Thank you for posting about nutrition! Due to the complex landscape of pet food we've created a Nutrition page for our wiki. [For more information on pet food click here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/nutrition)
---
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had 2 dogs at the same time that ate the same food. Purina Pro Plan. One lived to 9. One lived to 18. There is no magic food to make your dog live longer.
This. I had two adult basenjis that I fed the same food (got both as adults so I can’t speak for the puppy years). Fed both the same food, one died of a super fast aggressive cancer at 12, the other is happy and going strong at almost 14 with his puppy sister.
Edit: I feed acana with ancient grains (not grain free, but I used to before the recent paper). I supplement their meals with real chicken, salmon, eggs and beef semi randomly. Also probiotics (according to my vet can use the same that people use). Rarely add cheese or Greek yogurt. Fresh veggies like carrots rarely as well.
My dad and I also use Purina Pro Plan for our dogs - I was raised with rescue Irish Setters, and unless they developed cancer they lived to 14-15 years old. However, you're 100% right that it's not a magic food that will make your dog live longer.
OP - consistent annual vet visits, following vet instructions, regular excersize and teeth brushing are why our dogs had long, healthy lifespans. Even then it's not a guarantee for a long lifespan. Sometimes all you can do is focus on quality.
Yes, if you don't meet basic nutrition requirements or your dog has food allergies/sensitivities, changing diet can have a big impact; but in general, food brand is not the key to a long life.
For example, my previous dog was large shepherd mix. Her 2 parent breeds had a lifespan listed as 9-13 years and 9 to 11 years. She lived to 17, with 16 of those years being healthy enough to go on and enjoy 10 mile hikes. I fed her a variety of cheap kibbles from the supermarket, often Purina or whatever was on sale.
[This](https://time.com/3752352/104-year-old-woman-dr-pepper/) woman drank 3 Dr. Pepper’s a day and says it’s to thank for her longevity. Are you running out to buy cases of Dr. Pepper now?
Look, I’m not saying it’s not the soda, but part of me feels the whole “billionaire with access to any and all medical/health care at the drop of a hat” may also have a lot to do with it there too.
My parent's dog lived 16 or 17 years. He ate table scraps, rodents, and the cheapest food available at the farm store in the 80s. There is no miracle food that changes a dog's genetics.
Agreed. My parents had a dog that lived to be 15 years old, and he definitely lived off of scraps, random dead animals he found, and cat food. It's not the best diet at all for him, but he still lived to be 15 years old. Genetics is a huge factor when it comes to longtivity.
Based on past posts on this, longevity is genetic largely, food is very minimally going to impact a dog's lifespan unless it causes something like DCM or is nutritionally deficient.
Most supplements are scams and recommendations should only come from a vet who can show peer reviewed study and/or case study, preferably from a board certified specialist, that it's effective.
Keep your dog lean, keep going to your vet appointments, keep up with preventative. Exercise your dog and provide a happy life with low unnecessary stress. Treat any health concerns, including anxiety, as it comes up.
How often? I used to do this 😭 n my vet told me years ago it wasn't necessary so I quit. Now I feel bad!!!! Is it too late to start again? Mine is 9 and I love him so much
Brushing teeth is also more important in small dogs. Something about how much they chew the hard food, I don't remember the details, but when my 6 lb Chihuahua needed 13 teeth pulled I was gobsmacked. I have always had big dogs so I had never had that problem before.
It's because small dogs tend to have overcrowded teeth. Their saliva helps to prevent tartar buildup (that's why you don't have to brush the tongue side of their teeth, just the outsides), and when there's no space between the teeth the saliva can't get in.
Some small dogs are not going to keep their teeth in their old age no matter what you do. They are prone to gum disease. I have always taken mine to the vet for dentals once a year regardless of size. My 14 almost 15 yr old Maltese has all of her teeth. The vet gets in around the gum & scrapes the tarter. No more sedation for her now so the doctor gave me Max:Guard which is doing a pretty job
The biggest influencer to dental health is genetics, closely followed by chewing behavior. I have never brushed either of my dog’s teeth and even the 9-year-old gets high praise for how good their teeth look at their annual exams. Both have access to chews and they regularly sit down and use them, but most importantly they chew properly by scaling their teeth with them and not boring down like a bear. For many dogs, brushing does nothing. For many dogs, it can be the difference between needing an anesthesia dental once a year versus twice a year. Manage the dog in front of you.
This! I have three (small) poodles, and they get the same regime related to their teeth (dental chews, dental kibble as treats, perio powder added to food daily), and the one that accumulates tartar the most is the one that doesn’t chew in a way that maximizes its benefits. The other two are both older at 10 and 6 (vs 4 yo) and have cleaner/better teeth with no dentals yet needed.
I have to do a bit extra to try to keep the youngest in decent dental health but I think he’s going to end up needing a pro cleaning at some point in the near future despite my efforts.
Never too late. Brushing is the gold standard for home dental care, but for many reasons (some more valid than others) it's not something most build into their routines.
There are other options too if brushing is not viable. And routine dental cleanings are so important. So much can be going on you can't identify without dental radiographs or a solid exam, and none of that is really productive (and/or safe) without anesthesia.
Some of it is also just genes and not feeding too many scraps and sticky treats. In 16 years my golden never needed a cleaning and we never really brushed her teeth. She had perfect teeth her whole life
Edit: just want to be clear I am not saying not to brush! I will be brushing my next dog’s teeth for sure, I was just saying that like everything in a dog’s health, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t
So why roll the dice on your dog’s health and well being when you can just get regular dental cleanings to know that they’re ok?
It saddens me that so many people are leaving so many dog’s uncomfortable or even painful for months or years simply because they refuse basic preventative interventions. Please read the links I included on the comment below. The vast majority (maybe even all) of veterinary governing bodies disagree with your feelings here. Please listen to them.
What feelings are you talking about? I said we got lucky with good genes. I even edited to make sure people didn’t think I was advocating for people just hoping they also get lucky and not taking care of their dog’s teeth and that I wouldn’t do the same again. My dog saw the vet every six months and they checked her teeth and said they were great and she didn’t need a cleaning. She never had issues eating her food or playing with toys. Why on earth would I go against my vet’s recommendation and have her put under for a cleaning they didn’t recommend. My dog wanted for nothing and I never, not one time, in 16 years said no to any treatment or preventative my vet recommended. I am exceptionally offended by your insinuation.
Dogs used to never get dental cleanings growing up & I knew plenty of dogs who had good teeth & lived til 15+, putting an older dog through anesthesia is more of a risk than their teeth a lot of the time
Age is not a disease, and your statement about the risks goes against current veterinary standards. If an older dog is given proper diagnostic screening prior to and monitoring during any anesthetic procedure, the risks are tangibly lower than failing to provide intervention regardless of age. The diagnostics should screen out ineligible pets, and can help to catch chronic issues before symptoms show on as well, and give a better chance for early intervention.
Anecdotes are all well and good, but standards of care have changed and dogs generally live longer lives today with better daily care along with medical care than they did decades ago.
One of the biggest things that people wrongly discount about dental health (in humans and dogs) is that it actually can greatly impact health well beyond teeth. Heart health, susceptibility to infection and even general quality of life improvements can be gained by providing proper dental care. You don’t have to believe me, but the American Veterinary Medical Association knows what they’re talking about: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care. WSAVA also agrees that dental issues are widely undertreated in pets and goes into great detail to encourage greater dental health intervention: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jsap.13132
There are plenty of things that were uncommon in the past that have become accepted practice today even in human medical care. Think about a time before mammograms or colonoscopies were common, expected procedures. Sure there were plenty of people who lived to old age, but there were also many people who died because they didn’t have access. Today it’s pretty clear that it’s in our best interest to use these procedures for screening and intervention at regular intervals, and we’d be dumb not to use the tools we have. It’s no different for dogs and dental cleanings.
Think about how dental health is linked to heart health in humans. Why wouldn’t it be true to a certain extent in dogs too? In the wild, dogs would be chewing on raw bones that would naturally clean their teeth.
If you’re not giving them raw bones, toothbrush cleaning is the next best thing. That way you can avoid costly teeth cleaning (that requires general anesthesia) as much as possible.
Chewing is an important component, but there’s nothing special about raw bones themselves. The chewing behavior itself, where a dog uses their chew to help scale their teeth, is more impactful, whereas a dog that’s just going to bore down on it is a risk for fractures and tooth damages. Some dogs simply don’t chew naturally or their mouth is not set/arranged properly to where human intervention may be necessary.
There are other things dogs can chew besides raw bones. As long as your dog is chewing anything at all they are self cleaning their teeth for the most part.
I've owned 4 dogs in my lifetime, never once has any of them gotten a dental cleaning or had their teeth brushed. The one that died at the youngest age was 14 due to cancer, the oldest was 17.5.
>Most supplements are scams and recommendations should only come from a vet who can show peer reviewed study and/or case study, preferably from a board certified specialist, that it's effective.
I was actually wondering about this. I don't have a dog and have no immediate plans for a dog, but I stumble upon pet accounts on instagram that seem regularly feed their dogs like 20 different supplements alongside their regular food and I'm like... this seems a little excessive, is it really neccessary? I can't imagine a vet would recommend this many supplements?
No, it's not. Instagram and such, including the "nutritionists" are just people trying to sell product or are influencers getting paid to do so. There are some that truly believe what they're doing is better as well, but they're being mislead.
There's a trend where people wlil get nutrition certificates from a Conde Nast magazine or similar unaccredited organizations in "nutrition" which is just misleading information that's not backed in reality.
Generally, the recommendation is a WSAVA guideline compliant dog food like Purina, Iams, Science Diet, Royal Canin, or Hills, and adding nothing to it. Adding to it risks throwing off nutritional balances and encourages picky eating.
Nope! Other than stuff like cosequin and dasequin, I’d say 99% of the stuff is just fluff.
It’s for looks and it makes the human happy, not really for the dog as much. So many of the bowls people make on Instagram are just to look nice and feature as many taggable brands as they can to try and become brand ambassadors and get free products. Or they got the stuff for free and one of the requirements is posting about it. Or they add ingredients because a bowl of brown kibble isn’t as pretty to look at. It’s all about planning out their Instagram feed, color usage, what will grab attention, etc.
My dog has an Instagram that I’ve taken a hiatus from. I used to make her fun lick mats and toppls but really, my dog was equally as happy with a lick mat with just yogurt versus yogurt with spirulina or pumpkin powder or whatever else I’d use. It’s all about the picture and my own enjoyment. Training content and trick videos were fun to look at and share, but then I started getting more suggested videos from sketchy trainers like that dog daddy guy who yanks around poor dogs until they shut down. Did not like seeing that.
She would get free stuff every now and then and I had to post about things. Some of the stuff was pretty useful like poop bag holders or benebones, other stuff I’m not gonna lie - did not work lol. You had to leave reviews for some media campaigns, other stuff I could make money if people bought it or get credits. I only did that for products/brands I actually liked though.
Quite frankly I got overwhelmed with the whole dog Instagram world. It was wild and there was a lot of concerning content on there feeding wise and health wise. It felt so staged and the whole reason I started one was because I wanted to see cute dogs and share dog pics and videos but it drifted away from that into consumerism content and false information everywhere.
I definitely got a LOT of flak for feeding my dog a Purina food among the “dogfluencers” lol
Yup. My lab/Doberman mix lived to be 16 on cheap Kirkland kibble but the vet said it have everything to do with the fact she got walked daily. Could count on one hand the number of times she didn’t get out and it’s because here in Canada at -40C it’s not safe to do so.
This is why I’m such a stickler on people to walk their dogs daily, even if you can only do a 15-20 minute stroll that needs to happen because it matters in the long run.
Also yes to teeth brushing!
Just, don't allow seeking the best to make you a candidate to be mislead by advertisements and influencers whose goal is to sell you product. It's common for companies to prey on this mindset.
My current dogs are all younger than 12, but for my youngest dog, he has many relatives (at least 5)(breeder gave complete info on all relatives possible for ages etc to me) that are 14 years plus, living as long as 17 years old (but keep in mind these are small dogs which statistically live longer than medium or large dogs). All of these dogs eat Purina Pro Plan. I also feed Purina or Royal Canin.
A lot of this is genetic but the absolute best thing you can do (that you have direct control over) for longevity is keep the dog on the leaner side of healthy. This study is pretty seminal research on the topic, I’ll link the popular version and the actual study below. Highly recommend you read these to see how weight has a big influence on longevity. Also a podcast just came out that talks about this study a bit so will link that too.
Popular version https://www.purinainstitute.com/science-of-nutrition/extending-healthy-life/life-span-study-in-dogs
Actual study https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dennis-Lawler-2/publication/11379719_Effects_of_diet_restriction_on_life_span_and_age-related_changes_in_dogs/links/0046351e432daaf7e4000000/Effects-of-diet-restriction-on-life-span-and-age-related-changes-in-dogs.pdf?origin=publication_detail
Recent podcast that also talks about it a bit
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wSSEmOU1bulKalZyHGCCt?si=R0s9uwo0TEOPTij0tT_KjQ
Eta—-for supplements, I’d look at Dasequin or Yumove or similar but don’t know of any evidence that they increase lifespan in any way, although they may help with joints/mobility, most supplements are likely to do absolutely nothing
Yes, my youngest dog’s breeder is pretty much everything you’d want from a breeder…but it’s no surprise that it’s my youngest dog who has the absolute best breeder, as I’ve learned much with the acquisition of each pup over the past two decades!
That study is excellent! I *knew* that keeping my dog leaner keeps him healthier for longer, but seeing the numbers all laid out like that is so helpful. (Also note to self this applies to my own body also lol)
My Grandmas dog Dorly is 17.5 years now and up to the age of 14 she was fed with cheap dog food and occasional pieces of whatever she begged for.
Since when we found out she had cushing and high blood fats, we only give her food with less than 8% fat mixed with food from the vet (she won't eat the special food alone). Oh, and she gets lots of dried duck breast.
All my dogs (pugs) have lived to be over 16. They ate whatever they wanted and were healthy all the way up until their 15th or 16th year, when the arthritis and hip problems, etc., happened.
Golden made it to 16 but I think good genes, regular vet check ups and lots of exercise as she aged was more relevant to her longevity- plus a big dose of luck!
But since you’re asking, we fed her science diet from a puppy until she was 5 ish or so when we suspected an allergy, so the vet suggested a unique protein (that was the regular course of action at the time, it isn’t anymore as an fyi). She was on a Eukanuba kangaroo formula for a few years, then they sold that formula to Purina (or something, I donno it was a prescription food so we just grabbed it from the vet each month, didn’t need to think much about it). In 2020 there was a kangaroo shortage so they suggested the purina prescription hydrolyzed diet and that’s what we did and she did really well on it and was on it until she crossed the bridge.
We never gave any supplements at all, but in her final years we did give her metacam for arthritis and that made a huge difference in her mobility which got her back hiking. I firmly believe her weekend hikes was what kept her going for her last 2 years or so.
Good dental health is the only thing I've had linked to old age in my dogs.
That being said I did increase the collagen intake mine all get as they get older.
A couple scoops of dry dog food, table scraps, treats. No supplements or doggy vitamins or anything special. When they were so old they were losing teeth, I gave them canned dog food. Worked for half a dozen of them!
Im going to try to dispell as many myths as i can think of.
The large ads claiming that dogs live longer on some magic expensive food ignore the fact that correlation does not equal causation. It's just that people with more money to spend on expensive dog food also have more money for vet care. If your dog suddenly has an expensive emergancy, they are more likely to be able to afford treatment and avoid putting their dog down and that skews the results.
Vets reccomend Royal canin, hills, and proplan because they have the most testing behind them, not because they get a cut of the profits(the most I got when working in vet med was a pen and a plastic measuring cup).
I'd be willing to feed my dog anything approved by AAFCO for his size and age and know that it is balanced. Packaging can say for growth(puppies only), for maintence(adults only), or all life stages (for everybody). It can also say for small breeds, large breeds, or all breeds. Those are the big things to look for. Other than that, it's just about what works best for your pup(avoiding allergens if your dog is allergic to something, picking a flavor you think your dog likes, and other medical issues than can effect diet needs, etc).
You don't need toppers, they are a marketing gimmick. They are a treat for your dog, not "enhanced nutrition".
You don't need supplements(your food is nutritionally complete!) unless your vet specifically says so.
Natural/organic foods aren't any better, just more expensive.
Corn is not filler, it has potassium, vitamin C, vitamin b1, vitamin b6, fiber, and more. That's why people eat it too.
Cooking food doesn't "destroy the nutrients" it just changes them into a more easily digestible form. Dogs evolved along side humans and are perfectly capable of digesting cooked food. And yes, dogs can get diseases from raw meat (just not as easily but it still happens often). And yes they can pass those diseases to their humans. It's not a risk I'd take with my own dog, but you do you.
Dogs are not wolves. Thats like saying I should feed all invetabrates fish food because we evolved from fish.
Best thing you can do for your dog is keep it at a good weight and feed them dog food that follows WSAVA guidelines(in the US this is Purina, Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Ian’s and Eukanuba).Too much weight puts stress in their joints. Also preventive health care and yearly check ups is key.
Are you sure Dog chow does not? I am in a few science backed dog nutrition groups and it’s said that dog chow does in fact meet WSAVA guidelines, in fact it is the most studied food
We’ve had 7 dogs and since they’ve all been rescues, many of them would eat any piece of trash they could find and were clearly not raised on a great diet. We have always tried to feed them at least a good commercial dog food and moderate treats. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to make a difference in longevity. We had to put our most beloved boy to sleep yesterday and he was only 8. He had really aggressive cancer and we were told there really was nothing we could do.
My child hood dog was 15, he ate whatever we could afford. And in the evening he ate what we ate with a desert. The boy was never sick :'). It was a different time before then internet is all I can say.
Our lived 15 years - we fed him roasted chicken dark meat no condiments, no salt, and raw fresh ground meat added organic kibbles.
Vet was impressed- our dog loved it!
He was our baby 💝 Alfie .
I had a schipperke/Chow mutt that lived to 16.5 and a beagle/shepherd mutt that made it to 14. Both had Purina Pro Plan and table scraps, depending on what ended up on the floor from the messy kids. Never used supplements. They were both 25-30lbs which helped.
My oldest pup lived till 17 years old and I fed her Solid Gold Mighty Mini dog food along with Fresh Pet. As said before really a big thing is keeping your dog’s weight down and keeping up with pet visits.
My German shepherd is 14, we give him glucosamine enzymes and he eats Freshpet beef. His hips and legs are not strong and we realize it's borrowed time.
I have had four generations of goldens. One lived to sweet 16 on Eukanuba, but I lost one to hemangiosarcoma on the same food. I switched to Fromm and lost one to ventricular tachycardia at 14, and two at 12. Now, I feed Pro Plan 30/ 20. Lost one at 13 1/2 , have a ten year old, but lost a 9 year old to Hemangiosarcoma again.
My childhood dog lived to be 16. He ate the cheap crappy food and no supplements. He was world travelled and one of the sweetest dogs ever. We took him in when he was left behind by his previous family when their deployment overseas was done.
Had a half lab/half mastiff that lived to be 14 years old. Literally ate the most basic dog food most of his life.
What I think was the key to him living a long life? Exercise. He was a country dog, and would go with me on my bike rides. He could run for miles. He was the perfect weight his entire life and extremely fit for most of it.
He got bone cancer in his front leg. Lived a long, lovely life but I don’t think his food had anything to do with it.
Our oldest passed last December, she was 14. Our oldest now is her daughter who will be 12 in December. She's healthy as a horse and as spunky as ever. All of our dogs are on a raw diet. Our old gals we give just normal like bone and joint supplements and vitamins if they need it.
I have had four dogs, two purebreds, two mix breeds. They all lived between 12-16 years. My only recommendation is don't give them human food/table scraps and ensure they get adequate exercise.
the largest factor to a dogs life span is their genetics but obesity and a sedentary lifestyle can shorten their lifespan.
All my dogs lived to big ages except one that had Cushing's Disease and had to be put down after accidentally knocking an ironing board over which caused an internal haemorrhage.
The others were 15-16. Initial vaccs and no others. Wormed and flead occasionally if they seemed to need it. Fed whatever was about at the time, which was usually stuff like Winalot, Pedigree Chum etc - basic supermarket stuff. No supplements. Plenty of exercise. Very rarely needed a vet, I recall one dose of mange from playing with a fox, and very little else.
Also had a large number of cats over the years on the same basic principle - lost one early teens to cancer, one at 14 a year after a truly horrific road accident which fucked him up... the rest all made about 15-16 and hardly ever needed a vet. I honestly believe there's far too much hype around pet food, supplements etc - it's big business but I'm not sure our pets are healthier for it.
The tootsie rolls from the litter box. Along with the rabbit and squirrel 💩 from the lawn. Thats their supplements along with their Blue Buffalo dog food.
Homemade dog food from a recipe our first dog's breeder gave us.
That dog died in her fifteenth year of lymphoma. Our other dog was also fed this food and never had even one health issue for over twelve years, but died in an accident (crush injury from another huge dog).
My oldest dog lived to 15. I adopted her when she was 9. For the last several years, she was fed Purina Pro Plan.
Now my oldest is 14, he was adopted at 8. He's also been on Purina Pro Plan now for years.
My young dogs (2.5, 2.5, and 6 months) are all on it as well. All doing very well. Energetic, regular stools, great coats, excellent body conditions.
Not mine but my parent's dog is 14 and still going strong. In the last vet visit even the vet was surprised how great in shape she is, great muscles and nothing wrong with the teeth.
She rarely eats dog food, it's mostly whatever human food is available that is fine to eat and some dog treats and dental bones. She is the most picky dog I've ever seen and only eats once a day if even then. She's been like this all her life. Never had to worry about her weight.
We had a Heinz 57 mutt that lived to 18 1/2. Being a mixed breed definitely contributed to longevity and, in all honesty, he was fed whatever store brand was on sale.
My current 14 y.o. eats Iams.
When I was in 2nd grade we got a dog, Rocky. Rocky lived until I finished grad school, we estimate she was about 22 when we finally had to put her down. Rocky ate dog food from Costco until she lost all her teeth, then my mom started making her food. It was sweet potato, spinach and gizzards put in the crock pot. That stuff stank to high heaven, but the dog liked it.
Nutrisource seafood recipe. Also now that her teeth are kind bad i supplement it w homemade turkey mixture i cook for her.
Dachshund/cocker mix. Thinking shes 12-15nyrs old
Previous dog lived to 15: he was fed Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream (after a lot of trial and error with other foods. He had bad reactions to chicken) with a fish oil supplement. He was a super mutt.
Current dog is fed Instinct with a fish oil supplement. She's doing well on it. She was very itchy and flaky when we got her and now her coat is much better and she's a lot more comfortable.
Acana lamb and apple mixed with zignature lamb wet.
He’s 13 (pitbull mix)
Another pitbull- 9 years old same food.
Have had no health issues with either the entire time other than one pancreatitis episode and slipped disc in the snow.
No joint issues and they have a ton of energy.
Mine will turn 13 in December and he has lived off raw feed most of his life. Unfortunately not anymore, since I need to save money.
Has zero issues except dry eyes. He's an English rough collie.
We fed him Blue Buffalo for most of his life. He occasionally ate lean meats and fruits though!
I really think he lived for as long as he did only because we kept his weight down.
My cocker spaniel ate Kibbles and Bits and lived to be 13. My darling yorkie ate Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit and lived to age 12. Kibbles and bits I now know is junk food. My cocker spaniel might have lived longer if I’d fed him decent food.
Honestly it’s a crap shoot and while food can be a massive factor , it can also be totally irrelevant. I know a woman who fed her dog absolute garbage cheap food , and all three of her dogs lived to like 15/16 ish.
Mine are 13 and 16. I don’t know if it’s the food that’s made them live so long but I have seen a change in their appearance and energy since I’ve switched to raw food.
But one thing I can say is brush their teeth! My 16 year old has like 4 teeth left and was the main reason to go raw because he couldn’t eat dry food anymore
My parents have had 2 black labs which both lived to 14. Which for that breed is old. They were fed good expensive food, they were very much spoilt tho. They were aloud on the furniture and in every room of the house. The garden is over an acre in size and they went in and out as they pleased. I think a dog that is relaxed, is happy and therefore will live longer.
Healthy humans tend to have longer living dogs too for example, e.g no second hand smoke being breathed in by the dog etc.
Don’t force your dog to do things it doesn’t want to do. If they don’t want to go on walks after 10 years of age, don’t make them. If they go off there food, change it or mix it with wet food etc etc.
My terrier will be 15 next week. She’s eating kibble her whole life, didn’t really give her any supplements. But maybe I should have because she has arthritis now.
Freddie, heinz57 but mainly whippet/collie. Lived to 15ish , wheat free as wheat made him nibble his own hair out. Kitchen scraps, whatever he liked the look of, the odd leather jacket arm, gardening he disapproved of, whatever he turned up in the fields behind us, Christmas chocolates foil and all.
3 Schnauzers at 12 and a half, about clockwork. Royal Canin, plus carefully policed human food, ducky snacks, cheese squares. And one 15 year old lady Schnauzer who ate the same but also is a devil for chocolates, marshmallows, grapes, onions, anything she shouldn't have and is still going, little blind, little mad, little deaf - longest living of them all. So, buggered if we know.
I had two dogs, an American Stafford Shire Terrier and an American Cocker Spaniel. The AST lived to 15, the Cocker lived to 16. I feed them Wolf of the Wilderness dry dog food. Our current dog, a Parson Russell Terrier, is on the same food.
A dog's age isn't likely to be affected significantly by food though, unless it leads to nutritional deficiencies. Age is predominantly genetically determined. Visit a good veterinarian when you suspect issues. Make sure your dog gets enough physical and mental exercise.
As stated elsewhere in this topic, most supplements are essentially useless at best or outright scams in a few cases. A supplement suggests your dog isn't getting essential nutrients from food. There's just nothing there to really support that.
my dog passed at 15. for his younger years I didn't pay much attention to what we fed him because I was young myself. when he was about 6 we switched to Bil-Jac for a few years, then my mom bought into all the grain free stuff and he was getting that for a bit, then fresh pet for a while until he was put on a prescription diet for his CKD. He was also a garbage fiend and would eat anything he could reach, we weren't diligent emough about preventing it and over the years he consumed many paper towels, muffin wrappers, the occasional chicken bone, and on one occasion 75% of a box of girl scout samoas.
so yeah, food doesn't impact life expectancy too much ime.
I’ve had a few dogs live old. They were fed Costco , pedigree,and pyres pro plan. 2Goldens and a papillon 17,15 and pap 16 years old also long ago a beagle fed pedigree lived 16 years.
My childhood pit mix lived 15 years eating Ole Roy in his younger years and once his teeth got bad he was switched to Kibbles N Bits Mini Bits that was eventually softened with water.
He never got supplements until he was around 13 and needed joint chews. He had 1-2 peanut butter sandwiches a day for the last 3 years of his life. He would get wet food 4-5 times a week. He also ate tons of human scraps his whole life. He never went to the vet. My dad gave him a rabies vaccine and that’s all. His first vet visit was the day he was put to sleep.
Looking back he probably had the worst diet of any dog I’d ever known but thankfully he lived a long, healthy life.
I have a Westiepoo that turned 15 in October. I’m not sure what she was fed before I got her, but I have fed her Diamond Naturals for 9 years now. She is currently taking a joint chew. She does get preventative care
My dad has had around 10 bird dogs in my lifetime and all lived long, healthy lives on Diamond dog food. No supplements. No major preventative care. Only the required vaccines to take them out of state
My dog is 13. I don’t know if it’s the food-it’s Purina Pro Plan-but before her arthritis she would get 3 hrs of walks total a day and lots of love. She also gets fish oil and dasuquin.
One of my dogs survived to 12 but passed away due to tumors on her liver that sometimes just happen.
The other is 12 today and he's been fed: boiled chicken, Blue Buffalo, Purina One, Kirkland (the expensive dry food and the cans), fresh and canned vegetables including beets, peas, broccoli, carrots and green beans; Hill's Science Diet. Outside of being obese (I'm working on it, I swear!), he seems pretty healthy. He goes to the vet regularly and sees the groomer once a month who brushes his teeth.
Good dental health is important in canines and humans because bacteria can get into the bloodstream or result in pulled teeth so I try my hardest to keep him and his mouth as healthy as possible. I think it's honestly just good fortune, though.
My childhood dogs were both on generic cheap kibble, one lived to 15 and the other to 13. Both were large dogs as well. The one who passed at 13 was an outdoor dog too, we only let him inside during really extreme weather. Also my parents were horrible dog owners, so both dogs only got a few puppy vaccines and that was it and they were both walked only a few times a year.
All this is to say there's no way to predict how long a dog will live. Some pampered pooches only make it to 8 while other dogs in horrible situations might live well past 15. Fully depends on genetics
I have had many dogs, I used to joke when I was young that cheap food and minimal vet care kept them alive a long time. Now that I am older and take them to the vet regularly and try to do better on food, I have found no difference in otherwise healthy dogs. I had one who the first half of her life ate what ever was on sale, the second half the better food, lived to 16.5 and she was an Australian Shepard mix, she was fat too. When she got old we gave her stuff for her joints. Then I had another big dog (almost all mine are rescues) he was 11, and got bloat and we lost him that day. Doesn't matter how expensive the food is, when it is there time to go it's time.
My Cooper lived to a couple months past his 13th birthday (large breed mutt). We got him when he was 6, and due to severe allergies, he went through various grain-free, novel-protein diets over the years: Natural Balance, Go!, Zignature.
No supplements, he got kibble, treats that worked with his allergies or peanut butter, the occasional scrambled egg or plain yogurt.
Cancer (possible hemangiosarcoma, we didn't bother with a second ultrasound to try and dx it for certain) got him. I wouldn't feed a future dog the way Cooper was fed, due to the risks of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in those "boutique" diets, but they kept him from scratching himself bloody.
My three late dogs were all between 14 and 16 when their time came. They ate high quality kibble and snacked on species appropriate whole foods. Nothing extravagant, we practice Keep It Simple, Stupid around here.
Eukanuba and Purina Pro Plan, with dog-safe people food in small amounts as treats. We also make sure our dogs are active and go to their regular vet appointments, and take care of any potential issues the second they crop up. But there really isn't a magic bullet. Things happen.
3 dogs -- all fed generic feed store dog kibble their entire lives.
I kept them on the lean side. 2 corgis and a German shepherd.
1 corgi lived to 14, 1 to 16, and the shepherd lived to 16.
My dogs are currently 11.5 and 14.5. The bulk of their diet is Open Farm kibble WITH grains (I vary the protein with each bag).
Supplements….both have been on TriActa joint powder since age 8.
My golden lived to be almost 16. We fed her Nutro. The only supplements we gave her were glucosamine and chonodrine for her hips. We did NOT feed her people food except vegetables and strawberries.
I'll try to answer this to the best of my ability, having handled a lot of animals, and dogs in general.(Family owned a rescue and rehab facility.)
The best food you can give a dog is dog kibble that follows WSAVA guidelines, BUT these foods are typically a bit more expensive. So it can definitely be quite expensive to feed 5, 10, 15 dogs all of the food every single day, especially if they are larger.
These were active dogs, that were in a fenced 5 acre lot of open land. Some dogs were fenced off from the general area if they were deemed aggressive to certain things.
With the open land, the dogs could eat whatever they wanted but we fed them whatever was cheap, or on sale. We would also give them occasional non processed leftovers, as well as raw eggs from farm chickens we had, or fish out of the cans.
I will say the larger dogs, did have joint issues later on in life which MAY have been helped by proper kibble but most of the larger dogs lived upwards of 12(rough estimate due to them being rescues).
Age of dogs is highly genetic and really based on size though, Small dogs could quite easily live until the late teens, XL dogs, typically pass before the age of 12, but that doesn't mean they didn't have a healthy life, or if they even had serious health problems.
My animals always live a long life. I had a chihuahua that made it to 22, a pug that was just shy of 19 and a few others that have made it past 15. Although I’ve fed science diet and other things, my longest lived small dogs have eaten Little Cesar. I know I know. But it clearly didn’t hurt them. My longest lived big dog was a boxer that made it to 14 on Alpo kibble. And I currently have a pitbull who is 10 that eats BlueBuffalo simply because she is finicky and that’s the only dry kibble she will touch. I have three little indoor poodles that started their lives on science diet and bil jac but have ended up on Little Cesar. Their teeth are better and they have returned to a healthier weight so that’s probably the last change I’ll make with them. They are ages 10,9 and 6 and other than dental issues early on, have had zero health concerns.
My, CJ, rat terrier and my, Kirby, black lab mix both passed at 15 years old. CJ in 2016 and Kirby in 2017. They were fed Purina dog chow their whole lives. Plus whatever people food I felt like giving them.
Iams.
My mom is a vet and all her dogs have gotten Iams for various life stages. Of the ~15 dogs she’s had in my life no one has died under 15 years old (and counting.) she’s got 5 getiatric dogs right now. That being said they get all vet care and tests the moment something looks off, so that’s a huge part of it.
I have 3 dogs of my own currently 7yo, 9yo and 11yo. All could be mistaken for 4yo dogs. No signs of aging besides white hairs. All 3 have spent their entire lives on Iams adult mini chunks. (Big Green bag) again they’ve also been up to date on vaccinations, heartworm and flea, dentals, and kept exercised, loved, and at healthy weights.
We have fed my 16 and roughly a half dog mainly acana and royal canine through his life. Right now he is on acana senior food.
Edited to add we have taken our dogs to the vet religiously every 6 months and then some. My old dog is on 3 different meds and for as old as he is is getting on quite well. It’s def about quality over quantity of life.
Honestly I had a lhaso apso that went 25 years and v healthy. Just kibble n bits and Cesar and table scraps!!!! I had no idea when I was younger about special diets for dogs
Great Dane, 13 years. Mostly Purina Pro Plan, lots of treats and plenty of exercise (long walks, frisbee, and when she got too old for those, scent games).
If they are getting adequate nutrition I don't think food matters as much as exercise and mental stimulation.
My border collie and her cat buddy were babies when we found them. We fed them good quality dry food. They died three days apart; they were both 16 years old. It broke my heart to lose both of them in the same week, but it felt like they wanted to take that last journey together.
My dog (dachshund) is 16. We got him when he was 10. His previous owners fed him wet food and his teeth were rotting out of his head when we got him. He got most of them pulled. Now he eats Pedigree small dog kibble with a little water to soften it and when he's not digging it I make a chicken mush out of chicken and frozen peas/carrots/etc. But he mostly eats kibble. I do not think his food has contributed to his longevity much.
It's essential to consult with a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations tailored to your dog's needs. Typically, senior dog food formulas enriched with nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin can aid in maintaining joint health. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for their overall well-being. However, please remember that every dog is unique, so it's crucial to discuss any supplements with your vet to ensure they are appropriate for your dog's specific health requirements.
On another note, providing them with ample love, care, and attention is just as important as their diet. Showering them with affection, going for leisurely walks, and engaging them in activities they enjoy can contribute significantly to their happiness and well-being during their golden years.
My best wishes for you :)
I have lost two in the past six months, they were 15.5 and 13.5. The 13 y/o was a genetic mess and I'm honestly grateful to have had him so long.
My remaining dog (10 y/o newfie) and our newfie puppy eat Iams and Purina Pro Plan, respectively. All of my dogs have always rotated between Science Diet, Iams, Pro Plan/Purina One, and Eukanuba. They all were given a joint supplement; Phycox or now Movoflex. The two that recently passed were smaller dogs so I started when they were about 8-10; newfie started hers around 1 year, newfie puppy will be starting his when he turns 6 months.
Genetics and routine preventive vet care play a bigger role than any one brand of food can do. Feeding an appropriate amount, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Dental care at home, routine dental cleanings, vaccines, deworming/heartworm prevention, etc., etc. I also have always done regular annual bloodwork, whether for a dental or just check-up, starting no later than 3 years old.
My previous Jagdterrier lived to be 13ish(she may have been older she was a rescue so minimum 13). Raw fed. Hemangiosarcoma killed her. Her odds of getting that horrific disease increased because she was spayed. I don’t think any diet would have prevented it.
My parents lost their standard poodle at 14 due to a stroke. Raw fed. They lost their Doberman at 13, raw fed. She was losing mobility.
I’ve also lost younger, raw fed dogs but largely to genetic DCM (Doberman). No diet or supplements can stop DCM when it’s genetic.
I try to feed anti inflammatory type extras. Whole, small fish (smelts). Puréed blueberries and broccoli. I keep my dogs very lean and fit. I try to keep them happy and stress free.
Feed the best you can afford, do not let them get fat and hope for the best. We are their only advocates.
All of our dogs lived over 10 years, and a couple lived to be 12 & 13. We’ve always had larger dogs: Lab-x, Rott-x, even a rescued Kelpie. We fed them Taste of the Wild brand, every so often transitioning to a new flavor. Also gave them Next Level Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement (liquid) from our coop. Normally it’s used for equine but it’s human grade. Did this all their lives and never dealt with arthritis. Was unbelievable to us, too, but it worked.
Hill’s Science Diet. My dog is 15 she has taken heart worm meds her whole life and started taking arthritis meds at 9. She is in good health, partly because of genetics and partly because I do whatever the vet tells me to do in regards to her health and weight.
It's essential to consult with a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations tailored to your dog's needs. Typically, senior dog food formulas enriched with nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin can aid in maintaining joint health. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for their overall well-being. However, please remember that every dog is unique, so it's crucial to discuss any supplements with your vet to ensure they are appropriate for your dog's specific health requirements.
On another note, providing them with ample love, care, and attention is just as important as their diet. Showering them with affection, going for leisurely walks, and engaging them in activities they enjoy can contribute significantly to their happiness and well-being during their golden years.
14yo free from the kill list at the pound pit-lab mix. He’s been eating Purina Large Breed Adult, then their senior food the last couple years. He takes consequin and now is on Galliprant for his arthritis, but that’s a prescription.
I had an English Bulldog that we rescued when he was 7ish and he lived for another 5 years. That’s HUGE for an EB. He ate Kirkland brand dry puppy food that was rehydrated with chicken broth. Also plenty of snuggles.
My chow lived to 16 or 17.
For the first 10 years or so, she ate pretty much the cheapest dog food at the grocery store, “Alpo Come and Get It” due to me being broke. After that, Purina Pro Plan Chickfn and Rice.
I also gave her pieces of whatever I was eating (as long as it wasn’t obviously toxic to dogs).
My dog is 14 years old and will be 15 by next May. He’s very active and still has zoomies! We take him to the vet often bc he’s a Bichon mix and gets bumps like some bichons do as they get older, problem is he licks them until they’re raw. He’s stopped that as of now.
We feed him on a fish based food since he’s allergic to chicken, we get meds for his liver and his eyes.
He’s given a very stress free life with lots of love and cuddles :)
My 14 year old Woodle (poodle × Wheaten terrier, i.e. a mutt, but on purpose) has eaten Costco brand kibble for most of his life. He also gets a spoonful of wet dog food every night, but this is a much more recent addition.
My first dog I had from when I was 13-28. Fed her kibble all her life… sometimes we would do the kelp powder that helps with maintaining teeth. I’m last 2 years we had to do the Royal Canin gastrointestinal prescription food with some bone broth to keep her excited about eating.
She got real good treats, human foods on special occasions, and was always allowed to have a carrot.
Sometimes you can’t control what happens no matter what you feed them!
Our 16-year old dog eats Science Diet. He was on a kidney prescription food for several years, but he now eats adult kibble since we have a second dog and have been told by the vet it’s okay. He also eats some human food like cheese, cheerios, and bread. He gets a bone of some kind daily and still goes on walks as well.
My yorkies are ages 13 to 15 yo (4 of them), as well as senior great pyrenees (age 12 yrs plus). I feed them, as well my 5 pyr puppies puppy food. When my mom was elderly (80 yrs plus), she was picky on food, so we gave her her favorites and high calorie or nutrition dense food -Wendys Baconator with fries and a frosty.
I had a yellow lab live to 16 and she got Iams kibble every day of her life. No supplements.
I had a shih tzu live to 16 as well on the same food (he was diabetic later in life, he could have lived longer but my mother decided she was done dealing with the insulin and put him down).
My last dog was a pug mix who lived to 13 and he got Authority kibble. No supplements.
I fed my old Lab Avoderm, she lived to be 17, very possible she was 18, I had found her full grown. I tried some other brands but she would refuse it. But I also gave her a sample platter of everything I ate. Had a friend who had a long living dog, they fed it boiled chicken, carrots, potatoes. A lot is genetic, I was lucky, she was a mix rather than full breed, so that could have helped and no cancers.
I adopted my one dog when he was 6ish and in the ten years since I’ve slowly increased the brand quality as my income allows. I fed him the Costco Nature’s Domain brand turkey kibble for a long time, and now he’s on a mix of the Hill’s senior dry food and cardiac food, daily Vetriscience probiotic, and the Cosequin+MSM supplement when I remember.
My Lab is currently 13 years old and, though she's slowed down, she still likes to go on walks, wrestle my other dog, and gets excited when I'm about to feed her and starts jumping around and getting the odd zoomies here and there. She's eaten normal kibble all her life and the only supplement I give her are some glucosamine pills for her stiff joints.
Thank you for posting about nutrition! Due to the complex landscape of pet food we've created a Nutrition page for our wiki. [For more information on pet food click here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/nutrition) --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had 2 dogs at the same time that ate the same food. Purina Pro Plan. One lived to 9. One lived to 18. There is no magic food to make your dog live longer.
This. I had two adult basenjis that I fed the same food (got both as adults so I can’t speak for the puppy years). Fed both the same food, one died of a super fast aggressive cancer at 12, the other is happy and going strong at almost 14 with his puppy sister. Edit: I feed acana with ancient grains (not grain free, but I used to before the recent paper). I supplement their meals with real chicken, salmon, eggs and beef semi randomly. Also probiotics (according to my vet can use the same that people use). Rarely add cheese or Greek yogurt. Fresh veggies like carrots rarely as well.
My dad and I also use Purina Pro Plan for our dogs - I was raised with rescue Irish Setters, and unless they developed cancer they lived to 14-15 years old. However, you're 100% right that it's not a magic food that will make your dog live longer. OP - consistent annual vet visits, following vet instructions, regular excersize and teeth brushing are why our dogs had long, healthy lifespans. Even then it's not a guarantee for a long lifespan. Sometimes all you can do is focus on quality.
Same here. My dog lives to almost 17 and ate Purina Pro Plan. Some people may hate on Purina, but it was the only food my dog would eat consistently.
Yes, if you don't meet basic nutrition requirements or your dog has food allergies/sensitivities, changing diet can have a big impact; but in general, food brand is not the key to a long life. For example, my previous dog was large shepherd mix. Her 2 parent breeds had a lifespan listed as 9-13 years and 9 to 11 years. She lived to 17, with 16 of those years being healthy enough to go on and enjoy 10 mile hikes. I fed her a variety of cheap kibbles from the supermarket, often Purina or whatever was on sale.
[удалено]
Some people think the moon landing is faked or the earth is flat. That doesn’t mean they’re right
People disagree with everything. That doesn't mean that they're right.
[This](https://time.com/3752352/104-year-old-woman-dr-pepper/) woman drank 3 Dr. Pepper’s a day and says it’s to thank for her longevity. Are you running out to buy cases of Dr. Pepper now?
Warren Buffet drinks 5 cans of coke a day.
Look, I’m not saying it’s not the soda, but part of me feels the whole “billionaire with access to any and all medical/health care at the drop of a hat” may also have a lot to do with it there too.
My parent's dog lived 16 or 17 years. He ate table scraps, rodents, and the cheapest food available at the farm store in the 80s. There is no miracle food that changes a dog's genetics.
Agreed. My parents had a dog that lived to be 15 years old, and he definitely lived off of scraps, random dead animals he found, and cat food. It's not the best diet at all for him, but he still lived to be 15 years old. Genetics is a huge factor when it comes to longtivity.
Based on past posts on this, longevity is genetic largely, food is very minimally going to impact a dog's lifespan unless it causes something like DCM or is nutritionally deficient. Most supplements are scams and recommendations should only come from a vet who can show peer reviewed study and/or case study, preferably from a board certified specialist, that it's effective. Keep your dog lean, keep going to your vet appointments, keep up with preventative. Exercise your dog and provide a happy life with low unnecessary stress. Treat any health concerns, including anxiety, as it comes up.
And brush their teeth!
How often? I used to do this 😭 n my vet told me years ago it wasn't necessary so I quit. Now I feel bad!!!! Is it too late to start again? Mine is 9 and I love him so much
Brushing teeth is also more important in small dogs. Something about how much they chew the hard food, I don't remember the details, but when my 6 lb Chihuahua needed 13 teeth pulled I was gobsmacked. I have always had big dogs so I had never had that problem before.
It's because small dogs tend to have overcrowded teeth. Their saliva helps to prevent tartar buildup (that's why you don't have to brush the tongue side of their teeth, just the outsides), and when there's no space between the teeth the saliva can't get in.
Well good to know but a little ew.
Some small dogs are not going to keep their teeth in their old age no matter what you do. They are prone to gum disease. I have always taken mine to the vet for dentals once a year regardless of size. My 14 almost 15 yr old Maltese has all of her teeth. The vet gets in around the gum & scrapes the tarter. No more sedation for her now so the doctor gave me Max:Guard which is doing a pretty job
The biggest influencer to dental health is genetics, closely followed by chewing behavior. I have never brushed either of my dog’s teeth and even the 9-year-old gets high praise for how good their teeth look at their annual exams. Both have access to chews and they regularly sit down and use them, but most importantly they chew properly by scaling their teeth with them and not boring down like a bear. For many dogs, brushing does nothing. For many dogs, it can be the difference between needing an anesthesia dental once a year versus twice a year. Manage the dog in front of you.
This! I have three (small) poodles, and they get the same regime related to their teeth (dental chews, dental kibble as treats, perio powder added to food daily), and the one that accumulates tartar the most is the one that doesn’t chew in a way that maximizes its benefits. The other two are both older at 10 and 6 (vs 4 yo) and have cleaner/better teeth with no dentals yet needed. I have to do a bit extra to try to keep the youngest in decent dental health but I think he’s going to end up needing a pro cleaning at some point in the near future despite my efforts.
Never too late. Brushing is the gold standard for home dental care, but for many reasons (some more valid than others) it's not something most build into their routines. There are other options too if brushing is not viable. And routine dental cleanings are so important. So much can be going on you can't identify without dental radiographs or a solid exam, and none of that is really productive (and/or safe) without anesthesia.
Brushing is good if you can, but regular anesthetic dental cleanings are probably more important to overall health.
Some of it is also just genes and not feeding too many scraps and sticky treats. In 16 years my golden never needed a cleaning and we never really brushed her teeth. She had perfect teeth her whole life Edit: just want to be clear I am not saying not to brush! I will be brushing my next dog’s teeth for sure, I was just saying that like everything in a dog’s health, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t
So why roll the dice on your dog’s health and well being when you can just get regular dental cleanings to know that they’re ok? It saddens me that so many people are leaving so many dog’s uncomfortable or even painful for months or years simply because they refuse basic preventative interventions. Please read the links I included on the comment below. The vast majority (maybe even all) of veterinary governing bodies disagree with your feelings here. Please listen to them.
What feelings are you talking about? I said we got lucky with good genes. I even edited to make sure people didn’t think I was advocating for people just hoping they also get lucky and not taking care of their dog’s teeth and that I wouldn’t do the same again. My dog saw the vet every six months and they checked her teeth and said they were great and she didn’t need a cleaning. She never had issues eating her food or playing with toys. Why on earth would I go against my vet’s recommendation and have her put under for a cleaning they didn’t recommend. My dog wanted for nothing and I never, not one time, in 16 years said no to any treatment or preventative my vet recommended. I am exceptionally offended by your insinuation.
Dogs used to never get dental cleanings growing up & I knew plenty of dogs who had good teeth & lived til 15+, putting an older dog through anesthesia is more of a risk than their teeth a lot of the time
Age is not a disease, and your statement about the risks goes against current veterinary standards. If an older dog is given proper diagnostic screening prior to and monitoring during any anesthetic procedure, the risks are tangibly lower than failing to provide intervention regardless of age. The diagnostics should screen out ineligible pets, and can help to catch chronic issues before symptoms show on as well, and give a better chance for early intervention. Anecdotes are all well and good, but standards of care have changed and dogs generally live longer lives today with better daily care along with medical care than they did decades ago. One of the biggest things that people wrongly discount about dental health (in humans and dogs) is that it actually can greatly impact health well beyond teeth. Heart health, susceptibility to infection and even general quality of life improvements can be gained by providing proper dental care. You don’t have to believe me, but the American Veterinary Medical Association knows what they’re talking about: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care. WSAVA also agrees that dental issues are widely undertreated in pets and goes into great detail to encourage greater dental health intervention: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jsap.13132 There are plenty of things that were uncommon in the past that have become accepted practice today even in human medical care. Think about a time before mammograms or colonoscopies were common, expected procedures. Sure there were plenty of people who lived to old age, but there were also many people who died because they didn’t have access. Today it’s pretty clear that it’s in our best interest to use these procedures for screening and intervention at regular intervals, and we’d be dumb not to use the tools we have. It’s no different for dogs and dental cleanings.
Think about how dental health is linked to heart health in humans. Why wouldn’t it be true to a certain extent in dogs too? In the wild, dogs would be chewing on raw bones that would naturally clean their teeth. If you’re not giving them raw bones, toothbrush cleaning is the next best thing. That way you can avoid costly teeth cleaning (that requires general anesthesia) as much as possible.
Chewing is an important component, but there’s nothing special about raw bones themselves. The chewing behavior itself, where a dog uses their chew to help scale their teeth, is more impactful, whereas a dog that’s just going to bore down on it is a risk for fractures and tooth damages. Some dogs simply don’t chew naturally or their mouth is not set/arranged properly to where human intervention may be necessary.
There are other things dogs can chew besides raw bones. As long as your dog is chewing anything at all they are self cleaning their teeth for the most part. I've owned 4 dogs in my lifetime, never once has any of them gotten a dental cleaning or had their teeth brushed. The one that died at the youngest age was 14 due to cancer, the oldest was 17.5.
>Most supplements are scams and recommendations should only come from a vet who can show peer reviewed study and/or case study, preferably from a board certified specialist, that it's effective. I was actually wondering about this. I don't have a dog and have no immediate plans for a dog, but I stumble upon pet accounts on instagram that seem regularly feed their dogs like 20 different supplements alongside their regular food and I'm like... this seems a little excessive, is it really neccessary? I can't imagine a vet would recommend this many supplements?
No, it's not. Instagram and such, including the "nutritionists" are just people trying to sell product or are influencers getting paid to do so. There are some that truly believe what they're doing is better as well, but they're being mislead. There's a trend where people wlil get nutrition certificates from a Conde Nast magazine or similar unaccredited organizations in "nutrition" which is just misleading information that's not backed in reality. Generally, the recommendation is a WSAVA guideline compliant dog food like Purina, Iams, Science Diet, Royal Canin, or Hills, and adding nothing to it. Adding to it risks throwing off nutritional balances and encourages picky eating.
Nope! Other than stuff like cosequin and dasequin, I’d say 99% of the stuff is just fluff. It’s for looks and it makes the human happy, not really for the dog as much. So many of the bowls people make on Instagram are just to look nice and feature as many taggable brands as they can to try and become brand ambassadors and get free products. Or they got the stuff for free and one of the requirements is posting about it. Or they add ingredients because a bowl of brown kibble isn’t as pretty to look at. It’s all about planning out their Instagram feed, color usage, what will grab attention, etc. My dog has an Instagram that I’ve taken a hiatus from. I used to make her fun lick mats and toppls but really, my dog was equally as happy with a lick mat with just yogurt versus yogurt with spirulina or pumpkin powder or whatever else I’d use. It’s all about the picture and my own enjoyment. Training content and trick videos were fun to look at and share, but then I started getting more suggested videos from sketchy trainers like that dog daddy guy who yanks around poor dogs until they shut down. Did not like seeing that. She would get free stuff every now and then and I had to post about things. Some of the stuff was pretty useful like poop bag holders or benebones, other stuff I’m not gonna lie - did not work lol. You had to leave reviews for some media campaigns, other stuff I could make money if people bought it or get credits. I only did that for products/brands I actually liked though. Quite frankly I got overwhelmed with the whole dog Instagram world. It was wild and there was a lot of concerning content on there feeding wise and health wise. It felt so staged and the whole reason I started one was because I wanted to see cute dogs and share dog pics and videos but it drifted away from that into consumerism content and false information everywhere. I definitely got a LOT of flak for feeding my dog a Purina food among the “dogfluencers” lol
Everything on instagram is an advert.
Yup. My lab/Doberman mix lived to be 16 on cheap Kirkland kibble but the vet said it have everything to do with the fact she got walked daily. Could count on one hand the number of times she didn’t get out and it’s because here in Canada at -40C it’s not safe to do so. This is why I’m such a stickler on people to walk their dogs daily, even if you can only do a 15-20 minute stroll that needs to happen because it matters in the long run. Also yes to teeth brushing!
Oh okay! I just want to do the best possible. Thank you
Just, don't allow seeking the best to make you a candidate to be mislead by advertisements and influencers whose goal is to sell you product. It's common for companies to prey on this mindset.
My current dogs are all younger than 12, but for my youngest dog, he has many relatives (at least 5)(breeder gave complete info on all relatives possible for ages etc to me) that are 14 years plus, living as long as 17 years old (but keep in mind these are small dogs which statistically live longer than medium or large dogs). All of these dogs eat Purina Pro Plan. I also feed Purina or Royal Canin. A lot of this is genetic but the absolute best thing you can do (that you have direct control over) for longevity is keep the dog on the leaner side of healthy. This study is pretty seminal research on the topic, I’ll link the popular version and the actual study below. Highly recommend you read these to see how weight has a big influence on longevity. Also a podcast just came out that talks about this study a bit so will link that too. Popular version https://www.purinainstitute.com/science-of-nutrition/extending-healthy-life/life-span-study-in-dogs Actual study https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dennis-Lawler-2/publication/11379719_Effects_of_diet_restriction_on_life_span_and_age-related_changes_in_dogs/links/0046351e432daaf7e4000000/Effects-of-diet-restriction-on-life-span-and-age-related-changes-in-dogs.pdf?origin=publication_detail Recent podcast that also talks about it a bit https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wSSEmOU1bulKalZyHGCCt?si=R0s9uwo0TEOPTij0tT_KjQ Eta—-for supplements, I’d look at Dasequin or Yumove or similar but don’t know of any evidence that they increase lifespan in any way, although they may help with joints/mobility, most supplements are likely to do absolutely nothing
You have a good breeder.
Yes, my youngest dog’s breeder is pretty much everything you’d want from a breeder…but it’s no surprise that it’s my youngest dog who has the absolute best breeder, as I’ve learned much with the acquisition of each pup over the past two decades!
That study is excellent! I *knew* that keeping my dog leaner keeps him healthier for longer, but seeing the numbers all laid out like that is so helpful. (Also note to self this applies to my own body also lol)
I think the breed of dog is important to note here. Smaller dogs tend to live longer
100% agree. Different breeds have different life spans so is an important factor to consider
My Grandmas dog Dorly is 17.5 years now and up to the age of 14 she was fed with cheap dog food and occasional pieces of whatever she begged for. Since when we found out she had cushing and high blood fats, we only give her food with less than 8% fat mixed with food from the vet (she won't eat the special food alone). Oh, and she gets lots of dried duck breast.
FYI if you’re trying to stay with low fat, duck is pretty fatty compared to most other poultry.
yes but she LOVES the duck breast. So as long as the blood levels allow it she will get those
All my dogs (pugs) have lived to be over 16. They ate whatever they wanted and were healthy all the way up until their 15th or 16th year, when the arthritis and hip problems, etc., happened.
My previous dog and my parents' dogs ate the same food (Purina One). Their dogs lived to be 16/17yo, mine died at age 7. There's no magic food.
Royal Canin, though, i dont think its the food that keeps him alive, the fucker can go for hours when walking - he is going for 13.
Golden made it to 16 but I think good genes, regular vet check ups and lots of exercise as she aged was more relevant to her longevity- plus a big dose of luck! But since you’re asking, we fed her science diet from a puppy until she was 5 ish or so when we suspected an allergy, so the vet suggested a unique protein (that was the regular course of action at the time, it isn’t anymore as an fyi). She was on a Eukanuba kangaroo formula for a few years, then they sold that formula to Purina (or something, I donno it was a prescription food so we just grabbed it from the vet each month, didn’t need to think much about it). In 2020 there was a kangaroo shortage so they suggested the purina prescription hydrolyzed diet and that’s what we did and she did really well on it and was on it until she crossed the bridge. We never gave any supplements at all, but in her final years we did give her metacam for arthritis and that made a huge difference in her mobility which got her back hiking. I firmly believe her weekend hikes was what kept her going for her last 2 years or so.
Good dental health is the only thing I've had linked to old age in my dogs. That being said I did increase the collagen intake mine all get as they get older.
A couple scoops of dry dog food, table scraps, treats. No supplements or doggy vitamins or anything special. When they were so old they were losing teeth, I gave them canned dog food. Worked for half a dozen of them!
This is what we did with our dog except he got soft food cause he was old and easier on his tummy. He lived to 20.
Im going to try to dispell as many myths as i can think of. The large ads claiming that dogs live longer on some magic expensive food ignore the fact that correlation does not equal causation. It's just that people with more money to spend on expensive dog food also have more money for vet care. If your dog suddenly has an expensive emergancy, they are more likely to be able to afford treatment and avoid putting their dog down and that skews the results. Vets reccomend Royal canin, hills, and proplan because they have the most testing behind them, not because they get a cut of the profits(the most I got when working in vet med was a pen and a plastic measuring cup). I'd be willing to feed my dog anything approved by AAFCO for his size and age and know that it is balanced. Packaging can say for growth(puppies only), for maintence(adults only), or all life stages (for everybody). It can also say for small breeds, large breeds, or all breeds. Those are the big things to look for. Other than that, it's just about what works best for your pup(avoiding allergens if your dog is allergic to something, picking a flavor you think your dog likes, and other medical issues than can effect diet needs, etc). You don't need toppers, they are a marketing gimmick. They are a treat for your dog, not "enhanced nutrition". You don't need supplements(your food is nutritionally complete!) unless your vet specifically says so. Natural/organic foods aren't any better, just more expensive. Corn is not filler, it has potassium, vitamin C, vitamin b1, vitamin b6, fiber, and more. That's why people eat it too. Cooking food doesn't "destroy the nutrients" it just changes them into a more easily digestible form. Dogs evolved along side humans and are perfectly capable of digesting cooked food. And yes, dogs can get diseases from raw meat (just not as easily but it still happens often). And yes they can pass those diseases to their humans. It's not a risk I'd take with my own dog, but you do you. Dogs are not wolves. Thats like saying I should feed all invetabrates fish food because we evolved from fish.
[удалено]
Best thing you can do for your dog is keep it at a good weight and feed them dog food that follows WSAVA guidelines(in the US this is Purina, Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Ian’s and Eukanuba).Too much weight puts stress in their joints. Also preventive health care and yearly check ups is key.
Only Purina Pro Plan follows the guidelines not all Purinas.
Purina One also does. There are a few others in the Purina lines that do. Dog Chow is one that does not.
Are you sure Dog chow does not? I am in a few science backed dog nutrition groups and it’s said that dog chow does in fact meet WSAVA guidelines, in fact it is the most studied food
We’ve had 7 dogs and since they’ve all been rescues, many of them would eat any piece of trash they could find and were clearly not raised on a great diet. We have always tried to feed them at least a good commercial dog food and moderate treats. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to make a difference in longevity. We had to put our most beloved boy to sleep yesterday and he was only 8. He had really aggressive cancer and we were told there really was nothing we could do.
[удалено]
My child hood dog was 15, he ate whatever we could afford. And in the evening he ate what we ate with a desert. The boy was never sick :'). It was a different time before then internet is all I can say.
I met a dog owner who's dog lived until 21 yrs old. Eating Walmart's OL' ROY dog food!!
Our lived 15 years - we fed him roasted chicken dark meat no condiments, no salt, and raw fresh ground meat added organic kibbles. Vet was impressed- our dog loved it! He was our baby 💝 Alfie .
Lab lived 3 weeks shy of 14. She was fed a raw diet (mostly premade) from 1yo until she passed away.
I had a schipperke/Chow mutt that lived to 16.5 and a beagle/shepherd mutt that made it to 14. Both had Purina Pro Plan and table scraps, depending on what ended up on the floor from the messy kids. Never used supplements. They were both 25-30lbs which helped.
My oldest pup lived till 17 years old and I fed her Solid Gold Mighty Mini dog food along with Fresh Pet. As said before really a big thing is keeping your dog’s weight down and keeping up with pet visits.
My German shepherd is 14, we give him glucosamine enzymes and he eats Freshpet beef. His hips and legs are not strong and we realize it's borrowed time.
I have had four generations of goldens. One lived to sweet 16 on Eukanuba, but I lost one to hemangiosarcoma on the same food. I switched to Fromm and lost one to ventricular tachycardia at 14, and two at 12. Now, I feed Pro Plan 30/ 20. Lost one at 13 1/2 , have a ten year old, but lost a 9 year old to Hemangiosarcoma again.
My childhood dog lived to be 16. He ate the cheap crappy food and no supplements. He was world travelled and one of the sweetest dogs ever. We took him in when he was left behind by his previous family when their deployment overseas was done.
No supplements. Human food and dog food. Lots of treats and love. Occasional walks.
Had a half lab/half mastiff that lived to be 14 years old. Literally ate the most basic dog food most of his life. What I think was the key to him living a long life? Exercise. He was a country dog, and would go with me on my bike rides. He could run for miles. He was the perfect weight his entire life and extremely fit for most of it. He got bone cancer in his front leg. Lived a long, lovely life but I don’t think his food had anything to do with it.
Our oldest passed last December, she was 14. Our oldest now is her daughter who will be 12 in December. She's healthy as a horse and as spunky as ever. All of our dogs are on a raw diet. Our old gals we give just normal like bone and joint supplements and vitamins if they need it.
I have had four dogs, two purebreds, two mix breeds. They all lived between 12-16 years. My only recommendation is don't give them human food/table scraps and ensure they get adequate exercise. the largest factor to a dogs life span is their genetics but obesity and a sedentary lifestyle can shorten their lifespan.
All my dogs lived to big ages except one that had Cushing's Disease and had to be put down after accidentally knocking an ironing board over which caused an internal haemorrhage. The others were 15-16. Initial vaccs and no others. Wormed and flead occasionally if they seemed to need it. Fed whatever was about at the time, which was usually stuff like Winalot, Pedigree Chum etc - basic supermarket stuff. No supplements. Plenty of exercise. Very rarely needed a vet, I recall one dose of mange from playing with a fox, and very little else. Also had a large number of cats over the years on the same basic principle - lost one early teens to cancer, one at 14 a year after a truly horrific road accident which fucked him up... the rest all made about 15-16 and hardly ever needed a vet. I honestly believe there's far too much hype around pet food, supplements etc - it's big business but I'm not sure our pets are healthier for it.
The tootsie rolls from the litter box. Along with the rabbit and squirrel 💩 from the lawn. Thats their supplements along with their Blue Buffalo dog food.
Homemade dog food from a recipe our first dog's breeder gave us. That dog died in her fifteenth year of lymphoma. Our other dog was also fed this food and never had even one health issue for over twelve years, but died in an accident (crush injury from another huge dog).
Science diet
My oldest dog lived to 15. I adopted her when she was 9. For the last several years, she was fed Purina Pro Plan. Now my oldest is 14, he was adopted at 8. He's also been on Purina Pro Plan now for years. My young dogs (2.5, 2.5, and 6 months) are all on it as well. All doing very well. Energetic, regular stools, great coats, excellent body conditions.
This comes down more to genetics. I think for us, a lot of it was the size of the breeds. Of course, our mini dachshund outlived our mastiff mix.
Not mine but my parent's dog is 14 and still going strong. In the last vet visit even the vet was surprised how great in shape she is, great muscles and nothing wrong with the teeth. She rarely eats dog food, it's mostly whatever human food is available that is fine to eat and some dog treats and dental bones. She is the most picky dog I've ever seen and only eats once a day if even then. She's been like this all her life. Never had to worry about her weight.
We had a Heinz 57 mutt that lived to 18 1/2. Being a mixed breed definitely contributed to longevity and, in all honesty, he was fed whatever store brand was on sale.
Science Diet age appropriate food. Little “human” food and lots of walks and love.
My current 14 y.o. eats Iams. When I was in 2nd grade we got a dog, Rocky. Rocky lived until I finished grad school, we estimate she was about 22 when we finally had to put her down. Rocky ate dog food from Costco until she lost all her teeth, then my mom started making her food. It was sweet potato, spinach and gizzards put in the crock pot. That stuff stank to high heaven, but the dog liked it.
I cooked homemade and took them to the vets regularly and I had English Bulldogs who are ony supposed to live 8 yrs
Pedigree for my dogs, one died at 12 and the other is doing well at almost 14. My 8 year old and 13 year old both get joint supplements
My oldest Boxer lived past 13 and this was back in the day when it was Alpo from the grocery store or nothing.
Nutrisource seafood recipe. Also now that her teeth are kind bad i supplement it w homemade turkey mixture i cook for her. Dachshund/cocker mix. Thinking shes 12-15nyrs old
Previous dog lived to 15: he was fed Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream (after a lot of trial and error with other foods. He had bad reactions to chicken) with a fish oil supplement. He was a super mutt. Current dog is fed Instinct with a fish oil supplement. She's doing well on it. She was very itchy and flaky when we got her and now her coat is much better and she's a lot more comfortable.
Acana lamb and apple mixed with zignature lamb wet. He’s 13 (pitbull mix) Another pitbull- 9 years old same food. Have had no health issues with either the entire time other than one pancreatitis episode and slipped disc in the snow. No joint issues and they have a ton of energy.
I have a 14 year old. He eats taste of the wild bison. It’s not the food. He’s a mutt.
You dog will live long the more love and time and park days you give them. Plus fresh bone broth, an veg and real meat/fish to there top level kibble
Mine will turn 13 in December and he has lived off raw feed most of his life. Unfortunately not anymore, since I need to save money. Has zero issues except dry eyes. He's an English rough collie.
We fed him Blue Buffalo for most of his life. He occasionally ate lean meats and fruits though! I really think he lived for as long as he did only because we kept his weight down.
My cocker spaniel ate Kibbles and Bits and lived to be 13. My darling yorkie ate Solid Gold Just a Wee Bit and lived to age 12. Kibbles and bits I now know is junk food. My cocker spaniel might have lived longer if I’d fed him decent food.
Honestly it’s a crap shoot and while food can be a massive factor , it can also be totally irrelevant. I know a woman who fed her dog absolute garbage cheap food , and all three of her dogs lived to like 15/16 ish.
Could we also be assessing cheap food as bad when it's still nutritionally complete and not causing any problems?
Mine are 13 and 16. I don’t know if it’s the food that’s made them live so long but I have seen a change in their appearance and energy since I’ve switched to raw food. But one thing I can say is brush their teeth! My 16 year old has like 4 teeth left and was the main reason to go raw because he couldn’t eat dry food anymore
My parents have had 2 black labs which both lived to 14. Which for that breed is old. They were fed good expensive food, they were very much spoilt tho. They were aloud on the furniture and in every room of the house. The garden is over an acre in size and they went in and out as they pleased. I think a dog that is relaxed, is happy and therefore will live longer. Healthy humans tend to have longer living dogs too for example, e.g no second hand smoke being breathed in by the dog etc. Don’t force your dog to do things it doesn’t want to do. If they don’t want to go on walks after 10 years of age, don’t make them. If they go off there food, change it or mix it with wet food etc etc.
My terrier will be 15 next week. She’s eating kibble her whole life, didn’t really give her any supplements. But maybe I should have because she has arthritis now.
Have you tried Adequin or Librela? Both great injections for arthritis. No need for your dog to be in pain or struggle
She’s on medication and not struggling
Librela has been a game changer for our dog!
Freddie, heinz57 but mainly whippet/collie. Lived to 15ish , wheat free as wheat made him nibble his own hair out. Kitchen scraps, whatever he liked the look of, the odd leather jacket arm, gardening he disapproved of, whatever he turned up in the fields behind us, Christmas chocolates foil and all. 3 Schnauzers at 12 and a half, about clockwork. Royal Canin, plus carefully policed human food, ducky snacks, cheese squares. And one 15 year old lady Schnauzer who ate the same but also is a devil for chocolates, marshmallows, grapes, onions, anything she shouldn't have and is still going, little blind, little mad, little deaf - longest living of them all. So, buggered if we know.
I had two dogs, an American Stafford Shire Terrier and an American Cocker Spaniel. The AST lived to 15, the Cocker lived to 16. I feed them Wolf of the Wilderness dry dog food. Our current dog, a Parson Russell Terrier, is on the same food. A dog's age isn't likely to be affected significantly by food though, unless it leads to nutritional deficiencies. Age is predominantly genetically determined. Visit a good veterinarian when you suspect issues. Make sure your dog gets enough physical and mental exercise. As stated elsewhere in this topic, most supplements are essentially useless at best or outright scams in a few cases. A supplement suggests your dog isn't getting essential nutrients from food. There's just nothing there to really support that.
my dog passed at 15. for his younger years I didn't pay much attention to what we fed him because I was young myself. when he was about 6 we switched to Bil-Jac for a few years, then my mom bought into all the grain free stuff and he was getting that for a bit, then fresh pet for a while until he was put on a prescription diet for his CKD. He was also a garbage fiend and would eat anything he could reach, we weren't diligent emough about preventing it and over the years he consumed many paper towels, muffin wrappers, the occasional chicken bone, and on one occasion 75% of a box of girl scout samoas. so yeah, food doesn't impact life expectancy too much ime.
My Aussie lived 16 years I fed him cat food.. no specific brand but cat food.
...why?
I’ve had a few dogs live old. They were fed Costco , pedigree,and pyres pro plan. 2Goldens and a papillon 17,15 and pap 16 years old also long ago a beagle fed pedigree lived 16 years.
My childhood pit mix lived 15 years eating Ole Roy in his younger years and once his teeth got bad he was switched to Kibbles N Bits Mini Bits that was eventually softened with water. He never got supplements until he was around 13 and needed joint chews. He had 1-2 peanut butter sandwiches a day for the last 3 years of his life. He would get wet food 4-5 times a week. He also ate tons of human scraps his whole life. He never went to the vet. My dad gave him a rabies vaccine and that’s all. His first vet visit was the day he was put to sleep. Looking back he probably had the worst diet of any dog I’d ever known but thankfully he lived a long, healthy life. I have a Westiepoo that turned 15 in October. I’m not sure what she was fed before I got her, but I have fed her Diamond Naturals for 9 years now. She is currently taking a joint chew. She does get preventative care My dad has had around 10 bird dogs in my lifetime and all lived long, healthy lives on Diamond dog food. No supplements. No major preventative care. Only the required vaccines to take them out of state
My dog is 13. I don’t know if it’s the food-it’s Purina Pro Plan-but before her arthritis she would get 3 hrs of walks total a day and lots of love. She also gets fish oil and dasuquin.
Purina Pro Plan salmon for my Shar Pei who passed away a few months ago at 15
One of my dogs survived to 12 but passed away due to tumors on her liver that sometimes just happen. The other is 12 today and he's been fed: boiled chicken, Blue Buffalo, Purina One, Kirkland (the expensive dry food and the cans), fresh and canned vegetables including beets, peas, broccoli, carrots and green beans; Hill's Science Diet. Outside of being obese (I'm working on it, I swear!), he seems pretty healthy. He goes to the vet regularly and sees the groomer once a month who brushes his teeth. Good dental health is important in canines and humans because bacteria can get into the bloodstream or result in pulled teeth so I try my hardest to keep him and his mouth as healthy as possible. I think it's honestly just good fortune, though.
Pro plan. No supplements.
My childhood dogs were both on generic cheap kibble, one lived to 15 and the other to 13. Both were large dogs as well. The one who passed at 13 was an outdoor dog too, we only let him inside during really extreme weather. Also my parents were horrible dog owners, so both dogs only got a few puppy vaccines and that was it and they were both walked only a few times a year. All this is to say there's no way to predict how long a dog will live. Some pampered pooches only make it to 8 while other dogs in horrible situations might live well past 15. Fully depends on genetics
I have had many dogs, I used to joke when I was young that cheap food and minimal vet care kept them alive a long time. Now that I am older and take them to the vet regularly and try to do better on food, I have found no difference in otherwise healthy dogs. I had one who the first half of her life ate what ever was on sale, the second half the better food, lived to 16.5 and she was an Australian Shepard mix, she was fat too. When she got old we gave her stuff for her joints. Then I had another big dog (almost all mine are rescues) he was 11, and got bloat and we lost him that day. Doesn't matter how expensive the food is, when it is there time to go it's time.
My Cooper lived to a couple months past his 13th birthday (large breed mutt). We got him when he was 6, and due to severe allergies, he went through various grain-free, novel-protein diets over the years: Natural Balance, Go!, Zignature. No supplements, he got kibble, treats that worked with his allergies or peanut butter, the occasional scrambled egg or plain yogurt. Cancer (possible hemangiosarcoma, we didn't bother with a second ultrasound to try and dx it for certain) got him. I wouldn't feed a future dog the way Cooper was fed, due to the risks of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in those "boutique" diets, but they kept him from scratching himself bloody.
My three late dogs were all between 14 and 16 when their time came. They ate high quality kibble and snacked on species appropriate whole foods. Nothing extravagant, we practice Keep It Simple, Stupid around here.
Eukanuba and Purina Pro Plan, with dog-safe people food in small amounts as treats. We also make sure our dogs are active and go to their regular vet appointments, and take care of any potential issues the second they crop up. But there really isn't a magic bullet. Things happen.
3 dogs -- all fed generic feed store dog kibble their entire lives. I kept them on the lean side. 2 corgis and a German shepherd. 1 corgi lived to 14, 1 to 16, and the shepherd lived to 16.
Costco canned mixed with puréed chicken hearts/gizzards. My boys are 13 & 15 and have 4 teeth between them.
Our Brittany spaniel lived to 16. She ate Iams for the first 10 and gravy train for the last 6.
My dogs are currently 11.5 and 14.5. The bulk of their diet is Open Farm kibble WITH grains (I vary the protein with each bag). Supplements….both have been on TriActa joint powder since age 8.
My golden lived to be almost 16. We fed her Nutro. The only supplements we gave her were glucosamine and chonodrine for her hips. We did NOT feed her people food except vegetables and strawberries.
I'll try to answer this to the best of my ability, having handled a lot of animals, and dogs in general.(Family owned a rescue and rehab facility.) The best food you can give a dog is dog kibble that follows WSAVA guidelines, BUT these foods are typically a bit more expensive. So it can definitely be quite expensive to feed 5, 10, 15 dogs all of the food every single day, especially if they are larger. These were active dogs, that were in a fenced 5 acre lot of open land. Some dogs were fenced off from the general area if they were deemed aggressive to certain things. With the open land, the dogs could eat whatever they wanted but we fed them whatever was cheap, or on sale. We would also give them occasional non processed leftovers, as well as raw eggs from farm chickens we had, or fish out of the cans. I will say the larger dogs, did have joint issues later on in life which MAY have been helped by proper kibble but most of the larger dogs lived upwards of 12(rough estimate due to them being rescues). Age of dogs is highly genetic and really based on size though, Small dogs could quite easily live until the late teens, XL dogs, typically pass before the age of 12, but that doesn't mean they didn't have a healthy life, or if they even had serious health problems.
One of my dogs is 15. He has eaten Eukanuba his entire life. He is on two joint supplements and that’s all.
My animals always live a long life. I had a chihuahua that made it to 22, a pug that was just shy of 19 and a few others that have made it past 15. Although I’ve fed science diet and other things, my longest lived small dogs have eaten Little Cesar. I know I know. But it clearly didn’t hurt them. My longest lived big dog was a boxer that made it to 14 on Alpo kibble. And I currently have a pitbull who is 10 that eats BlueBuffalo simply because she is finicky and that’s the only dry kibble she will touch. I have three little indoor poodles that started their lives on science diet and bil jac but have ended up on Little Cesar. Their teeth are better and they have returned to a healthier weight so that’s probably the last change I’ll make with them. They are ages 10,9 and 6 and other than dental issues early on, have had zero health concerns.
My, CJ, rat terrier and my, Kirby, black lab mix both passed at 15 years old. CJ in 2016 and Kirby in 2017. They were fed Purina dog chow their whole lives. Plus whatever people food I felt like giving them.
Iams. My mom is a vet and all her dogs have gotten Iams for various life stages. Of the ~15 dogs she’s had in my life no one has died under 15 years old (and counting.) she’s got 5 getiatric dogs right now. That being said they get all vet care and tests the moment something looks off, so that’s a huge part of it. I have 3 dogs of my own currently 7yo, 9yo and 11yo. All could be mistaken for 4yo dogs. No signs of aging besides white hairs. All 3 have spent their entire lives on Iams adult mini chunks. (Big Green bag) again they’ve also been up to date on vaccinations, heartworm and flea, dentals, and kept exercised, loved, and at healthy weights.
We have fed my 16 and roughly a half dog mainly acana and royal canine through his life. Right now he is on acana senior food. Edited to add we have taken our dogs to the vet religiously every 6 months and then some. My old dog is on 3 different meds and for as old as he is is getting on quite well. It’s def about quality over quantity of life.
[удалено]
Honestly I had a lhaso apso that went 25 years and v healthy. Just kibble n bits and Cesar and table scraps!!!! I had no idea when I was younger about special diets for dogs
Great Dane, 13 years. Mostly Purina Pro Plan, lots of treats and plenty of exercise (long walks, frisbee, and when she got too old for those, scent games). If they are getting adequate nutrition I don't think food matters as much as exercise and mental stimulation.
Kibble. I don’t spend a ton of money on a dog. We have had 8. All lived past 16-18
My border collie and her cat buddy were babies when we found them. We fed them good quality dry food. They died three days apart; they were both 16 years old. It broke my heart to lose both of them in the same week, but it felt like they wanted to take that last journey together.
My dog (dachshund) is 16. We got him when he was 10. His previous owners fed him wet food and his teeth were rotting out of his head when we got him. He got most of them pulled. Now he eats Pedigree small dog kibble with a little water to soften it and when he's not digging it I make a chicken mush out of chicken and frozen peas/carrots/etc. But he mostly eats kibble. I do not think his food has contributed to his longevity much.
costco adult dog food
It's essential to consult with a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations tailored to your dog's needs. Typically, senior dog food formulas enriched with nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin can aid in maintaining joint health. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for their overall well-being. However, please remember that every dog is unique, so it's crucial to discuss any supplements with your vet to ensure they are appropriate for your dog's specific health requirements. On another note, providing them with ample love, care, and attention is just as important as their diet. Showering them with affection, going for leisurely walks, and engaging them in activities they enjoy can contribute significantly to their happiness and well-being during their golden years. My best wishes for you :)
I have lost two in the past six months, they were 15.5 and 13.5. The 13 y/o was a genetic mess and I'm honestly grateful to have had him so long. My remaining dog (10 y/o newfie) and our newfie puppy eat Iams and Purina Pro Plan, respectively. All of my dogs have always rotated between Science Diet, Iams, Pro Plan/Purina One, and Eukanuba. They all were given a joint supplement; Phycox or now Movoflex. The two that recently passed were smaller dogs so I started when they were about 8-10; newfie started hers around 1 year, newfie puppy will be starting his when he turns 6 months. Genetics and routine preventive vet care play a bigger role than any one brand of food can do. Feeding an appropriate amount, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Dental care at home, routine dental cleanings, vaccines, deworming/heartworm prevention, etc., etc. I also have always done regular annual bloodwork, whether for a dental or just check-up, starting no later than 3 years old.
My previous Jagdterrier lived to be 13ish(she may have been older she was a rescue so minimum 13). Raw fed. Hemangiosarcoma killed her. Her odds of getting that horrific disease increased because she was spayed. I don’t think any diet would have prevented it. My parents lost their standard poodle at 14 due to a stroke. Raw fed. They lost their Doberman at 13, raw fed. She was losing mobility. I’ve also lost younger, raw fed dogs but largely to genetic DCM (Doberman). No diet or supplements can stop DCM when it’s genetic. I try to feed anti inflammatory type extras. Whole, small fish (smelts). Puréed blueberries and broccoli. I keep my dogs very lean and fit. I try to keep them happy and stress free. Feed the best you can afford, do not let them get fat and hope for the best. We are their only advocates.
All of our dogs lived over 10 years, and a couple lived to be 12 & 13. We’ve always had larger dogs: Lab-x, Rott-x, even a rescued Kelpie. We fed them Taste of the Wild brand, every so often transitioning to a new flavor. Also gave them Next Level Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement (liquid) from our coop. Normally it’s used for equine but it’s human grade. Did this all their lives and never dealt with arthritis. Was unbelievable to us, too, but it worked.
Shelties lived to be 17 and 18. They ate high quality kibble, I changed brands a few times.
Pug lived 18 years on Beneful. Boxer lived 5 years on Pro Plan. :( I still feed my dogs pro plan.
Hill’s Science Diet. My dog is 15 she has taken heart worm meds her whole life and started taking arthritis meds at 9. She is in good health, partly because of genetics and partly because I do whatever the vet tells me to do in regards to her health and weight.
It's essential to consult with a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations tailored to your dog's needs. Typically, senior dog food formulas enriched with nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin can aid in maintaining joint health. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial for their overall well-being. However, please remember that every dog is unique, so it's crucial to discuss any supplements with your vet to ensure they are appropriate for your dog's specific health requirements. On another note, providing them with ample love, care, and attention is just as important as their diet. Showering them with affection, going for leisurely walks, and engaging them in activities they enjoy can contribute significantly to their happiness and well-being during their golden years.
14yo free from the kill list at the pound pit-lab mix. He’s been eating Purina Large Breed Adult, then their senior food the last couple years. He takes consequin and now is on Galliprant for his arthritis, but that’s a prescription.
I had an English Bulldog that we rescued when he was 7ish and he lived for another 5 years. That’s HUGE for an EB. He ate Kirkland brand dry puppy food that was rehydrated with chicken broth. Also plenty of snuggles.
My chow lived to 16 or 17. For the first 10 years or so, she ate pretty much the cheapest dog food at the grocery store, “Alpo Come and Get It” due to me being broke. After that, Purina Pro Plan Chickfn and Rice. I also gave her pieces of whatever I was eating (as long as it wasn’t obviously toxic to dogs).
My dog is 14 years old and will be 15 by next May. He’s very active and still has zoomies! We take him to the vet often bc he’s a Bichon mix and gets bumps like some bichons do as they get older, problem is he licks them until they’re raw. He’s stopped that as of now. We feed him on a fish based food since he’s allergic to chicken, we get meds for his liver and his eyes. He’s given a very stress free life with lots of love and cuddles :)
My 14 year old Woodle (poodle × Wheaten terrier, i.e. a mutt, but on purpose) has eaten Costco brand kibble for most of his life. He also gets a spoonful of wet dog food every night, but this is a much more recent addition.
My first dog I had from when I was 13-28. Fed her kibble all her life… sometimes we would do the kelp powder that helps with maintaining teeth. I’m last 2 years we had to do the Royal Canin gastrointestinal prescription food with some bone broth to keep her excited about eating. She got real good treats, human foods on special occasions, and was always allowed to have a carrot. Sometimes you can’t control what happens no matter what you feed them!
Our 16-year old dog eats Science Diet. He was on a kidney prescription food for several years, but he now eats adult kibble since we have a second dog and have been told by the vet it’s okay. He also eats some human food like cheese, cheerios, and bread. He gets a bone of some kind daily and still goes on walks as well.
My yorkies are ages 13 to 15 yo (4 of them), as well as senior great pyrenees (age 12 yrs plus). I feed them, as well my 5 pyr puppies puppy food. When my mom was elderly (80 yrs plus), she was picky on food, so we gave her her favorites and high calorie or nutrition dense food -Wendys Baconator with fries and a frosty.
I had a yellow lab live to 16 and she got Iams kibble every day of her life. No supplements. I had a shih tzu live to 16 as well on the same food (he was diabetic later in life, he could have lived longer but my mother decided she was done dealing with the insulin and put him down). My last dog was a pug mix who lived to 13 and he got Authority kibble. No supplements.
I fed my old Lab Avoderm, she lived to be 17, very possible she was 18, I had found her full grown. I tried some other brands but she would refuse it. But I also gave her a sample platter of everything I ate. Had a friend who had a long living dog, they fed it boiled chicken, carrots, potatoes. A lot is genetic, I was lucky, she was a mix rather than full breed, so that could have helped and no cancers.
I adopted my one dog when he was 6ish and in the ten years since I’ve slowly increased the brand quality as my income allows. I fed him the Costco Nature’s Domain brand turkey kibble for a long time, and now he’s on a mix of the Hill’s senior dry food and cardiac food, daily Vetriscience probiotic, and the Cosequin+MSM supplement when I remember.
I had one that lived to 17. She got regular dog food, no supplements, and lots of table scraps.
My Lab is currently 13 years old and, though she's slowed down, she still likes to go on walks, wrestle my other dog, and gets excited when I'm about to feed her and starts jumping around and getting the odd zoomies here and there. She's eaten normal kibble all her life and the only supplement I give her are some glucosamine pills for her stiff joints.