It’s well-known that diet performs an enormous function in a pet’s
well being, nevertheless it’s typically forgotten that these early months aren’t the one stage
of a canine’s life the place they’ve particular dietary wants. Senior canines additionally
want a food regimen that helps their growing old our bodies, which is why we wish to assist you
discover one of the best meals for senior canines.
What do you have to look
for when selecting one of the best meals for senior canines?
Senior canines have completely different dietary wants in comparison with their
youthful counterparts. Knowing this, one of the best meals for senior canines is one which
gives them with the vitamins needed to assist them reside a cheerful, wholesome
life. But what precisely do you have to search for when selecting meals to your senior
canine?
- Fatty acids: Omega-6 fatty
acids are nice at selling wholesome cell progress, including shine to coats, and
changing oils within the pores and skin, whereas omega-3 fatty acids deal with irritation in
the pores and skin and joints.
- High-quality
protein: Senior canines want their food regimen to include loads of high-quality
protein to gas their muscle tissue, as lack of muscle mass is a typical downside in
older canines.
- Higher ranges
of nutritional vitamins C and E: Senior pups can profit from greater ranges of
vitamin C, because it reduces irritation, and vitamin E, which promotes a wholesome
immune system, pores and skin, coat, and extra.
- Fiber: Constipation is
a typical problem with senior canines, so a food regimen that’s excessive in fiber will help preserve
them common.
- Antioxidants: Adding
antioxidants to your senior canine’s each day food regimen helps to enhance reminiscence and
cognitive operate.
- High moisture
content material: Senior canines are additionally extra prone to be dehydrated all through the
day, so growing their water consumption is an effective way to lower age-related
adjustments.
It could appear formidable to take all of those diet necessities into consideration when selecting one of the best meals for senior canines, however because of this it’s useful to make the swap to Freshpet. Each Freshpet recipe is crafted with high-quality elements and gently steamed at low temperatures to guard the integrity of the elements. This ensures it’s filled with important micronutrients solely present in contemporary meals.
How vital is
hydration for senior canines?
Proper hydration is vital in any respect levels of your canine’s life,
however it’s particularly vital throughout their senior years as they turn into extra
vulnerable to dehydration. Specifically, hydration performs an enormous function in sustaining
wholesome:
- Joints: Proper
hydration ranges be certain that your pet’s joints are correctly lubricated and might
transfer with out ache or stiffness.
- Digestion: Water helps
preserve your pup’s total digestive system operating easily and helps with the
absorption of vitamins from their meals.
- Senses: Water additionally
performs a job in holding your canine’s mucous membranes moist, to allow them to odor
and style correctly.
- Cognition: Not solely does
water cushion and defend your canine’s mind and spinal wire, it impacts their
total cognition. If canines don’t devour sufficient water they will present signs of
confusion and lack of coordination.
- Skin, coat, and
nails: Without correct hydration, your canine’s pores and skin, coat, and nails can
turn into dry and brittle which isn’t solely uncomfortable however can lead to points
resembling fur loss.
An simple means to assist enhance your pup’s total hydration is making a swap to contemporary meals. Freshpet’s refrigerated food is one of the best meals for senior canines as a result of it’s excessive in animal protein. You can anticipate every recipe to have the identical moisture content material as contemporary, human-grade meats which is between 70-75% moisture.
Keeping an eye fixed in your senior canine’s total water intake may also offer you an early warning of potential well being considerations. For instance, for those who discover your canine is immediately ingesting far more water than traditional, this might point out points resembling kidney failure, and diabetes mellitus.
Which Freshpet recipes
make one of the best meals for senior canines?
Every Freshpet recipe is crafted with elements that guarantee
your canine will get the entire vitamins they want throughout their senior years. So when
it involves deciding which Freshpet recipe is one of the best meals for senior canines, it
comes all the way down to your pup’s preferences.
Currently, Freshpet gives three distinct recipe codecs:
- Bagged meals: Our totally
cooked and ready-to-serve bagged meals include floor protein with a
vitamin-rich assortment of fruits and veggies.
- Rolls: Our traditional
slice-and-serve rolls may be served as discs, blocks, or mashed.
- Patties and
Mixers: Our Patties may be served minimize up, damaged aside, or shredded
both on their very own or with a complementing Mixer.
No one format is best than the opposite for senior canines – all of it
comes all the way down to which texture and flavors your canine prefers.
If you’re unsure the place to begin, our Freshpet vet, Dr. Aziza, suggests attempting Freshpet® Select Fresh from the Kitchen™ Home Cooked Chicken recipe because it has a excessive moisture content material, antioxidant-rich cranberries, and high-quality protein that could be a wholesome pet food possibility for senior canines.
Alternatively, you might contemplate a recipe the place the first protein is salmon, such because the Freshpet® Select Multi-Protein Complete meal with Chicken, Beef, Egg, and Salmon recipe. Salmon is excessive in vitamin E, which may be useful for senior canines to have in barely greater quantities than youthful canines.
We hope you may have a greater understanding of senior canine diet
wants and the way to decide on one of the best meals for senior canines. If you may have any additional
questions on choosing the proper recipe to your senior canine, communicate to your
veterinarian – they’ll be capable of make suggestions primarily based in your canine’s
particular wants.