9 Best Dog Foods for Small Senior Dogs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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While we don’t like to think about it, our pets can face various health problems as they age, including arthritis and weight gain. While not all age-related changes are obvious, evidence suggests that maintaining a healthy diet for senior dogs can delay the onset of these changes.
Senior dogs don’t digest food as well as they once did, so it’s important to choose food with high-quality nutrients that are easy to absorb. Small breeds often need fewer calories to avoid weight gain, but some dogs have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.
Our reviews below include the best dog foods for small senior dogs. These quality brands will help keep your dog in tip-top shape well into their golden years.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024
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Best Overall
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Ollie Beef Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) |
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Budget Buy
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Iams Healthy Aging Dog Food |
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Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Dry Food |
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Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Dog Food |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dry Food |
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The 9 Best Dog Foods for Small Senior Dogs
1. Ollie Beef Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) — Best Overall
| Main Ingredients: | Sweet potatoes, peas, blueberries, chia seeds, beef |
| Protein Content: | 12% |
| Fat Content: | 10% |
| Calories: | 1540 kcal/kg |
Ollie Fresh Beef With Sweet Potatoes Recipe is our choice for the best overall dog food for small senior dogs. This food is appropriate for all life stages and is packed with vitamins and nutrients to maintain overall health. Ollie contains high-quality protein that is easy for your senior to digest. It promotes skin and coat health and prevents joint problems as dogs age.
Since Ollie makes fresh food, you will have to take extra care to prevent spoilage. It can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator overnight before feeding. We’re confident that the quality of Ollie’s food far outweighs the small amount of extra work required to feed it to your dog and that you’ll be thrilled to see the extra energy that your dog has.
- Customized delivery
- High-quality, easily digested proteins
- Good for all life stages
- Complete nutrition
- Must be frozen or refrigerated to maintain freshness
2. Iams Healthy Aging Dog Food — Budget Buy
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken by-product meal, barley, corn |
| Protein Content: | 24% |
| Fat Content: | 10.5% |
| Calories: | 349 kcal/cup |
Iams Healthy Aging Dog Food is the best dog food for small seniors for the money. While it isn’t specifically a small breed formula, it is made for aging dogs. This recipe contains all the ingredients you want in senior dog food, including antioxidants, fiber, prebiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
These supplements support your dog’s immune system and digestive system and promote joint health. There are also supplements that aid in fat-burning and keep your dog’s metabolism functioning at its best. Unfortunately, Iams Healthy Aging is only available in chicken flavor. If your dog is sensitive to chicken, Iams Healthy Aging isn’t for you.
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Good value for the money
- Includes glucosamine and antioxidants
- Only available in one flavor
- No small breed-specific formula
3. Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Small Breed
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken, rice, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), whole-grain corn |
| Protein Content: | 29% |
| Fat Content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 487 kcal/cup |
Vets often recommend Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Small Breed due to its wide variety of recipes and tendency to cater to the unique needs of different dogs. Purina’s Formula for small-breed senior dogs is packed full of supplements for senior health. It has ingredients designed to maintain your dog’s cognitive functioning and mental sharpness, along with their physical health.
The biggest downside to Purina Pro Plan foods is the cost. They are significantly more expensive than other brands. However, the added benefits for your dog will be well worth the cost.
- Supplements for cognitive, joint, and digestive health
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Small breed recipe
- Limited flavor availability
- Expensive
4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken meal, pearled barley, brewer’s rice, whole-grain wheat |
| Protein Content: | 15.5% |
| Fat Content: | 10.5% |
| Calories: | 353 kcal/cup |
Small dogs have different needs than large dogs, and Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites addresses this by providing different recipes for different sizes of dogs. This recipe is designed for dogs aged 7 years or older. It has smaller kibble to make it easier for tiny mouths to chew. It is also available in wet food, which can be mixed in for added flavor or ease of chewing.
Like many senior foods, Hill’s only produces this recipe in chicken, so it isn’t ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Made for small breed dogs
- Includes glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-6 fatty acids
- No artificial additives
- Only available in chicken flavor
5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior
| Main Ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal |
| Protein Content: | 23% |
| Fat Content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 370 kcal/cup |
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior provides complete nutrition in its senior food. This recipe contains all-natural ingredients without artificial fillers, preservatives, or byproducts. It is well-supplemented to support your dog’s whole health. Small Breed Senior Recipe is available in dry and wet food if you need to mix it for picky eaters or dogs with dental issues.
Most of Blue Buffalo’s supplements are included in kibble pieces called LifeSource Bits. While most dogs love these tasty additions, some don’t and will pick them out of their kibble. If you have one of those dogs, they won’t get the complete nutrition of this food.
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Added supplements for joint, immune, and digestive health
- No artificial ingredients or byproducts
- Some dogs pick out the LifeSource Bits
6. ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Main Ingredients: | Chicken, turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, turkey giblets |
| Protein Content: | 38% |
| Fat Content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 417 kcal/cup |
Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food stands out from other dog food brands because of its ingredient profile. About 85% of this food comes from animal protein. It includes poultry and fish for an exceptional offering of essential vitamins and minerals. It also contains nutrient-rich organ meats, which aren’t common in senior dog foods.
As a freeze-dried raw food, it’s unlikely that even the pickiest dogs will turn their nose up at the flavor of this one. It smells strongly of fish, which can be unpleasant to some owners, especially if you free-feed your dog. However, if your dog eats at specific times, that might not matter. It is also one of the more expensive senior foods available.
- First 13 ingredients are meat protein
- High protein content
- Strong fish smell
- Expensive
7. Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Senior Dry Food
| Main Ingredients: | Deboned turkey, chicken meal, ground brown rice, peas |
| Protein Content: | 25% |
| Fat Content: | 12% |
| Calories: | 435 kcal/cup |
For dogs with arthritis or joint issues, Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Senior has high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin. These supplements protect the cartilage in the joints and can prevent further deterioration of the joint capsule as your dog ages. This kibble is smaller than many other recipes to make it easier for small dogs.
The flavor of Wellness Small Breed isn’t well-liked by picky dogs and often has to be mixed with wet food. This takes away the cost-effectiveness of the food because wet food is more expensive.
- Includes supplements for joint health
- Meat is the first ingredient
- No additives or preservatives
- Not liked by picky eaters
8. Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food
| Main Ingredients: | Deboned lamb, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin), rice bran |
| Protein Content: | 24% |
| Fat Content: | 12% |
| Calories: | 307 kcal/cup |
If you’re looking for a small breed senior food with a novel protein, Nutro Natural Choice Senior Lamb & Brown Rice may be just what you need. While most senior foods are made with chicken, this one has lamb as the first ingredient, which is less likely to upset sensitive tummies. The recipe has added calcium to support bone health and is specifically designed for dogs over 7 years of age.
For dogs with missing teeth, this kibble is hard to chew. The problem is usually fixed by wetting the food before feeding, but that is extra work.
- Real meat is the first ingredient
- Offers a novel protein
- Lower calories than many other brands
- Hard to chew for some dogs
9. Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Dry Food
| Main Ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley |
| Protein Content: | 27% |
| Fat Content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 404 kcal/cup |
While Merrick doesn’t make senior dog food, it’s Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Dry Food contains more than enough nutrition to keep your dog healthy as they age. This food has high levels of glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids.
Instead of traditional grains, Merrick uses ancient grains and quinoa to promote healthy digestion. Dogs with sensitive digestive systems seem to have trouble with Merrick food. The most common complaint is excessive gas.
- Small breed formula
- Easy to digest
- High levels of supplements
- May cause gassiness
- Not a senior dog recipe
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Dog Food for Small Senior Dogs
Senior dogs have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. While many formulas are labeled as senior foods, you want to ensure you feed your dog the best. We’re here to help.
What to Look For in Senior Dog Food
- AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement: Dog foods that contain an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Statement have been evaluated through laboratory testing and feed trials to ensure that they offer complete and balanced nutrition for the appropriate life stage.
- Calorie content: Senior foods contain fewer calories than regular adult food. Senior dogs usually aren’t as active as younger dogs, and their metabolism slows down as they age, making it easier for them to gain weight. However, some senior dogs have difficulty keeping weight on and need food with a higher caloric value.
- Protein: Most senior foods contain high amounts of protein to maintain muscle mass. If your dog has a medical condition that requires a low-protein diet, you should speak with your vet about what is best to feed your dog.
- Supplements: Most senior foods contain supplements to promote your dog’s digestive and immune health. They also contain glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain joint mobility.
At What Age Should a Dog Start Getting Senior Food?
Dogs are usually considered “senior” or “mature” at the age of 7. Many senior dog foods are labeled as “age 7+.” However, some dogs remain highly active into their senior years, and feeding them senior food is unnecessary if they don’t need it. Senior dog food is formulated for dogs with decreased activity levels and mobility limitations. It is always best to speak with your veterinarian about whether it is time to switch your dog to senior food.
- If your dog has joint or mobility issues, senior dog food has higher amounts of supplements to support joint health.
- Dogs with skin issues may benefit from omega-fatty acid supplementation.
- Less-active dogs may need lower-calorie food to prevent becoming overweight.
Final Verdict
We hope these reviews and buyer’s guide have given you a good overview of what to choose for a small-breed senior dog food. Our best overall small-breed senior dog food recommendation is Ollie Fresh Beef Recipe. It’s packed with nutrition for your aging dog, and since it’s fresh food, you can be certain that you are providing the highest quality ingredients.
The best value for the money is Iams Healthy Aging Dog Food. This senior food still contains all the nutrition your dog needs to age gracefully, but it’s available at a lower price than many other brands. Our third recommendation is Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Small Breed Formula. It targets your dog’s cognitive health, along with their physical needs.
Featured Image Credit: Ryan Brix, Shutterstock
