Do Labradors need special food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Does My Dog Need Senior Dog Food?

Nutrition is a very powerful tool throughout all stages of a dogs life. It can be used to maintain health, prevent disease, and even primarily manage some disease conditions. That said, just because your dog is getting older doesnt necessarily mean they need a diet change.

There are many foods out there that are labeled for mature, aging, and senior dogs. There are even diets labeled for all life stages. It can be hard to know what is the best food for your senior dog and whether you should switch to senior dog food.

Do Senior Dogs Need Senior Dog Food?

The decision on what to feed and whether to change to senior dog food should be based on many factorsyour veterinarian can help make recommendations based on your dogs health status, disease risk, and lifestyle.

The goals for feeding a senior dog are twofold:

If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition thats known to be influenced by nutrition, it may be time for a switch. This is one of the main factors to take into account when deciding if your dog needs a senior food.

What Makes a Senior Dog Food Different?

So, what makes a senior dog food different from adult or all life stages dog food? Food thats labeled for senior dogs may vary in their ingredient and nutrient profiles, but not always.

For example, the percentage of protein in adult dog food ranges from 18-30%. This is similar to the range of 18-23% for senior dog foods (on a dry matter basis). Other nutrient content can vary widely, as is often the case with sodium and phosphorus levels.

What sets senior dog foods apart from adult or all life stages foods is whether they also have certain nutrients and other ingredients that can help influence or manage certain diseases.

Its important to read dog food labels, and if you are contemplating a change, check in with your vet to see what your dogs specific needs may be.

All foods, regardless of stage, should provide the recommended amounts of required nutrients as established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (or AAFCO). It is important to note, however, that AAFCO approval does not ensure the food will be effective in preventing or managing a specific disease.

What Conditions Can Senior Dog Food Help Manage?

There are quite a few diseases that are known to affect aging dogs. Many of these can be influenced or managed, in part or entirely through nutrition. This includes conditions such as:

In some cases, nutritional changes can affect the outcome or slow the progression of a disease process, while in others, it may simply help reduce the signs associated with the condition.

Dogs with dental disease may benefit from senior dry foods with a specific kibble shape, size, and texture to reduce plaque buildup. These may contain added ingredients known to specifically control dental disease.

Alternatively, if your senior dog has lost their teeth, or has few teeth left, your vet may suggest going with a canned food variety for ease and comfort with eating.

Dogs with arthritis may benefit from senior foods with added ingredients that are known to benefit the joints, such as glucosamine hydrochloride; chondroitin sulfate; and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), to name a few. If a therapeutic diet is not suggested, supplements containing these ingredients may be recommended for your senior dog.

If your dog has kidney disease, your vet might recommend a high-quality senior food with low (but quality) protein. In many cases, a therapeutic diet may be recommended.

When Does a Dog Need to Switch to Senior Dog Food?

Dog life-stage classifications can help you know when your dog is considered a senior. Depending on their breed and size, most dogs are considered to be mature adults between 6 and 8 years old. In most cases, a dog older than 8 years will move into the senior category.

While these age classifications can be helpful in guiding food choices, its important to remember that animals are individuals. Just because they reach a certain age does not mean they are necessarily old on a physiologic scale.

The aging process differs for each dog, and just like with people, it may look, feel, and affect them all differently. If your senior dog is healthy and maintaining a good weight, a new dog food may not be needed.

Your veterinarian is your best ally in determining when your dog is ready to transition to a senior diet.

How to Choose the Best Senior Dog Food

Before making the transition to senior dog food, talk with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is ready and that they dont have any particular suggestions.

Here are some tips for how to make the transition easier for your dog.

Use the Senior Version of Their Current Food

If your canine companion is ready for a senior food, you can start by trying the senior version of what they already eat (same brand, variety, and texture). Many brands offer a senior version of most mature adult foods. This may help avoid digestive upset associated with diet change.

Look for a Senior Dog Food That Is Similar to Their Current Food

If your brand does not offer a senior version, look for senior dog foods with similar ingredient and nutrient profiles. For example, if your dog has always eaten a chicken and rice kibble, look for a senior dry food with similar ingredients.

If your vet has suggested a different formulation, brand, or variety, take a closer look at the ingredients and make your selection based on your dogs unique needs.

Consider Trying a Food Thats Specialized for Your Dogs Size or Breed

There are usually small and large breed varieties of senior dog food, depending on the brand.

If you have a small dog, looking for a small breed senior food is a good idea (and the same for larger breeds). These diets are usually formulated with size-specific (or in some cases, breed-specific) needs in mind. This could include a certain kibble shape, size, and texture, or added ingredients for diseases that are more likely to affect dogs of different sizes or breeds.

Listen to Your Veterinarians Recommendations for Special Conditions

If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition known to be influenced by nutrition, or they are at risk for certain diseases based on their health and lifestyle, your vet may suggest a therapeutic or prescription diet. These diets require a prescription from your veterinarian.

While these diets do not usually contain the word senior in their title, they are formulated to manage disease conditions commonly seen in senior dogs. They may have added ingredients or formulation-specific differences not available in over-the-counter varieties.

Transition Slowly to the New Senior Dog Food

Once you have selected the right diet for your senior dog, its important to make the transition gradually to their new food. Ideally, this should be done over 7-10 days or more, with a complete transition to the new food by 14 days.

If your dog is prone to digestive upset, you may want to take longer to introduce the new food. Its best to start by mixing in small amounts of the new food with their current diet. Each day, you can add more of the new food and remove more of the old food until the transition is complete. If digestive upset occurs (vomiting, diarrhea, or not eating), its best to stop the new diet and contact your vet.

Always Talk to Your Vet About Diet Changes

There are so many great options when it comes to senior dog foods these days. The variability in nutrient and ingredient content makes it hard to know what is best. Choosing the right food should be a decision based on your senior dog's specific needs, known health conditions, disease risk, and lifestyle. Your veterinarian is a key player in your dog's health and should be consulted when considering a dietary change.

Featured Image: iStock.com/Atlantagreg

Labrador Feeding Demystified: A Comprehensive Expert Guide

The best Labrador food is high in fat and protein, but low in carbohydrates. Great diets avoid fillers, and are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. Working out how to feed a Labrador isnt just about picking the perfect menu though. You know Labs are enthusiastic eaters and prone to weight gain, so getting the right schedule and feeding routine can make a big difference to your pets welfare too.

A good rule of thumb is that puppies up to six months of age need four meals a day. Adult dogs can cope just fine with two meals a day, but many prefer their daily rations to be broken down into smaller amounts.

Im going to help you choose the right diet for your dog and answer your feeding questions and concerns about how to feed your Labrador. If your dog is under six months old, youll probably wantto visit our puppy feeding page for detailed information on feeding your Labrador puppy.

Labrador Feeding Guide

The amount you feed your Lab will vary depending on his age and the type of food you are giving him. The Eukanuba Adult Breed Lamb and Rice food suggests these serving sizes:

40 45 pound Lab, feed: 205 230 grams per day
50 55 pound Lab, feed: 240 265 grams per day
60 65 pound Lab, feed: 270 300 grams per day
70 75 pound Lab, feed: 300 335 grams per day
80 85 pound Lab, feed: 330 365 grams per day
90 95 pound Lab, feed: 355 395 grams per day

However, these serving sizes will change depending on the food you use, and only apply to dry kibble! Keep reading to find out how much food your Lab needs if he isnt eating kibble, and when to feed him.

Whats the best dog food for Labs?

Experts agree that the best food for any dog is a balanced diet that keeps him in excellent health at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, thats where the agreement ends.

Theres lots to choose from

Even experts differ on which method of feeding is the most healthy, what makes a diet balanced, how easy it is to feed your dog a balanced diet, and which brand of kibble is best. By the end of this article, youll how everything about how to feed your Labrador.

Different Methods to Feed your Labrador

There are currently two very different approaches to dog feeding that are popular with many Labrador owners.

Both methods of feeding Labradors have their supporters and detractors. At one time a lot of dogs were fed on canned food with an added biscuit mixer. Nowadays, most pet dogs have dried meals.

Although majority of dogs are now being fed kibble, a substantial minority are fed raw. Raw feeding (the BARF diet) was once considered an extremist fad. But raw fed dogs thrived, and interest in raw feeding dogs has grown lately.

Labradordog food choices dry kibble

The majority of Labrador owners feed their dogs on dried kibble pellets. All major pet food companies now supply a dried version of their brands. Youll find a confusing range of choice in pet stores and supermarkets worldwide. But some are better than others.

Advantages of kibble

The main advantage of being able to open a packet and instantly pour food into your dogs bowl is convenience. Busy modern homes are pressed for time. Convenience is an important factor.

Kibble also stores well. It doesnt need refrigerating or freezing and it doesnt smell very strong. Most dogs nowadays are trained with food. So kibble has the added advantage of making portable training treats.

The disadvantages of kibble

Kibble doesnt smell bad, but kibble fed dog poops stink. That is partly because kibble is full of fillers, additional bulking agents that are not fully digested by your dog.

These fillers mean that kibble fed dogs produce much greater quantities of poop and much smellier poop, than dogs fed on raw meat and bones. Kibble fed dogs may also need their teeth cleaning on a daily basis. There may also be a small increased risk of bloat in susceptible dogs fed on a dry food diet.

Kibble fed dogs may also be more likely to snack on their own poop (yes its a very common Labrador habit) than raw fed dogs.

Should I feed my dog raw meat?

Natural raw doggy diets of meat and bones have become increasingly popular, despite some experts giving out dire warnings of the dangers of letting dogs consume bones.

Unfortunately, raw feeding does seem to attract a few extremists. Plus, it can be tricky to find objective and unbiased discussions of the pros and cons of raw feeding on the internet.

The pros and cons

Raw feeding is quite a big topic. It is both complicated and simple. Complicated because we tend to worry about the nutrients our dogs are getting. And we cant see a list of ingredients on a meaty bone. But the truth is, we dont need to.

Raw feeding is not as convenient as kibble feeding, It requires plenty of freezer and refrigeration space, a designated preparation surface, and good meat preparation hygiene. (Just as with meat preparation for people).

Small puppies need more research to be raw fed, as they are growing fast and are vulnerable to diets with a poor nutrient balance.

Raw fed dogs and small children

I dont recommend raw feeding in families with very small children. This is because raw fed dogs get messy. It is hard in this situation to keep raw meat juices containing pathogens, away from children too small to understand the importance of hand washing

The fact is that there is no rightway to feed your dog. No best way to provide a balanced diet.

Deciding Between Raw and Kibble

If you have a small puppy you may be happier feeding kibble
With children under five, it may be safer for you to feed kibble
If your dog has a close relative that has suffered from bloat, he may be safer eating raw
If your dog suffers from allergies, he might do better on raw

Choosing a brand for your Labrador

Cost matters, but choosing the lowest price Labrador food is not always the cheapest option. Very often, you will need to feed larger quantities of the cheaper food. Mid range dog food brands are usually a good starting point, but the most expensive brands can come with a hidden health benefit.

Biologically appropriate kibble?

I like the Orijen brand, it is what my dogs have as training treats or when I cant provide raw.Orijen is perhaps the closest thing to biologically appropriate food that youll find in a kibble at 80% meat and 20% vegetable with no grain at all.

Remember that a change in diet can upset your dogs stomach. So if you decide to switch brands, do it gradually over the space of a few days by adding a little more of the new food and a little less of the old, each day.

How often to feed your Labrador

Many dog owners continue to feed their dogs twice a day throughout their lives. Some people feed their dogs once a day after twelve months of age.

We do know that there is an association between bloat and large meals. Though this may only apply to kibble. Once daily feeding is probably fine if you decide to feed raw meat. But with kibble it may be too much dry food in one go. I recommend that you feed your adult dog morning and evening.

How often to feed Labrador puppies

The amount of food that your Labrador puppy needs to eat each day must be divided into several portions. If you try and give him the whole days ration in one go, he will probably give it his best shot. But it will almost certainly give him diarrhoea and could damage his stomach as kibble swells after drinking.

From eight to twelve weeks your puppy will benefit from four meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. Space the meals at least three hours apart to give him chance to digest them properly. And make sure the last meal is atwo tothree hours before his last trip to the toilet at bedtime.

Once your puppy gets to three months old you can divide his daily ration into three portions, and by six months to two. Breakfast and supper.

How much to feed your Labrador?

Recommended quantities can be found on kibble packaging and these will vary quite widely from brand to brand. They are also often on the high side. If your dog is a little overweight, feed about a third less than recommended for a few days and then re-assess his appearance. Your dog may well need less food than you think.

How long should your dog take to eat his dinner?

Some people leave food down for their dogs to graze on. I prefer my dogs to eat their meals up fairly quickly. Some dogs are more likely to be picky if they know they can come back to their dinner later on. I recommend you take up your dogs bowl after ten minutes if he hasnt finished. He wont come to any harm if he hasnt devoured the lot.

How to feed a Labrador slowly

A much more common problem in Labradors, is the dog that scoffs his dinner in a heartbeat and then begs for more with pleading eyes. There is an association between bloat and rapid eating, so if you can slow down your dog a little, it is probably good thing. The best way to do that is by using a slow feed bowl.

Feeding household scraps and left overs to dogs

Many people will add household scraps to their dogs dinner bowl. In theory, there is a risk that this will unbalance his diet. In practice, most adult dogs will come to no harm if they occasionally get some extras in their bowl.

Make sure that your leftovers dont contain sugar, onions, cooked bones or any common human foods that are toxic to dogs. And to keep the diet balanced, make sure that left overs dont comprise more than 10% of your dogs dinner.

Giving leftovers to puppies

Puppies need a very well balanced diet, so it is not a good idea to feed your puppy on household scraps.

Dog feeding equipment and storage

Good dog feeding bowls are dishwasher safe and not easily breakable. Cheap and colorful plastic bowls can look tired after a few trips through the dishwasher, so I like stainless steel. Although I admit it is quite noisy, and not as pretty as some of the ceramic products. Avoid raised bowls if possible as some studies have associated these with bloat.

For kibble storage I recommend sealable bins, which you can fit large quantites of dried dog food into and keep fresh.

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Giving water to your Labrador

Puppies and older dogs need water available to them at all times during the day. It is ok to take your puppys water away an hour before bedtime to help with housetraining.

Kibble fed dogs drink quite a lot of water, raw fed dogs drink very little.

When feeding problems need veterinary help

All puppies need regular veterinary check ups and when you take your puppy to the vet for his vaccinations. This is a great time to ask any questions you might have on his diet and welfare generally.

All dogs may eat less in very hot weather. But changes in appetite, especially sudden changes, can be a sign that your dog is not well. If yourLabrador goes off his food, dont just put it down to old age.