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Best Senior Dog Foods for 2022

For pups approaching their golden years, eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet becomes paramount to ensure they remain fit and healthy in their old age.

And giving your maturing mutt a specialised Senior Dog Food diet is one of the easiest ways to ensure they receive maximum nourishment, with low fat, high protein punch which controls their weight and keeps muscles strong.

So to help you discover the perfect pooch meal and improve your greying greyhound’s vitality, we’ve thoroughly researched all the various health benefits of the leading senior dog food brands in order to find the best choice for you and your canine!

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    Our Top Picks

    Image Product Details
    IAMS for Vitality Senior Dry Dog Food
    • Large Breed or Small/Medium Breed options
    • 85% protein to support vitality
    • Wheat-free with no artificial ingredients
    • Huge 12 kg size!
    Check Price
    Harringtons Senior Complete Dry Dog Food
    • Chicken with rice flavour
    • 25% less fat than standard Harringtons
    • Citrus extract to support the immune system
    • Glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
    Check Price
    Pedigree 7+ Wet Food For Senior Dogs 12 Pack
    • Mixed Meat Selection with Jelly
    • Chicken, Beef, Poultry and Rabbit flavours
    • Dry version available
    • Zinc and sunflower oil for Omega 6 oils
    • Calcium to support bones
    Check Price

    The Top Senior Dog Foods Reviewed

    1.
    IAMS for Vitality Senior Dry Dog Food

    This crunchy kibble from IAMS is guaranteed to make your doddering old pooch feel 21 again (in dog years) thanks to its long checklist of revitalising ingredients!

    Basing its nutritional values on the seven signs of healthy vitality in dogs, IAMS product aims to be one of the most caring canine meals available to ageing pups.

    For each aspect of your dog’s health, IAMS have included an ingredient to improve it, these areas being: a healthy coat, strong teeth and bones, strong muscles, a good immune system, smooth digestion and a healthy heart.

    A fantastic concoction for stiff moving mutts, this recipe is enriched with essential minerals and vitamin D to support a strong skeletal system and also harbours key nutrients to nourish the heart. A portion of antioxidants and Vitamin E also help to boost the immune system, while prebiotics and the infusion of beet pulp aid smooth and hassle-free digestion.

    And believe it or not, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wholesome goodness and health benefits crammed into this formula!

    Don’t believe us? Go and check out the ingredients list!

    Features

    • Large Breed or Small/Medium Breed options
    • 85% protein to support vitality
    • Wheat-free with no artificial ingredients
    • Huge 12 kg size!

    Specifications

    • Weight: 12 Kg
    • Dimensions: 57 x 43 x 14 cm

    2.
    Harringtons Senior Complete Dry Dog Food

    It wouldn’t be a dog food top ten without an appearance from the famous Harringtons, whose all-natural dog food formulations have made them one of the most popular and revered brands amongst puppy punters.

    This senior recipe contains 25% less fat than the standard Harrington adult kibble and helps to reduce weight gain in less mobile dogs who suffer from joint issues. Unlike the standard range, this formula also packs plenty of extra ingredients to boost the overall health of elderly pups.

    These include lutein to help support dodgy doggy eyesight, a trio of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSN for healthy flexible joints and the nutrient L-carnitine to aid weight control.

    It’s the natural way to get a healthier and happier hound, and thanks to its tasty chicken and rice recipe, your greedy little tyke will have no problems polishing off a whole bowl of the stuff!

    Features

    • Chicken with rice flavour
    • 25% less fat than standard Harringtons
    • Citrus extract to support the immune system
    • Glucosamine and chondroitin for joints

    Specifications

    • Weight: 2 Kg
    • Dimensions: 38.5 x 20 x 9cm

    3.
    James Wellbeloved Complete Dry Senior Dog Food

    Mature mutts require a complete and nutritious diet to help them stay fit and fighting in their old age, and so it’s paramount we owners make the right choice when selecting a senior dog nosh.

    Thankfully, James Wellbeloved’s Complete Dry Senior Food makes our decision a simple one, with a concoction of ingredients designed to help your hound absorb maximum nourishment form their doggy dinners.

    With no unhealthy additives, this Senior Lamb and Rice dish boasts hypoallergenic qualities and uses balanced fibres to support the digestive system.

    A perfectly balanced dish, it contains linseed, a rich source of fatty acids which are essential for keeping a glossy coat. It’s also packed with alfalfa and seaweed, ingredients incredibly high in antioxidant vitamins and minerals, which are critical for maintaining your ageing canines long-term health.

    For those adverse to doggy trumps, this recipe also contains a healthy amount of yucca extract, helping to neutralise stool odours and prevent excessive gas.

    So there’ll be no more blaming it on the dog!

    Features

    • Hypoallergenic
    • Nourishing lamb, brown and pearl rice with whole barley
    • No additives
    • 7.5 Kg or 15 Kg bag sizes

    Specifications

    • Weight: 7.5 Kg, 15 Kg
    • Dimensions: 81 x 38 x 13 cm (15 Kg)

    4.
    Orijen Senior Dog Food

    Orijen believes that senior dogs thrive best on diets rich in protein and low in calories, promoting lean muscle mass and keeping excess weight down to a minimum.

    Therefore, their Senior Dog Food is loaded with cage-free chicken and turkey, and also features the unusual combo of wild-caught fish and nest-laid eggs. The thinking behind these ingredients is that they are as mother nature intended, untampered with and reflecting the evolutionary and biological needs of a wild dog diet.

    This nutrient-dense ratio of fresh meats, fish and eggs provide a natural source of nearly every nutrient a senior dog needs and the formula is additionally infused with the freeze-dried liver to enhance flavour and palatability.

    Brimming with goodness, it packs the protein and calories required to support the peak health of more sedentary dogs.

    Features

    • Biologically appropriate
    • Free-run chicken & turkey with wild-caught fish
    • 80% meat and fish
    • 4 different bag sizes

    Specifications

    • Weight: 340 g, 2 Kg, 6 Kg, 11.4 Kg
    • Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 20 cm (11.4 Kg)

    5.
    Royal Canin Ageing 10+ Dog Food

    Royal Canin is a brand beloved for their gastrointestinal dog foods, which have proved a life-saver for pups with overly sensitive stomachs and acute intestinal absorption disorders.

    And with that kind of medical know-how on show, it can sometimes be worth taking a peek at Royal Canin’s more standard noshes which can also offer disease-free canines a wealth of health benefits.

    This formula is specifically made for ageing pooches and is based on years of study and partnerships with veterinary schools, universities and breeders, so you know it’s made of smarter stuff!

    To provide precise nutritional sources, Royal Canin also believes one size does not fit all, and so have split their senior food into small, medium and large breed ranges.

    Containing EPA, DHA and an exclusive complex of antioxidants, this nourishing kibble neutralises free radicals in your mutt’s system, helping to support their overall health, joints and coat condition.

    Best for dogs of 10 years or older, it’s grub designed to put the spring back into your pup’s step!

    Features

    • Maintains healthy bones and joints
    • Adapted fibre content for easy digestion
    • Highly digestible protein
    • Mini breed, Medium breed and Maxi breed sizes

    Specifications

    • Weight: 15 Kg
    • Dimensions: 82 x 41 x 15 cm

    6.
    Pedigree 7+ Wet Food For Senior Dogs 12 Pack

    It’s not just dry food that’s suitable for mature mutts, and this wet recipe from Pedigree proves getting old doesn’t mean you have to give up your favourite doggy dinners!

    Focusing on what they believe to be a dog’s universal needs, these Pedigree pouches aim to offer serious benefits for your canine’s coat, digestion and immune system, giving your pup vital protection through nourishment.

    Easy to open, each pouch contains a single protein source in a tasty jelly, which is then mixed with a wealth of other health-boosting ingredients. Zinc and sunflower oil provide a generous dose of Omega 6 fatty acids for healthy skin, while added calcium and vitamin E ensures a strong skeletal and immune system.

    It’s a 100% complete and delicious meal for older mutts that will have them prepared for anything!

    Features

    • Mixed Meat Selection with Jelly
    • Chicken, Beef, Poultry and Rabbit flavours
    • Dry version available
    • Zinc and sunflower oil for Omega 6 oils
    • Calcium to support bones

    Specifications

    • Weight: 12 x 100g (Wet)
    • Dimensions: 9.6 x 19.5 x 14.4 cm (Wet)

    7.
    Naturediet Feel Good Senior Lite Complete Wet Food

    A deliciously nutritious dish for dogs to thrive on, Feel Good Senior Lite is a complete and balanced meal, perfect for less active and older dogs.

    Made from high-quality cuts of lean chicken and turkey meat, this wet dog food is then mixed with fibrous rice, carrots and potatoes to give your four-legged friend a new lease of life through grub alone! Gently steam cooked with a little water, it’s a recipe that’s gentle on tyke’s tums and is also hypoallergenic thanks to its 100% natural ingredients.

    And with 18 individual servings in one pack, it’s surely one of the best value senior dog foods on the market!

    Features

    • 100% natural ingredients
    • Low-calorie food for senior pup
    • Turkey & Chicken with rice, carrots and potato

    Specifications

    • Weight: 18 x 390 g
    • Dimensions: 9.6 x 19.5 x 14.4 cm

    8.
    Burns Original Adult/Senior Dry Dog Food

    Perfectly suitable for seniors, Burns’ Original Adult/Senior Dry recipes were developed by the award-winning veterinary surgeon John Burns and are all formulated without artificial preservatives or allergen-inducing ingredients.

    But as well as being without any nasty fillers, this original mix also conversely contains a fantastic combination of wholesome foodstuffs including a single meat source, brown rice, oats, peas and seaweed.

    This low fat and controlled protein dish, therefore, ensures your dog’s needs are met but not exceeded, helping maintain their overall health and providing a steady release of energy throughout the day.

    Utilising only the highest quality ingredients, it’s also highly digestible, meaning feeding amounts are lower and that daily feeding costs are significantly lower than other premium brands!

    Features

    • Natural and complete diet
    • Lamb, Chicken & Fish flavours available
    • Highly digestible
    • Hypoallergenic & gluten-free

    Specifications

    • Weight: 2 Kg, 6 Kg, 12 Kg
    • Dimensions: 15 x 12 x 60 cm (12 Kg)

    9.
    BETA Senior Dry Dog Food From Purina

    Just because your grey-haired greyhound is in their golden years, it doesn’t mean they can’t live an active and adventurous life. And to help your past it pooch reclaim their glorious youth, there’s nothing that will help loosen up those old bones like a truly nutritious bit of dog nosh.

    PURINA’s BETA Senior Dog Food is tailored nutrition designed to get senile senior pups back to their best, with a healthy dose of omega 3 infused kibble, perfect for boosting joint mobility and flexibility. It’s also choc-full of the antioxidants needed to support your wise old hound’s natural defences, while prebiotics help to restore and maintain your mutt’s digestive health!

    It’s the canine kibble destined to get your little tyke back to their best!

    Features

    • Choose Chicken, Salmon or Turkey as No. 1 ingredient
    • No added artificial colours or flavours
    • Natural prebiotic for digestive health
    • Tailored nutrition for older pups

    Specifications

    • Weight: 14 Kg
    • Dimensions: 81 x 38 x 13 cm

    10.
    Bakers Senior Dry Dog Food

    For pups aged seven years over, lifestyle and nutritional needs begin to change.

    And although nobody warns you, a lack of activity and a healthy appetite often lead to only one thing – a seriously chunky canine!

    To prevent this from happening, the smartest thing to do is often to change their diet rather than increase your daily walks, and Bakers Senior Dry Dog Food is a fantastic low-fat option.

    It’s also packed full of antioxidants to help maintain your pup’s natural defences and utilises plenty of vitamin D to ensure your dog’s bones and teeth remain stable and strong, which can become an increasing concern in their old age.

    Made with tender meaty chunks of chicken mixed with nourishing country vegetables, it’s certainly one of the tastier ways you can care for a doddering doggy.

    Features

    • Wholegrains for fibre and digestion
    • Low fat to prevent weight gain
    • Chicken & Veg flavour

    Specifications

    • Weight: 12.5 Kg
    • Dimensions: 65 x 41.2 x 18.6 cm

    Buying Guide

    What To Look For In Senior Dog Food

    Quality Proteins

    Like almost all dog foods, good quality senior meals need to focus on providing a good protein source for your pup, and older dogs require it more than ever to keep their muscles lean and strong! Good proteins can also relieve pressure on the kidneys and help maintain weight.

    Reduced-Fat and Carbohydrates

    As pups get older, it’s only natural that they become slightly less active and mobile than in their younger years. This, unfortunately, poses a bit of a problem at mealtimes though, as the average canine diet can often be high in fat and carbohydrates. Choosing a senior food which is low in fat and carbs means they won’t over-consume on energy-burning food groups, and therefore are at less risk of gaining weight

    High Fibre

    Immobility in older mutts has a negative effect on the muscles in the gut. This means ageing dogs can often suffer from poor digestion and so a healthy dose of fibre in their diet usually makes for more efficient bowel movements.

    Low Calories

    As well as a lack of activity, the metabolic rate of a canine usually reduces in old age, meaning it can be difficult to manage their weight. A lower calorie diet naturally solves this issue.

    Bone/Joint Strengthening Ingredients

    The most common problem suffered by elderly pups is joint pain and arthritis. The supplements glucosamine, chondroitin and MSN can help relieve this pain by increasing the flexibility of their joints.

    Vitamins & Minerals

    At an older age, dogs are far more susceptible to contracting diseases or becoming ill, so it’s crucial to keep their immune systems up. Plenty of vitamins and minerals is the easiest way to nourish their natural defences and fight off such nastiness.

    Wholesome Grains

    For some bizarre reason, millions of dog owners are removing grains from their mutt’s diet, despite it having no real benefits for your dog. Wholesome grains like oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa can actually be incredibly healthy and are a great source of amino acids. These are proteins which don’t need to be broken down and so can be instantly used by your dog’s body tissue!

    Avoiding Artificial Ingredients

    A senior dog needs absolutely all the nutrients it can get, and so choosing a dog food filled with artificial fillers and additives is going to have almost no value. Even worse, such nasty junk might actually make your dog unwell and so it’s not worth the risk buying products which don’t stress they are free of artificial ingredients.

    Other Buyers Ask...

    What age is my dog considered senior?

    In most cases, dogs are considered senior between the ages of 5 and 10.

    It’s important to remember that being senior is not the same as being geriatric, and so your dog can still be fit and healthy while being considered a senior pup! A geriatric dog is at the far end of their age spectrum and so will likely have far more health issues.

    What is the best senior dog food?

    For senior pups the most important factors to maintain are their weight and their bone and muscle strength.

    This means you should prioritise on finding low-fat/calorie, high protein meals which contain calcium or joint strengthening supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin and MSN.

    We recommend Harringtons Senior Dog Food as the best dry option, and Pedigree 7+ Vital Protection as the best wet option.