Food for the Senior Dog and the Senior Cat
Senior Dog and Cat food can be found in almost every pet food store – special feed for the senior dog and senior cat. We also receive requests for food specially designed for the senior dog or the senior cat – we deliberately do not offer specific food for senior pets, which are produced by different companies in various variants. The reason? We are guided by the model of nature and the individuality of each animal thus we tailor individual diets according to each pets’ needs.
When does the pet become a Senior Dog or Senior Cat?
The classification of when a dog or a cat is classified as “old” can vary depending on the different manufacturers. The senior dog is often between 7 and 9 years old, the senior cat around the age of 10 years.
There are big differences in age-related activity in dogs and cats, which can account for how much a senior can enjoy his life in later years. One cannot say exactly, from which year of life the diet must be adjusted. It is generally true, regardless of the exact age: Once the animal is clearly calmer and slower, you can reduce the amount of food and adapt to this new stage of life. Should one feed something else in old age? The Senior Wolf also eats the same kind of prey in the wild as his younger pack members. Only the amount of food taken differs, the senior wolf can differ from the junior and adult animals. The Cat family, with the exception of the lion, rarely hunts in packs. The natural joint wear usually ensures a lower hunting success. We can also apply the principle to the senior dog and the senior cat. A puppy or a young animal needs to build up their body substance with more food, the active dog or the active cat needs a relatively constant amount of food, the senior dog as well as the senior cat by less movement usually burns less energy, and therefore needs less to eat. Only this reduced amount of food is a difference that must be taken into account when feeding aging animals. In order to feed the senior animal artificially, you can follow the directions yourself with the Naturavetal dry food to the feeding recommendation on the respective bag print. When feeding Canis Plus® wet food for the senior dog, you can reduce the amount of feeding – as stated – to 2.5% of body weight as soon as the animal begins to be less active. As long as the animal keeps its weight constant, i.e. does not decrease or increase, the amount of food fits. Otherwise it should be optimized.
Proper quality meat for the Senior Dog and Senior Cat
Basically, not only the amount of meat in the feed is important, but the right quality. High-quality protein (made from one source), as contained in Naturavetal food, is essential for the senior dog and the senior cat, as it is easy to digest and provides energy without burdening the organs. This is a significant superior difference to traditional feed, which can also consist of inferior by-products such as feathers, claws or horn. Inferior slaughter meat would be even less favorable for the senior dog as well as for the aging cat, as the muscle mass decreases with age and by only feeding high quality protein, can this process be slowed down. Therefore, always make sure that the meat content in the feed is declared to be open and clear.
Nutrients for the Senior Dog and the Senior Cat
A food is only as good as the sum of its ingredients! Inferior proteins or plant waste do not appear in a good feed – whether in the special senior food, for adult dogs or cats or in puppy food – a low-quality raw material is more harmful to the pet. Processed, low-quality meat or vegetable waste such as e.g. claws, feathers or leaves can put more stress on the older animal than the younger animal. This may be because the younger animal may have a “more active or more effective” immune system. Naturavetal foods contain only the highest quality ingredients.
Which food is suitable for the Senior Dog and Senior Cat?
A good selection of ingredients such as high-quality sources of protein, in a reasonable proportion, free from synthetic additives, as natural and as appropriate as possible – these are criteria that make a good food for the senior dog and the senior cat. In general, we recommend that you feed your dog or cat any variety of the Canis Plus® or Felins Plus® range. The amount of food is reduced the moment the senior dog/cat restricts his or her activity. If your sweetheart is too lean, feed over 3 weeks some fresh meat from the wet food variations extra. To give the metabolism of your senior dog new impetus, you can optimally use Canis Extra Active and the Thousand-green Organic Herbs. These can be alternately added as a topping to the main food. The herbs awaken spirits and support immune system and coat change. As long as you keep an eye on your pet and adjust the amount of feed to their needs, you can control weight gain by giving correspondingly less feed. A larger portion of food may be required over the winter months or through a higher workload.
Which snacks are suitable for the Senior Dog and Senior Cat?
Basically, it is important to stick to easily digestible snacks such as fish or chicken. Enjoyable chews for the senior dog are also found in the fish skin snacks as they are chewy and soft. They are also free of preservatives and dyes. Dried lung pieces (low calorie) or rumen rods (stomach) are a welcome alternative.
Should you deworm a Senior Dog or Senior Cat?
A chemical worming cure in old age can be very stressful for the body of a senior dog and a senior cat. We therefore advise that you do not medicate on suspicion! The worm stock of the animal should first be checked by regular checks of faeces. With increased worm stock, feeding Vermcurat® can support the intestinal milieu through diet. For the regular support of gut flora, which makes it difficult for worms to thrive, we recommend the regular feeding of Vermprevet®. Should a worm-cure still be necessary, we recommend that you then support the intestinal flora with a feeding of healthy intestinal bacteria. You can do this easily and gently with Canis Extra Petflora or Felins Plus® Petflora. This also applies after antibiotic treatments or other previous damage to the intestinal mucosa.
Joint Support for the Senior Dog and the Senior Cat
If you notice that your dog or cat is experiencing abnormalities in movement, such as less pleasure in movement or problems when getting up, one can support the musculoskeletal system or the joints by feeding Canis Plus® or Felins Plus® green lipped mussel powder. For the senior dog, who needs special support, our herbal mixture Canis Plus® Gelenkvital not only offers the green-lipped mussel, but also other herbs that support the metabolism. Through these additional nutrients, the body’s own regulatory mechanisms of anti-inflammatory and pain relief can be purposefully supported. Nature provides us with various ways to support our four-legged friends in this area in a completely natural way without having to resort to remedies that may take the pain of the organism, but in the process attack the gastric mucosa and thus in other ways, a burden represent for the organism.
Should you have any questions or would prefer an individual consultation? Then please call us: our team of experts is always happy to be of assistance: 0208 – 531 7804 | info@naturavetal.co.uk
