Older dogs often get diagnosed with pancreatitis and obesity. As your dog ages, you will need to take the lead and cut down on your dog’s high-fat diet with too much meat and carbs. The best senior dog food comprises quality low fat dog foods. Quality is the most important qualifier here—because most low fat dog foods are low in protein and high in calories.
Quality low fat dog foods must have 12% or less fat for dry foods, 15% or less for wet foods, and 17% or less for raw foods. This is information that you can see in the nutritional information of the product you’re buying.
While some low fat dog foods in the grocery still have too much fat and calories in them, a number of them do have great nutritional content.
For dry dog foods, there are quite a number of choices:Acana Light and Fit (5-star, 11% fat and 39% protein),Addiction (5-star, 10% fat and 40% protein),Amicus Senior and Weight Management (5-star, 12% fat and 33% protein),Annamaet Adult Dog Food (4-star, 11% fat and 26% protein),Avoderm Natural Large Breed (4-star, 11% fat and 29% protein),Blue Buffalo (4-star, 10% fat, 28% protein).
There are quite a number of options for wet and raw dog foods, as well as kibbles.
Looking for the best senior dog food that’s low-fat?
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Canned Dog Food is a 5-star wet product. The Shredded Pork contains 15% fat and 39% protein, the Shredded Beef reports 12% fat and 39% protein and the Shredded Chicken lists a very low 7% fat and 44% protein.
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals Whitefish and Potato is a 4-star kibble with 12% fat and 26% protein.
Fromm Gold Nutritionals Reduced Activity Senior Gold is a 4-star kibble with 12% fat and 26% protein.
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Chicken is a 5-star freeze-dried dog food with 10% fat and 36% protein.
Honest Kitchen Zeal is a 5-star dehydrated raw dog food with only 9% fat and 39% protein.
Horizon Complete Senior is a 4-star kibble containing 11% fat and 27% protein.
Now Grain Free Senior Weight Management is a 4-star kibble with only 11% fat and 27% protein.
NutriSource Senior Chicken and Rice is a 4-star kibble with 11% fat and 29% protein.
OC Raw Dog Food is a 5-star frozen product. The Fish and Produce recipe contains 12% fat and 72% protein, the Rabbit and Produce reports 16% fat and 60% protein and the Goat and Produce lists a very low 9% fat and 77% protein. (More here)
You can also tryPrecise Holistic Complete Senior (4-star, 11% fat and 28% protein),Premium Edge Weight II (4-star, 9% fat and 28% protein),Primal Canine Rabbit Formula (5-star, 17% fat and 59% protein),Professional Senior Dog (4-star, 11% fat and 29% protein),Simply Nourish (4.5 star wet dog food, 8% fat and 59% protein),Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream (4-star, 15% fat and 38% protein),Wellness Core (5-star, 11% fat and 37% protein),Weruva Human Style (5-star, 10% fat and 61% protein), andWellness Super 5 Mix (12% fat and 28% protein for the large breed and 10% fat and 31% protein for the small breed).
Phew! The list of quality low fat dog foods is quite extensive. Ultimately, your decision should be based on just how much fat you need to cut off from your dog’s diet. If your older dog is sick, you may have to settle for dog food with really low fat content and more carbs.