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An older dog is far more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases and health problems than a younger dog, and logic dictates that. Any person or animal entering old age has a body that begins to feel the stresses and strains of life and reacts accordingly, and it is thus essential that we all take more care of it. However, for an older dog, one of the main elements of life that should provide a source of aid is the diet.

A balanced diet is essential for the older dog because it can be tailored to the individual pooch to promote health and a longer life. Whether he or she has arthritis, a heart condition, cancer, organ degeneration or failure, or even just aches and pains, a balanced diet can really help to ease the burden of age. Of course, every diet is completely up to he individual owner, but there is one golden rule to follow – increase the dosage of vitamins and minerals.

Every vitamin and mineral has a valid function within the body, whether it is promoting tissue regeneration or regulating the white blood cell count to help prevent infection. As a result, an older dog would need more vitamins and minerals than a younger dog because his or her body is no longer able to fight off the problems promoted by an unhealthy diet.

Owners often believe that dry meal or canned meat is sufficient to help a dog remain strong and healthy but that view is misguided, especially in older dogs. Canned meat and meal only provide a little nourishment, and even that is negotiable. An older dog will benefit far more from home cooked meat, rice and vegetables than he or she would from canned meat. By using home cooked ingredients, you could actually control exactly how much of the various vitamins and minerals that your older dog gets. This could keep him or her healthy for far longer and even add a few more months of companionship for you!