Food, Buying Guide

10 Best Senior Dog Food UK – Reviews & Top Picks

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Author: Jacob Kay

It’s just as important to look after senior dog health and watch their diet as it was when they were puppies. Senior dogs’ bodies demand different nutrients, which help to keep them healthy for a longer period of time.

So, nowadays, you must have seen that variety of senior dog food is available in the market. In fact, many brands have categorized their senior food in different flavours, and allergy free, so that it can easily suit your furry pal’s health.

In this review article, we will explore the 10 best senior dog food UK, available in the market. During our research, we kept an account of important factors that senior dogs need for a healthy lifestyle. Accordingly, jotted down the best senior dog foods available in the UK market.

For your better understanding, we have also attached a buyer’s guide. It will guide you about the key factors that need to be checked before making the final selection.

The 10 Best Senior Dog Food UK

1. Forthglade Complete Natural Senior Wet Dog Food

We recommend Forthglade Complete Natural Senior Wet Dog Food as the best overall choice in this category. The recipe includes chicken with heart, and turkey with liver, both are good sources of protein, which is good for senior dogs’ health. As they grow old, their muscle and joints get weakened. So high protein consumption is important to provide support to their muscle mass.

Forthglade Complete Natural Senior Wet Dog Food

This grain-free recipe contains all the essential vitamins, and minerals and gives a natural flavour to your furry pal’s taste buds. Plus, no grains are added, so it is good for those senior dogs who have sensitive stomachs.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Chicken with Heart & Turkey with Liver
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Wet Form

Overall, it is a completely balanced meal, enriched with all the essential nutrients, that your senior dog’s body needs for a healthy lifestyle. This recipe is free from fillers, and junk, and only gives natural flavour to your furry pal’s taste buds.

Things we liked:
  • This recipe includes 75% chicken and turkey, which means it is high in protein.
  • All the essential vitamins and minerals are added to the recipe to boost your senior dog’s immune system.
  • No grains, filler, junk, artificial colours, or flavours are added to the recipe, which can harm your senior dog’s health.
  • This recipe is also suitable for senior dogs with sensitive stomachs. So don’t have to look for another recipe for them.
Things we didn’t like:
  • Some seniors won’t accept the taste on the first attempt. So, give them time to adapt to the taste of the food.

2. BETA Senior Dry Dog Food

Our premium choice is manufactured by Betacom. This includes chicken as the first ingredient, followed by other selected natural ingredients to make it a balanced meal. This will help to support the healthy ageing of your senior furry pal.

BETA Senior Dry Dog Food

Furthermore, the natural ingredients used in the recipe are a great source of omega-3 fatty acid, which is good for skin and coat. Plus, natural prebiotics supplements used in the recipe are good for the digestive system, as it helps to function easily.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Fresh Chicken Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Pouch Form

The senior dog food by BETA is one of the bestsellers of the Amazon also, it is quite expensive but worth buying for your senior dog’s health. It’s grain-free, which makes it suitable for senior as well as sensitive dogs because no artificial colours or flavours are added to the recipe.

Things we liked:
  • This healthy recipe is made in the UK, and chicken is the primary ingredient of this meal.
  • Natural prebiotics supplements are used for the easy digestion of your senior furry pal.
  • Essential amino acids provide support to vital organ functions.
  • No artificial colours or flavours are added to the recipe.
Things we didn’t like:
  • Most of the customers find this product expensive. But it’s worth buying it for your senior dog’s health.

3. IAMS for Vitality Senior Dry Dog Food

If you need a more affordable choice, the IAMS for Vitality Senior Dry Dog Food is a great alternative to our top pick. This recipe is prepared by adding fresh chicken as the core ingredient, followed by other natural ingredients. It only adds benefits to your furry pal’s body.

BETA Senior Dry Dog Food

It also includes high-fibre, and prebiotic supplements, for healthy digestion, and to prevent your senior dog from any constipation issues. The other ingredients are great sources of vitamins, and minerals, which provide support to your furry pal’s immune system.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Chicken Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Dry Pellet Form

In addition, Omega-3 and 6 will help you to keep your senior dog’s skin and coat healthy and shiny even in his senior hood stage. So, this recipe will offer a balanced meal enriched with all the essential nutrients, which will also help to keep his bones and muscles strong.

Things we liked:
  • Crunchy kibbles and minerals help to reduce tartar in his teeth.
  • Your senior dog will surely enjoy the taste of the fresh chicken, followed by other natural ingredients.
  • Omega-3 and 6 help to add shine to the coat and maintain the healthy skin of your senior dog.
  • Offers a balanced meal, enriched with all the essential nutrients for better health development.
Things we didn’t like:
  • The drawback side of this recipe might be it comes in dry form, which is not likeable by many dogs. You can add water to it to make it a bit of a wet texture.

4. James Wellbeloved Complete Wet Senior Dog Food

James Wellbeloved Complete Wet Senior Dog Food is specifically formulated for senior dogs. The recipe is formulated with all the natural ingredients including British chicken, followed by fresh non-toxic fruits and vegetables. The primary ingredient of this recipe is chicken, which is a single source of protein also that helps to provide strength to the muscle and joints of your furry pal.

James Wellbeloved Complete Wet Senior Dog Food

Furthermore, this food is free from wheat gluten, soya, and grains, which makes it suitable for your senior dog’s digestive system. Now, he won’t have to face any digestion issues, and if he’s suffering from any allergies, this recipe will prevent him from getting any allergic reactions.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Turkey Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Pate Form

In addition, this recipe includes omega-3 fatty acids, which are a good addition to healthy skin and coat. Plus, no artificial flavours or colours are used during the formulation of a recipe to give a 100% natural taste to your furry pal.

Things we liked:
  • The recipe includes British chicken, a single source of protein, which is good for your senior dog.
  • Free from wheat gluten, soya, and grains, which makes it suitable for both sensitive and non-sensitive dogs’ stomachs.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids help to add glow to their skin and coat.
  • Includes fresh fruits and vegetables, which are a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Things we didn’t like:
  • The snag side of this recipe might be it includes enough fruits and vegetables, so picky eaters won’t accept it easily.

5. Wellness Core Senior Original Dry Food

The Wellness Core Senior Original Dry Food is formulated to support a healthy weight with the support of L-Carnitine and 30% less fat, which prevent your senior dog from gaining any unnecessary weight and keep them active.

Wellness Core Senior Original Dry Food

Furthermore, an adequate amount of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and controlled sodium levels help to provide the mobility of senior dogs. Plus, all these supplements work well for their digestive system also, so your furry pal will not face any constipation issues.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Fresh Chicken and Turkey Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Granule Form

The Wellness Core recipe is rich in protein and low in carbs and fat, which makes it an ideal choice for the senior dog. Because during senior hood, their body needs an adequate amount of protein for muscle strength and needs to cut down the unwanted fats for a healthy lifestyle.

Things we liked:
  • The recipe contains dry chicken and turkey, the only source of protein 32%-37% in the meal
  • Includes fresh fruits and vegetables in the recipe, which is a good source of fibre and vitamins
  • It’s free from artificial colours or flavours
  • Prebiotic supplements help in easy digestion and prevent your furry pal from constipation issues
Things we didn’t like:
  • The packaging needs to be done properly, to avoid spoilage issues.

6. Arden Grange Senior Dry Dog Food

The Arden Grange dry dog food is one of the best senior dog food available in the UK market. This recipe includes the correct amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and good fats, which helps in maintaining your senior furry pal’s health.

Arden Grange Senior Dry Dog Food

This recipe is formulated for those above seven years old and contains glucosamine and chondroitin, to provide support to their joints and muscles, to improve mobility. Furthermore, it contains prebiotics supplements, which help in easy digestion, and omega-6 fatty acid is great for their skin and coat health.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Chicken Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Granule Form

Furthermore, it is naturally hypoallergenic, which means no beef, soya, wheat, or any dairy products are used in the formulation of the recipe. So, you can safely feed it to your senior dog, even if he is prone to allergies, you can feed this hypoallergenic senior dog food.

Things we liked:
  • The recipe includes an adequate amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and good fats.
  • No artificial colours or flavours are added to the recipe.
  • It is naturally hypoallergenic.
  • Includes vitamins, and good fats, which help to maintain their skin, and coat.
Things we didn’t like:
  • The snag side of this recipe might be the food texture, a picky eater might not accept it in the first place.

7. HARRINGTONS Complete Senior Dry Dog

The HARRINGTONS offer dry dog food for your senior furry pal. This recipe is formulated by keeping your senior dog’s health and body requirements. It is loaded with lots of natural ingredients, such as fresh chicken, which is the core ingredient of this recipe, and a great source of protein. This is good for senior dogs’ bodies as it helps to add strength to their muscle and keep them active even in their senior hood stage.

HARRINGTONS Complete Senior Dry Dog

It contains a blend of glucosamine and chondroitin, that help to support joints, which is good for senior dogs. As it helps to maintain their muscle mass and joint structure so that they can carry out their everyday walk to stay healthy.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Chicken Flavour
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Dry Form

In addition, the recipe also includes seaweed, which is a great source of vitamins, and minerals, that help to trace the elements, boost the immune system, to fight against germs, or disease. Plus, prebiotic supplements are also added to the recipe for easy digestion.

Things we liked:
  • Fresh chicken is the primary ingredient of this recipe, a great source of a single protein.
  • Includes vitamin E and omega-3 to support a healthy immune system.
  • A balanced ratio of all the essential ingredients helps to keep your furry pal’s skin and coat healthy.
  • The recipe is free from grains, artificial flavours and colours, which makes it healthy and suitable for your senior dog.
Things we didn’t like:
  • The sang side of this recipe could be the kibble size. Senior dogs with tooth issues might find it tricky to chew it.

8. Autarky Dry Food for Senior Dogs

This delicious chicken dry dog food by Autarky is specially formulated for your senior dog. Only natural ingredients are used during the formulation of the recipe that helps to boost your furry pal’s immune system. So, without worrying much, you can feed this dry food to your oldie, to give him a healthy lifestyle.

Autarky Dry Food for Senior Dogs

Furthermore, Autarky senior dog food comes with taurine and carnitine, which help to support your furry pal’s heart and boost energy level. In addition, this recipe is also a good source of omega acid, and vitamins, which help to maintain their skin and coat shiny for the long run.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Mature Lite Chicken & Rice
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Dry Kibble Form

Additionally, this dry food recipe contains glucosamine, which helps to support joints. And also includes local ingredients for a tempting taste, without adding any artificial colours, and flavours to the recipe. Plus, yucca extract is added to the recipe, which reduces the bad odour in your dog’s stool. Overall, it’s worth buying for your senior furry pal.

Things we liked:
  • The recipe includes taurine and carnitine, which is good for your oldie’s heart.
  • Include natural antioxidants, and herbs that help to boost the immune system.
  • Vitamins and good fats are helpful to maintain the skin and coat shininess.
  • Offers you a balanced meal enriched with all the natural ingredients, and essential nutrients for your senior dog.
Things we didn’t like:
  • The dry food might be tricky for your furry pal to chew easily, you can add a bit of water and then serve it to him.

9. Wagg Complete Senior Dry Dog Food

This senior dry dog food recipe by Wagg is formulated using only natural ingredients. The core ingredient is chicken followed by rice and gravy to give a delicious taste to your furry pal’s taste buds. It contains 28% meat protein, which is sufficient for a senior dog diet. High protein helps to strengthen the muscles.

Wagg Complete Senior Dry Dog Food

Furthermore, the food recipe includes glucosamine and chondroitin, which helps to provide support to joints. As we know, in the senior stage, your dog’s joints get to weaken, and they take low-key interest in any activity level. This supplement helps to boost their energy level as well as add strength to their joints.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Chicken and Rice
  2. Life Stage: Senior Life Stage
  3. Item Form: Granule Form

Moreover, this recipe contains an extract from the yucca plant to reduce the odours, which makes it suitable for your furry pal to ingest it properly. It is free from grains, artificial colours, or flavours, you can safely feed it to your senior dog.

Things we liked:
  • The core ingredient of this recipe is chicken, a single source protein, which makes it ideal for senior dogs’ body requirements.
  • The recipe includes glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, which help to support your furry pal’s joints in their senior hood stage.
  • It also contains an extract from the yucca plant to reduce the odours.
  • Free from grains, artificial colours, or flavours for your senior dog’s health benefits.
Things we didn’t like:
  • They need to work on the packaging style. The food should be kept correctly in transit, to prevent it from getting damaged.

10. Burns Pet Natural Senior Wet Dog Food

The senior wet dog food recipe by Burns Pet Natural offers high-quality food and is approved by a veterinary surgeon. It is a hand-cooked recipe in Wales, including all the sourced ingredients from British and Irish farms. This recipe is a single-source protein, formulated by keeping senior dog body requirements, and it is suitable for hypoallergenic dogs also.

Burns Pet Natural Senior Wet Dog Food

This recipe offers a great variety of flavours such as chicken, hearty lamb, egg, fresh fish, etc… It is formulated in such a way, that even fussy or picky eaters will finish their meal bowl. Moreover, it is low in calories, high in fibre, single source of protein, which makes it suitable for senior dogs’ health.

Key Feature:

  1. Flavour: Variety Pack
  2. Life Stage: All Life Stages (Especially, Senior Dogs)
  3. Item Form: Pate Form

In addition, this brand is highly recommended, and no artificial colours or flavours are added to the formulation of the recipe.

Things we liked:
  • This wet food recipe is a single source of protein, which makes it suitable for senior dogs’ body requirements.
  • It offers a great variety of flavours such as chicken, hearty lamb, egg, and fish.
  • Includes low calories, and high protein, which is good for senior dogs. It prevents them from gaining unwanted fats.
  • No artificial colours, or flavours, are added to the recipe
Things we didn’t like:
  • The snag side might be it is available in pate form. It won’t be easily chewable by seniors with teeth issues. Still, you can add water and make it more liquid form for easy feeding.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Senior Dog Food UK

After exploring the top 10 best senior dog food brands available in the UK market, you know very well, which types, and brands you can opt for your oldie. But, that is not enough to select it because individual dogs have different nutrient needs, and their body fights different health issues. So, it is important to check basic key factors before adding the product to your buying cart.

Our buyer’s guide will provide essential information on key factors to look at before buying the best senior dog food.

Let’s get started, and gain fruitful knowledge regarding the nutritional needs of older dogs, natural ingredients, joint health supplements, and the shelf life of food.

1. Nutritional Needs of Older Dogs

At any stage of life, dogs require a balanced diet enriched with all the essential nutrients. When you are parenting a senior dog, it’s important to check the nutrients of the recipe, and whether it will fulfil your oldie’s body requirements.

As they grow old along with essential nutrients, you need to concentrate on the proportion of nutrients their body is demanding. This is because with time, their activity level will decrease, and diseases and germs slow down the metabolism of their body.

For instance, senior dogs’ metabolism decreases, and they tend to burn fewer calories, which makes them gain unwanted fats. So, it is suggested to look for a recipe with low calories, which will help his body maintain his weight.

Senior dogs’ body needs plenty of protein to strengthen their muscles. Plus, a sufficient amount of protein is necessary to keep the immune system working effectively. Furthermore, a high fibre level and good fats ratio should be there in the recipe. This is because fibre helps in easy digestion, and good fats help in maintaining the skin and coat of your furry pal.

2. Natural Ingredients

Another key factor is natural ingredients, so don’t forget to check the ingredients label, and then add senior dog food to your cart. With age, not only does their physical health change but also their dietary requirements also change.

For instance, the ingredients, which were absolutely suitable for your dog in the adult stage, it can be possible that now his body cannot take that ingredient and react adversely.

The recipe, you select for your oldie should be free of allergic ingredients, artificial colours, flavours, grain-free, etc… Plus, you can also consult the vet, before switching your dog’s food. They know your furry pal’s health and will guide you on, which senior food recipe will be appropriate as per his current life stage and health.

3. Joint Health Supplements

When we talk about choosing the food for senior dogs, along with the nutrients, and natural ingredients, it is also important to look at the supplements which support their joint health. When you are buying senior dog food, make sure along with the omega-3 fatty acid, the recipe includes other healthy supplements, which provide strength to their joints and muscles.

In this way, you can keep your senior dog a bit active, and he will not feel lazy the whole day. Which will ultimately give a positive effect on their physical and mental health. If their muscles and joints are strong enough to carry out a walk for a day, it will be more than sufficient.

4. Shelf Life of Food

Well, the shelf life of food is one of the key factors, to look at when selecting the best senior dog food available in the UK market. Before buying food, make sure you check the expiry date of the product, and if it offers a six to twelve-month expiry. It is well in good, you can store it for a longer period of time and food will also not get stale or soiled.

Furthermore, it is suggested to go for a product which includes only natural ingredients, no artificial colours, flavours, etc… This is because if the recipe is made up of natural ingredients it will last longer, and will hold the nutrient value for a longer period of time.

FAQs

Which is the best senior dog food in the UK market?

The Forthglade Complete Natural Senior Wet Dog Food, and BETA Senior Dry Dog Food, are the best senior dog food available in the UK market. This is because both recipes are highly rich in protein, which help to provide strength to the muscle and joints in their senior hood stage. Enriched with all the essential nutrients, as omega-3 and 6 help in maintaining the skin and coat of your senior dog. Whereas vitamins and minerals, and prebiotic supplements boost the immune system and help in easy digestion.

How much does the best senior dog food cost in the UK market?

As per our current survey, it has been observed that the cost of the best senior dog food varies as per their range, brand, size, etc… According to our best senior dog food list, it will cost you something around £9-£40 for a high-quality senior dog food, available in the UK market. Make a wise decision by considering the nutrients factors, quality and which won’t pinch your pocket.

Is it worth buying senior dog food?

Well, yes, it’s worth buying senior dog food for your oldie. There is no rule or something that one has to shift their puppy to senior dog food when they reach the oldie hood. But, if you do so, it is good for his health and will increase his life span a bit more. This is because as your furry pals start ageing, their body requires different nutrients. So you have to give them meals as per their body requirement for a better, and healthy lifestyle.

What are three things you should never feed your dog?

As we know, there are certain criteria regarding feeding human foods to your furry pal. Among that list, three things you can avoid feeding your pup are onion, garlic, and chocolates. These ingredients are toxic to your dog’s body and can damage the digestive as well as the immune system of your furry pal. Which can lead to severe health complications in the future.

Are semi-moist foods a bad idea?

It has been observed that semi-moist foods are not good for dogs’ health. The reason behind, it includes more sugar and salt as compared to dry or canned dog food. It is not beneficial to feed your furry pal.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the best senior dog food UK, we recommend the Forthglade Complete Natural Senior Wet Dog Food, it is our best overall choice in this category. This recipe offers 75% protein and other natural ingredients, which makes it highly suitable for your senior dog’s health.

Another smart choice is our premium choice BETA Senior Dry Dog Food. It is costly, but it is worth buying, as this recipe offers all the nutrients extracted from the natural ingredients, which makes it a high-quality recipe for your furry pal.

If you’re looking for the best senior dog food for the money, then the IAMS for Vitality Senior Dog Food is our suggestion. Not only it fits your budget, but with a low cost and also provides high-quality senior dog food, enriched with all the essential nutrients for your dog’s healthy life.

Now, after reviewing our 10 best senior dog food list, and buyer’s guide key points, you can make a wise decision, as per your furry pal’s preference, and health.

We hope our reviews have helped you make a wise decision about what type of food might work best for your oldie needs.

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About
Jacob Kay
Jacob Kay is a Veterinary Advisor and Editor at WWD. He’s also a dog lover and has two pet dogs of his own. He has extensive knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine and is always happy to share his insights with others.

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