This post about how to switch dog food for a senior dog has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BrightMind #CollectiveBias
Most people know that a dog should start with a food designed for puppies and then switch to an adult dog food. However, what some people may not realize (including me) is that as your dog enters its senior years (age 7+), you should switch to a food for senior dogs. Why? According to the ASPCA, as a dog ages some of the following health issues may arise and many of them can be managed with diet:
- deterioration of skin and coat
- loss of muscle mass
- more frequent intestinal problems
- arthritis
- obesity
- dental problems
- decreased ability to fight off infection
Honey turned 9 this past June and I have never switched her food to one formulated for senior dogs. While we were at PetSmart, I noticed this section of the Purina ProPlan aisle:
I read the sign and thought, yes, I would like to do that! I started reading the dog food bags and found out all sorts of great information.
Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind dog food for seniors
Provides needed protein
According to the ASPCA, you should “avoid ‘senior’ diets that have reduced levels of protein. […] It is important to feed older dogs diets that contain optimum levels of highly digestible protein to help maintain good muscle mass.” That is why all Pro Plan Bright Mind formulas are high in protein from high-quality sources.
Promotes healthy skin and coat
“Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that plays a role in the maintenance of healthy skin and coat. Although it is normally produced in a dog’s liver, GLA levels may be diminished in older dogs,” says the ASPCA. All Pro Plan Bright Mind formulas contain omega 6 fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and coat.
Nourishes the senior dog’s mind
A dog’s mind begins to change around age 7. This is why Pro Plan Bright Mind dog food supports an aging dog’s needs and nourishes cognitive health. Their formulas contain enhanced botanical oils that promote memory, attention and trainability.
Anyone who follows me on Instagram may have noticed that I have a hard time getting photos of Honey where she isn’t laying around sleeping in a comfy spot. I would love to see her interact with me more throughout the day. According to Purina, if I feed her Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind daily I may notice a difference in her interaction with me, her interest in play and her ability to adapt and cope with change. This is exactly what I want! So we loaded it up in the cart and brought it home.
How to switch dog foods
According to the Pro Plan Bright Mind dog food bag, a gradual transition to a new dog food will help avoid dietary upsets. Even though I am excited to see how Honey will be on the Pro Plan Bright Mind food, I am going to allow 7 days to ease her off of her old food and onto the new one, but you can take up to 10 days. Here is my plan:
We are going to be feeding her Pro Plan Bright Mind for 30 days to see the full effects. Look for a post in about a month where I’ll let you know how it goes and what changes I see in Honey.
Do you have a senior dog? What changes have you seen as your dog has gotten older? Why not pick up a bag of Pro Plan Bright Mind at PetSmart and try it with us?
Comments