When does a Basenji need "senior" food

Basenji Feeding
Log in to reply
  • Tayda_LennyT

    I'm just wondering this cause my little potato just turned 6. I think I heard somewhere that a dog becomes "senior" status when they are about 2/3 through the average life expectancy? Which for a basenji would be…. 8ish? I have already switched Tayda to a senior food because of her elevated BUN/Creatinine values hoping to bring them down with a lower protein food, but I was wondering when is a B officially considered a "senior"?

    I tried to give her the Innova senior because of the probiotics which are supposed to help keep UTI's away, but she hates it. hates. I've mixed with different things - baby food, cottage cheese, etc etc.. and she will literally lick the stuff off the food and leave it. I had both Lenny and Tayda on Wellness Core which they both LOVE. I think she's pissed he still gets to eat it and she doesn't. So now, I switched her to the senior blend of the Wellness line and she seems to like it better.

    Anyone else out there feeding their B a senior food?

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • tanzaT

    I think each dog is different and while I did have mine on Senior food but not till they were over 10 or 11, I didn't like the way their coats were, so put them back on regular food. I for one do not consider 6 a Senior… even AKC thinks that Veterans are 7+.

    And again, there are many, many different opinions on the protein about and kidney's in dogs and what should or should not be fed.... I know many people with Basenjis that feed EVO straight through all stages of their lives....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • Tayda_LennyT

    Yeah, Tayda is not "technically" a senior… I just switched her food per Dr. Gonto's suggestion to see if I could bring her BUN/Creatinine levels down.... we'll see when I bring her back to the vet at the end of January... fingers crossed!

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Tayda_Lenny:

    Yeah, Tayda is not "technically" a senior… I just switched her food per Dr. Gonto's suggestion to see if I could bring her BUN/Creatinine levels down.... we'll see when I bring her back to the vet at the end of January... fingers crossed!

    It is a tough road… when you are trying to "help" them.... but you still want them to eat...... been there, done that.... but if she is refusing straight senior food then I would try one of the other foods that might be higher protein then senior, but lower then the meat only foods.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • K

    Senior food made Blaze crazy. We attempted at 7, then 10, then 14. He ate it like his old food and would not stop for a second. He chewed everything, he had so much energy, it was worse than when he was a puppy. He was under everyone's feet, he was aggressive towards children, other dogs, cats, horses, pigs, chickens, sheep, and cows. He's turning 15 on the 10th and he is on regular lamb dog food. He has the energy of a dog his age, and he is not aggressive. So we are keeping him on it until he loses his energy level, but when he can run with a five year old border collie and poop him out… I think Blaze will be on it for a while...

    0
  • ibi_n_saneI

    I always wondered, WHY give puppy food or senior food etcetera? the commerce is loving it as people are buying it and with that buying their new commercial bogus crap.
    Sorry to say, but in the wild, dogs of all ages get actually same food ( not the very young pups ofcourse )
    when you give a good brand of nature diet or BARF you dont need the senior or puppy crap.
    anyway when you stick to commercial food, you dont need to feed your dog a senior diet when it turned 6 and is a happy active dog. Commercial senior food normally has less proteins and fat, as a senior dog has less activity so you can feed the same amount as you are used to without giving the dog too much protein and fat which makes the dog very fat when theire exercize level has turned lower as they are getting older.
    I have an 8 year old basenji which I give a normal food ( so no senior ) as she still is highly active and I dont see any use of giving senior to her.
    anyway that is my opinion ;)

    If I call you names, please note that I am not suffering the Tourette syndrom.

    0
  • nomrbddgsN

    IMO unless a dog has specific health problems, I've never given senior food. My old heeler/am esk mix is over 10 and she still gets what everyone else is on - Nutro for sensitive stomachs. She's still a PITA and wants to play all the time.

    Arlene, the Basenji Brats with the Boxenji![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0

Suggested Topics

  • Tayda_LennyT

    Raw feeding and "older" basenjis?

    Basenji Feeding
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    8k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    I agree with agilebasenji… yes he needs checked. But, I also need to ask if you are reading up and following raw diet protocols or JUST feeding meat. Dogs need more than meat. It is possible you are doing damage by not having that diet balanced since you say almost entirely protein.
  • dmeyD

    Dry food and real food!

    Basenji Feeding
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    4k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Fran, what does BAB after your name stand for?
  • WooflessW

    Switching to a "senior" diet…

    Basenji Feeding
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    My boyz (almost 13, almost 12) are on Evo small bites. One gets probiotics in the evening meal, the other not. Both are on joint sups.
  • D

    Making my Basenji's food better…

    Basenji Feeding
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    6k Views
    sabaS
    In Australia, (especially in Tasmania :rolleyes:), we have none of the brands of dog food that you guys are talking about… We feed a premium dry food to our 2 B's, in the morning, which I might add, neither eat much of :). In the evening they get dry with a little wet food mixed in, also warmed up. Both of them get a 1000mg Omega 3 capsule, and the difference in their coat is incredible. Both had quite dry, flakey, scurfy coats, and our Vet suggested this, and I couldnt be happier with the results. Im new to the breed, and my mentor lives interstate, so all that I am doing, is trial and error ;). Just a couple of weeks ago, I was showing Ochre, and the judge was going over her coat, again and again, on the table... I was thinking she didnt like her coat, and was dreading what she might say to me !!! I was pleasantly surprised when she actually said that Ochre had the most correct coat that she had touched in the last 12-18 months :D. Thankfully the sun was out, just long enough for the B judging, and she literally glistened in the sunshine. This judge also commented on her bright whites, and shiny red colouring. She said, I dont know what you are doing with her coat, but, please keep it up... I was over the moon with these comments :).
  • MiaM

    Picky eater, need food suggestions

    Basenji Feeding
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Just a bit on the raw diet-raw digests at a different rate than kibble. Feeding raw with kibble does interrupt the digestion process. They will have diarrhea any time you switch over. No matter how careful you are. I would try something that is raw based, but baked. I know Origen up here is like that-it also has no grains. But there is also Wilderness that is based on the same lines. I find, though, that it has grains in it. Depends on how you feel about grains. It really will be trial and error. I would try treating with the dry kibble first and then building up rather than using the kibble as a meal. Just MO.
  • H

    Food options???

    Basenji Feeding
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    SharlaS
    I agree with Pat regarding the coat. It is very common for reds to be "washed out" when they loose their coat. It unusally returns. But if he is doing well on the food, don't change it. The old saying, don't break what not broken.