what food can i make for my senior dog

Best Dog Food For Senior Dogs

A long life is the result of good genes, good care, and good luck. While a few four-leaf clovers never hurt anyone, chances are its a little late to worry about good genes once youve welcomed a dog into your heart. That leaves good care as the one thing you can control now. And a big part of good care is good nutrition.

However, there are issues when it comes to feeding your senior dog. Neither the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nor the National Research Council have determined official dietary requirements for aging dogs. Its partly because senior dogs vary so much in their individual needs. That may explain why commercial foods for seniors vary so widely in nutrient levels.

Nobody expects you to be a nutritionist just to pick out a bag of dog food. But you should be aware of just a few important factors that apply to most senior dogs. This will help you choose the best dog food for your senior dog.

Dont Restrict Protein

This matter is widely misunderstood. Many people still believe senior dogs should eat less protein. We now know the opposite is true. Healthy seniors need more protein, not less, in order to fuel muscle. Loss of muscle mass is a major problem in older dogs. Some seniors lose so much muscle they can no longer walk unassisted.

Older dogs need about 50 percent more protein to maintain muscle mass compared to younger ones. But, diets formulated for adult maintenance diets often dont have enough protein to satisfy these needs. Veterinarian Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, recommends 28 to 32 percent protein on a dry-matter basis for healthy older dogs, especially in those cases where weight loss is needed.

Consider Calories

Younger seniors tend to be overweight. But, very old dogs tend to be underweight. A 2011 study found that calories in senior foods varied widely, ranging from 246 to 408 calories per cup. So, the same senior food may be a great choice if your dog needs to lose weight. But it may be a bad choice if they need to gain weight.

Dont forget that the time to consider calories is well before old age sets in. Two benchmark studies conducted by major dog food companies Purina and Waltham both found that restricting calories throughout life improved longevity and reduced illnesses. Essentially, good care for senior dogs starts in youth.

Feed For Organ Health

Other factors to consider are senior dog health problems such as heart and kidney disease. For both conditions, youll want a low-sodium food. But, that same 2011 study found that sodium levels in senior foods ranged from 33 to 412 mg/100 kcal. For kidney disease, youll want low phosphorous, but thats not even mentioned on any label. The 2011 study found phosphorous levels varied by threefold in the senior foods they examined, but were on average higher than their representative adult maintenance food.

Prescription diets are available for heart, kidney, and other diseases that take into account these nutritional needs. However, even those foods may have wide ranges of nutrients. Any dog food manufacturer should be able to provide these numbers to you on their website or with a simple phone call. While youre at it, ask them about the credentials of the people formulating their foods. If they cant provide either, thats clue number one that you should find another product.

Add Supplements

Some senior foods include supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin in an effort to combat osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the evidence that these supplements actually work is limited. However, they wont hurtexcept maybe your wallet.

On the other hand, omega-3 fatty acids probably play an important role in senior diets because they may help combat both osteoarthritis and especially cognitive losses. If you are adding your own to your dogs diet, aim for the amount of EPA and DHA combined to be in the range of 700 to 1,500 mg. Build up starting at the low end and cut back if your dog has any diarrhea or vomiting.

Theres probably more to the recipe than simply EPA and DHA, however. Research conducted at Purina tested Beagles between the ages of 9.5 and 11 years of age that were fed either a standard diet or one supplemented with antioxidants, B vitamins, fish oil, and L-arginine for six months. The dogs fed this Brain Protection Blend performed significantly better on a series of mental tasks, especially the more difficult ones, compared to the dogs not receiving the blend. The tasks involved determining which one of several shallow wells contained food when the cue was a marker either next to it, near it, or displaced at an angle; or seeing how well they did on a task requiring them to discriminate right, left, and center, and then relearning which side was correct in order to receive a reward.

Make Food Palatable For Senior Dogs

There are practical aspects of feeding your dog to consider, too. Senior dogs may have dental problems that make chewing difficult or uncomfortable. These dogs should first be treated for whatever problem they have, but if that is impossible or unsuccessful, consider wetting their food or feeding them canned or soft food. Simply feeding a smaller kibble size may help if youre feeding dry food.

Senior dogs may be uncomfortable bending down to the food bowl or standing for long periods to eat. Try serving their meals on a raised platform or encourage them to eat lying down.

Very old dogs often lose their appetite. Warming the food can increase its aroma and may help stimulate the appetite; cooling it may make it less nausea-inducing in queasy dogs. At some point you may have to abandon your goal of a healthy balanced diet and just feed him whatever he will eat. The wait until hes hungry enough tactic doesnt work in seniors because their hunger mechanism may not be working correctly. Besides, its a little late to be worried about spoiling himand even if you do, doesnt he deserve it?

This column first appeared in theSeptember/October 2019 issue of AKC Family Dogmagazine.

Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes: 7 Vet-Approved & Nutritionally Complete

Imagine if you had to eat the same food every day of your life. Beyond being painfully dull, wouldnt you question whether youre getting a nutritionally complete and balanced diet? Welcome to a dogs life. Long ago, before commercially produced dog food, dogs ate many of the same foods as humans. Theres a reason our dogs beg for our food theyre meant to eat a variety.Weve cooked up some tips on how to make dog food, nutrition guidelines, and our favorite homemade dog food recipes.

What Are The Benefits Of Homemade Dog Food? 3 Advantages

Homemade dog food can benefit your canine companion in several ways:

1. If you have a pet who suffers from allergies, skin problems, or gastrointestinal sensitivity.
2. Highly-processed foods also lose nutritional value, whereas making dog food from scratch maintains more vital nutrients during the cooking process.
3. With fresh food, you know exactly what your dog is getting versus reading the label and being confused by all the additives and preservatives.

Complete Nutrition From A Veterinarian

That said, homemade dog foods can require a significant amount of time and effort to get right. Homemade dog food needs to contain nutrients dogs need to be healthy. But those nutrients should be right amounts so as not to get too much or too little ofany nutrient.

A veterinary nutritionist has specialized training to help pet parents like yourself make nutritionally balanced meals for your dog. The recipes in this article have all been reviewed by our veterinary consultant with this goal in mind. So you can rest assured these homemade dog food recipes are vet approved.

Its a good idea to have the nutritionally complete homemade dog food recipes in this article handy in case you run out of dog food. Treat your dog like any of your other family members by preparing nutritious food from trusted ingredients.

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What Nutrition Guidelines Should You Follow?

Like humans, every dog is different, so this is not a one-pup-fits-all rule. Serving size, your dogs weight, health conditions, size, and activity level are all factors you should consider when determining whats suitable for your dog.

However, in general, dogs need six basic nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced diet: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. A mix of these nutrients provides energy for your dogs body to metabolize and grow.

To ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs, you may want to add a fully balanced nutrition blend, like one of these blends from JustFoodForDogs. And in addition to meals, you may also want to add a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews to ensure your pup gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals.

Check with your vet before adding any type of supplement to your dogs diet because over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can sometimes have serious health consequences in dogs.

Necessary Nutrients

Here are the benefits of the necessary nutrients and why its essential your pup has adequate amounts of each (listed in order of priority).

• Protein (chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, and cooked eggs) Helps with the growth and maintenance of cells, tissues, organs, antibodies, hormones, and enzymes.
• Fat (from oil and meat) Assists with absorbing specific vitamins, protects and insulates internal organs, and promotes good skin and hair growth.
• Carbohydrates (rice, corn, and beans) Keeps intestines healthy and supplies glucose to critical organs, including the brain.
• Minerals, including calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. Give dogs structurally sound bones and teeth, among other benefits.
• Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K Promotes eye and skin health, immunity, and more.

Water accounts for 60-70% of a dogs body weight, so its critical that your dog stays hydrated and eats a well-balanced diet. Dehydration can lead to some health issues, so give your dog access to plenty of clean, fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Before embarking on a homemade meal plan, consult your veterinarian to ensure your dogs diet sufficiently meets all of his nutritional needs.

Low-Calorie Dog Food Recipes

The recipes listed below are low in calories but should be consumed in moderation (serving sides similar to what they currently eat). Work with your vet to ensure that the amount you feed matches your dogs daily caloric needs.

Homemade Dog Food Delivered

In the age of UberEats, DoorDash, and having just about anything you wish delivered, you also have the option to buy fresh, natural dog food for doorstep delivery. It can be a huge time-saver and may be worth the cost after adding all the ingredients youll need to buy to cook a recipe.

The Farmers Dog ships frozen, allowing you to keep it on hand or serve it daily as a regular meal. This food is made with fresh, healthy, and easy-to-pronounce human-grade ingredients. And you can spend your time on more important things, like belly rubs and walks.

7 Of Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes

To jump to a recipe youre interested in, click on the link below. We also have some yummy organic dog treat recipes and treats made with Thanksgiving leftovers. You may wish to have a collection of pet food recipes on-hand at all times, making a cookbook an excellent choice. Dinner PAWsible is one of our favorites.

1. CBD-Infused Treats
2. Beef Stew, Doggie Style
3. Turkey, Rice, and Veggie Mix
4. Easy Slow Cooker Beef & Rice Meal
5. Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
6. Grain-Free Chicken Jerky Strips
7. Frozen Banana Treats

Note: The recipes below do not include serving size because portion sizes will vary depending on breed, weight, activity level, age, and the health of your dog. A recommendation is to feed your dog a comparable amount of ounces/cups to what you would usually feed in kibble BUT check with your vet to be certain.

CBD-Infused Dog Treats

You can purchase already-made CBD dog treats, but if you want to take a whack at making your own, heres a recipe. Be sure to tell your vet that youre adding CBD to your dogs diet. Check with the manufacturers dosing guidelines of the CBD product you plan on giving your dog to verify youre giving the proper amount.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour
• 1/2 cup oat
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 apple, cored and grated
• 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup water
• dash of sea salt
• 120 mg CBD oil

Total: Makes 24 treats

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a dog cookie baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Core and grate the apples, then peel and grate the carrots.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, oats, and coconut sugar. In another medium-sized bowl, beat the egg. Then, add coconut oil, water, and grated apples and carrots.
4. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients bowl; mix thoroughly. Finally, add CBD oil and mix once more.
5. Using a Tbsp measuring spoon, portion the dog biscuits and press them into the dog treat baking pan.
6. Bake for 32-37 minutes or until the biscuits are firm and golden-brown on the outside.
7. Store in an air-tight container.

Recipe from: Truth Theory

Beef Stew, Doggie Style

This recipe is loaded with iron from fresh protein and can be stored in your fridge for most of the week (or frozen and heated up later).

Ingredients

• 1 pound of beef stew meat
• 1 small sweet potato
• 1/2 cup of carrots, diced
• 1/2 cup of green beans, diced
• 1/2 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Total: Makes approx. 4 cups (32 fluid ounces)

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 301
• Protein: 36.7 g
• Fat: 8.4 g
• Carbs: 17.4 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, Potassium

Directions

1. Cook the sweet potato in a microwave for 5 to 8 minutes until firm but tender. Set aside.
2. Slice the beef into small chunks about the size of a nickel.
3. Cook the beef stew pieces in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until well-done.
4. Remove the beef chunks from the pan, reserving the drippings.
5. Dice the sweet potato
6. Heat the drippings over medium-low heat. Slowly add flour and water into the drippings while whisking to create a thick gravy.
7. Add the meat, sweet potato, carrots, and green beans into the gravy and stir to coat.
8. Cook until the carrots are tender about 10 minutes.
9. Let it cool and serve.
10. Store remaining stew in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Recipe from: Money Crashers

Turkey, Rice & Veggie Mix

This is an excellent, low-calorie, and low-fat recipe for pooches who may need to keep the pounds off. With a good balance of lean animal protein, healthy carbs, and veggies, it yields 12 cups of dog food and can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups uncooked brown rice
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 (16 ounces) package of frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

Total: Makes approx. 10 cups

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 11.5 g
• Fat: 5 g
• Fiber: 2.5 g
• Carbs: 32 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Iron, Potassium

Directions

1. Place the water, ground turkey, rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven.
2. Stir until the ground turkey is broken up and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low.
4. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add the frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and cool.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe from: Allrecipes

Easy Slow Cooker Beef & Rice Meal

We love this recipe for its nutritional value, quick prep time (10 minutes), and easy crockpot cooking. It yields 12 cups and, like the beef stew, can be frozen for future feedings.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice
• 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash
• 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup peas, frozen or canned

Total: Makes approx. 12 cups (or 88 fluid ounces)

Nutritional Info (per 1 cup serving):

• Calories: 400
• Protein: 39.1g
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 44.2 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Iron, Potassium, Calcium

Directions

1. Stir in all ingredients with 4 cups of water in a slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours or high heat for 2 to 3 hours.
3. Stir as needed and cool to room temperature.

Recipe from: Damn Delicious

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Are you looking for a doggiedigestive aid? Pumpkin is easy on sour stomachs and can help alleviate your dogs digestive issues. These homemade dog biscuits are a great way to introduce an all-natural tummy aid into your pups diet.

Ingredients

• 1 can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oats (optional if your dog is on a grain-free diet, sub an extra 1/4 cup grain-free flour)
• 3 cups whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or gluten-free flour
• 3 tablespoons of peanut butter (make sure its xylitol free)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Total: Makes approx. 24 treats

Nutritional Info (per 1 biscuit serving):

• Calories: 27
• Protein: 1.3 g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Carbs: 2.8 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Iron

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, oats, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin, and peanut butter until combined. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
4. Pour a floured surface and roll the dough to 1/2 thick. Cut out using a cookie cutter.
5. The dough will be a little sticky; add a dusting of flour to your hands and the rolling pin to help. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.
6. Place on cooling racks and let cool thoroughly. They will harden as they cool.

Recipe from: My Baking Addiction

Grain-Free Dog Food Recipe: Chicken Jerky Strips

Dont trust store-bought rawhides, which often have a ton of additives and preservatives? Homemade chicken jerky strips are a perfect replacement. This grain-free recipe is a much healthier alternative and very easy to make. Store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks (if they last that long!).

Ingredients

• 2 to 4 boneless, 3-oz skinless chicken breasts
• Total: Makes approx. 10-20 strips

Nutritional Info (per 1 stick serving):

• Calories: 33
• Protein: 7.8 g
• Fat: >1g
• Carbs: 0 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin D, Potassium

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
2. Trim all excess fat off the chicken breasts.
3. Cut into 1/8 inch thick strips using a paring knife.
4. Bake for 2 hours on a baking sheet until the strips are dry and hard.
5. Cool completely before presenting to your pup.

Recipe from: Top Dog Tips

Frozen Banana Treats

After a long walk in the hot sun, what pooch wouldnt want a refreshingly cool treat? We love this simple recipe yogurt, banana, and peanut butter. Its a frozen smoothie for your dog. Need we say more?

Ingredients

• 4 cups plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (make sure its xylitol free)
• 3 ripe bananas, peeled & mashed

Total: Makes approx. 8 1-oz treats

Nutritional Info (per 1 treat serving):

• Calories: 150
• Protein: 8.5 g
• Fat: 3.7 g
• Carbs: 19.5 g
• Minerals & Vitamins: Calcium, Potassium, Iron

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients into a puree.
2. Pour into 4-ounce plastic cups (ice trays or toddler popsicle trays work well).
3. Freeze until firm.
4. Can keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe from: Dr. Marty

Best Cooking Practices

Its important not to stray from homemade dog food recipes or substitute ingredients as you might for yourself and your family. Dogs have different nutritional needs that require cooking recipes exactly as instructed. Be sure to cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria, and cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier for your pup to digest.

When in doubt, an excellent resource is Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternativeby Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, Ph.D., a long-time expert in veterinary medicine. First published in 1999, the book is considered by many pet nutritionists to be the Bible of healthy homemade pet nutrition. For even more cooking options, be sure to check out Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog.

We strongly emphasize first discussing your dogs specific nutritional needs with your vet, as every pup is different. And remember that switching your dogs food to homemade from kibble is a slow process, so patience is key.

Cooking For Canines: Online Help

Theres no shortage of homemade dog food recipes you can find online. We found this fun and informative video series that gives you weekly recipe tutorials, tips, and more. Check it out in case you want to subscribe through YouTube.

What About BARF?

You might have heard of a raw diet fad, more commonly known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). The basic idea is to feed your dog raw meats, grains, and veggies like his canine ancestors ate millions of years ago.

BARF has gained popularity among dog owners in recent years. However, the FDA and significant veterinary organizations strongly advocate against raw food diets for dogs. So, we suggest you speak with your vet before starting down this path. Learn more about the benefits and risks and get a raw dog food recipe to try at home in our raw dog food diets article.

Is Grain-Free Dog Food Safe For Dogs?

The FDA has not found a significantlink between grain-free dog food and heart health. However, its wise to talk with your vet before switching your dogs diet if you have any concerns.

What Foods Should Your Dog Never Eat?

As a dog owner, youve likely come across this essential list before, but its always good to have it on hand as a reminder, especially if youre cooking dog food from scratch. The principal toxic foods include:

• Chocolate
• Onions and garlic
• Avocados
• Grapes and raisins
• Macadamia nuts
• Raw bread dough
• Alcohol

For a more extensive list, check out this article on foods not to feed dogs.

Did you know that most pet insurance policies cover accidental injury and poisoning? Find out what else is commonly included inour pet insurance comparison.

Tired Of Cooking?

If all that sounds like a lot of work, but you want yourpup to experience homemade food with the convenience of having it delivered to your doorstep, give The Farmers Dog a shot. With The Farmers Dog, you can have natural, fresh dog food sent right to your house (were big fans and customers ourselves)!

While DIY dog food recipes can be fun to make and a healthy alternative to consuming canned food or kibble, they may still lack all the essential minerals and vitamins needed. In addition to The Farmers Dog fresh food, we encourage you to check out these other dog food delivery options that are specially formulated by dog nutritionists and shipped directly to you for your pup to enjoy. Also, visit our reviews of dog food for all types of diets, ages, and health concerns.

Our Methodology

We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:

• Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
• Having firsthand experience with our dogs for many of the foods we recommend
• Assessing the guaranteed analysis for every formula, including protein, fat, fiber, and caloric content
• Investigating the latest scientific studies on dogs nutritional needs and benefits of ingredients
• Researching the specific dietary needs for breed sizes and health conditions
• Reading hundreds of customer reviews
• Staying informed on every dog food recall
• Diving into every pet food brands history and reputation
• Keeping on top of pet food trends

Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has researched and reviewed hundreds of different dog food brands and specific formulas. Shes an expert at analyzing dog food ingredients based on current nutritional guidelines and scientific studies for the healthiest food for our pups. Shes part of a team of dog specialists at Canine Journal who have over a decade of experience in researching, testing, and writing about everything you need to know to keep your pup healthy and happy.