{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,20]],"date-time":"2026-07-20T10:50:22Z","timestamp":1784544622120,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]],"date-time":"2025-12-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766016000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Senior dog foods are often marketed as distinct from adult formulations, yet no specific nutrient profiles exist for this life stage. This study evaluated nutrient composition of over-the-counter adult and senior canine diets in relation to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) adult maintenance requirements.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sixty-one dry and canned diets were purchased from retail stores and complete proximate analysis with minerals was performed. The diets selected consisted of 25 brands (companies), including 30 diets marketed for adults (21 dry, 8 canned, and 1 freeze-dried) and 31 diets marketed for seniors (25 dry, 6 canned). Diets were randomly selected using a random number generator from the complete inventory of dog foods available at two pet food stores in Fort Collins, Colorado (one national retailer and one locally owned store). Nutrients were expressed per 1,000 kcal metabolizable energy, and descriptive statistics were generated. Adult vs. senior, dry vs. canned, and combined categories were compared using parametric or non-parametric tests depending on distribution. Within each company, paired adult and senior products were also evaluated for percent change in nutrient content.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eighteen percent (18%; 11\/61) of products did not meet at least one requirement for AAFCO adult maintenance, and differences between adult and senior diets were inconsistent. Fiber, fat, and energy density showed the greatest variability, especially among canned diets.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>As a descriptive exploratory analysis, no power calculation or adjustment for multiple comparisons was performed, and results should be interpreted as hypothesis generating. Overall, senior dog diets demonstrated wide variability and did not consistently differ from adult products, underscoring the challenge with not having defined nutrient profiles for this life stage, and the need for further research linking diet composition to clinical outcomes in aging dogs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2025.1717409","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]],"date-time":"2025-12-19T10:24:09Z","timestamp":1766139849000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Exploratory analysis of nutrient composition of adult and senior dog diets"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Kyle","family":"German","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cynthia","family":"Melgoza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camille","family":"Torres-Henderson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5326\/JAAHA-MS-7343","article-title":"AAHA senior care guidelines for dogs and cats","volume":"59","author":"Dhaliwal","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Am Anim Hosp Assoc"},{"key":"B2","first-page":"68","article-title":"Survey of opinions about nutritional requirements of senior dogs and analysis of nutrient profiles of commercially available diets for senior dogs","volume":"9","author":"Hutchinson","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Appl Res Vet Med."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0295840","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0295840","article-title":"Dog size and patterns of disease history across the canine age spectrum: results from the Dog Aging Project","volume":"19","author":"Nam","year":"2024","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B4","unstructured":"2019 Canine Life Stage Guidelines\n          \n          2019"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"643085","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.643085","article-title":"How old is my dog? Identification of rational age groupings in pet dogs based upon normative age-linked processes","volume":"8","author":"Harvey","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"B6","unstructured":"Washington, DC\n          National Academies Press\n          Nutrient requirements of dogs and cats\n          \n          2006"},{"key":"B7","article-title":"Nutrient profiles for dogs and cats","volume-title":"2024 official publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials","year":"2024"},{"key":"B8","unstructured":"Nutrition of Senior Dogs: Scientific Advisory Board Statement\n          \n          2022"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1093\/af\/vfae008","article-title":"Nutritional needs and health outcomes of ageing cats and dogs: is it time for updated nutrient guidelines?","volume":"14","author":"Bermingham","year":"2024","journal-title":"Anim Front."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-54192-6_9","article-title":"Nutrition and aging in dogs and cats","volume-title":"Nutrition and Metabolism of Dogs and Cats","author":"Stockman","year":"2024"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2014.03.003","article-title":"Nutrition of aging dogs","volume":"44","author":"Larsen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1315","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.2002.220.1315","article-title":"Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs","volume":"220","author":"Kealy","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2004.12.011","article-title":"Nutrition for aging cats and dogs and the importance of body condition","volume":"35","author":"Laflamme","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2021.01.004","article-title":"Senior pet nutrition and management","volume":"51","author":"Churchill","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X211026254","article-title":"Evaluation of iron, copper, and zinc concentrations in commercial foods formulated for healthy cats","volume":"24","author":"Summers","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2029","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.15858","article-title":"Evaluation of nutrient content and caloric density in commercially available foods formulated for senior cats","volume":"34","author":"Summers","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1111\/jvim.15689","article-title":"Evaluation of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium content in commercially available foods formulated for healthy cats","volume":"34","author":"Summers","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vet Intern Med."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"658","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.243.5.658","article-title":"Evaluation of calcium, phosphorus, and selected trace mineral status in commercially available dry foods formulated for dogs","volume":"243","author":"Gagn\u00e9","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc."},{"key":"B19","unstructured":"Top Pet Food Companies"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S25","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.22.08.0351","article-title":"Dietary fiber aids in the management of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease","volume":"260","author":"Moreno","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"675","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.23.11.0641","article-title":"Nutritional management of pancreatitis and concurrent disease in dogs and cats","volume":"262","author":"Cridge","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc."},{"key":"B22","unstructured":"Witzel-Rollins\n              A\n            \n          \n          Dietary guidelines for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Today's Veterinary Practice.\n          \n          2018"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1163","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.2002.220.1163","article-title":"Clinical evaluation of dietary modification for treatment of spontaneous chronic renal failure in dogs","volume":"220","author":"Jacob","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"B24","unstructured":"IRIS Guidelines\n          \n          2023"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.258.4.357","article-title":"Is it time to reconsider current guidelines for copper content in commercial dog foods?","volume":"258","author":"Center","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc."},{"key":"B26","unstructured":"Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs\n          \n          2024"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1345","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2006.09.003","article-title":"Nutritional risks to large-breed dogs: from weaning to the geriatric years","volume":"36","author":"Lauten","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2119","DOI":"10.2460\/ajvr.1992.53.11.2119","article-title":"Diet and exercise as potential risk factors for osteochondritis dissecans in dogs","volume":"53","author":"Slater","year":"1992","journal-title":"Am J Vet Res"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1717409\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]],"date-time":"2025-12-19T10:24:10Z","timestamp":1766139850000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1717409\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]]},"references-count":28,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2025.1717409"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1717409","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,18]]},"article-number":"1717409"}}