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Your Senior Dog's Raw Diet

This content is owned by Feed Real Institute.

Finding out your dog's typical anticipated lifespan is the first step in deciding whether or not to feed them as an adult or senior dog. When a dog reaches the halfway point of their estimated lifespan, they are deemed mature, and when they reach the final quarter, they are considered senior.

As dogs age, they become more prone to obesity, degenerative joint disease, cardiac disease, renal disease, cognitive dysfunction, and metabolic disorders. Their decreased activity level must be factored into the feeding plan. Risk factors for the breed and size of the dog must also be considered.

A diverse raw food bowl is ideal for meeting a senior dog's nutritional requirements as it enters its senior years. Variety within the diet will aid in maintaining its digestive system, immune system, cognitive abilities, muscles, and joints.

Raw Food and Antioxidants in Senior Dogs

Antioxidants, including specific vitamins, are essential for slowing the aging process. Antioxidant molecules hinder the activity of free radicals. Free radicals are reactive molecules constantly surrounding us and can harm our cells through oxidative stress. The body's ability to combat free radicals using antioxidant molecules is the only thing that can slow down this process. A raw food diet accomplishes this.

Examples of real whole foods include meat, fruits, and vegetables. Antioxidants are destroyed by cooking and heating. Thus the best option for your dog is to consume them raw. Veggies should be lightly steamed or pureed.

The free radical buildup has been linked to several illnesses, including cancer. Giving your dog raw foods containing antioxidants allows the body to fight the free radicals and return to homeostasis.

Mushrooms are Incredibly Beneficial

For senior dogs, in particular, mushrooms offer a natural defense against brain deterioration. Canine life expectancy is increased by polyphenols, glutathione, selenium, and ALA molecules. Additionally, mushrooms provide gut health advantages and protection against liver cancer and fibrosis.

Medicinal mushrooms can reduce progression in dogs with cancer and prolong life. Turkey tail mushrooms have been found in trials to extend the average survival period for a dog with hemangiosarcoma in the spleen up to a year or longer.

Mushrooms also include beta-glucans, which strengthen the immune system, lower inflammation, prevent cancer growth, and maintain insulin. Recent studies have revealed lower appetite in obese, insulin-resistant dogs. No matter what kind of mushroom you're offering, beta-glucans can be found in all mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms include Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Cordyceps(Cordyceps militaris), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and King Oyster (Pleurotus eryngii). The mushrooms that contribute the most toward neurological health include Cordyceps, King Oyster, Lion's Mane, and Button (Agaricus bisporus).

A Senior Dog’s Protein Intake

Senior dogs in good health shouldn't have protein restrictions. Some vets advise reduced protein consumption to lessen the strain on the organs. Less protein is thought to reduce the work the liver and kidneys must perform.

Some vets argue that eating less protein prevents kidney damage and slows the progression of renal disease. This is because early research on aging rats that experienced renal failure due to excess protein consumption was applied to dogs. For dogs with this illness, several pet food manufacturers now provide low-protein prescription diets, and dog owners who prepare their own meals are urged to refrain from giving them red meat, poultry, and other high-protein foods.

The quality of the protein is the issue rather than the protein itself. Low-quality proteins can harm a dog's kidneys, but consuming less protein is not the solution. It's important to always consider the protein quality, but it's crucial for dogs with renal or liver problems.

If you give a dog a diet lacking in protein, the body will try to get the protein from other sources and damage the body in the process. More harm is caused due to not feeding protein than when the protein is actually fed.

An older dog needs 50% more protein than a younger dog. To match your dog's needs, you should anticipate offering 28–32% additional calories from protein. A high-quality protein with a reliable source is also crucial. Because they are deficient in important nutrients and amino acids, poor-quality proteins don't offer the best nutritional value. For this reason, choosing grass-fed beef over grain-fed beef when buying beef for your dog is recommended.

The simplest way to increase the protein content in a raw diet for senior dogs is to feed leaner meats and add other protein sources such as eggs, kefir, or yogurt. Increasing the protein intake will reduce the fat content, so additional calories may need to be added, depending on the dog's body condition score. Feeding the senior dog aims to help maintain muscle mass, support immune function, and promote tissue repair.

The fat content in common protein sources:

Proteins with the highest fat content

Duck
Goose
Lamb
Pork
Beef

Proteins with moderate fat content

Ostrich
Domesticated turkey and rabbit
Venison
Bison
Veal

Proteins with the lowest fat content

Quail
Wild rabbit and turkey
Emu
Goat
Camel
Kangaroo

Gut Health with Probiotics

Probiotics are whole foods or supplements that contain living microorganisms and are intended to help your dog's body maintain healthy gut flora (good bacteria). By producing enzymes that aid in the proper breakdown of food while balancing bad bacteria and even helping to prevent illness, good bacteria help with digestion.

Dogs frequently struggle to repopulate their intestines with beneficial bacteria as they age because their normal gut flora changes. In older dogs, probiotics can aid in preserving a balanced and healthy gut microbiota, which helps boost digestion.

A diet heavy in protein and low in carbohydrates is best for dogs. For this reason, a raw diet tailored to your dog is recommended. Helping them keep a balanced gut microbiota is also beneficial. If your dog's body will accept it, adding extras like raw goat's milk can be advantageous. To strengthen a gut that is already balanced and healthy, you can add prebiotics like larch arabinogalactan.

Essential Fatty Acids for Omegas

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for all dogs. DHA, in particular, is responsible for proper brain function, vision, and the nervous system's overall health. Feeding Omega-3s can also reduce the risk of infection, and arthritis, and keep dogs feeling younger longer.

Compared to whole fish, one of the most significant disadvantages of fish oils is that they expose Omega-3 fatty acids to oxidation. When exposed to air, Omega-3 fatty acids become unstable, causing them to become rancid and hazardous. The rancidity can cause inflammation and worsen allergy signs in addition to being a contributor to cancer development. Fresh, non-oxidized Omega-3s, as found in whole fish, reduce inflammation and slow cancer cell proliferation.

Atlantic Mackerel: Atlantic mackerel contains significant amounts of EPA, DHA, and Vitamin D.
Atlantic Herring: High quantities of EPA and DHA are also found in Atlantic herring. Herring does have a lower Vitamin D concentration.
Pink Salmon: Salmon is widely available and contains both EPA and DHA. The Vitamin D content is high, although lower than mackerel.
Sardines: Sardines are one of the most popular fatty fish selections on the market. They contain a high amount of EPA and DHA, as well as a modest amount of Vitamin D.
Raw Oysters: Oysters contain very little DHA and EPA, but help improve zinc deficiency. If you choose to feed oysters, an additional fatty fish must be added for DHA and EPA benefits.
Green-Lipped Mussels: Green-lipped mussels are high in Omega-3s and offer an anti-inflammatory benefit that is beneficial, especially for dogs entering their senior years.

Senior Dogs and Synthetic Vitamins and Minerals

Long-term impacts of synthetic vitamins and minerals include alterations in bone formation, adverse effects on immunological function, and abnormalities in brain function and development. Changes in bone growth may make bone fractures more frequent. Synthetics can harm the liver and other organs.

Long-term usage of synthetics has been linked to accelerated aging, which exacerbates serious health issues including but not limited to:

Allergies
Organ failure
Liver disease
Kidney Disease
Obesity

Synthetic vitamins and minerals can also lead to a shortened lifespan for your dog.

Raw Feeding is Beneficial to Most Senior Dogs

It is recommended that you provide raw food to your senior dog. Your dog will get the best nourishment possible on a raw diet to keep its body healthy as it ages. By giving your dog the nutrients they need to stay as healthy as possible, it will be better able to maintain a stable body (homeostasis). Feed various foods, and switch up your protein sources once or twice a month.

Don't panic if your dog is older and has never been fed raw meat. You can still safely transition them to a raw diet. Checking dogs' poop is the primary method for evaluating how their body is doing during and after the transition. To assess your dog's markers, you may also want to run a gut health test or a hair tissue mineral analysis.

Takeaway Bites

Senior dogs' nutritional requirements differ from those of puppies and adult dogs. Determine your dog's anticipated lifespan before deciding whether or not to provide a senior diet to know when they're considered a senior.
Protein requirements are higher for a senior dog. Raw feeding is an excellent method to meet these requirements.
Probiotics, like raw goat’s milk, can assist your senior dog’s immune and digestive systems.