Guide
How to Choose Treats for Senior Dogs
In shortFor senior dogs, choose treats that are easy to chew, small, simple in ingredients and given in smaller amounts. Teeth weaken and activity drops with age, so treats that crumble by hand are better than hard chews.
Four things to look for
- Texture — light lung or thin jerky rather than hard bones or hooves
- Size — broken small and easy to swallow
- Ingredients — simple ingredient lists are easier on digestion
- Amount — with less activity, keep strictly within 10% of daily calories
When appetite fades
Smell and appetite can decline with age. A pinch of crumbled liver over food can bring back interest at mealtime (using treats as a topper). A sudden drop in appetite can signal illness, so see your vet first.
Picks from Belcher
Hand-crumbling horse lung, lamb lung and yak lung, and lamb liver crumbled as a topper. Give hard chews like horse hoof or rib only after checking dental health.
Senior dogs with kidney, liver or other conditions should have treats and amounts agreed with a veterinarian.