Senior Dog Food

[DJ30]

Angel is 9 years old and weighs about 4 pounds. At her last checkup, we found out that she has early signs of nuclear sclerosis, which we were told is normal around this age. The vet said there isn't anything scientifically proven that she can take to prevent it. Do you know of any supplements that might help?

The vet said we could switch her to a senior food anytime now, or we can wait until she is 10. I said we would wait as I want to do some research first. We feed her Wellness Whitefish and Sweet Potato kibble Wellness Whitefish & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food Recipe. It took a long time to find a food she likes and would eat consistently. One reason we feed her this is because she would scratch herself a lot when she was eating NutroMax chicken. The breeders fed her NutroMax, but she didn't seem to like it when we took her home.

It's hard to find a senior food that only has fish as a protein. It's usually chicken or some other meat. Is there some reason for this? Are there any brands you can recommend that are senior specific and not all life stages?

Have any of you heard of the brand FirstMate? What do you think of the ingredients for FirstMate’s Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control/Senior formula?

Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control/Senior - FirstMate Pet Foods

Dog Food Advisor only gave the FirstMate’s Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control/Senior formula 2.5/5. The protein is 18%. Is this too low? What is a good range? Wellness Whitefish and Sweet Potato has 22% protein.

FirstMate Grain-Free Dog Food | Review and Rating

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[chestermama]

I would notice the calories in certain senior foods, they are just as much as some of the regular food

[107barney]

There is no supplement for nuclear sclerosis. As for food, I didn't change my dogs' diets due to age and mine are 14.5. I probably would not change foods unless there was a medical reason to do so.

[MarkFromSea]

Given the probable frustration of changing foods, the fact that you are already feeding her a quality food that she likes, with the understanding that she is maintaining a healthy weight and activity level, I wouldn't even think about changing her food. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

We entered our endless search for a healthier food only because he quit eating his already healthy kibble. The boiled chicken treats my better half fed him transformed our little boy into a picky little brat.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by MarkFromSea

Given the probable frustration of changing foods, the fact that you are already feeding her a quality food that she likes, with the understanding that she is maintaining a healthy weight and activity level, I wouldn't even think about changing her food. If it isn't broke, don't fix it :

If you do not HAVE to start jumping on the Dog Food Roulette game, dont do it!!! You already said it took a long time to find a food that she would eat and she tolerated!!! Dont even go there unless you have to!!

[MarkFromSea]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

If you do not HAVE to start jumping on the Dog Food Roulette game, dont do it!!! You already said it took a long time to find a food that she would eat and she tolerated!!! Dont even go there unless you have to!!

Thanks!