Our beloved best friends bring endless joy to our lives. And to them, we are their whole lives — they rely on us to look after them at every stage of life, especially when they become golden oldies.

It seems like only yesterday your energetic puppy was clumsily tripping over their own paws. In the blink of an eye, they’ve entered their golden age.

Where does the time go?

Most dogs start their senior years at around seven years old. Just like us, they start to show signs of ageing, like white fur. But age can also affect your pup’s behaviour and brain function too. We know that you want your pup to live a long and happy life.

In this article, we cover:

• 5 common health complaints in senior dogs (and how you can address them)

• The benefits of feeding healthy food to older dogs

• How the gut impacts health and wellbeing

Common health complaints in senior dogs

Weight gain

Like us, dogs are no stranger to a bit of middle-aged spread as they get older. A bad diet is usually to blame for our extra inches. Whereas, senior dogs just aren’t as energetic or active as they used to be.

A lighter diet with fewer calories, while jam-packed with nutrients is an excellent way to keep your pup in tip-top condition.

Try this: Portion control and low GI foods

Portion control is one way to prevent obesity. By cutting down on your dog’s calorie intake you can match their energy input with their output.

Choose a diet that promotes satiety without the need to add more to their plate. Look for wholefood ingredients like chia and quinoa that absorb water so they feel fuller for longer. Many dry dog foods use high levels of high-GI carbohydrates such as wheat, rice and potatoes to create a biscuit-like consistency. These carbs are converted to glucose, which causes blood sugar spikes that can lead to diabetes. If that wasn’t bad enough, this glucose also gets stored as fatty tissue, which can lead to porky puppers!

Fresh whole foods with a low GI Index are the best things to feed an old dog because they:

• Provide the right amount of energy without being stored as fatty tissue

• Help to maintain good blood sugar levels Decrease the risk of diabetes Low GI ingredients like carrot, broccoli, butternut squash, spinach and cauliflower are excellent sources of energy and are bursting with other nutrients.

Stiff joints and impaired mobility

As our pups get older, so do their joints. They’re also susceptible to arthritis which causes inflammation, stiffness and pain. You may have noticed your pup is a bit slower on their walks or find it more of a struggle to get in and out of the car. Licking their joints to ease pain and discomfort is also a sign to watch out for.

Try this: Omega-3, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants

Omega-3 and fish oil are proven to ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and joint inflammation. A 2010 study showed dogs suffering from osteoarthritis and fed a diet higher in omega-3 had a significant improvement in their ability to stand up, walk and play than those on a lower omega-3 diet.

Did you know that the benefits of omega-3 can only be found in fresh food? That’s because it goes rancid once it’s exposed to oxygen and the fatty acids simply can’t survive in bags of dry kibble.

Lyka’s Grass-Fed Big Boppin’ Beef Bowl and Wild Caught Fancy Fetchin’ Fish Bowl include sardines for healthier joints and muscle and tissue support. We also use fish oil in our entire meal recipe line-up, making sure each one is chock-full of omega-3 goodness.

Other active ingredients include anti-inflammatories like safflower oil, which supports cell growth, and antioxidants like Vitamin E, which prevents the progression of age-related issues and reduces joint inflammation.

Collagen-rich eggshell membrane is clinically proven to reduce pain and improve joint function in dogs. We’ve added this powerful ingredient to our Joint Pupper Supps to loosen stiffness and promote mobility.

Cancer

No one wants to hear the dreaded C word. Sadly, the risk of developing cancer increases with age and the odds of a diagnosis is about 1 in 4. Thankfully, many cancers can be treated if caught early, but there’s still a lot of research to be done in this space.

Although the risk of cancer is relatively high, there are steps we can take to minimise them. One easy and very effective approach is to review your senior dog’s nutrition, to ensure they enjoy an unprocessed fresh food diet high in Omega-3 and antioxidants.

Processed food, like kibble, is cooked at high temperatures which cause free radicals to form and carcinogenic chemicals to be released. In 2010, a study found most bags of kibble contained toxic chemicals known as mycotoxins, which have been linked to immune diseases and cancer in humans.

The impact of these on our pups has not yet been fully established, but it’s safe to say that these should be avoided entirely!

At Lyka, we lightly cook our meals to retain all the natural goodness of each whole food ingredient. We also include antioxidants like mushrooms and green cabbage to reduce oxidative stress caused by cancer-causing free radicals. There’s nothing but goodness in our bowls — it’s the perfect healthy food for old dogs.

Good guts for good health and wellbeing

The next time you can’t find your glasses, have a thought for your best bud who may also experience a bit of age-related cognitive impairment (and by the way, they’re on your head!).

If your dog is behaving differently around you and their environment, seems a bit disorientated and has an irregular sleep pattern, they may be experiencing canine cognitive decline (CCD).

Help your pup stay sharp by feeding them a complete and balanced diet to maintain a strong gut-brain axis. This is the connection between the digestive system and the nervous system which controls hormones and cognitive function. A healthy microbiome is the key to a healthy gut-brain axis and a strong immune system.

Try this: Probiotics, prebiotics and dietary fibre

Dysbiosis is an imbalance of the bacteria in the gut which can affect both the digestive and nervous systems. A high protein diet that contains prebiotics like inulin, boswellia serrata and mushrooms and soluble dietary fibre like psyllium seed husk help regulate the microbiome and keep movements regular and firm.

Probiotics are also important to keep the good bacteria topped up. Lyka’s Digestive Pupper Supps contain B. lactis BB.12 to improve bowel function and ward off bad bacteria.

Internal health

It’s not just the sweet sugar-faces of our pups that reveal their maturity, age can also affect your dog’s internal organs. Unfortunately, heart disease, liver disease, pancreatitis and kidney failure are common issues among senior dogs.

A fresh food diet that’s bursting with natural, easy-to-digest nutrients is the best thing to feed your senior dog. Their internal organs are able to absorb and use fresh nutrients more effectively, leading to better overall health and well-being.

Liver

A fully functioning liver is vital for good health. It detoxifies the blood, supports digestion and energy formation and creates blood-clotting agents. But it can be vulnerable to disease, infection and disorders.

Try this: Choose fresh food and healthy fats

The liver is a giant filter. Keep it in peak condition by avoiding very fatty foods and toxins. Processed food, like kibble, often contains artificial preservatives and chemical palatants that mimic the smell and taste of natural ingredients. Ingredients like acrylamide are created in the process and should be avoided.

Instead, choose a nutritionally balanced diet for senior dogs that contains natural wholefood ingredients and the right amount of good fats like Omega-3 and Omega-6, which the liver can process easily.

Kidney

Did you know that dental disease is a leading cause of chronic kidney failure in older dogs? All the more reason to brush your pupper’s teeth and maintain a good balance of bacteria in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Try this: Keep the kelp but sack the salt

A healthy GI system relies on the balance of bacteria. Superfoods like kelp defend against tartar formation and plaque by altering the natural antibacterial properties of your pupper’s saliva. Lyka’s Dental Pupper Supps includes kelp to promote nice gnashers and healthy gums, and encourage fresher breath.

Although some salt is good, too much can lead to kidney disease. Our vet-formulated meals contain careful amounts of Celtic Sea Salt which offer the benefit of trace minerals like calcium and magnesium without the high levels of sodium chloride associated with table salt.

Heart health

Heart disease is difficult to prevent as it can be congenital. However, studies have established a link between ‘grain-free’ kibble and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). This is because ‘grain-free’ kibble still relies on high amounts of carbohydrates like legumes that deplete the taurine levels in your pup’s body, which is subsequently linked to DCM.

But there are steps you can take to help your senior dog maintain a strong and healthy heart. Start by choosing an unprocessed diet that contains low GI carbohydrates in the right amounts for nutrition, rather than being added as an inexpensive way to add bulk.

Try this: Carrots, Hemp Seeds and Beef Liver

High cholesterol can put older dogs at risk of heart disease. Include carrots in your pupper’s diet to benefit from their soluble fibre which can help to regulate blood cholesterol levels.

Senior dogs often need more protein to support body function and repair. Hemp seeds and beef liver are full of protein which contains amino acids that contribute to excellent heart health. You’ll find both of these powerhouse ingredients in our meals.

Dehydration

Older dogs tend to drink less water as they age, so they’re more likely to suffer from dehydration. It can also be harder to spot dehydration symptoms in senior dogs, as some symptoms like loss of skin elasticity and lowered activity levels can be easily mistaken as signs of ageing. If left untreated for too long, dehydration can cause serious illness, organ failure or even death.

Sometimes, leaving out water for your pup is not enough, especially in the heat of summer. One easy way to make sure your pup is getting more water is by feeding them a fresh diet. Dry kibble can contain as low as 6% moisture, while Lyka contains 70% moisture, making it an easy source of hydration. Along with fresh bowls of water, a moisture-rich food can help quench their thirst, so you’ll see fewer tongues out and a more healthy, active pup.

Time waits for no man (or dog), sadly. Unless your pupper manages to dig up the elixir of life in your back garden, we’ve all got to get used to growing older. Sigh.

Promote your pup’s long and healthy life with a Lyka diet. Our homemade meals are made from 100% human-grade, whole-food ingredients for optimal health and well-being. It’s high in protein and low in GI ingredients – perfect for senior dogs who need the right level of energy and easy-to-absorb nutrients.

Just ask Buddy and his fur papa Chad Hurst. Buddy has arthritis, but finds relief through fresh feeding — Lyka supports his joints and gut on a daily basis.

For boosted nutrition in senior living, Lyka’s Pupper Supps Senior Multi support joint health, balances immune and digestive systems, improves dental health and maintains feelings of wellness. That’s a lot of superfood superpowers in our bite-sized cubes!

This article was reviewed by Lyka’s animal care experts.

Reviewed by:

• Louise Hawkins, Qualified Veterinary Nurse and Research and Development Associate