Why Senior Pets Can Benefit From Senior Food
Like it or not, aging is often associated with a variety of diseases. That’s why it’s important to give your senior pet a diet that helps maintain health, prevent or manage, disease.
Knowing when your pet needs to transition to a senior diet can be tricky. How “old” your pet is, isn’t just based on age, it also depends on the breed, previous health problems, and genetics but your vet is always your best resource when it’s time to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs.
As your dog or cat ages you may notice lower energy, and consequently some weight gain combined with muscle loss. Senior diets are often lower-calorie to compensate for this less active lifestyle.
Although not all dogs or cats will need to move to a senior diet, some may benefit from it. So, what is a “senior” pet? Generally, cats over 11 years are considered to be seniors while dogs as young as 8 may be considered seniors. Once again, this depends on your pet’s overall health, breed, and personal history.
How exactly is senior pet food different from “regular” food?
- For pets that tend to gain weight, some senior foods offer low-calorie options. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight can help prevent arthritis and diabetes.
- For pets that lose weight as they age, some formulas offer higher calories to help give your pet an extra boost.
- Supplements are becoming more popular and offer a wide variety of solutions to ailments like joint pain, skin conditions, and anxiety. If you’d like to try supplements, consult with your veterinarian to determine what’s right for your pet. Some supplements may cause side effects or interact with other medications.
Bottom line, if you’re feeding your dog or cat a nutritionally balanced diet and he’s thriving and healthy, there’s no reason to change your food. However, if your vet has diagnosed arthritis, diabetes, cancer, etc, changing to a senior diet may help to improve symptoms or even slow down the progression of the disease.
