My pup will be becoming a senior next year so I understand the importance of ensuring the right nutrition for dogs. As pet parents, we just want to keep our dogs healthy and happy for as long as possible.
I set about researching the best wet dog food for senior dogs and wrote my findings below. I have ranked them based on ingredients, palatability, and nutritional support for aging pups.
My hope for this guide is that you will be able to choose a food that supports your dog as they age. Let’s break it down together so you can make the best choice for your senior dog.
In case you’re in a hurry, I’ve included a quick round-up of the top products below.
Pros:
Cons:
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables is a great all-rounder for senior dogs. It’s suitable for all breeds and sizes of dogs.
This wet food provides a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals to help keep your dog healthy as they age. It’s made with high-quality ingredients with no hidden nasties or fillers. The tasty chicken flavor is palatable for fussy dogs, and the soft texture makes it easy to eat even for dogs with no teeth.
If you're considering switching your dog to senior dog food, the Blue Buffalo wet food is top of my list. Made with real chicken and vegetables, I felt rest assured that my dog would be getting the best!
This food contains no by-products unlike some of our other options. It’s also free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives so it’s gentle on your dog’s digestive system.
One of my favorite parts about this food is the amount of vitamins and minerals included. In particular, the food contains glucosamine and chondroitin which some sources show can help keep your dog mobile and keep their joints healthy.
However, senior dogs can be prone to dehydration and there is slightly less moisture in this wet food than some other options on our list.
Overall, the Blue Buffalo senior wet dog food has some amazing benefits including:
The only drawback I found with this product was the slightly lower moisture content. So, if your dog struggles to drink enough you might want to add some extra water to this food.
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle senior food is an excellent choice for owners who want a high-quality food to help maintain their dog’s health as they age. It’s palatable, easy to digest, and contains natural ingredients most dogs will love.
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re looking for a high-protein diet for your senior dog, the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials is a great choice. This wet food contains 9% protein, the highest on our list.
The protein is real chicken, so you know it’s high-quality. The food has a soft pate texture, so it’s easy to eat for senior pups who are missing some of their teeth.
My favorite thing about this food is that it’s full of high-quality protein at much higher levels than our other choices. Senior dogs can lose lean body mass as their body changes the way it processes proteins. A diet with plenty of protein is key to preventing this, as well as giving them more energy.
I particularly liked that there were two flavors to pick from - chicken or turkey. If you have fussy dogs, you’ll know that the flavor makes all the difference. However, there are also some meat by-products that I wish were left out.
I found the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials had some great features including:
Although the food includes some meat by-products, the rest of the ingredients are good quality with real chicken being the main ingredient.
If you’re looking for a high-protein diet for your senior dog, the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials should be your top choice! It’s packed full of ingredients to give your seniors a balanced diet that is tasty and helps to maintain their health.
Pros:
Cons:
The Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ provides excellent all-around health support for aging dogs. It contains lean protein to support healthy muscles and prevent weight gain. This is very handy as dogs tend to become less active as they age so they don’t burn as many calories.
There’s plenty of gentle fiber such as peas, carrots, and brown rice to support your dog’s digestion. There’s a high moisture content of 82% maximum to prevent dehydration, which is among the highest of my choices.
When it comes to ingredient quality, the Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ is rightfully near the top of the list. It’s made with real chicken or beef and plenty of additional minerals.
Since senior dogs can struggle with constipation, I was a big fan of the fiber content to help keep the digestive system functioning well. I liked that this food was more of a stew texture with gravy rather than a pate like many of the other options.
There is lower protein in this food than other options and it’s also slightly more expensive than some other choices, although I feel it’s worth the money.
The Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ has some fantastic features for senior dogs including:
I do wish there was slightly more protein in this food, However, you could choose to add some additional protein if you felt it was needed.
The Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ is the perfect choice if you want a quality senior dog food that provides good all-round health support for your dog as they age. The brand is well-known and loved for good reason!
Pros:
Cons:
The Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ provides all-round nutritional support for small-breed senior dogs in their later years. It’s full of ingredients to keep them active and healthy. It’s also really palatable which is handy as I know from personal experience how fussy small dogs can be!
Unlike the other choices on this list, this food is formulated for toy and small breeds over 12 years old only.
I loved that this food contains omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA to keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy. Older dogs are more prone to kidney issues, so I appreciated that this diet has adapted phosphorus levels to support their kidney health. I also liked that this food contains antioxidants which are proven to help with cognitive function.
My favorite part about this food is the easy open pouches. If you struggle to open cans, this could be a huge benefit!
There are some by-products in this food, and I do wish the protein was more high-quality. It’s also the most expensive food on our list, but it’s also the only food targeted towards a specific breed size.
The Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ has several features that make it ideal for small senior dogs including:
This food is only suitable for small breeds up to 22 lbs, so make sure you know your dog’s weight before choosing this option.
If you have a small dog over the age of 12, the Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ could be the best choice for you. Its taste and texture appeal to dogs, while the balanced nutrients promote good health.
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re on a budget but still want to give your senior dog good quality wet food, the Iams ProActive Health has got you covered. This is the cheapest option on our list but is still tasty and full of ingredients to support your dog’s health.
I loved that this food was so affordable, costing only $0.20 per oz. That’s at least 2 or 3 cents cheaper per ounce than the other foods on the list!
I liked that the food contained omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. However, it does contain by-products and doesn’t provide as high-quality protein as other choices.
The Iams ProActive Health has some great benefits including:
There are lower quality ingredients in this food than our other options, but it still provides a balanced senior diet.
If you are on a tight budget, the Iams ProActive Health might be the right choice for your needs. It provides a balanced senior diet for an affordable cost.
There are a few things you’ll want to consider to help you choose the best senior dog food that's wet.
Any food you choose for your senior dog should be complete, which simply means it contains all the nutrients they need for a balanced diet.
Dog foods that are complete will state somewhere that they are ‘complete’ or ‘balanced’. Some may state that they meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommendations.
Natural ingredients like real meat and vegetables are best, with as few artificial ingredients and by-products as possible. Most senior dogs need lots of protein so you should check the percentage of protein on the ingredients list.
If your dog is less active than before, it’s best to choose food with reduced fat, carbohydrates, and calories to prevent weight gain.
A lot of senior dog foods will be suitable for all dog breeds. However, some will be specifically formulated for certain breed sizes or types, so always check it’s suitable for your dog.
Lots of senior dog foods will have additional ingredients with health benefits. Think about what would benefit your dog.
If your dog has existing health conditions, it’s best to talk to your vet to find out exactly what type of food will best support them.
Of course, you want your dog to enjoy the food they eat so take your time to choose a flavor you think they’ll like.
Lastly, choose a dog food that’s within your budget. It needs to be affordable and realistic for you so that your dog can stay on their senior diet long term.
If you are also interested in learning about dry dog food for senior dogs then you can check out my list: Best Senior Dog Food.
Choosing the best dog food for your senior pup helps to keep them healthy as they age so you can have many more adventures together! If you’re looking for the best food overall, I highly recommend the Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior.
You can’t go far wrong with any of the options on this list. Let me know which one you end up choosing!
References
As the winter months begin to roll in and the daylight hours start to reduce, both of my dog walks are now in the dark. I always walk my dog alone and as a single female, I am very aware of my vulnerability during these walks. I am also a lover of True Crime which
Read MoreAnxious dog? Keep reading… If your dog has anxiety then you have likely researched different methods to help support them. When we first re-homed our dog, he had extreme separation anxiety and couldn’t be left alone in the house or car. He was 2 years old and though he had come from a loving home
Read MoreThere are many reasons why you might find yourself needing an indoor dog potty. Perhaps you are house-training your puppy or maybe your senior dog is slowing down and needs to be able to relieve themselves without going on a walk. Whatever the reason may be, an indoor dog potty has become another handy tool
Read More