Seniors: As dogs move less with age, they need less energy. In old age, the energy requirement decreases by up to 20%.
This affects the metabolism: The ingested food, is transformed into fat, and no longer into muscle. Therefore, overweight
can be the result. Therefore, you should give the senior food with fewer calories. ATTENTION many think that you can save
the calories by giving less food, so smaller portions. THIS IS A MISTAKE. If you do this, you are not only saving the dog
fewer calories, you are also saving important/valuable nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. But these are vitally
necessary for an older dog. Vitamins: L-carnitine and antioxidants like vitamins C and E boost your dog's immune defenses.
They also scavenge the aggressive free radicals that are considered a cause of aging. There is vitamin E in
sunflower oil, as well as in corn oil. This can be easily mixed into the feed if you prepare it yourself. You
should also make sure that there is vitamin B in the feed. Caution: one should be careful with the fat-soluble
vitamin A. If there is an over-supply of it, it can put too much stress on the liver. However: since many dogs eat
liver frequently and readily, or even drink cod liver oil, an undersupply is less common than an oversupply of
vitamin A. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids Dry coat, hair loss or increased skin infections in old age are not
uncommon in dogs. This can be counteracted with omega-3 and omega-6. Omega 6 is found in linseed oil. Omega 3,
which is even more valuable for your dog, is found in fish oil, such as salmon oil. Omega-3 fatty acids not only
have a positive effect on the coat, but also help to support the joints. Clinical studies have shown that a high
proportion of omega 3 in dog food can reduce the number of painkillers for joint problems.
