transition, the daily serving or how to combine senior dog food with treats, the ESSENTIAL FOODS nutritional advisers are on hand by phone, chat and email to help you put together a plan that suits your dog exactly.
From meal box to daily routine
The meal boxes in this collection allow you to mix and match several of our meals in a single delivery, so your senior dog can enjoy some variety. Some dogs have a pronounced weakness for fish, others prefer poultry, and a box lets you discover what your dog likes best. If you have several dogs in the household at different life stages, it's worth looking at our other dog meals too and building a solution that covers the whole family.
The switch to senior dog food itself should happen gradually over seven to ten days, mixing increasing amounts of the new meal into the old. This gives the stomach and gut time to adjust to the new composition, and makes it easier to see how your dog responds. Keep an eye on stools, appetite and energy along the way.
Grain free meals and extras for the senior years
OLDER is grain free, and for many older dogs there's a real benefit in keeping grain out of the bowl, as digestion becomes more sensitive with the years. If you'd like to see the full range of grain free meals, you'll find several nutritional profiles suited to a dog with particular needs or known sensitivities.
Alongside the daily meals, the mouth deserves extra attention in the senior years. Tartar and inflamed gums are among the most common causes of reduced appetite in older dogs, and bad breath is often the first sign. Our article on oral hygiene and bad breath offers practical advice, and in our selection of treats you'll find both dental products and natural chews that keep the mouth working and give your dog something to focus on.
Quality all the way through the senior years
ESSENTIAL FOODS is a Danish brand, and every one of our meals is prepared in Our finest British Heritage Kitchens from carefully chosen local and regional delicacies. The philosophy is the same whether your dog is a puppy, an adult or a senior: exquisite ingredients, honest composition and nutrition that supports your dog's wellbeing day after day. That's the thinking behind BOF, Behaviour Optimizing Food, and what allows a senior dog to go on being entirely itself for many years to come.
