Ensuring good nutrition is very important, especially in older dogs.  As we age we may not hear or see as well as when we were younger but in fact many of our other systems are not functioning as well either.  This is why it all starts with a good dog food. 

As your dog gets older their digestive system may not be working as efficiently as it once did.  This is why it is so important to be feeding a premium brand dog food.  The digestibility of the pet food is crucial.  Remember, the body is designed to heal itself given that it has the tools to do so.  If the dog can not break down and absorb its diet it will not be able to sustain optimum health. 

When looking at a bag of dog food many people will only look at the numbers on the back of the bag.  These can be misleading as all dog foods are not created equal.  They can and will vary greatly due to the formulation and quality of ingredients used.  The average shoe leather is approximately 47% protein but only about 5% digestible.  So if your dog ate it, he would only utilize approximately 2.35% of the protein.  If the dog eats a higher quality protein source he may be able to utilize more protein even if it is a lower number.  A higher quality product may only have a protein rating of 10% but if the digestibility rating were 90% then the dog would be able to utilize 3 times more.  Obviously you dont intend to feed your dog shoe leather but you may not be aware of the poor quality of some pet foods on the market.  At Zamzows we take great pride in all of our products, their formulations, and the quality of ingredients that we use.  Depending on formula, our digestibility ratings will be anywhere from 88 to 90%.

Supplementation can be very important in keeping your old dog healthy as well.  You may ask Well if I am feeding what you say is the best dog food on the market, why do I need to supplement my dog?.  Though we do everything possible to make the best pet foods available, there are factors that are out of our control.  A dog having digestive problems and the cooking process are the most common.  When you cook a pet food you can alter it and some things may be less digestible to the dog.  Many of the live enzymes and good bacteria are destroyed in the cooking process.  Zamzows makes a supplement called Enzam to combat this.  It is a vitamin mineral supplement that has live enzymes, digestive aids, and a fully chelated mineral package.  It is designed to synthesize the way your dog would have eaten had it never been domesticated.  I personally use this product and my old boxer finally died of old age at 13.  It does many other things that you will be pleased with, but the most important is keeping your dog healthy.  Enzam is not just for old dogs either.  I recommend you start using it when the dog is young and it will put years on your dogs life.  We have a full line of other supplements as well.  We carry many products that contain glucosamine and chondroitin which are great for joint health.  There are products like MSM, Ester C tablets, and many beneficial treats to choose from too. 

Things I recommend for old dogs:
Zamzows Professional Senior Dog Food
Enzam
Rope bone
Orthopedic bed
Tooth brush
MSM
Ester C Tablets
Hip and Joint Treats
Pig Ears