Can someone please suggest a good commercial brand senior dog food?

Question

I really don't want to buy anything online or at a specialty shop. The grocery store or a Petco/Petsmart is what I am interested in. My dog is 12 and a bit overweight. I'm confused because some say to get her senior dog food because it has less protein which is easier on her kidneys yet others have said this tastes like cardboard and dogs are not satisified. I don't want my dog to feel hungry or refuse to eat. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,
If you must buy food from either one of those places please do not ever buy your food from a grocery store. The grocery store brands are loaded with grains and artificial preservatives, by-products...all kinds of junk! They carry them at Petco and Petsmart too, but there is a lot more to offer. The best food you can buy at Petsmart is Blue Buffalo. I attached their website for you to see:

bluebuff.com

The reason senior dog food tends to have less protein is because they need to carry lean muscle mass to stay in the best shape possible. It is a myth that high levels of protein are hard on dogs. That study was actually conducted on rats and rats are definitely not the same species! :)
No dog food is going to taste like cardboard because even the worst ones (Ol Roy for example) are sprayed with fats to encourage the dog to scarf it down.
I am going to assume you are using either a grocery brand such as Iams or something else....so what you will definitely have to do is make the change gradual to a better food. The dog has to go through almost a de-tox period because its body has been used to all those harsh chemicals and ingredients for so long.
I am most concerned about your dogs weight. I would put her on the light formula of that brand and once she is at an ideal weight you can switch her to a senior food. Excess weight is extremely hard on any dog, but especially a senior dog because it puts that much more pressure on their hips and joints. Best of luck!

Answer 2

Canidae is a wonderful food..and yes your puppy will get all the nutrition she needs from the all life stages, I would, however , steer away from the lamb & rice unless your dog has a specific medical need to be on a lamb diet..I would go with the regular Canidae All Life Stages. Long term use of a lamb based diet can cause copper toxicity and taurine deficiencies..it is especially to be avoided with puppies if at all possible. Canidae makes a wonderful dry as well as canned food. Be aware that more often then not most so called puppy foods are nothing more then a gimic by the food comapnies.

Answer 3

I agree with Laura on this answer. If you must purchase from a "pet store" go with Blue Buffalo at PetSmart. Dick VanPatten has a good brand that they sell at PetCo. Everthing else these 2 stores sell is garbage. It's really worth it to find a doggie boutique in your area and purchase brands like Innova, Merrick or Wellness.

Answer 4

I recommend Purina Pro Plan for senior dogs or Hill's Science Diet. I've used both of these and the dogs love them both.

Answer 5

Wellness has a senior dog food and you can find it at PetsMart and PetCo.

Answer 6

Science Diet is an excellent one and so Bil Jac.

I used Bil Jac Senior food for my little poodle and she loved it. In fact it was the ONLY dog food our chihuahua would eat.

Answer 7

i use purina one senior for my cat and dog. seems to be fine for them.