Feeding Senior Dogs a Raw Diet

As your dog ages, bodily functions can become less efficient. With this in mind, feeding an easily digestible food, really is the best option. A raw diet is highly digestible, and is best for any dog but even more so for senior dogs.

• A varied raw diet is perfect for supporting your dogs nutritional needs in his senior years. Variety is essential when feeding raw and this is just as important when dogs age. A raw diet is the best diet possible, it will help support their digestive system, immune system, muscles and joints. Our Classic range, Paleo Plus range and some of the DIY range offer great variety, excellent nutrition and are perfect for your senior dogs dietary needs.
• You may like to add beneficial supplements to support minor health issues. There are many joint supplements available for joint issues such as arthritis, dysplasia and age related stiffness.

• As dog’s age, their natural gut flora changes, they often have trouble repopulating healthy bacteria. Probiotics can help to keep the gut microbiome healthy and balanced to aid digestion in elderly dogs. Kefir or other live culture foods are commonly given.

• The digestive system slows and is less effective as we age. Your dog may need a little more food as he gets older to counter the effects of a slower and less defective digestive system.

• As Senior dogs become a little less active, they may not need as many calories for their daily activities. It is very important to keep senior dogs in good shape weight wise. Carrying extra weight puts excessive strain on their older bones.

Senior dogs with joint issues such as arthritis, dysplasia, age related stiffness, etc, often benefit from supplements that are high in glucosamine and chondroitin.

Our specially designed Joint Aid can be fed along side daily meals as an additional boost of natural joint lubricating goodness. Paleo Ridge Joint Aid is available as a mince for ease of use. It has been developed due to customer requests from those who do not wish to feed or handle whole poultry feet or beef tracheas. These ingredients are naturally high in glucosamine and chondroitin which makes this meal an excellent addition to a seniors raw diet.

Antioxidants, which include certain vitamins, play a very important role in slowing down the ageing process. Antioxidant molecules inhibit free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules found all around us that can cause oxidative damage to our cells. The only thing that can slow down this process is antioxidant molecules, as they inhibit free radicals.

Antioxidants are found in living foods such as meat, fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are destroyed when cooked or heated, so its best to feed in their natural form. By feeding natural raw food that is rich in antioxidants, you can help slow down the aging process. An overload of free radicals can contribute to a variety of diseases, including cancer. Antioxidant rich raw dog food will provide your dog's body with the various antioxidants needed, to counteract free radicals and restore balance.

Paleo Ridge have developed a natural superfood supplement that is packed full of antioxidants; Berry Good is included in our Paleo Plus range but you can buy it to add to our Classic Range. We recommend feeding at 5% of your dogs daily allowance, 3-7 times per week.

Read more on our Berry Good Ingredients

We have also launched a senior range, developed to help cater to the needs of senior dogs. This range serves as an expansion of our Paleo Plus range and provides nutrition that supports digestion, immunity and vitality. Several key features make the Senior Range an excellent product. It has a reduced bone content and is infused with our superfood mix found in all Paleo Plus products. What makes this product a standout is the use of Reishi mushrooms in the recipe. This fantastic fungus can have incredible health benefits which has earned it the nickname of "the mushroom of youth." Reishi is called this due to their ability to protect cells from oxidative damage. The Paleo Senior Range comes in lamb and turkey flavours and is available to order online!

Keeping your dog active and feeding healthy food, will help to prevent health issues related to age. Remember as they age, they will not be able to do as much as they did when younger but exercise is very important. Maintaining your dog's routine while being sensitive to their limitations is key. Try to keep their physical activity shorter but frequent and consistent. While they may not be able to run a marathon anymore, several smaller distance walks will help to keep them in better shape mentally and physically. Appropriate daily exercise will help maintain muscles.

As Senior dogs become a little less active , they may not need as many calories for their daily activities. It is very important to keep senior dogs in good shape weight wise. Carrying extra weight puts even more strain on their older bones.

The digestive system slows and is less effective as we age. Your dog may need a little more food as he gets older to counter the effects of a slower and less defective digestive system. Keep a close eye on their waistline and adjust feeding amounts according.