13 Best Senior Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers (Top-Rated)

Finding the right food for your senior golden retriever can be tough. As they get older, their dietary needs change, and you might not know which food will keep them healthy and happy. 

Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and found the best senior dog foods specifically for golden retrievers. Our list of top picks will help your senior dog stay in top shape, ensuring they get the nutrients they need to enjoy their golden years.

Quick Picks

Best Senior Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers

1.    Best Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food

This dry dog food is made to meet the unique nutritional needs of aging large breed dogs. It boasts a blend of easily digestible ingredients designed to support the energy and activity levels vital for their wellbeing. 

Key to its formula are natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, crucial for maintaining joint health and mobility. 

Additionally, a carefully balanced mineral composition promotes heart and kidney health, while the inclusion of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E nourishes the skin, ensuring a lustrous coat. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn

👍 Age Range: Large breed adult dogs 6+ years of age (with an ideal weight of 55 – 110 lbs) and giant breeds 5+ years of age (with an ideal weight of 110+ lbs)

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros 

✅ Great value for money

✅ Most dogs tend to love the taste

✅ The pieces are big enough for easy chewing for large dogs

Cons

❌ Some pet parents complain about the smell not being too good

2.    Best for Muscle Maintenance: Purina ONE High Protein Dry Senior Dog Food

This formula stands out for muscle maintenance due to its high protein content, with real chicken as the number 1 ingredient. This key feature ensures that senior dogs receive the essential proteins needed to support strong muscles, including a healthy heart.

It also caters to the unique needs of senior dogs, promoting mental sharpness and increased activity levels with MCT-rich vegetable oil. 

This formula is enriched with omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to support a shiny coat and healthy skin, alongside natural glucosamine sources for joint health. 

The combination of crunchy bites and tender morsels delivers a taste and texture that dogs love, while added calcium aids in maintaining strong teeth and healthy gums. 

It’s a complete and balanced food that’s not only nutritious but also digestible, ensuring that your senior golden retriever gets the most out of every meal.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Soybean Meal

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Kibble

Pros

✅ Great value for money

✅ Helps dogs stay full for longer while keeping them super active

✅ Many dog owners say their dogs’ health has improved after switching to this food

Cons

❌ Some complain that tender morsels can be too many in the bag than the crunchy bites

3.    Best Wet Dog Food for Senior Golden Retrievers: Purina ONE Plus Classic Ground Vibrant Maturity Adult 7 Plus Turkey And Barley Entree

Purina ONE Plus Classic is a wet dog food specifically designed to cater to the needs of senior dogs. 

This diet features real turkey as the number one ingredient, providing a high-quality protein source to support strong muscles. 

It’s enriched with MCTs to promote mental alertness and activity, making it ideal for maintaining the vitality of aging dogs. 

This pate-style wet food is formulated with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including antioxidants for immune support, and offers 100% complete and balanced nutrition with no fillers, ensuring every ingredient serves a purpose.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Chicken, Liver, Pork Lungs

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Pate

Pros

✅ Great value for money

✅ Helps maintain weight

✅ Ideal for picky eaters

Cons

❌ Some customers complain about receiving dented cans upon delivery

4.    Best for Large Breed Seniors: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Senior Large Breed Dry Dog Food

This food places real deboned chicken as its first ingredient, ensuring high-quality protein is at the forefront of your golden retriever’s diet to support healthy muscle maintenance. 

Tailored specifically for the needs of large breed seniors, this dog food includes essential proteins and carbohydrates to maintain energy levels, alongside glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility. 

The addition of BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits, a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, supports immune system health and promotes a healthy oxidative balance. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Chicken Meal

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Free from chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives

✅ Helps with a nice and shiny coat

✅ Most dog parents are happy that their dog is healthier now

Cons

❌ Some customers said this food gave their dogs stomach problems and gas

5.    Best Value for Money: IAMS Healthy Aging Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food for Mature and Senior Dogs with Real Chicken

This dog food offers a balanced diet for aging large-breed dogs at a more affordable price point. 

It features real, farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient and is specifically formulated to support healthy bones and joints through a balanced blend of key nutrients, crucial for the mobility of older dogs. 

To aid in digestion, a blend of fiber and prebiotics is included, ensuring your senior golden retriever maintains a healthy digestive system. The formulation is enriched with antioxidants to support a robust immune system. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Helps keep the coat shiny and healthy

✅ The bag holds food well and lets you easily pour it out

✅ Great flavor

Cons

❌ The kibble size may be a bit too large for some dogs

6.    Best for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs: Purina Pro Plan Senior Dog Food With Probiotics

This senior dog food includes probiotics for digestive health, making it ideal for seniors with sensitive stomachs. It’s fortified with live probiotics that not only aid digestive health but also immune health.

With real chicken as the first ingredient, this formula ensures your dog receives high-quality protein to maintain muscle mass. 

The unique mix of hard kibble and tender, meaty pieces provides a satisfying eating experience. Additionally, the inclusion of EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and glucosamine support joint health and mobility, catering to the specific needs of senior dogs.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Pellet

Pros

✅ Ideal for dogs with sensitive skin 

✅ Dogs tend to love the taste

✅ Helps improve energy levels

Cons

❌ The pieces can be a bit small for large breeds

7.    Best for Healthy Digestion: Nature′s Recipe Dry Dog Food

This dog food is tailored to fulfill the specific nutritional requirements of senior dogs. It’s packed with nutrient-dense whole grains like rice, oatmeal, and barley, providing essential fiber for healthy digestion. 

With real, protein-rich lamb as the first ingredient, this formula ensures strong muscle maintenance, important for aging dogs. 

Made to support immune and joint health in senior, it includes natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat health, and antioxidants like zinc and vitamin E. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Lamb, chicken meal, brown rice, brewers rice, barley

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Free from added corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

✅ Includes taurine for heart health

✅ Most customers praise its quality ingredients and affordability 

Cons

❌ It also contains chicken, which might not suitable for dogs sensitive or allergic to chicken

8.    Best Natural Ingredients: NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Large Breed Senior Dry Dog Food

This carefully crafted formula is made with non-GMO ingredients and excludes chicken by-product meal, corn, artificial flavors, or preservatives making it a wholesome choice for feeding your senior golden retriever.

It prioritizes the health and well-being of your aging dog with real chicken as the number one ingredient, ensuring a high-quality protein source for muscle maintenance. 

It’s formulated with natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health, crucial for larger breeds as they age. 

Additionally, this dog food enhances the aging immune system with essential antioxidants and promotes healthy digestion with natural fiber.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Whole Grain Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Split Peas

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Most dogs tend to like the taste

✅ Bits are a good size for large or medium dogs

✅ Mixes well with any wet food

Cons

❌ A few dog parents said that their dog got vomiting and diarrhea after eating this

9.    Best Holistic Option: Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food with Grains

This food is a protein-rich formula made for whole-body health, with chicken and barley among its key ingredients. 

Developed by nutritionists and veterinarians, this all-natural dog food aims to deliver a balanced blend of nature’s finest ingredients, supporting your golden retriever’s overall well-being. 

It’s formulated to support digestive health and strong joints with glucosamine, boost the immune system with antioxidants, and maintain healthy eyes, teeth, and a shiny coat with vitamins and omega fatty acids. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Includes taurine for heart health

✅ Free from corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-products, and artificial additives.

✅ Most customers are happy that this food gives their old dog more energy

Cons

❌ No other flavors are available

❌ Some dog parents complain that it makes their dogs gassy

10. Best for Joint Health: Royal Canin Large Aging 8+ Senior Dry Dog Food

This dog food is specifically designed to enhance the bone and joint health of aging large-breed dogs. It includes a precise blend of nutrients that focuses on joint health, making it an excellent selection for older golden retrievers in need of additional support to maintain their mobility and comfort.

It features an exclusive blend of antioxidants for healthy aging and promotes easy digestion with high-quality proteins and a balanced fiber blend. 

The large, rehydratable kibble is specially designed for senior dogs’ jaws, making it easier for them to chew and enjoy their meals. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, wheat, corn gluten meal, chicken fat

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Kibble

Pros

✅ Palatable and smells great

✅ Gives energy to senior dogs

✅ Supports healthy coat and skin

Cons

❌ Some find the price slightly high, yet appreciate savings on veterinary expenses

11. Best Real Meat Recipe: Diamond Naturals Senior Real Meat Recipe

Diamond Naturals Senior Dog Formula is crafted with high-quality ingredients, emphasizing the inclusion of superfoods like kale, chia seed, pumpkin, and blueberries. 

These superfoods provide a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and proteins, contributing to more complete nutrition for your pet. 

The formula is enhanced with chicken as a primary protein source to support bones and muscles for keeping your golden retriever active and fit. 

Additionally, this formula features K9 Strain Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support the digestive and immune systems, promoting an active lifestyle. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, ground white rice, egg

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Chicken, chia seed, and quinoa provide essential proteins for muscle and bone health

✅ Most dog owners are happy that their dog hasn’t had sore joints or limping

✅ Great value for money

Cons

❌ A few pet parents said that it gave diarrhea to their dogs

12. Best Grain-Free Option: ORIJEN Senior Dry Dog Food

ORIJEN Senior Dog Food offers a nutrient-dense, grain-free formula specifically designed to support the health of aging dogs, especially those with grain allergies or sensitivities. 

With up to 85% animal ingredients and ORIJEN’s unique WholePrey inclusions, this diet mirrors the natural dietary habits of a dog’s ancestors, emphasizing protein-rich fresh or raw chicken, turkey, salmon, whole herring, and chicken liver as its primary ingredients. This approach ensures a strong source of essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals. 

Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients, this food contains no soy, corn, tapioca, or wheat, prioritizing natural, high-quality ingredients for your senior golden retriever’s nourishment.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, turkey, salmon, whole herring, chicken liver

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-free

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Supports a beautiful, shiny coat and hair

✅ Helps with clear and itch-free skin

✅ Contains no cheap filler ingredients

Cons

❌ Most dog parents say that this food emits a very strong odor

13. Best for Healthy Active Life: Eukanuba Senior Large Breed Dry Dog Food

This senior dry dog food is expertly formulated to fuel the active lifestyle of large-breed senior dogs like senior golden retrievers. 

With high-quality chicken as the first ingredient, it provides the necessary protein to maintain strong muscles. 

This diet is enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to support joint health and mobility, while DHA and antioxidants aid in maintaining healthy brain function. 

It delivers the optimal balance of fats and carbohydrates for sustained energy, alongside Eukanuba 3D DentaDefense to reduce tartar buildup and maintain dental health. 

This complete and balanced food also supports the immune system, helping your senior golden retriever thrive in their golden years.

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, wheat, chicken by-product meal, corn, chicken fat

👍 Age Range: Senior

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Dry

Pros

✅ Ensures firm stools

✅ Most dog parents are happy that their dogs’ allergies have gone away

✅ Helps with a healthy and shiny coat

Cons

❌ Some customers complain that the bags keep getting lighter with less food despite rising prices

How to Choose the Best Foods for Senior Golden Retrievers?

Choosing the best food for senior golden retrievers involves considering their unique nutritional needs as they age. Here’s a guide to help you select the ideal diet for your senior companion:

1.      Assess Nutritional Needs

High-Quality Protein: Look for foods with high-quality protein sources like chicken, turkey, or fish to maintain muscle mass. Seniors need easily digestible protein to support their bodily functions without overburdening their metabolism.

Lower Calorie Content: Since senior dogs are less active, they require fewer calories. Opt for foods that provide energy without the risk of weight gain, which can lead to obesity and related health issues.

2.      Joint Support

Glucosamine and Chondroitin: These supplements are vital for supporting joint health and mobility. As golden retrievers are prone to joint issues, especially in their senior years, a diet enriched with these ingredients can help maintain their quality of life.

3.      Digestive Health

Fiber: A balanced amount of fiber promotes healthy digestion, which can become sluggish as dogs age. It also helps manage weight by providing a feeling of fullness.

Probiotics: These beneficial bacteria support a healthy gut, improving nutrient absorption and bowel health.

4.      Cognitive Function

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Ingredients like fish oil are rich in omega-3s, which can support brain health and potentially slow cognitive decline. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a type of omega-3, is particularly beneficial.

5.      Skin and Coat Health

Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Senior dogs can have drier skin and duller coats. A diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids, found in ingredients like poultry fat, can help maintain skin moisture and coat shine.

6.      Consider Special Diets for Health Issues

If your senior golden retriever has specific health issues like kidney disease, heart problems, or diabetes, consult with your vet for a diet that addresses these conditions.

7.      Palatability and Hydration

Taste: Senior dogs may become pickier eaters. Foods that are tasty and appealing can help maintain their appetite.

Moisture: Wet food or adding water to dry kibble can help with hydration, especially for dogs that drink less water.

8.      Consult Your Vet

Before changing your senior golden retriever’s diet, discuss it with your vet, especially if your dog has health issues. They can recommend specific diets that cater to your dog’s health needs.

By carefully considering these factors, you can help ensure that your senior golden retriever continues to enjoy a high quality of life through their golden years.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.    What do you feed an old golden retriever?

An older golden retriever requires a balanced diet low in calories due to decreased metabolism and exercise needs, but with adequate protein and fat, and high in fiber. Consider specially formulated senior dog foods or continue their regular food in smaller quantities, introducing any new diet gradually. Look for foods containing glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health​​.

2.    What age is a golden retriever considered a senior?

Golden retrievers are considered seniors by the age of 8 to 9 years, marking the stage where more attentive care is needed to address their health and well-being.

3.    How can I increase my golden retrievers lifespan?

To increase a golden retriever’s lifespan, ensure they come from healthy parents, provide high-quality food, groom regularly, exercise them, control their weight, and maintain a good relationship with your vet. These steps help give them the best chance for a long, healthy life.

Conclusion

Selecting the right senior dog food for your golden retriever is vital for their health, happiness, and longevity. The 13 top choices we’ve explored offer specialized nutrition tailored to meet the unique needs of aging dogs, from joint support and muscle maintenance to digestive health. 

Each product stands out for its quality ingredients and health benefits, ensuring your senior companion gets the care they deserve in their golden years. Remember, a well-chosen diet, complemented by regular veterinary care, can significantly enhance the quality of life for your beloved senior golden retriever.

Don’t miss our top recommendation below to give your golden retriever the best in their senior years!