by Albert S. Townshend, DVM

We all know that puppies and kittens need special diets in order to develop properly. As our pets age their dietary needs can change several times, depending on many factors including activity level, the environment, disease, sickness and many other factors besides age. Follow these helpful tips to help your senior pet age gracefully.

DOGS

1. Diets for older dogs should contain fewer calories in order to help you regulate weight. This is usually accomplished by adding less fat to the recipe.

2. As dogs age, they tend to become less active and their metabolism slows down. As a result many are over weight. Encouraging regular (daily) activity is critical to not only weight control but general health. Never over exercise; rather, design a plan that fits the needs of your pet but does not over exert the body.

3. Adequate protein is needed in order to replace the cells of the body. Too little protein does not provide the building blocks for cellular replacement. The protein must also be highly digestible in order to be utilized properly by the older animal.

4. Optimum vitamin and mineral levels are also very important to the older dog. They too must be in a form that is easily absorbed by the body.

5. All animals should be encouraged to drink adequate water.

6. The diet should taste good so enough nutrition is consumed.

7. Try feeding twice daily rather as an alternative to feeding once a day or free choice.

8. Always be sure the teeth and gums are in good shape. Gum disease can cause discomfort and lead to more serious problems as well as limit the amount of food the pet will consume.

9. Many older pets suffer from arthritis. Maintaining a normal lean body condition provides less stress on the bones and joints.

10. Diets with glucosamine and/or chondroitin sulfate can also reduce the stress on the joints as can foods with adequate Omega 3 fatty acids.

Diets such as Holistic Select® Vitalize Senior Health Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe is designed with all of the special concerns that should be addressed for an older dog. They both provide optimum nutrition so as to do all we can to ensure a long, happy and healthy life for your older companions.

CATS

Not a lot of research has been done on the nutritional requirements of the aging cat. As with dogs, it is likely that with age, there is a decreased activity level, a reduction in metabolic rate and a reduction in efficiency of the digestive tract, kidneys and other organs.

Many cats tend to gain weight as they move into maturity. One should always be aware of excess weight gain and take steps to reduce the amount of food being fed.

1. As some cats age, their digestive tracts can become less efficient and therefore we must feed more in order to maintain weight, or we must feed a more dense diet, containing additional calories per ounce. As with dogs, it should be highly digestible and very palatable. Canned foods contain more calories per ounce than dry foods. Increasing the amount of canned food in the diet is one way of increasing calories and increasing the amount of water consumed.

2. Water consumption is very important for cats. They must consume significant amounts of water in order to maintain good kidney function and reduce the incidence of urinary tract problems such as excess crystals and blockages.

3. As with dogs, a high quality vitamin and mineral content in the diet is essential, especially if the digestive tract has become less efficient.

4. When having your older cat’s annual checkup, be sure the teeth and gums are in good health as bad teeth and gum disease can have a major impact on the health of your kitty.

5. Many older cats have problems with arthritis and there are foods such as the Holistic Select® dry formulas that contain glucosamine and can have a positive effect on the discomfort associated with arthritis. Holistic Select® Recipes such as Feline Radiant Adult Health Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal Recipe contain naturally occurring Omega 3 fatty acids which also can aid in reducing the discomfort associated with arthritis.

Considering Your Pet’s Specific Needs

When considering a diet specifically for an older senior dog or cat, we must still consider some of those other factors. Previous injuries or illness that may require special consideration when it comes to diet. Time of year and location: do you live in Florida or Alaska? Are you pets overweight or underweight? Are their dental issues? Is you pet getting enough exercise? Is there obvious arthritis? Is there a heart problem or a kidney problem?

There may be other particular issues to consider before selecting the proper diet for your pet. Always rely on your trusted veterinarian for advice when it comes to the specific issues relevant to your pet as he is familiar with the problems and more expressly he should be very familiar with your pet.

If your dog or cat has a medical condition such as heart or kidney disease or diabetes, your veterinarian may recommend a special diet that addresses these issues. The pet will also require regular monitoring by your veterinarian.

The immune system in older animals can become compromised too. Diets like Holistic Select that contain Probiotics or Direct Fed Microbials, multiple antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids to aid in digestion and help maintain immune function.

Holistic Select® diets, both canned and dry are ideal diets for the aging cat as they provide the ideal diet for adult as well as older animals. We know how important your older companion is to you and we have created diets that address the specific needs of the aging animal so as to provide not only basic nutrition but the best possible diet available.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.