The Best Recommended Food for Dogs with Arthritis
The American Kennel Association says that at least one in five dogs suffers from canine arthritis. Unfortunately, canine arthritis is a progressive disease without a cure.
But, you can still help your dog live a happy, pain-free life by feeding them the best senior dog food for arthritis and giving them appropriate exercise for their condition. This is often supplemented with treatment from a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT).
Understanding Arthritis in Senior Dogs
Canine arthritis is a serious disease that can impact quality of life and mobility in senior dogs.
The most common symptoms include:
Loss of energy or interest in physical activities
Difficulty climbing stairs or jumping onto furniture
Using a narrow stance while standing to avoid pressure on joints
Limping during normal activities
Progressive arthritis can make normal activities, like walking, standing up, and jumping painful. Over time, dogs can gain weight and strain their joints even more because of inactivity.
Inflammation is a key element in arthritis, making symptoms worse and causing a lot of pain in your canine friend. That’s why reducing inflammation is a critical tool for reducing the impact of arthritis and improving quality of life.
The Best Diet for Senior Dogs with Arthritis
The best diet for senior dogs with arthritis is one that relies on whole food ingredients. These include fruits, vegetables, and lean meats with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.
Many commercial brands offer a well-balanced diet that will improve your dog’s arthritis symptoms and increase mobility.
In addition, you’ll want to avoid going overboard with treats. These are high-fat, unhealthy snacks that can derail progress and promote weight gain. Avoid giving fatty human foods, like fast food, sugary snacks, and table scraps as well.
The Best Dog Food for Senior Dogs with Arthritis: Our Recommendations
The key to improving arthritis symptoms in canines is to give them a healthy, well-balanced diet free of inflammatory ingredients.
However, a lot of senior dog formulas actually decrease protein (in order to decrease overall calories). So, it’s important to make sure that the kibble you choose is higher in protein. This is vital for a strong and healthy senior dog. Most senior dogs should have 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight everyday, while most adult dogs only need 1 gram.
We’ve reviewed the following popular brands to help you find the best senior dog food for arthritis.
Hill’s Prescription Diet: j/s Mobility
While this brand does require a veterinarian’s prescription, the Mobility food may be the best senior dog food for arthritis. The high protein dog food boasts the highest levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, plus it includes supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to reduce inflammation and protect cartilage.
The brand also includes powerful additions like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and L-carnitine to give your dog better health and reduced pain. These benefits are also verified by a double-blind study, which is why most vets recommend Hill’s for dogs with health issues.
Keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid these types of high-protein foods if your dog has existing kidney or liver disease since high-protein foods can put a strain on these organs.
Reach out to your vet today to see if they have a veterinary nutritionist on staff or if they can refer you to one in your area.
Wellness: Complete Health Senior
This well-rounded, high-protein dry food offers the best diet for senior dogs, and not just those with arthritis. It is made with plenty of lean protein sources, plus fruits and vegetables that promote overall health.
In addition to antioxidant-rich ingredients like blueberries and spinach, it also contains Omega-3-rich flaxseed, which helps to reduce inflammation. With the Complete Health Senior food, you’ll not only protect against arthritis—you can also promote heart, metabolic, and digestive health as well.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets: Joint Mobility
This high-protein dog food is the best dog food for arthritis, but it comes with a hefty price tag. It’s formulated for all dog breeds and sizes, plus it boasts a 30% protein content. This includes tons of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids and other supplements to reduce inflammation.
It’s also backed by double-blind studies with placebos, and Purina works with nutritionists and researchers to constantly refine their formulas.
Jiminy’s: Cravin Cricket
Jiminiy’s Cravin Cricket is an unconventional dog food that uses insect protein and highly digestible vegetables to create a complete diet that’s perfect for senior dogs with arthritis. These vegetables include sweet potato and quinoa, a healthy grain.
This high protein dog food is a great choice for senior dogs that struggle with arthritis and mobility issues. It’s also designed for canines with food allergies, plus it’s incredibly eco-friendly. That’s because it doesn’t use factory-farmed meats like chicken and beef. Finally, the powdered crickets also serve as a prebiotic and will help your dog’s digestion.
Merrick: Healthy Grains Senior Recipe
Merrick’s Healthy Grains Senior Recipe is a gluten-free dog food designed to help senior dogs maintain health and mobility. Its main protein sources are chicken, turkey, and chicken meal. The dog food is completed with a range of high-quality vegetables and carbohydrates. These include brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, barley, carrots, and apples.
We recommend this choice for owners of dogs who are showing early signs of arthritis, or are at risk of this disease. This food will help keep inflammatory markers down. Plus, the addition of salmon oil and glucosamine will help lubricate joints and improve mobility.
Finally, Merrick doesn’t require a prescription. This makes it a great choice for proactive pet owners who want to feed their dog the best without requiring a vet visit.
Foods and Ingredients to Avoid
The most common inflammatory foods found in commercial dog foods are corn and grains, including wheat, rice, spelt, and soy. These can increase blood sugar levels and cause swelling in some cases.
You’ll also want to avoid fatty proteins like fish, pork, and beef. Instead, opt for lean meats like chicken, turkey, bison, and lamb—all of which are low in fat and calories, which will help you manage your pet’s weight.
Finally, avoid salt, added sugar, and other additives with negative health effects.
Additional Tips for Managing Arthritis in Senior Dogs
Diet is not the only way to manage symptoms of canine arthritis. One of the most effective ways to manage arthritis symptoms and increase mobility is through regular, low-impact exercise. You’d be surprised just how much progress you’ll see with short walks and swimming.
Physical rehab is another popular way to manage arthritis in senior dogs. At Austin Canine Rehab & Wellness, we help you reduce arthritis symptoms and help your senior dog thrive through stretching and strengthening programs, weight management, and prescription pain control.
Contact our Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) today to learn more about our results and to develop a tailored exercise program for your senior dog.
Conclusion: Putting Together the Best Diet for Senior Dogs
The best diet for senior dogs with arthritis is one that contains whole foods and anti-inflammatory ingredients, like fruits, vegetables, and healthy lean meats. In addition, the best dog food for arthritis is one that avoids inflammatory and weight-gain-causing ingredients, like salt, sugars, fatty meats, and grains.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Adopting a healthy diet for your dog is a great way to improve their quality of life and arthritis symptoms. But, it’s important to know that there is no cure for arthritis since it’s a progressive disease.
However, a healthy diet—plus canine rehabilitation—can help manage arthritis symptoms and improve their day-to-day mobility. -
Yes, you should consult your dog’s vet before changing their diet. Your vet can help you find the best dog food for arthritis, which may include an off-the-shelf brand or prescription food. They can also help you transition slowly, avoiding an upset stomach and accidents in the house.
The best vets will also schedule a check-up and bloodwork after a couple of months to monitor the health effects of this new diet.
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It’s hard to give a standard answer because each dog, and their current diet, is unique. If your canine has an unhealthy diet, filled with treats and human food, they may respond quickly to their new diet. On the other hand, a dog that is already eating a balanced diet appropriate for their age, breed, and weight may see more gradual results.
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No, you should never feed your dog human supplements. That’s because they do not contain the same nutritional balance as canine supplements, and a supplement that’s appropriate for a 150+ lb human may cause an overdose in a much smaller dog. In addition, dogs can be allergic to many of the binders, additives, and other ingredients found in human supplements.
