As dog owners, we want to keep our dogs around as long as possible. But as one study on senior dog food reveals, many dog owners are confused about what type of senior dog food to give their pets.

According to a study published by veterinary nutritionists at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, how people perceive senior dog foods is quite different than the actual nutritional content of the food.

For example, most of the survey respondents felt that senior dog foods likely contained fewer calories. However, calories in the senior foods studied ranged from 246 to 408 calories/cup. While some dogs gain weight as they age, others lose weight. This means that the large range in calories might prove problematic for owners of older dogs, said Lisa Freeman, D.V.M., Ph.D., who worked on the study with Dana Hutchinson, D.V.M.

The researchers polled more than 1,300 people online about their perceptions about foods marketed for old dogs. Their responses were correlated with the actual nutritional content of almost 40 commercially available “senior” dog foods.

About 43 percent of respondents fed their dogs a senior diet, but only one-third of them did so on the advice of a veterinarian. In addition, about 84.5 percent felt that senior dogs have different nutritional needs compared to adult dogs.

The study also revealed that most respondents believed that senior dog foods likely contained less fat, protein and sodium.

“If an owner, for example, had a senior dog with heart disease, they might be inclined to feed them a senior food, thinking that it had less sodium,” Dr. Freeman said. “Instead, they might replace a diet that had a perfectly acceptable amount of sodium for one that is considerably higher.”

The study illustrates a great deal of confusion in the marketplace, Freeman said. It’s important for owners to be aware that every senior diet is different, and it may or may not be appropriate for an individual dog, depending upon his or her body condition and health, she added.

The researchers noted that the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and National Research Council have not set official dietary requirements for aging dogs. As such, foods marketed for “longevity” and “maturity” or “senior,” “old” or “mature” dogs do not have to adhere to a standard nutrition profile beyond the AAFCO nutrient profile minimums for adult dogs.

Hutchinson and Freeman are continuing their research to help determine optimal nutritional levels for aging dogs.

Story By Elaine Furst For Dog Files