A well-balanced diet is very important for any breed of dog, regardless of age, and it gets especially significant for dogs in their senior years of life.
Age is not a definition for elderly dogs. A dog becomes a senior dog when they are at the third half of their breed’s known lifespan. Caring for them during that period is very different and challenging as they are prone to many diseases and health conditions.
A balanced diet is crucial in preventing various health issues which can be seen in senior dogs.
This article will provide every detail there is to know about the homemade diet of the senior dog as well as tips and recipes on how to prepare them from kitchen to bowl.
Let us begin the read with an important topic.
Should you Feed your Senior Dog a Homemade Diet?
Yes, many veterinarians suggest that when a dog gets older, a homemade diet helps them overcome health issues that show up in the latter part of their life.
Readymade foods can be expensive, and your dog also gets bored by consuming the same old packaged food. It may also not serve the purpose of providing the required nutrients according to a particular dog.
A homemade diet allows you to filter and prepare recipes you know your dog likes. Also, it enables them to eat healthily without worrying about the added preservatives that come with packaged, readymade food.
Benefits of Feeding Senior Dogs with Homemade Food
Moving on to the most important topic, what are the benefits of feeding your senior dogs homemade food, and why choose homemade food over packaged readymade foods?
1. Obesity
The first and utmost benefit of providing your dog with homemade food is it prevents senior dogs from obesity. Obesity in dogs is now in trend, especially in the United States.
As dogs get to senior age, they are not active as they used to be, and without activity and the add-on of commercial food, they tend to put on weight, leading to many health issues.
2. Affordable
Homemade food can be very economical and affordable when compared to readymade commercial food packs.
Making dog food at home gives you the liberty to include ingredients that are cheap but nutritious. It can be just a simple chicken rice bowl but a highly nutritious and evenly balanced diet.
3. Variety of Recipes
Homemade food allows you to present varieties of food into your dog’s bowl. As they get old, they tend to get bored of the same old food they have been eating for years.
Choosing a homemade recipe will allow you to control ingredients and manually customize the menu according to the dog’s individual requirements and make the food bowl enjoyable, making eating interesting.
24 Nutrients Senior Dog must have in their Diet
| Nutrient | Function | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Essential amino acid helps in muscle growth, healthy skin and hair, and tissue repair | Meat, fish, organ meats, greek yogurt, and eggs |
| Carbohydrate | They provide adequate energy and help support digestive functions and overall health | Grains, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, corn |
| Fat | They help in maintaining their coat, providing insulation from extreme temperatures and energy storage | Meat, organ meats, bone, fish oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower, corn, canola oil |
| Fiber | Helps in bowel regularity, supports digestion helping to firm-formed stools | Carrots, bananas, apples, grains, vegetables, |
| Vitamin A | Necessary bone growth, vision, immune function, and reproduction | Liver, milk, cheese, egg yolks, sweet potato, carrots, spinach, mangoes |
| Vitamin D | Helps in retaining and regulating calcium in the body. | Liver, canned fish, egg yolks, beef, salmon, yogurt |
| B Vitamins | Essential in metabolism, red blood cells coat skin health | Liver, fish, eggs, chicken, leafy greens, bananas, beef, pork |
| Vitamin E | It helps in keeping a healthy heart and defends against oxidative damage | Eggs, fish, spinach, sunflower oil, wheat germ oil, tomatoes, kiwi |
| Vitamin K | Necessary for a variety of bodily functions, including vision, immune function, and bone health | Leafy greens, liver, meat, egg yolks |
| Calcium | Helps in building block bones | Egg shells, salmon, spinach, sesame |
| Magnesium | Required for proper muscle function and healthy bones | Brown rice, organ meats, spinach, bone meal |
| Potassium | Helps the heart beat in rhythm and other nerves control | Sweet potato, salmon, bananas, spinach |
| Iron | transport oxygen in the hemoglobin of red blood cells | Beef liver, raw egg york, canned sardines |
| Zinc | Supports immune function, thyroid function, and fighting infections | Beef, duck, chicken, salmon, spinach, broccoli |
| Copper | Helps with skin and hair pigmentation, absorbs iron | Beef liver, crabs, barley |
| Manganese | Produces energy and increases metabolism | Grains, fruits, vegetables |
| Selenium | Supports thyroid metabolism, synthesis of DNA, and reproduction | Fish, meat, and dairy products |
| Iodine | Increases thyroid hormone production and improves metabolism | Kelp Seaweed, Oysters, Eggs, beef liver |
| Taurine | Supports eye and heart health | Red meat, poultry, and organ meats |
| L-carnitine | Supports the metabolism | Red meat and fish, poultry |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | Support immune function and skin and coat health and can reduce inflammation | Fish and fish oils |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | Support immune function and skin and coat health and can reduce inflammation | Sunflower oil, safflower oil |
| Glucosamine | Supports joint health and can reduce joint pain and stiffness | Beef trachea, mussels, chicken feet, bone broth, meaty bones, and cartilage |
| Chondroitin | Supports joint health and can reduce joint pain and stiffness | Fish, chicken feet, pig trachea |
Basic Homemade Food Recipe for Senior Dogs
Before deciding the menu for your senior dog, consult your veterinarian and show them the ingredients or the recipe. Feeding your dog without an expert’s opinion may lead to nutrient deficiencies and food malfunction.
A vet will know which nutrients and other supplements are required for your particular dog and what food items to be avoided depending on the health condition of your dog and then decide accordingly.
1. Brown Rice, Turkey, with Vegetables
A basic recipe with a very simple cooking procedure results in a healthy meal of brown rice, turkey, and veggies.
Once the cooking is done, the resulting food will be around 12 cups which you can divide into single servings and can be used for 4 to 5 days if kept in a refrigerator, or you can also keep it frozen.
Ingredients:
- One pound of ground turkey
- Two cups of brown rice
- One teaspoon of dried rosemary
- Half a package of frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower, or you can take two cups of fresh vegetables and chop them into small pieces and put them on the gas to cook for about three to four minutes, make sure it gets tender but still remains firm.
- Six cups of water
Directions:
- In a big stewpot, add all the ingredients like water, brown rice, turkey, and rosemary.
- Mix all the components nicely and blend the turkey. Break it up, get the stewpot to boil, lower the heat, and let it poach for around twenty minutes.
- After twenty minutes, add freshly chopped vegetables, or if you have chosen a frozen vegetable, into the stewpot and keep on cooking for another four to five minutes until you sense the blending is done.
- Take it off the gas and let it cool down until it cools down, then serve two cups or as the amount they are prescribed to eat.
2. Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuit
This is a recipe you need when you want to give your canine partners a treat. As said earlier, you do not want your dog to get obese, and giving homemade food is the key to preventing that.
But they, too, need a gift or a bowl-licking food once in a while, and this peanut butter and banana dog biscuit is best made for special occasions.
Ingredients:
- One egg
- One-third cup of creamy peanut butter
- Half cup of mashed banana
- One tablespoon of honey
- One cup of whole-wheat flour
- Half cup of wheat germ or oats if your dog is not a very big fan of wheat germ, as most dogs are not
- One timidly beaten egg white for the egg wash
Directions:
- Grease a cookie sheet just enough to cover and preheat the oven to 150-degree celsius.
- Take out a good-sized bowl, and mix the peanut butter, along with egg, mashed banana, and honey to it, to make it like a paste.
- Add the wheat germ or oats with flour and mix them well.
- Place the dough on a floured surface and spread it out with a floured rolling pin until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Cut your preferred shapes with a cookie cutter. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the beaten egg white and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the biscuits until they are dried and when they change their color to golden brownish and about 30 minutes. Let them cool on metro shelves.
Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, being extra careful is a necessity. They can have allergies or some other digestive issues, but you have to comprehend and cook according to their needs.
1. Deerly Easy Dining
This is an easy-to-digest recipe for dogs with all kinds of sensitive stomachs, and this food, after it is cooked, can be frozen to serve later in portions.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of ground or cubed venison
- 2 cups of chopped sweet potatoes
- 8 ounces of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
- One tablespoon of dried rosemary
- 6 cups of water
- 1 serving of the sole dietary addition or supplement to use as a garnish
Directions:
- In a sizable Dutch oven or pot, combine the rosemary, water, venison, and sweet potatoes.
- Stirring often, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low.
- For 20 minutes, simmer.
- Simmer for a further five minutes after adding frozen vegetables.
FAQ’s
Senior dogs have different nutrient requirements when they are aging, but the quantity remains the same as what they have been eating in the past. It is better to consult a veterinarian on the precise amount of food your dog should consume.
An ideal diet for a senior dog is not eating much fat and consuming adequate protein to avoid getting obese.
Yes, a senior dog can eat homemade food every day, but always consult a veterinarian before giving them homemade recipes and diet to avoid nutrition deficiencies and protein malfunction.
Conclusion
It is always hard to see your dog’s age, and we, as pet parents, want to do everything to keep them playful and healthy.
This article will help your dog stay healthy as this read provides tips and recipes to make homemade food for your senior dog and shares the benefits of homemade dog food. If your senior dog has a sensitive stomach, use the above recipe to give them healthy dining.
Till then, take care and bye-bye 🙂
[wpdatatable id=67 responsive= stack responsive_breakpoint=”phone”]
Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.