organic rolled rye

Finding the Right Food for your Senior Dog

According to the Grey Muzzle Organization, the most important decision you can make with regard to daily care for your aging dog is the food you feed. Spending as much as your budget will allow for a high quality food can make a difference in health and even vet bills. Avoid economy or low-cost foods. For example, many grocery store brands are lower quality. It only makes sense that these economy or low-cost foods tend to contain ingredients of lower quality that may not be as digestible for the older dog when compared with higher quality foods. Economy brands also lack consistency of ingredients from bag to bag, which might not be well tolerated by older dogs. Feeding lower quality foods will be reflected in your dog’s health, as the body struggles to obtain vital nutrients which may or may not be present. Older dogs have an even harder time digesting poor quality foods, as their organs become less efficient with the aging process. Unless you want to research each food or get a recommendation from your veterinarian, it’s probably best to avoid foods sold at grocery stores (Retreived from “Pet Care: Your Aging Pet” in the PetFinder).

Here, I will list some of the senior formulas in the dog food brands we carry at www.doggiefood.com, as well as the specific nutrients in each individual product.

Artemis Fresh Mix Small Breed Senior Dog Formula
Small senior dogs have special health needs and this pet food recipe meets those needs. This meat based dog food is healthy and delicious. In small breed pet food comparisons Artemis did well. Whether your senior dog needs Pomeranian dog food, shitzu dog food, or yorkie dog food your small breed senior dog will love it.

Artemis Medium and Large Breed Senior Dog Food is a large dog food containing natural holistic ingredients. This big dog food is formulated to help maintain great pet health. This meat food is a dry dog food containing high quality vegetables, rice, vitamins and minerals. Artemis Large Breed Senior Dog Food can enhance your senior dog health. Most senior dog health issues are associated with arthritis and overweight dogs. A dog food diet of high quality meat and vegetables is best. An old dog performs well on a premium dry dog food. This big dog food is natural and pet allergy free.

Eagle Pack Holistic Select Senior Care Dog Food was created based on the latest research to improve the health and longevity of your senior dog.

* 26% protein is now considered ideal for seniors. Moderate protein levels do not cause renal failure. Older dogs require protein to help maintain muscle mass and increase energy levels. Highly digestible diets are important for the aging dog’s digestive system. Eagle Pack diets are very digestible, proteins are 91-95% digestible. Digestibility is enhanced with Prebiotics, Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes.

* Glucosamine for joint health, plus our exclusive rainbow of antioxidants to slow the degenerative effects of aging.

* Ideal as a weight management diet for dogs of all ages.

EVO Turkey & Chicken Meal Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a high protein, low carb, grain free food precisely formulated with senior dogs in mind. EVO Senior Dog Food is specifically formulated to address common aging concerns, such as joint health, weight management and vitality which can occur as they reach their senior years, 6 years old for large breeds and 8 years for smaller breeds.

Honest Kitchen Force is a delicious offering for adult dogs with dog food allery concerns or adult dogs who are intolerant of grains. Force is formulated with moderate protein, higher fat and total calories, with a moderate level of carbohydrates This food is made from 100% human food grade chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, cabbage, sweet potatoes, zucchini, green beans, apples, honey, alfalfa, kelp, yogurt, bananas, papayas, basil, garlic, rosemary, vitamins and minerals.

Honest Kitchen Verve is a premium dog food is ideal for adult maintenance, for dogs who do well with some grain in their diets. Verve is a low fat., low calorie formula, with beef as the protein source. Verve is a combination of 100% human food grade organic rolled barley, organic rolled rye, beef, organic rolled oats, organic flaxseed, carrots, alfalfa, potatoes, eggs, spinach, red and green bell peppers, apples, chicory, parsley, cranberries, rosemary, peppermint, vitamins and minerals.

Innova Senior Plus Dry Dog Food. Recent studies actually show that older dogs have similar nutritional requirements as their younger counterparts. As a result, Innova Senior Plus Adult Dog Food is not unnecessarily restricted in protein or fat.  In addition, because weight control and joint health are common concerns in older dogs, Innova Senior Plus Adult Dog Food has slightly more fiber than Innova Adult Small and Large Bites to help with weight maintenance and the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to help maintain healthy joints and cartilage.

Innova Senior Dry Dog Food. Oxidative damage is believed to contribute to aging; therefore; Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, is incorporated into the food at the maximum level allowable.

Innova Large Breed Senior Dog Food has more protein and slightly less calories than Innova Large Breed Adult Dog Food to help maintain your dog’s lean body as he or she ages while glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have been added to help maintain healthy joints and cartilage. Innova Large Breed Senior Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance.

Lotus Senior Chicken Recipe Dog Food is specially formulated to provide optimum nutrition to your senior dog, while still maintaining the scrumptious flavor Lotus is known for. Lotus Senior has the same high-quality protein sources as regular Lotus Chicken—fresh chicken and white fish—with the added benefit of green-lipped mussels. These mussels are high in glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, which help maintain connective tissue, making for healthy hips and joints, and keeping arthritis at bay. And like the rest of the Lotus family, Lotus Senior Recipe is chock full of antioxidants, which maintain healthy cells, helping protect against premature aging, disease and decay. And where do these antioxidants come from? From the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables packed into every Lotus kibble. Things like green apples, carrots, sweet peas, and garlic, which is rich in selenium. How’s that for a fountain of youth?

Orijen Senior Dog Food is loaded with the protein-packed animal ingredients (75%) that Mother Nature evolved all dogs to eat, with high ratios of free-run chicken and turkey, whole eggs and wild-caught fish — farmed or fished within our region and delivered FRESH each day so they’re preservative-free and brimming with proteins and fats to nourish your older dog completely. Carbohydrate-limited and grain-free to replicate your senior dog’s natural diet, ORIJEN SENIOR supplies healthful regional fruits, vegetables and botanicals — including sea vegetables, juniper berries and marigold flowers — naturally rich in phytonutrients, B-vitamins and essential trace minerals. Made with great care and pride in our award-winning factory here in Alberta, Canada, ORIJEN SENIOR keeps your elder dog healthy, happy and strong.

Wellness Super5Mix Just For Seniors Dry Dog Food. Holistically formulated for the complete health of your senior dog. Provides whole-body nutritional support and promotes overall fitness and longevity.

For pricing information, go to www.doggiefood.com. For individual inquiries concerning the proper senior care for your pet, feel free to call us at 401-667-0110.

Which is the healthiest option for breakfast?

Organic Rolled oats

The sprouted grain bread.

Here’s why:

Although the oat bran, rolled oats and Scottish oatmeal are all great sources of complex carbs, they have very little protein. The Organic Heritage Os are good as far as cold cereals go, but they are still made from flour (versus the whole grain form like oatmeal), which increases their glycemic index and the impact the food has on blood sugar levels. The Rye Crispbreads are pretty much empty, nutritionally.

The sprouted grain bread, on the other hand, has a complete amino acid profile. While not terribly high in protein (it has between 3-4 grams per slice) the protein is complete. It also has around 3 grams of fiber. Overall, it’s the best choice if you had to choose one of the six.

However, I would take the protein level of your breakfast up a little bit to avoid getting hungry later in the morning. Consider drinking a cup of skim milk alongside the bread, put some natural peanut butter on it, or top it with a poached egg.

Also, Food for Life makes a very healthy sprouted grain cereal that you might want to check out.

Three links below from my blog that you might find helpful.

Best of luck!

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Country Choice Organic Multi Grain Hot Cereal, 18-Ounce Canisters (Pack of 6) $21.01 Country Choice Organic Hot Cereal, Multigrain, 18-Ounce Canisters (Pack of 12)…

Arrowhead Mills Organic Hot Cereal, 4 Grain Plus Flax, 24-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) $19.34 Naturally nutritious. Whole grain. Blended grains a Combination of the Best. . This tasty mixture of cracked wheat, steel cut oats, rye and barley grits, plus the boost from flax seed makes a high fiber, naturally delicious hot cereal! USDA Organic. From America’s heartland to your heart. Arrowhead Mills has been the pioneer and leader in organic and natural baking mixes, grains, cereals and nut b…

EDEN Rye Flakes, 16 -Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12) $28.03 Nebraska family farm organic rye, gas fire roasted and rolled into flakes. Ideal for hot breakfast cereal, granola and muesli, thickening soups, and in baked goods. 100 percent whole grain that cooks in 3 minutes. Rich in dietary fiber and a good source of magnesium. Packed in a protective reclosable pouch….