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Best Senior Canned Dog Food

Best Senior Canned Dog Food

Like Human beings, canines have very different dietary needs as they grow older. The kind of food you feed your beloved pooch will be the single biggest determinant of his physical and mental health. With the right choice of age-appropriate food, you can help your pup live for many more happy years. Throughout their lives, most canines show a preference for canned food. So here’s a list and all you need to know to give your dog the best senior canned dog food.

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Top 5 Rated Best Senior Canned Dog Foods

RecommendationBest senior canned dog food
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Best Senior Canned Dog Food for Small BreedsNo products found.
Best Senior Canned Dog Food for Sensitive StomachsNo products found.

Our Top Pick: Wellness Complete Health Natural Wet Canned Dog Food Senior Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

From the kennels of the popular Wellness brand, this is definitely one of the best senior canned dog food products you can get for your pooch. It’s made from a wholesome combination of meats (chicken, primarily), grains, fruits and vegetables.

In addition to the main ingredient combination, the formulation also contains flaxseed which is great for the skin and coat of your pup. Helping your pooch maintain its skin and coat is crucial because those would ordinarily begin to look less lush as your pet grows old.

In addition, this product, like all Wellness product, is backed with the company’s satisfaction guarantee which is based on their extensive quality assurance program. You can be sure you’re getting one of the safest and best senior canned dog food products in the market every time you buy one of these.

Pros

  • All natural ingredients. Free from artificial chemicals.
  • Contains zero by-products.
  • No fillers in the ingredient list.
  • Great for canines with urinary-tract health problems.

Cons

  • Available only in limited flavor options.

Our Runner-Up Pick: Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Wet Dog Food Chicken & Sweet Potato

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Like the first on our list, this product is also made by an industry giant, so you can count on the quality. They’ve also made it available in multiple sizes (2.75 ounces, 6 ounces, and 13 ounces) so it’ll be convenient to buy just what your pets need.

Unlike the Wellness pet food though, this one is grain-free. That means it’ll be good for canines with grain-related food allergies. It’s also completely natural, meaning that your pets won’t be ingesting any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Apart from removing the grains, the product also has limited ingredients generally, to reduce the complexity of the food, make it easier on the digestive system and reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Natural Balance passes all its products through 9 safety tests and puts the results on their website. If you’re concerned about the safety and transparency of the food you’re giving your pups, you can’t do much better than this best senior canned dog food product.

Pros

  • Fully natural ingredients
  • Extensive safety and quality assurance processes
  • Limited ingredients to minimize allergy risks
  • Available in multiple sizes

Cons

  • Limited flavor options

Best Budget Pick: Blue Freedom Natural Grain Free Wet Dog Food Senior Chicken Recipe

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Although you can only buy this Blue Buffalo product in large 12.5-ounce cans, the quality of the formulation and great pricing per ounce have earned it a spot on this list. In addition, you can get this in lamb, beef, chicken or turkey versions, so it’s definitely something Fido would want you to take a close look at!

The formula doesn’t contain grains, but it’s chock full of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for senior canines to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle and appearance. For instance, eyesight is one of the things that naturally begins to depreciate as a canine grows older, but canines’ eyes benefit a lot from the vitamins present in this meal.

The foremost ingredient is chicken. That provides a healthy supply of protein with which to maintain your dog’s body. Peas, carrots, and potatoes are also present to balance the meal and ensure that your pet is getting all the nutrients necessary in an appetizing mix.

Pros

  • Available in multiple flavors
  • High vitamin and mineral content
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Single can size.

Best Senior Canned Dog Food for Small Breeds: CESAR Gourmet Wet Dog Food Variety Packs

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From the “variety” in the name, it’s easy to get that this CESAR Gourmet product is going to come in an amazing array of flavors, and boy does it! You can buy this in chicken flavor, filet mignon, beef, porterhouse and even ham and egg.

Predictably, customers have reported that their pets love this product, so if your pet is a picky eater and you’ve been finding it difficult to find the perfect food, this is probably your best bet. Since it’s formulated for small breeds, the packaging is also reasonably sized to make preparing each meal very convenient.

The formula contains a balanced collection of essential nutrients. A reasonable supply of protein combined with healthy carbohydrate, vitamins and everything else your small breed pet needs.

Pros

  • Amazing array of flavor options
  • Affordable price
  • Very convenient packaging

Cons

  • Contains meat by-products

Best Senior Canned Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs: Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food Chicken & Rice

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A canine with a sensitive stomach requires much more care and precautions when it comes to food, especially when your pet is a senior with a digestive system that’s not as strong as it once was. This Iams product is designed specifically to cater for such situations by using a formula with natural, easily digestible ingredients.

Made primarily from chicken and rice, your pup will get a good balance of nutrients from this canned food. Apart from crude protein and carbohydrate which are essential for development, the vitamins and minerals in this formula will help boost your pet’s immune system so it can ward off diseases effectively.

You can buy this food in packs of 6 or 12, though you’re restricted to 13-ounce cans. At the very reasonable price tag though, it’s a great deal either way.

Pros

  • Very affordable price
  • Balanced nutrient proportions
  • High vitamin content

Cons

  • Limited flavor options
  • Limited can size options.

Buyer’s Guide

Getting the perfect food for your beloved pooch can be a difficult prospect even in the best of times. Your pet may have specific allergies or other medical issues which you need to take into consideration. It may be that your pet just doesn’t like some kinds of food. Your convenience is also another important consideration.

When your pup grows older, the difficulty level grows alongside. Now, you have to be careful to buy only foods that are suitable for their age, in addition to all the other considerations. This list has all the best senior canned dog food, and you’ll probably find what you need here. To make it easier for you to choose one here’s a handy guide to selecting the very best food for your senior pet.

Benefits of Canned Dog Food

If you ask a few pet owners, you’ll probably get conflicting answers about which is preferable between canned and popular dry dog food such as Orijen senior, Earthborn Holistic (including the Holistic Select line). Personal preference (of the owners and their dogs) plays a major role, but here are some factual benefits:

  • They usually have less (if any) preservatives due to the canning process serving to preserve the food.
  • They are usually more digestible due to the texture and moisture content.
  • For senior canines, they are usually easier to eat since they have a softer texture.
  • The moisture content is increased, which is helpful for the dog’s kidney health.
  • They are usually more palatable for canines due to the protein and fat content.

Essential Ingredients in Senior Canned Dog Food

When you’re looking at the packaging of different products, it’s important that you’re able to evaluate the ingredients to see if all the nutrients your pooch needs are present. Even if it’s a limited ingredient product, it needs to contain the following nutrients in balanced proportions.

Protein

This is usually the foremost ingredient in quality canned products. Ensure that the protein is animal based, but the particular type of animal is subject to your pet’s preferences. Some prefer chicken while others like lamb, beef or turkey better.

Grains

The grains are often used to provide necessary digestible carbohydrates, although there are certain times when it’d be preferable to feed your canine grain-free dog food. Verify that the grains are whole and unprocessed. Brown or wild rice is ideal if you can find it. Generally, stay away from products with a predominance of wheat gluten and corn starch.

Vegetables and Fruits

Potato and sweet potato are the more common ingredients in this category. They are good for most canines and along with the other fruits and vegetables, provide essential micronutrients such as omega acids as well as glucosamine and chondroitin which reinforce your pet’s joints. Amino acids and chelated minerals also come from fresh fruits and other ingredients in this category.

Consider your Dog’s Size

Your pet’s size needs to be a major consideration as you feed him. Many products (including most of the ones on this list) can be served to pets of any size, but getting one that’s particularly suited to your pooch would be ideal.

On one hand, the breed of your pet will determine its size. Canines of different sizes have different needs in terms of the nutrient proportions. If your pooch is a large breed, check for a product that’s meant for them and do the same if your pet is a small breed. It should be clear on the label if a product is targeted at a particular pet size so it won’t be too much of a hassle.

Also, canines often become overweight as they grow old, as a result of reduced physical activity leading to less usage of calories. Be mindful that obesity can be very harmful to a dog’s health and get products that will help to manage their weight appropriately.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a dog become a senior?

The age at which you need to begin feeding your pet a senior dog’s diet differs from breed to breed. This is because small canines tend to live significantly longer lives than their larger counterparts. As such, the age at which they become “old” differs widely among the 340 recognized dog breeds.

For Labradors, German Shepherds, and other large canines they become seniors at around 6 to 8 years old. Medium sized canines such as the Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and others reach senior status at between 8 and 10 years old while the smallest toy breeds such as Poodles and Pugs enter their senior years at 10 – 12 years.

Ultimately, be sure to get a vet’s advice on when exactly to begin feeding your pet with senior-specific products.

Why do I see “complete and balanced” on virtually all canned dog products?

High-quality dog food products usually carry this tag to show that they have passed the quality control checks of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

The tests are stringent and designed to prevent any sub-par product from getting approval. So, you should generally prioritize dog food brands that have the “complete and balanced” tag on them to be sure you’re getting the best senior canned dog food.

Other Grain Free Canned Senior Dog Foods We Reviewed

  • Grain Free Canned Senior Dog Foods
  • Canned Food for Diabetic Senior Dogs

Grain-Free Diet Canned Senior Dog Foods

Tripett Grain-Free All Natural Dog Food

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This Trippet product is a great option if your priority is to feed your pet grain free, gluten free healthy meals. The primary ingredient is free-range lamb from New Zealand, and that’s the first indication of the premium ingredients and processes used in making this senior canned pet product.

The lamb flavor is great on its own, but it’s also excellent if you’re looking for food for your pet with beef allergies. The tripe is very appetizing, so it’s great for mixing with any other dry or wet food to boost your pooch’s appetite.

If you want to test other flavors, you can also find this product in beef flavor, beef and venision, beef and duck as well as the original lamb.

Features
  • Multiple flavor options
  • Contains essential Omega fatty acids
  • Premium ingredients

Instinct Original Grain Free Real Beef Recipe

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The Nature’s Variety Instinct brand is known for its efforts to make quality products that hearken to canines’ original raw diet, and this one is no exception. Made with 95% chicken, turkey, and chicken liver, you can be sure your pup will be getting a lot of high-quality protein from this meal.

Whether served as a meal by itself or as a topper, the vast majority of customers have reported their pets’ great satisfaction with the taste of this food, judging from the way their pets have been wolfing it down.

This product has no added flavors, colors or preservatives, so it’s completely free from any chemical additives. It’s also free from any poultry by-products, grains, soy and other ingredients which could cause allergic reactions. On the whole, it’s clear that this is one of the best senior canned dog food products you can get in terms of safety and balanced nutrition.

Features
  • High premium protein content
  • Fully natural – free from chemical additives
  • Limited ingredients
  • Grain-free food

Canned Food for Senior Dogs With Kidney Disease

Purina NF KidNey Function Canine Formula

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If your pet has kidney disease, you’ll need to go over and above when it comes to taking precautions with his feeding. Dogs with chronic renal disease have to eat meals which are much less strenuous on the organs (especially the kidney) in order to relieve the kidney and prevent failure.

The Purina brand has long been associated with health-focused products, with the Purina Pro plan series being widely acclaimed. The Purina NF Kidney Function formula is made with a very reduced protein content to make it easier to digest.

It still gives a balanced diet though, because the formula is augmented with a lot of other essential nutrients to keep your pet healthy. The high omega fatty acids content will also help to keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy and attractive.

Conclusion

As a caring pet parent, you definitely want your dog’s life to be as long as possible e as possible. The hurt of losing a beloved pet is something we all want to avoid for as long as possible. There are many things which could influence that, some within your control and some will be out of your hands, but the food you feed your pet is the singular most important factor.

Although it can seem like you have to keep track of so many different things when choosing food for your pet, giving them the best senior canned dog food in the market is the key to helping them live a long, happy and active life.

This list contains all the top canned food products you should be feeding your senior canine, and it has all you need to know to choose the perfect one for your pet. Go through it and place the order, then sit back and wait for the delivery that’ll change your pet’s life forever!

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