Introducing Jimi from Whoa Nelly! Raw Dog Food, a small family business specialising in high-quality raw diets for dogs. Jimi, a small animal nutritionist with expertise in dog nutrition and diet formulation, works alongside Tory, a human nutritionist and whole food chef. Together, they have over 15 years of professional experience in nutrition and have seen the profound link between food and health. The Silver Woof team is thrilled that Jimi has agreed to share his insights on the benefits of raw food for senior dogs.

Senior dogs have similar but slightly different nutritional needs to younger pups. The good news is that a few small dietary changes can have a big impact on your dog’s health!

Here are the three best ways to improve your senior dog’s health:

1. Reduce the feeding amount

2. Make sure the diet is balanced (AAFCO or NRC)

3. Add healthy fats and antioxidants

Feeding a properly balanced raw diet that is rich in antioxidants and healthy fats is the best way to help your senior dog stay in great condition as it ages.

How Much To Feed

Before diving into dietary specifics, it’s really important to highlight that older dogs use significantly less energy than younger dogs. The most important thing you can do to support your senior dog is actually just not to overfeed them.

Multiple studies show that dogs on calorie-restricted diets have less body fat, fewer grey hairs, and a significantly improved quality of life. Overweight dogs live a whopping 2.5 years less on average, regardless of breed.

The conclusion is clear: lean dogs live longer!

Daily exercise, lots of sniffing time and heaps of affection is the best way to show your senior dog that you love them.

OK, so how much is too much food? It’s actually not that tricky to figure out; you just need to look at your dog. Their ribs and spine should be covered with only a thin layer of fat, and they should have an obvious waist when looking from above.

If you can feel squishy fat over their ribs and they don’t have a defined waist, reducing the amount of food you feed them is a great idea. If you are unsure, then it’s time to ask your vet.

What To Feed

A properly formulated raw diet provides the best nutrition for dogs of all ages, including seniors. This is because dogs are biologically adapted to eating a raw diet that contains mostly fresh meat. 

Feed your dog a diet that contains as much fresh whole food as you can afford. 100% raw is best, but if that’s not possible, even adding a small amount of fresh food is beneficial.

When choosing raw dog food, start by making sure that it meets a nutrient standard. This is important as it’s the only way to know that your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs. At a minimum, the food needs to be “complete and balanced” (AAFCO standard), but it's even better if you can find “optimal nutrition” (NRC standard).

Correctly formulated food is significantly more important than adding supplements or other foods. Getting a solid foundation in nutrition is always the first step. Before throwing money at expensive supplements or randomly adding other foods, we need to address the underlying diet.

The reason this is an issue is because many commercial dog foods are not correctly formulated. The dog food industry in Australia is enormous (about $5 billion annually) and there is a huge range in both ingredient quality and formulation. The Australian Pet Food Industry is barely regulated so there are a lots of dodgy option, and most of them come with shiny packaging and marketing so it’s difficult to know which ones are actually legit.

But don’t worry! There will likely be a good option available wherever you are. You just need to ask the manufacturer a few important questions before settling on an option.

Here’s what to ask:

1. What nutrient standard does it meet?

2. Is it made with 100% human-grade ingredients?

3. Are the fats & minerals balanced?

4. Does it contain synthetic vitamins and minerals? (If so, avoid)

Finding a food that meets this criteria means you are feeding something genuinely healthy for your dog. Give any prospective manufacture a little grilling - it they are up for it and have good answers you know you are in the right place.

Homemade Food

Lots of people prefer to make their own food, and that’s great! The key is to use a recipe from a reputable source and not random information from the internet. There is so much conflicting and wrong information it can be hard to know what to do without training.

The best option is talking with a canine nutritionist to formulate a diet specifically for your dog’s needs. It’s surprisingly not that expensive and will be the best long term for your dog’s health.

Alternatively, there’s a great book called “Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet” by Steven Brown, which includes lots of great recipes. If you are making your own food, I can’t recommend this book enough. It really is amazing!

What About Feeding Kibble?

I realise that budget is a big consideration for lots of people, and feeding kibble is often seen as a more economical option. I believe that everyone makes the best decision for their dog that they can so there is no judgment here.

What most people don’t realise is that kibble has a really long shelf life... but only while the bag is unopened. As soon as that bag of kibble is opened it begins to oxidise. It takes less than 3 weeks before the fats go rancid, so the shelf life is actually quite short. If you are feeding kibble it’s really important to buy bags that will only last a few weeks at most.

Best Foods To Add

There are a few food additions that will make a big difference to your dogs health and longevity regardless of whether they are fed raw or kibble.

The most important addition is to add a good source of EPA & DHA. These fats are essential to a healthy coat and skin, cognitive function, and the reduction of inflammation in the body. Fresh fish is the best source as fish oils will oxidise rapidly when exposed to air. You can feed fresh salmon or mullet, or tinned sardines in spring water. Aim to feed your dog fish at least three times a week - and watch as their coat becomes super glossy over the coming weeks and months!

Another great functional addition is blueberries. Studies show that blueberries improve cognitive function, heart health and help to protect against cancer. They contain a powerful antioxidant called pterostilbene which reduces oxidative stress, the primary cause of premature ageing. Frozen blueberries are actually better than fresh as they contain more antioxidants. And if you can afford them organic is always best.

Finally, if your dog is eating kibble then adding some veggies to their diet is a great idea. Lightly steamed broccoli (including the stem) as well as raw carrot/beetroot/beans are all good options. Dogs digestive systems are primarily designed to digest meat so it’s important to mince, blend or grate any veggies before giving them to your dog. Keep any additions to less than 10% of the total diet to avoid skewing the overall nutrition.

Providing your dog with a balanced diet including these foods is the best way to give your dogs an amazing senior life. I am constantly amazed at the incredible impact that diet has on health, so I hope that these small suggestions can have a positive impact on your dog too!

Jimi Wall - Canine Nutritionist (HATO)

www.whoanelly.com.au

Happy feeding ❤

Note: Always consult your vet before changing your dog’s diet. Some dogs have specific dietary sensitivities based on health conditions, age, and medication.