11 Best Senior Dog Foods For Arthritis
Are you looking for the best senior dog foods for arthritis?
As our dogs reach their senior years, some will face age-related problems such as arthritis.
It’s hard to watch our best friends coping with pain, a loss of energy, or having a difficult time moving around.
Fortunately, some fantastic companies have made special blends of food to help dogs with symptoms of arthritis.
Normally, these pet foods include glucosamine and chondroitin, which may help inflammation, protect joints, and reduce pain.
Here are our top 11 best senior dog foods for arthritis, which we have classified by a dog’s size, age, and condition.
As with any health-related issue, you should speak to your vet first based on your dog’s specific situation.
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At A Glance: The Best Senior Dog Foods For Arthritis
Best For Small Dogs 7 -11 Years: Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites
Best For Small Dogs Over 11 Years: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 11+ For Senior Dogs
Best For Medium Breeds: Eukanuba Senior Maintenance
Best For Large Breeds: Royal Canin Large Aging 8+ Senior Dry Dog Food
Best For Large Breeds – Preventative: Royal Canin Maxi Joint and Coat Care Dry Dog Food
Best Grain Free Dog Food: AvoDerm Advanced Joint Health Dry Dog Food, Grain Free
Best Grain Free Dog Food Without Chicken: Nulo FreeStyle Senior Grain Free Dog Food
Best Grain Free Dog Food – High Protein: ORIJEN Senior Dry Dog Food
Best Wet Senior Dog Food: Wellness Complete Senior Formula
Best For Sensitive Stomachs: Holistic Select Natural Select – Senior Health
Best For Healthy Weight: Victor Senior Healthy Weight
1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small Bites (Best For Small Dogs 7 -11 Years)
Hill’s Science Diet offers this recipe for adult small breed dogs over 7 years of age to help with joint and hip problems.
This tasty chicken meal, barley & brown rice recipe has over 3000 ratings with very positive reviews as of the date of this article.
It is designed to be easy to digest and support your pup’s overall wellness.
It contains balanced minerals for heart and kidney health, Omega-6’s and Vitamin E for healthy skin and coat, plus a high quality protein for lean muscle.
Once your pup reaches 11 years old, Hill’s Science offers an 11+ version (see below).
2. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kibble, Adult 11+ For Senior Pups (Best For Small Canine’s Over 11 Years)
This variety by Hill’s Science Diet is the clear cut winner for small breeds over the age of 11.
Smaller dogs tend to have longer life spans than larger breeds, so they’re more likely to suffer from the pains of old age.
Not all older dogs get arthritis; some of the causes include your dog’s genetics, body composition, and activity levels, so this senior dog food by Hills’s Science is designed to support your dog’s overall health.
It contains vitamins and minerals for heart, kidney, and bladder health.
It also includes Omega-6s and Vitamin E for healthy skin and coat, antioxidants for immune support, and Omega-3s for joint and mobility health. It comes in a chicken meal, barley & brown rice recipe.
3. Eukanuba Senior Maintenance (Perfect For Medium Breeds)
Eukanuba has created an excellent dog food for dogs over seven years old and weighing between 24 and 54 pounds.
It contains antioxidants for immune system support and healthy brain function plus Vitamin E for a glowing coat and healthy skin.
They have balanced the levels of carbohydrates and fats to fuel your four-legged best’s friend’s activity levels – even if they aren’t what they once were.
And in addition to a formula designed to help with joint care, Eukanuba’s recipe also contains ingredients to help prevent dental problems and tartar build-up.
Since dental cleanings can be costly, this is an excellent extra benefit.
4. Royal Canin Large Aging 8+ Senior Dry Kibble (Perfect For Large Breeds)
For senior dogs 56-100 lbs, this Royal Canin food is ideal. They have really thought of everything here.
For one, they created a food designed to help support joint and bone health, which is so crucial in the larger breeds.
Their bones need extra support for their large size.
Royal Canin also made this food into large-sized kibble for your dog, but it is designed to be rehydrated with warm water if your furry friend has a problem with chewing or with joint pain in their jaws.
This recipe has easy to digest proteins, plenty of fiber, and antioxidants to support your dog’s cellular health and reduce signs of aging.
5. Royal Canin Maxi Joint and Coat Care (Perfect For Large Breeds – Preventative)
If you have a larger dog who does not have arthritis or joint pain, but you want to take some preventative steps, this food by Royal Canin is your best bet.
It is formulated for dogs as young as 15 months but contains collagen. The collagen helps create healthy bones and cushioning in their joints.
For larger breeds known to have problems with abnormal joint development such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or luxating patellas, this food is a good choice.
It can help joints develop properly, which will help your dog stay active and moving comfortably.
Royal Canin Maxi Joint also has a calorie content that helps keep your dog slim and trim. Obesity is one of the leading causes of arthritic joints, so a healthy weight is essential.
6. AvoDerm Advanced Joint Health, Grain Free (Top Grain Free Canine Food)
AvoDerm is wheat, corn, and soy-free and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The name AvoDerm comes from avocados. Just like for people – avocados are great for dogs. This food recipe is made with Omega-rich avocados for a healthy coat and skin.
Plus, this variety of AvoDerm food contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for joint support and ingredients to help with vision and brain health.
For pet owners looking for a grain-free option, this recipe with loads of healthy Omegas, Vitamin A, C, E, and B6 is a fantastic option.
7. Nulo FreeStyle Senior Grain Free (The Perfect Grain Free Without Chicken)
Many of the foods on this list contain chicken. If you have a dog with allergies or digestive issues, you may want to choose another protein source.
In that case, we recommend this dry food from Nulo.
It contains their patented probiotic that helps with digestion, is grain-free, and has L-Carnitine, which helps with the metabolism of fats for dogs that aren’t quite as active as they once were.
Nulo Senior Recipe is formulated for adult dogs with arthritis and contains glucosamine and chondroitin.
Their trout and sweet potato recipe is perfect for dogs who cannot have chicken as the main protein.
8. ORIJEN Senior (Top Grain-Free and High Protein)
If you are looking for a high protein diet for your dog, you can’t go wrong with ORGIEN.
Fortunately, they also make a version for our silver muzzled friends who may be suffering from arthritis.
Their senior dog food is 85% quality animal ingredients (chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish, including herring, flounder, and mackerel) and 15% vegetables like pumpkin, chickpeas, lentils, and navy beans.
For dogs on a more ancestral diet, ORIJEN is at the top of the list.
9. Wellness Complete Senior Formula (Best Wet Dog Food)
This senior food has the ingredients for joint and health, plus vitamins and minerals to support overall well-being, all mixed in a dog-friendly stew of chicken, whitefish, barley, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
The veggies provide dietary fiber, which assists with good digestion and antioxidants. Plus this canned food also contains flaxseed for healthy skin and coat.
If you are looking for wet food for your dog or to supplement with their kibble, we suggest this variety by Wellness.
10. Holistic Select Natural Select – Senior Health (Perfect For Sensitive Stomachs)
As our pets age, sometimes their digestive systems can start to act up. If you have these concerns, we highly recommend Holistic’s Senior Health.
Like many on this list, it has been formulated with antioxidants, glucosamine, taurine, and Omega 3s from salmon oil and flaxseeds.
What is unique about this dog food is that it also has prebiotics and probiotics, live yogurt cultures, digestive enzymes, and natural dietary fiber, enhancing digestion.
If your dog has digestive issues, this food will help with regular and healthy stool.
11. Victor Senior Healthy Weight (For Healthy Weight)
A dog who is overweight will struggle more with joint and hip issues.
That is why we love this food from Victor, which is made with high-quality beef, chicken, pork, and fish and designed to help less active dogs lose some of that extra weight.
It is gluten-free but has ingredients to help your pup have a healthy immune and digestive system, plus ingredients for long-term joint health.
Taking the pressure of their sore joints will help your dog feel more comfortable, so providing good nutrition that keeps your dog at an optimal body weight is essential.
Conclusion
Well, we hope you enjoyed our list of these senior dog foods for arthritis.
These recipes also contain minerals, vitamins, and supplements designed to support the health of our senior dogs.
If you’re concerned that your dog might have arthritis, see your vet. They can help you put together a treatment plan appropriate for your dog.
Combine that with the right food to help your furry family member enter their senior years in comfort.
By the way, I also wrote an article on the best supplements for older dogs.
