Senior dogs are prone to joint, dental, stomach, and weight problems and need to have more tailored senior dog food to suit their needs, which is why it's important that we give our beloved pooches the best senior dog food to ensure they're healthy and happy in the twilight years of their lives.
Even as they get older, one of the highlights of any dog's day is dinner time (followed closely by walks and cuddles). So you'll want to choose a food for your older dog that's not only packed with all the vitamins and nutrients they need but is tongue-waggingly tasty, too.
Best senior dog food at a glance:
Older hounds typically snooze a lot more and move a lot less so senior food typically has fewer calories than regular food to accommodate that, ensuring they don't pile on the pounds. They should, however, have higher levels of protein to help them maintain muscle mass. Most food for older dogs will have added pet supplements to ensure their joints stay in the best condition possible, too.
It is important to make sure your older dog's diet is full of proteins, digestible ingredients, added omega oils, softer textures, and contain joint supplements. Whether your pooch prefers dry dog food or wet food, we've rounded up the best senior dog foods that contain a mixture of all these essentials.
Best senior dog food
Editor's Choice
IAMSIAMS for Vitality Small and Medium Breed Dry Senior Dog Food is made with small and medium dog breeds in mind. It contains everything your pooch needs for its later years, helping support signs of healthy vitality and keeping its digestive system in working order. In addition, the kibble helps keep plaque and tartar build-up at bay whilst not being too hard or too big for a smaller, older dog. Enriched with essential minerals and vitamin D to support strong bones, it's suitable for dogs aged eight years or more.
IAMs is an Amazon's Choice recommended brand with over 2,120 reviews and a rating of 4.7 out of 5. Customers praise this food for keeping their older dogs fit and healthy. Plus, the kibble is a perfect size for smaller dogs. It's excellent value for money and gentle on sensitive stomachs. Note that it contains barley and maize, which, in rare cases, can be an irritant to dogs with sensitive digestion.
Pros
- Nutritionally balanced
- 82 per cent animal protein out of the total amount of protein
- Tailored fibre blend including prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion
Cons
- Made with senior small and medium breed dogs in mind so may not be suitable for larger senior breeds
| Food type: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 2kg |
| Flavour: | Fresh chicken |
Best wet senior dog food
Lily's KitchenLily's Kitchen Senior Recipe is full of fresh meat, vegetables and healthy herbs your senior dog can devour. This specially made turkey recipe includes green-lipped mussel that greatly supports healthy joints and salmon oil to help support heart health. This nutritionally complete and grain-free recipe will ensure your pooch has a spring in their step for their golden years.
It contains proper minced meat and chopped vegetable goodness, making it easier for an older dog to eat. Customer reviews praise the high-quality ingredients and some comment that it smells appealing, unlike the usual dog food! It's helped poorly dogs to recover their interest in food and regain their vitality. However, a few reviews commented that the food had jelly and a greasiness. However, negative comments are in the minority, and on the whole, positive reviews say the food was good for fussy eaters and older dogs with delicate digestion.
Pros
- Contains 60 per cent freshly prepared turkey
- Includes EPA and DHA from seaweed for helping with normal brain function
- Full of natural prebiotics to aid with digestion
Cons
- High-fat content
| Food type: | Wet food |
| Food weight: | 6 x 400g |
| Flavour: | Turkey |
Best dry senior dog food
WaggWagg Complete Senior Chicken and Rice Dry Dog Food offers a complete and balanced meal that contains 100 per cent natural ingredients, including chicken, rice and gravy. It also includes glucosamine and chondroitin alongside fish oils to help promote mobile and supple joints. It also contains an extract from the yucca plant to help reduce flatulent odours.
Online reviews praise Wagg for being good value for money and not too calorific, so it maintains an older dog's weight. It's an Amazon's Choice recommended brand, with over 1,240 reviews rating Wagg 4.6 out of 5. In general, customers say their older dogs happily eat this kibble. Some people supplement it with wet food and vegetables as it can be a monotonous diet. Do take care if your dog has weak teeth, as a review comments that the kibble was harder than expected.
Pros
- Great for sensitive tummies
- Good value for money as a bulk buy
- Contains L-Carnitine to help support lean muscle in older dogs
Cons
- When buying a big bag like this one, you need to make sure you've got room to store it and something to store it in to keep it fresh once opened
| Food type: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 15kg |
| Flavour: | Chicken and rice |
Best affordable senior dog food
BurnsDeveloped by Veterinary surgeon John Burns, this Burns Pet Natural Nutrition Adult and Senior Wet Dog Food Variety Box contains ingredients from British and Irish farms. Containing organic chicken, free-range eggs, hearty lamb, and wild fish, each recipe is hypoallergenic and friendly to sensitive stomachs. This wet food range aims to give dogs a wholesome meal that is as close to homemade as possible in terms of quality ingredients.
Customers say this food has helped dogs with significant food sensitivities enjoy food again. The variety of flavours and good-quality ingredients are nourishing without being too calorific for older dogs. However, some reviews comment that it contains more rice than meat.
Pros
- Wholesome and nourishing ingredients
- Four different flavours for variety
- Friendly to sensitive stomachs
Cons
- Some reviews say the portions are small
| Food type: | Wet food |
| Food weight: | 12 x 150g |
| Flavour: | Chicken, Egg, Lamb and Fish |
Best senior dog food for joint care
Pooch & Mutt Pooch & Mutt Joint Care Dry Dog Food is a vet-recommended, premium, grain-free, complete dry dog food perfect for dogs with mobility issues or active older dogs that need extra nourishment. It contains salmon, mussel extract and linseed. This food is suitable for adult and senior dogs, so it is a simple switch when it comes to feeding dogs of a certain age.
Pooch & Mutt is an Amazon's Choice recommended brand, rated 4.6 out of 5 by customers. They like the fact that this food doesn't contain any nasties. Fussy eaters and dogs with sensitive digestion do well on it, and customers have noticed an improvement in their dog's mobility. The resealable bag keeps kibble fresh, so it's much more pleasant for your dog to eat. It is a pricey dry dog food, so supplement it and it will last longer.
Pros
- Recommended by vets
- Hypoallergenic so it's gentle for sensitive tummies
- Grain-free and junk-free
Cons
- Only one flavour for joint support
| Food type: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 2kg, 10kg |
| Flavour: | Salmon |
Best soft senior dog food for teeth problems
Wainwright'swww.petsathome.com
As dogs get older – just like humans – their teeth get worn down, and they are prone to more tartar build-up. Tooth wear is normal, but some dogs may prefer softer food to chow down on. As well as being easy to chew, Wainwright's Wet Senior Dog Food Variety Pack is hypoallergenic and comes with no added wheat, pork, dairy, soya or artificial flavours. It's suitable for dogs seven years and above.
A dog food comparison website rates this senior dog food highly for its meat content, which is at least 65 per cent turkey. It's a complete food with a short, recognisable list of ingredients. This is a great premium wet dog food for older dogs.
Pros
- Great variety of flavours
- Soft to eat so it's a good choice for sensitive teeth and gums
- Hypoallergenic recipe that's gentle on digestion
Cons
- One reviewer's dog didn't like this food
| Food type: | Wet food |
| Food weight: | 12 x 395g |
| Flavour: | Turkey, Lamb and Chicken |
Best senior dog food for small breeds
Royal Caninwww.viovet.co.uk
Royal Canin has created the Royal Canin Mini Ageing 12+ Senior Dog Food, a breed—and weight-specific wet dog food formulated with your ageing pooch's nutritional needs in mind. Depending on your pooch's preferences, you can opt for the wet food pouches or a bag of dry food.
Customers praise Royal Canin's quality. It's easy to eat and a good choice for a dog recovering from illness or those with sensitivity. However, it's a low-calorie food, so be aware that it won't help a frail dog gain weight. Give your dog a combination of wet and dry food for variety and comprehensive nutrition, plus the dental benefits of kibble.
Pros
- Breed and weight specific
- Enriched with Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA to maintain the condition of your dog’s coat
- Contributes to the maintenance of healthy kidney function
Cons
- Designed for dogs 12+, you may want to move your pooch over to a senior food earlier than this
| Food type: | Wet and dry food available |
| Food weight: | 12 x 85g (wet), 1.5kg (dry) |
| Flavour: | Poultry |
Best senior dog food for large breeds
James Wellbelovedwellbeloved.com
James Wellbeloved Senior Wet Dog Food offers tasty meals free from added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. For even more peace of mind, it's naturally hypoallergenic, so it's less likely to cause an upset tummy. The food is full of protein and great for larger older dogs with an appetite.
Reviews from across the web are mixed. On the one hand, most dogs enjoy the taste. However, the size of the pouch seems to have shrunk, and now, at 90g, it needs supplementing with another food source to satisfy a large appetite. All in all, it contains lots of added goodness to support an older dog's digestion, immune system and heart health.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic so it's suitable for sensitivities and allergies
- No beef, pork, soya, eggs, wheat or dairy, which are common allergies in dogs
- Contains zinc, omega 3 and 6 to support healthy skin and a glossy coat
Cons
- Small pouch size
| Food type: | Wet food |
| Food weight: | 10 x 150g |
| Flavour: | Lamb |
Best senior dog food recommended by vets
AVAwww.petsathome.com
AVA Optimum Health Medium Breed Senior Dog Food is veterinary-approved and perfect for those wanting to feed their senior dog quality natural food. The food is easily digestible for your pooch and contains all you need to promote a dog's overall well-being, including glucosamine to support joint conditions.
A dog food comparison website points out that the proportion of carbs to meat is higher than other dog foods, but it's tailored to give an older dog's nutritional and calorific needs. AVA dog food is mainly available online through Pets At Home; availability and competitive pricing are sometimes limited.
Pros
- Vet-approved
- Hypoallergenic recipe
- Includes glucosamine to support joints
Cons
- Kibble shape and size are tailored to medium breeds so may be too small for larger breeds and too big for small and mini breeds
| Food type: | Dry food |
| Food weight: | 2kg |
| Flavour: | Chicken |
How we chose the best senior dog food
All of these dog foods have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered quality, nutrition and affordability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching dog food to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
FAQs
When should you switch to senior dog food?
Depending on breed and size, most dogs will be classified as mature adults between six and eight years old. When they reach eight, they can then make a switch to senior dog food from their regular wet dog food or dry food. Senior food contains ingredients and supplements that are specific to the later years of your pooch's life.
Many breeds have a sensitivity, allergy or intolerance to something, so if you want to make sure you give your older pooch food that doesn't cause further issues, select a specially-made dog food for allergies that have been formulated without ingredients that may cause your dog to have itchy skin or stomach issues.
Is senior dog food necessary?
Of course, you don't have to make the switch if you don't want to, but you should be willing to provide supplements if your dog is showing signs of ageing, such as adding vitamins to their food.
Your dog might become a little fussier with age, or may find it harder to eat as their teeth wear but that doesn't mean they can't still enjoy their food, which is why buying tailored recipes will help your dog in their later years.
What is the best food for a senior dog?
The best food for a senior dog is one that is nutritionally balanced but with lower calorie content compared to regular adult dog food. Ageing pooches aren’t as energetic as they once were, so they don’t need to consume as many calories as their activity level is reduced. Dog food that is too high in calories can cause your elderly pup to pile on the pounds, which can put extra pressure on their already ageing/weak joints.
As well as making sure you choose a food with lower calorie content, the best senior dog food is one that has easily digestible proteins, joint-supporting ingredients like glucosamine, and omega-3 fatty acids to help their cognitive function.
What not to feed a senior dog?
You should avoid feeding your senior dog a diet that is high in fat and full of calories as their slower pace of life can make them more prone to weight gain as they’re not as active as they were when they were an adult.
Of course, many human foods are toxic to dogs of all ages so you should avoid these completely. Foods such as chocolate, grapes and onions should be off limits to your senior dog as ingesting these can cause health complications and can even be fatal in some cases.
How many times a day should a senior dog eat?
Senior dogs may benefit from being fed little and often as they get older to aid their digestion and help them maintain energy levels throughout the day. You may want to consider feeding them smaller meals three times a day, rather than just larger meals in the morning and evening. However, this is all determined by your elderly pooch’s size, health and activity level so what works for one dog may not work for all dogs. If you feel like your dog may benefit from a change in their feeding schedule as they get older, speak to your vet as they will be able to help you decide what would be best for your pooch.
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. When she's not researching and testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.