9 Year Old Lab Diet

[Mark K.]

We have a nine year old lab who weighs around 85 pounds and looks great. I wanted to know the food people might recommend as he gets older form 10-14. He is still a very active dog and loves to plays but want to keep him healthy into his golden years.

[Tanya]

i keep the same food just feed a bit less if they put on weight. my 12 year old lab and 3 year old bc mix eat the same food.

[Annette47]

i keep the same food just feed a bit less if they put on weight. my 12 year old lab and 3 year old bc mix eat the same food.

Same ... I’ve always kept my senior dogs on whatever they were doing well on when they were younger. As Tanya says though, sometimes you need to feed a bit less as they slow down and don’t burn as many calories. You can always add in some canned green beans if that happens so they still feel like they’re getting a full bowl.

[smartrock]

My older boy will turn 10 in September. He currently eats regular dog food, not one meant for seniors, with a good percentage of protein (26-30%). He gets some additional supplements, Dasuquin, Vitamin C, and fish oil, to try to maintain joint health. Most folks on here would not recommend changing to a "senior food" as long as what he's currently eating is working well for him.

Some of the senior foods have lower protein, more fiber, or claim they have glucosamine/chondroitin for joint health. Generally the amount of those supplements in the food is insufficient to make any therapeutic difference so if you want to supplement, do it separately. If you're concerned about cognitive issues, I'm not sure supplements contained in the food would make a difference either. I've only seen one person on here that I recall say they supplement with anything that might effect cognition, although others may. I know at least one company makes a food for seniors that they claim keeps their minds sharper. It can be hard to sort out fact from marketing hype.

[Bernie]

My older boy will turn 10 in September. He currently eats regular dog food, not one meant for seniors, with a good percentage of protein (26-30%). He gets some additional supplements, Dasuquin, Vitamin C, and fish oil, to try to maintain joint health. Most folks on here would not recommend changing to a "senior food" as long as what he's currently eating is working well for him.

Some of the senior foods have lower protein, more fiber, or claim they have glucosamine/chondroitin for joint health. Generally the amount of those supplements in the food is insufficient to make any therapeutic difference so if you want to supplement, do it separately. If you're concerned about cognitive issues, I'm not sure supplements contained in the food would make a difference either. I've only seen one person on here that I recall say they supplement with anything that might effect cognition, although others may. I know at least one company makes a food for seniors that they claim keeps their minds sharper. It can be hard to sort out fact from marketing hype.

I wish Rocco would eat fish oil, he takes one wiff and leaves the whole bowl of food sitting there.

[smartrock]

I wish Rocco would eat fish oil, he takes one wiff and leaves the whole bowl of food sitting there.

Some people feed canned sardines or salmon or cooked fresh salmon for the omega-3s rather than using a liquid supplement. Mine are happy to wolf those down. I haven't really checked to see how many sardines or how much salmon equals the dose I give of liquid, but maybe someone else has. When my vet first recommended giving fish oil she said one or 2 capsules a day, so if Rocco would take a fish oil capsule, that might be an option. When we travel I take the caps along rather than liquid. I just put them in with their food and they're gone when the food is gone.

Well looky here, seek and ye might find:

Omega-3 Content of Frequently Consumed Seafood Products | Seafood Health Facts

[JenC]

I've been trying the Pro Plan Bright Minds on Grace right now. It seems to be working a bit, but otherwise, I would just leave them on their regular food, no change because they are older.

[Bernie]

Some people feed canned sardines or salmon or cooked fresh salmon for the omega-3s rather than using a liquid supplement. Mine are happy to wolf those down. I haven't really checked to see how many sardines or how much salmon equals the dose I give of liquid, but maybe someone else has. When my vet first recommended giving fish oil she said one or 2 capsules a day, so if Rocco would take a fish oil capsule, that might be an option. When we travel I take the caps along rather than liquid. I just put them in with their food and they're gone when the food is gone.

won't eat any fish, I've tried.
would the capsule dissolve in the stomach o.k.?
he'll take pills o.k. by putting it far enough in.

[Bob Pr.]

would the capsule dissolve in the stomach o.k.?
he'll take pills o.k. by putting it far enough in.

They dissolve okay in my stomach and in Zach's. He gets his with a dab of peanut butter and it goes quickly down the hatch. (Mine, I take straight w/o any PB.)

[Annette47]

They dissolve okay in my stomach and in Zach's. He gets his with a dab of peanut butter and it goes quickly down the hatch. (Mine, I take straight w/o any PB.)

Same here. I like giving it in PB because then when/if they go on a prescription med, they are already used to taking pills in peanut butter and don’t notice the difference.