The reason there are no guidelines for nutritional recommendations for senior dogs is that they all have different needs. The food type and nutritional profile of the best food for a senior dog with chronic kidney disease are very different from that required by a senior dog with arthritis. For this reason, it’s very important to consult a veterinarian about what is the best food choice for your beloved senior dog. That said, we put together a list of the best dry foods for senior dogs for you to have an idea of the best products in the market.
The best thing you can do to ensure that they live their last few years to the fullest is to give them high-quality dog food that fits their specific needs. Listed below are our reviews of the 10 best dry dog foods for senior dogs.
In this article
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2026 Update)
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Best Overall
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Open Farm Senior Dry Dog Food |
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Budget Buy
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American Journey Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food |
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Ollie Gently Baked Dog Food |
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NULO Freestyle Senior Dry Dog Food |
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Merrick Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food |
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The 10 Best Dry Dog Foods for Senior Dogs
1. Open Farm Senior Dry Dog Food– Best Overall
*Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.
| Crude Protein: | 31% |
| Crude Fat: | 12.5% |
| Crude Fiber | 4.5% |
Open Farm Senior Dog Dry Food deserves our pick for best overall dry dog food for senior dogs. This dry food recipe helps support healthy joints and mobility thanks to many high-quality natural and humanely-sourced ingredients. These include humanely raised turkey and chicken, along with New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel, all of which are all-natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin. Other ingredients include pumpkin, which is a natural source of fiber and a prebiotic that helps maintain healthy digestion, and coconut oil, which helps nurture the brain and prevent cognitive decline. This food provides everything your beloved senior needs to make the most out of those golden years. Open Farm is a brand that we love because they take pet food to the next level with humanly sourced, traceable ingredients and high-quality recipes. While this excellence comes with a price tag, the high-quality, nutritious food is well worth it.
- Humanely raised high-quality protein sources
- Supports healthy joints and mobility
- Supports a healthy digestion
- Contains coconut oil
- Pricey
2. American Journey Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
| Crude Protein: | 30% |
| Crude Fat: | 11% |
| Crude Fiber | 7% |
American Journey is a dog food brand that prioritizes dog health in many ways. Some of the ingredients in this food are hard to digest, but others offer tons of benefits. Triglycerides from coconut oil health support brain health, and glucosamine and chondroitin support joint health. It is also rich in fatty acids and fresh fruits and veggies. It’s a bit pricey for the amount you get, but it can be worth it for some dog owners. We think it’s the best dry dog food for senior dogs for the money.
- Supports brain and joint health
- Omega fatty acids
- No grains or by-products
- Contains tapioca starch
3. Ollie Gently Baked Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 26% |
| Crude Fat: | 16% |
| Crude Fiber | 4% |
Ollie’s gently baked dog food is a great dry dog food for senior dogs. This high-quality dog food is available in chicken and beef flavors. Ollie uses human-grade ingredients to provide quality nutrition to your dog. The gentle baking process allows the food to maintain the best nutritional level since there is no high-temperature ultra-processing involved. With healthy ingredients like sweet potatoes, oats, carrots, lentils, and chickpeas, these foods include healthy carbohydrate sources that provide additional benefits such as naturally derived vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, and fiber.
- 26% protein
- Gently baked
- Wholesome ingredients
- Might not be available in your area
4. NULO Freestyle Senior Dry Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 30% |
| Crude Fat: | 12% |
| Crude Fiber | 5% |
While NULO Senior Dry Dog Food is more expensive, there are a lot of benefits wrapped up in one package. The kibble contains probiotics that aid in digestion along with calcium and phosphorus for stronger bones and joint support. Nulo does not use any grains in this recipe, instead including sweet potatoes and peas, plus deboned trout as the primary protein source. The kibble is also free from chicken and egg: two major allergens for some dogs.
- Aids in digestion
- Stronger bones and joints
- Grain, chicken, and egg-free
- Expensive
5. Merrick Grain-Free Senior Dry Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 30% |
| Crude Fat: | 12% |
| Crude Fiber | 3.5% |
Merrick is another top producer of dog food that uses real deboned chicken and sweet potatoes as the first ingredients. The recipe is grain-free and does not contain any artificial flavors or preservatives. Because it uses more carbs, it isn’t ideal for dogs that need to maintain their weight. Some dogs are also sensitive to some of the ingredients. Merrick does make its dog food in the United States but does not use American ingredients.
- 30% protein
- Grain-free
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Not meant for maintaining weight
- Some dogs are sensitive to ingredients
- Made in the USA but not with American ingredients
6. Blue Buffalo Senior Chicken and Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 30% |
| Crude Fat: | 12% |
| Crude Fiber | 7% |
Another excellent senior kibble recipe from the Blue Buffalo Wilderness brand is the Senior Chicken and Grain-Free Dry Food. It is veterinarian and nutritionist-recommended and enriched with antioxidants and healthy complex carbs without using grains. Some of the clean ingredients listed include sweet potatoes, chicken meal, blueberries, carrots, and cranberries. They do use tapioca starch, though, which isn’t a good ingredient for some dogs with sensitivities. However, grain-free diets are not necessary for all dogs, so talk with your vet to see if this food is right for your senior dog.
- Grain-free
- Healthy complex carbs
- Vet and nutritionist recommended
- Contains tapioca starch
7. Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dry Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 24% |
| Crude Fat: | 12% |
| Crude Fiber | 4% |
The Nutro Natural Choice Senior Dog Food uses essential proteins needed by every dog, with chicken at the very top of the list. Each bite is rich in healthy omega fatty acids that come from non-GMO foods. Some reviews report that their dog’s digestion didn’t improve with this food, however, it is great for supporting a healthy immune system.
- Non-GMO ingredients
- No corn, wheat, soy protein,
- Included omega fatty acids
- Harder to digest
8. Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 22% |
| Crude Fat: | 10% |
| Crude Fiber | 4.25% |
Sometimes when our pets age, their feces starts to smell more than usual. Wellness Complete Health Dry Food uses unique ingredients, such as Yucca schidigera, to aid in reducing foul odor from dog feces and supporting healthy digestion. The company cooks each batch with fresh ingredients and lots of high-quality protein. While there are many good ingredients on the label, there are also some that are a bit more suspect, including loads of pea protein, which may be linked to a heart condition in dogs.
- Fresh ingredients
- Lessens feces odor
- Uncommon recipes
- Contains pea protein
9. Canidae Grain-Free Pure Goodness Senior Dog Food
| Crude Protein: | 28% |
| Crude Fat: | 10% |
| Crude Fiber | 5% |
This senior recipe from Canidae is made with simplicity in mind. It is designed for senior dogs and free from corn, soy, grain, wheat, and any artificial ingredients. The 9-ingredient recipe may be simple, but it also has probiotics and omega fats to support overall health. This kibble is on the more expensive side, so some might not be able to fit it into their budget. The company is also not open about where their food is made and could have some people questioning where the ingredients come from.
- Simple recipe
- Clean ingredients
- Omega fats and probiotics
- Expensive
- Don’t disclose where food is made
10. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
| Crude Protein: | 18% |
| Crude Fat: | 10% |
| Crude Fiber | 7% |
Blue Buffalo is a company that has been committed to making healthy dog food for years. It offers lots of recipes, but the Life Protection Formula is the best overall dry dog food for seniors. This recipe uses real meat as the first ingredient and enriches it with the perfect number of vitamins and nutrients to support joint health and balance their weight. The company does not use corn or wheat but focuses on easy-to-digest foods instead. Because of all these energy-dense nutrients, though, it might not be the best food for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Real meat
- Balances weight
- Supports joint health
- No corn or wheat
- Not ideal for sensitive stomachs
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dry Dog Food for Senior Dogs
You’ve spent years enjoying your dog’s company and as they head into their golden years, give back to them with high-quality dog food that is specifically designed with seniors in mind. Don’t know what to look for? Use this quick buyer’s guide to help you make informed decisions about your pet’s kibble.
Choosing Quality Foods for Senior Dogs
Ask a Vet
A vet is the best person to ask when searching for new dog food for seniors. Seniors need a catered diet to help support their health and suit their medical requirements.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's our online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Higher Protein, Lower Fat
Senior dogs can’t burn off fat the same way they did when they were younger. Dogs lose some of their natural vigor as they age. Look for recipes that are low in fat but still high in high-quality protein.
Moisture Content
Some senior dogs struggle with moisture content. Don’t rely on dry dog food alone if you can help it. The best thing for dogs is to give them veterinary formulated fresh food, but if that is not possible, then a mix of healthy wet and dry food—some brands even offer wet food that pairs with their kibble.
Steer Clear of Artificial Ingredients
Artificial ingredients aren’t good for any animal. Refrain from buying dog foods that use artificial flavors or preservatives in their recipes in order to keep your dog’s bodily system working as efficiently as possible.
How We Selected These Dry Dog Foods for Senior Dogs
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The dry dog foods reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best dry dog foods available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with dry dog foods. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
Final Thoughts
These reviews should help you find the perfect kibble for your dog as they age. There are many companies out there who pride themselves on the product they produce. Because of that, we find that brands like Open Farm make the best overall dry food foods for senior dogs. There are also other foods, like American Journey and Ollie that are still healthy while fitting a wide price range.
The food you feed your senior pet can make a huge difference in their final years, and focusing on their diet and health is going to keep them by your side for as long as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Snezhana_G, Shutterstock
