There are three main reasons why pet owners change their pet’s food: 

1. the brand discontinues the product they are using
2. the current food is no longer performing
3. lifestyle changes

Reasons 2 and 3 often relate to the age of your pet and might be an indication it’s time to consider a pet food tailored for an older pet. 
    
As we age, our metabolism slows and our nutritional needs change. Did you know this is also true for our pets? As pets mature, their dietary needs can change based upon their activity level, overall health and body condition. Dogs and cats also do not have the same nutritional requirements as one another, which has an impact on how their diets need to change as they age.

What should I feed my senior pet?

At Nutram, we believe in and advocate for preventive nutrition. With this philosophy, we aim to enhance your pet’s quality of life by reducing the risk of health problems and diseases in which diet is known to play a key role in development (i.e. diabetes, cardiovascular disease). By crafting each of our recipes based on sound scientific principles and natural ingredients, Nutram’s recipes cater to supporting pet wellness from the inside-out.

As your pet ages and they develop specific nutritional needs, we can’t stress enough the importance of feeding your pet(s) the right food, based on their life stage. Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness offers excellent options for elderly pets. These natural, holistic and balanced recipes are rich in healthy grains, such as brown rice, rolled oats and pearled barley. You can be confident your pet’s food is healing, wholesome and nutritionally sound.

Once a cat is an adult, there isn’t a distinction between an adult and senior cat nutrition. The primary reason to transition to a cat food that is prepared for adults and seniors is to eliminate the transition period when the time comes to feed your senior cat. While a food prepared for both adults and seniors delivers the same nutrients to both life stages, senior cats require reduced calorie intake as their metabolism slows and energy requirements decrease. This can help to reduce unnecessary weight gain.

For dogs, a recipe with the senior classification is usually lower in protein to help maintain body weight and muscle mass and higher in fibre to help your pet feel full, while reducing calories, helping regulate blood sugar and avoiding constipation. 

Fun Fact: Nutram’s S10 Senior Dog recipe used a special “al dente” kibble, which is softer to chew, which helps support the most delicate of teeth.

As all pets age at different rates and develop individual health issues, we always suggest you discuss your pet’s specific nutritional needs with your veterinarian. If you do decide to switch your pet to Nutram, the transition is super easy!

Take the Optimum Transition Challenge!

When you decide to transition your senior pet to a food that is tailored to their specific nutritional needs, it’s important to make the switch gradually by mixing the old food with the new food. A slow transition over 14 days works best in most scenarios. It’s also recommended to have scheduled/measured feedings. Nutram makes the transition easy with a Customized Transition Diet Plan. 
Get your transition diet plan!

Try our Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness recipes for your aging pet(s)

• Dog:
  • S10 Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness Senior—Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Recipe
• Cat:
  • S5 Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness Adult & Senior—Chicken Meal and Salmon Meal Recipe 

Now that you know a bit more about the changing nutritional requirements for your pets, consider whether it’s appropriate to make the switch to a senior pet food. 

Remember, if you want to feed your pet the best, feed them Nutram!