“Aging is not a disease.Treating aging as a diseaserather than focusing onhealth and preventionstrategies is not asustainable approach.”
Much like humans, as dogs age, their bodiesundergo a series of physiological, psychological,and behavioural changes that are partof the natural aging process. They generally include the changes in bodycomposition, metabolism, cognitive function,organ function, and overall immune system. In older animals, it is not usual to have justone health problem; the presence of one issueoften impacts the development of others.
Dogs agedifferently dependingon sizes and breeds.
| Dog sizes | Age consideredsenior |
| Tiny (<10 kg) | 8 years |
| Small (10 – 25 kg) | 7 years |
| Medium (25 – 40 kg) | 6 years |
| Large (>40 kg) | 5 years |
Obesity
As dogs age, their metabolism slows down,activity decreases, and fat may increase, impacting their energy needs and obesity risk. Obesity can lead to various health problemssuch as diabetes, heart disease, high bloodpressure, arthritis, and joint pain, shorteningtheir lifespan and lowering their overallquality of life. Canine obesity is easily preventable!Maintain regular exercise. Provide a nutritiousand balanced diet in controlled portions.Monitor body and muscle condition.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between freeradicals and antioxidants in the body, leading tocellular damage and potential degenerativediseases and aging-related issues such ascancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline. Long term omega-3 supplementation1 witha specific diet enriched with antioxidants,such as vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids,glutathione, ubiquinone and polyphenols,can help regulate the antioxidant andgeneral health status, and preventdamage due to oxidative stress2.
Cognitive Function
Advanced age in dogs is frequentlyassociated with behavioural and cognitivedeficits in learning and memory, known asCanine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). The brains of aged dogs accumulateoxidative damage to proteins and lipids,leading to dysfunction of neuronal cells. Studies suggest dietary modifications, incorporating specific nutraceuticals such asantioxidants, can reduce oxidative damageand significantly improve, or slow the decline of, learning and memory in aging dogs3,especially if given at an early stage.
Immune Function
The canine immune system, the brain,and the gut microbiome share an intricateand interdependent relationship, underscoringthe critical importance of diet in fosteringa healthy gut environment. Providing a diet rich in fibres can promotea healthy gut microbiome. Supplementingwith probiotics and/or digestive enzymescan also help foster healthy gut.
Diet & Nutrition Tips
Calorie requirements will change as dogs age.Some older dogs may also struggle with beingunderweight and not consuming enough food.
- Don’t decrease protein! Protein is essential formaintaining muscle mass, and older dogs areat risk of muscle loss. Feed high qualityprotein instead. Gently cook meat, if needed,to increase digestibility.
- Feed whole foods, less processed diets.
- Feed good fat source (omega-3, 7, 9).
- Reduce/eliminate refined starches and sugars.
- Feed a variety diet rich in antioxidants, fibres,and phytonutrients. As dogs age, their immune system weakens,making them more susceptible to infectionsand diseases. Support them by feeding foodsrich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals andreduce cellular damage and oxidative stress(linked to cancer, heart disease and cognitivedecline). Phytonutrients (phytochemicals)are natural compounds found in plants thatgive plants their colours and protect them fromenvironmental stressors. Phytonutrients canact as antioxidants, as well as regulate cellgrowth and support the immune system.
BeneficialFunctional Foods/Supplements to Include in Your Dog’s Diet
- Pro-biotics. Probiotic-rich foods are yoghurt,kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and raw goat milk. Pro-biotic supplements often contain Lactobacillus/Enterococcus/Bifidobacterium/Bacillus spp. or Saccharomyces boulardii strains. They’re also often combined with pre-biotics such as slippery elm, larch arabinogalactan and inulin, fibres such as psyllium husk and pectin, gut supporting herbs or digestive enzymes. Our Tips: Rotate throughdifferent products(if possible). Have a break!If your dog eats avariety of fresh foodsand is generallyhealthy, you don’tneed pro-biotics daily. Give pro-bioticswhen your dogneeds support, likebefore and aftertaking antibioticsor recoveringfrom an illness.
- Omega-3 fatty acids. Marine sources of omega-3fatty acids include salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, green lipped mussels.Plant sources of omega-3fatty acids include chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, algal oil, ahiflower oil.
- MCT Oil. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) show promising results in early studies for dog’s brain (CCD) and heart health. It also significantly reduces seizures in dogs with epilepsy. Read more here.
- Spirulina and chlorella. Both are excellent sourcesof antioxidants and cannaturally detox the bodyof heavy metals. Always source from reputable brands.Recommended feeding dosage for spirulina:1/8 tsp for every5kg of body weight and chlorella:1/2g for every 10kgof body weight.
- Medicinal mushrooms. Include lion’s mane, reishi,cordyceps, chaga, turkeytail, shiitake and maitakemushrooms. Read more here.
Feed Raw or Cooked Diet
Each dog is different. There are many seniordogs that thrive on raw diets, whilstothers benefit more with gently cooked diets. Cooking makes the food more easily digestible.In TCVM, cold energetic foods (such as raw)can slow down and weaken the digestive system(spleen and stomach), as they require the bodyto expend more energy to warm them up andprocess them properly, potentially disruptingthe Qi balance, leading to digestive issues andreduced nutrient absorption. You can warm your dog’s raw food byadding warm water or broth.
Let’s nourish their gut and nurture their happiness and harmony from within.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of whole foods for our dog’s physical and mental health, check out our ebook called Bowie Drools Over the Alphabet. You will find an A to Z fresh foods list you can share with your dog, complete with the nutrient guidelines and over 30 dog friendly recipes to try. You will also learn about dogs’ physiology and the nutrients they need to thrive (supported by science) and how to make your own nutritionally balanced dog food.
“While we can’t stopour dogs from ageing,we do have control overhow well they age andtheir quality of life duringtheir senior years.”
References:
1 Ravić, B., Debeljak-Martacić, J., Pokimica, B., Vidović, N., Ranković, S., Glibetić, M., Stepanović, P., & Popović, T. (2022). The Effect of Fish Oil-Based Foods on Lipid and Oxidative Status Parameters in Police Dogs. Biomolecules (2218-273X), 12(8), 1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12081092
2 Sechi, S., Fiore, F., Chiavolelli, F., Dimauro, C., Nudda, A., & Cocco, R. (2017). Oxidative stress and food supplementation withantioxidants in therapy dogs. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research = Revue Canadienne de Recherche Veterinaire, 81(3), 206–216. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508397/
3 Head, E., Rofina, J., & Zicker, S. (2008). Oxidative Stress, Aging, and Central Nervous System Disease in the Canine Model of Human Brain Aging. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 38(1), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2007.10.002
