Best dry dog food for senior dogs: what to look for

The best dry food for a senior dog is a complete and balanced kibble that your dog can chew comfortably, that keeps them lean and well-muscled, and that fits any condition the vet has found. There is no single best bag. For a healthy older dog it may be the adult kibble they already do well on.

This article does not name or rank brands. It covers what to check on a bag of kibble for an older dog, the signs that dry food has stopped being the right choice, and how to soften or top it.

What to look for in a dry food for an older dog

The AAFCO statement

This is the small-print sentence that says who the food is for. In the United States, the nutrient profiles pet foods are formulated to cover growth and reproduction, and adult maintenance. There is no separate profile for senior dogs, so "senior" on the front of the bag is the maker's own description.

One senior kibble can be low in calories with extra fiber while another is high in protein with added fish oil. Our guide to choosing a senior dog food goes through the whole label.

Calories per cup

Kibble is dense, so small differences in the scoop add up. When you change foods, compare the calories per cup on both bags and adjust the amount.

A "cup" on a feeding guide means a level standard measuring cup, not a mug. Weighing the food on a kitchen scale is more accurate still, and worth doing for small dogs and dogs on a diet. The feeding guide is a starting point for an average dog. Your vet sets the real amount from your dog's weight and body condition. See weight management for senior pets.

Protein level

Older dogs lose muscle more easily, and enough good-quality protein helps slow that. The old idea that every senior dog should eat a low-protein food is out of date. Reduced protein is for specific conditions, such as later-stage kidney disease, and your vet makes that call from bloodwork.

Kibble size and hardness

Small-breed kibbles come in small pieces for small jaws, and some large-breed foods use bigger pieces to slow down dogs who gulp. Watch yours eat: steady chewing is the goal. Dropping pieces, chewing on one side, tilting the head or walking away from a full bowl suggest the kibble has become hard work.

Ordinary kibble does little to clean teeth. Some dry foods are designed as dental diets, with a size and texture meant to scrub the tooth as the dog bites through. Ask your vet whether one would help your dog. None of them replace a dental exam, and a dog with a painful mouth should not be asked to crunch harder food. See dental care for senior pets.

Added omega-3s

Look for EPA and DHA, which come from fish oil, fish meal or algae. Omega-3s from plants such as flaxseed are a different type that dogs convert poorly. Bags often list a total omega-3 figure without saying how much is EPA and DHA, so you may have to ask the maker.

Whether a food has enough to matter for stiff joints is a question for your vet. Do not add fish oil on top without asking, because the amount depends on the dog and on what is already in the food.

A note on grain-free kibble

Most dogs have no health reason to avoid grains. The FDA has investigated reports of a heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, in dogs eating certain diets, many of them grain-free and high in peas, lentils or potatoes. The cause has not been settled. If your older dog eats a grain-free food, ask your vet whether that is still the right choice. Our article on dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs explains the background.

Storing dry food

The fats in kibble, especially omega-3s, go stale with air, heat and light, and a dog notices long before you do.

• Keep the food in its original bag, rolled shut, and put the whole bag inside a lidded bin if you use one.
• Store it somewhere cool and dry, away from sunlight.
• Buy a bag size your dog will finish within about a month or so of opening.
• Keep the bag until it is empty. It carries the best-by date and lot number if there is ever a recall.

When dry food stops being the right choice

Dry food works well for many dogs all their lives. These are the usual reasons it stops working in old age:

• Dental pain or missing teeth. Have the mouth examined first. Softening the food eases eating but does not treat the cause. See why old dogs lose teeth.
• Low thirst. Kibble is only about a tenth water. A dog who drinks little, gets constipated or has kidney or urinary problems may do better with more moisture in the food.
• A fading appetite. Kibble has less smell than wet food, and an older dog's sense of smell is weaker.
• A diagnosed condition. The diet for that condition, chosen by your vet, takes priority over any regular senior food.

You do not have to give up kibble at once. Soaking it, topping it or moving partly to canned food are all options. Our guide to wet food for senior dogs covers the last one, including how to mix the two.

How to soak kibble for an older dog

1. Measure the normal amount of kibble into the bowl. Soaking adds no calories, so the portion stays the same.
2. Add warm water, enough to just cover it. Warm, not hot.
3. Leave it for ten to twenty minutes, until the pieces crush easily between your fingers. Mash with a fork if your dog has very few teeth.
4. Serve it at once. Check it is not hot in the middle.
5. Throw away what is left after the meal and wash the bowl. Wet kibble spoils quickly and should not sit out.

Plain water is the safest choice. Many broths and stocks made for people contain onion, garlic and a lot of salt, and onion and garlic are toxic to dogs. Only use a broth if the ingredient list shows none of them.

How to top dry food

A topper can make kibble more interesting. It also adds calories, and it can unbalance the diet if it becomes a large share of the bowl.

• A spoonful of a complete and balanced wet dog food is the simplest topper. Take out a little kibble to make room for its calories.
• Plain cooked vegetables add bulk with few calories. See which vegetables dogs can eat.
• Keep treats and extras that are not complete foods to about a tenth of the day's calories, which is the limit vets commonly give.
• Skip fatty table scraps, gravy and anything seasoned. Rich extras can upset the stomach, and onion and garlic are toxic to dogs.

If your dog only eats when there is a topper, or needs a better one every week, the problem is probably not the kibble. See why an old dog stops eating.

When to call the vet today

• Your dog has eaten nothing for more than 24 hours, or much less than normal for several days.
• Dropping food, crying out while chewing, pawing at the mouth, drooling, or a swollen face.
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, or blood in either.
• Weight loss you can see or feel.
• Drinking or urinating far more than usual.
• Coughing, gagging or choking during meals.
• A swollen, tight belly, retching without bringing anything up, or collapse. Go to an emergency clinic at once.

This article is general educational information about dry food for older dogs, not veterinary or nutritional advice for your dog. It does not recommend any brand or product, and no kibble suits every dog. The right food, the amount to feed and any supplement or change of diet should be decided with your veterinarian, especially if your dog has dental pain, a medical condition or a changing appetite.