As your poodle ages, they will start to have different nutritional requirements for that particular life stage. Nutrition for older Royal Poodles is especially tricky.
Whether you’ve had your poodle since they were a puppy or if you rescued an older dog, they all need a nutrient-rich food that will support their health in their senior years. If you have had your poodle since they were a puppy, then their nutritional and health history will be well known.
If they are older and a new member of the family, then figuring out their past is a little more difficult. Either way, moving forward into a good senior food product will be helpful.
Poodles are happy pets who have a nice temperament and are very intelligent. Three sizes of poodles are recognized by the American Kennel club: toy, miniature, and standard, but there is a fourth size called a royal that is known to breeders and dog lovers.
A royal poodle is larger than a standard and can reach up to 90 pounds. This means they will have different nutritional needs compared to a toy poodle. No matter what size your pup is, they need nutritional care as they age. Understanding their nutritional needs mean that you have a good chance of your canine companion staying fit and healthy in their later years.
Becoming a Royal Senior
Age in dogs is affected by their size. Royals and standards will become senior dogs around 6-7 years old and toys and miniatures around 10. These numbers are important when choosing their food to match their life stage.
Understanding what your older royal poodle needs nutritionally is important. As they age, their bones can become brittle, and their joints, muscles, and ligaments get worn. Dental problems may also appear. Their nutrition should have ingredients to address the possibility of these issues cropping up in your royal poodle.
Whether your older poodle is new to your home or has been with you since their puppy days, it will be important to have a conversation with their veterinarian to discuss aging and nutritional requirements. On the topic of age, activity level and both current and potential health are important as you decide on food for your older royal poodle. Health issues can include:
- Cancer
- Eye problems
- Arthritis
- Hip dysplasia
- Ligament problems
- Musculoskeletal issues
How Should You Feed Your Older Royal Poodle?
Older royal poodles need specific nutrients as they head into their senior years. This food adjustment should be done incrementally giving their digestive systems have time to adjust to a new product. Two meals a day is good for them as grazing can be problematic in keeping them at a healthy weight. Treats are nice extras to add to their regular food. Just make sure they are chewable if your older royal has dental issues.
What Should You Feed Your Older Royal Poodle?
Your older poodle needs quality ingredients and appropriate caloric content as there is the chance that their metabolism will slow down. They need protein, fat, and carbohydrates. A named meat protein is good for maintaining muscle, immune, and nervous systems. There should be no artificial ingredients, colors or flavors and stay away from fillers that have no nutritional benefit such as corncobs, by-products, soy, cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, and straw. Read food ingredient labels and look for:
- 2 to 3 quality meat proteins listed first on the label
- Healthy source of animal fat for Omegas 3 & 6 fatty acids
- DHA for brain and eye maintenance
- Quality source of fiber
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health – essential for big, older dogs
Royal Poodle Senior Food
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior
This senior’s product has real meat, good grains, veggies and fruit with Blue Buffalo’s “Super 7” antioxidant mix.
It’s a tasty recipe that highlights deboned chicken and vitamins and minerals to meet the nutritional needs of your senior royal poodle. It also has glucosamine and chondroitin to help with the later life stage.
Pros: Has Omegas 3 & 6 fatty acids, Carnitine for muscles, no bad fillers
Cons: Chicken can be an allergen
Wellness Core Grain Free Large Breed
This is a great product for your royal as it is has a good balance of protein and fat. Proteins are named, and there are no preservatives. The recipe is designed to fit the needs of your large poodle.
There are no by-products or extra fillers and no artificial ingredients. Its recipe supports joint and ligament health for your large dog as well.
Pros: Larger kibble size, “Wellflex” ingredients for joints
Cons: Can lead to soft stools, higher cost
Now Fresh Grain-Free Large Breed
This product is good for royal sized poodles. It has fresh turkey, salmon, and duck and is free of allergens and includes in its formula ingredients like New Zealand green mussels, glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints along with L-Carnitine for a healthy heart and lean muscle.
This is a great product to feed your royal in their active senior years.
Pros: No artificial additives, a specialized recipe for large dogs
Cons: High price point, a strong smell
Hills Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
A product specially designed for older dogs who need less protein. A good price for a quality product. It has chicken or lamb flavor with easily digestible ingredients. It has quality protein with minerals, vitamins, and amino acids for older canines.
The low protein content will keep your poodle fit and healthy. On the other hand, the food will keep the pooch full and not asking for more.
Pros: Lower protein for easier digestion, easy to process, tasty
Cons: Possible allergen issue
Conclusion
These dog foods are nutritious picks when making sure your older royal poodle is getting all the nutrients they need in their senior years. There are potential health issues that can come up as your poodle ages, but this will be easier to manage if your dog’s veterinarian is involved in your dog’s nutritional planning and you choose the proper senior food. Offering your senior royal poodle proper nutrition is a step to a longer happier life for your dog.
