Food for elderly dogs

[HappyasLarrynot]

Could anyone please recommend a dry food for elderly dogs? Our 11 year old medium size rescue boy has started to become much more elderly recently so looking to switch his food over and would appreciate any recommendations - he will eat pretty much anything but has been on skinners working dog (turned out to be his favourite and he’s done well one it!). Thank you.

What are you looing for in an elderly dog food?

Less calories or higher nutrition?

If he's happy on his current food then there's no need to change it?

You can get multivitamins for dogs to help with things like arthritis if that's a concern.

Unless your vet suggests changing I would keep on what he likes. If he starts to put on weight maybe reduce portion size a bit.

If he’s happy and still able to eat it I’d carry on.
I think skinners is quite high calorie as it’s a working dogs food so maybe reduce portions but if he’s otherwise well I’d carry on

If he is eating his current food without problem and his poo is normal - don't change anything. I speak as an owner of a 13 yo lab with inflammatory bowel disease

Thank you for all the replies. I think just sticking to his normal food with maybe some extra multivitamins seems to be the answer. He’s got a vets apt tomorrow as he’s really slowed down in the last week or so, so will speak to the vet also. Thank you again.

Glad you plan to see the vet to get checked out as slowing down could be pain related as dogs are much more subtle in expressing chronic pain than people expect. Here's a free short course which may help
https://cameducation.co.uk/p/is-my-dog-in-pain

It can be more subtle than these examples. My dog had some pain medication for what thought was a wrist issue, but when on the right treatment his whole demeanor changed to his younger self which came as a shock & felt terribly guilty for assuming was just ageing😞