The 11 BEST Supplements for Older Dogs – 2023 Edition

Food and Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Product Recommendations, Senior Pet Health, Supplements

(UPDATED FOR 2023)

Not long ago, one of our senior dogs started to act like a cat.  She developed a regular hacking cough that sounded like she was going to hack up a furball.  Nothing ever came out of her mouth but, by the sound of her cough, you would think she had left her lunch all over the floor. 

Those hacking episodes, and the supplement we gave her to stop the hacking cough, got me thinking about issues surrounding our pets aging and the things that we give them to provide them better lives.  I’m not a huge fan of vet prescriptions for everything, outside of those that are necessary, so I regularly am on the lookout for supplements, mostly natural, that will improve my senior pet’s lives. 

In this article, we explore a range of supplements for older dogs, from probiotics to multivitamins to joint products.  As you are probably as concerned as I am about the ingredients in pet supplements, we stick to all-natural products, with ingredients that we can pronounce.   We also provide our top recommendations and as well as other options that we feel are definitely worth a look.

As with all things related to pet health, please consult with your veterinarian if you suspect your senior pet shows signs of needing medical attention.  Our articles are informational and are not a substitute for medical advice!  OK, with that said, let’s dive into senior pet supplements!

If you get just one supplement for your senior dog, the PetHonesty 10-For-1 Senior Multivitamin with Glucosamine is our recommendation and is also our pick for Best Overall Supplement!  This multivitamin targets 10 health areas in one delicious soft chew and is specifically formulated for senior dog needs.  As we mentioned at the top of this article, these soft chew multivitamins contain natural ingredients and support aging dog joints, digestion, energy levels, organs, vision and more.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Formulated to target 10 different areas of health
  • Made specifically for senior dogs with senior specific nutrients
  • 45-day supply

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Flavors may not appeal to your senior pet

Best Runner Up Supplement

Produced by the trusted Zesty Paws brand, the Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Multivitamin packs quite punch and is our Best Runner Up Supplement winner.  Formulated to be an everyday part of your senior pet’s diet, these multivitamins ensure that their best years are yet to come.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Depending on the size of your senior pet, the bottle will last three months
  • Formulated to target 8 different areas of health
  • Contains a very potent form of MSM for hip and joint support

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • No flavors to choose from if your senior pet is picky

Best Premium Supplement

Billed as a new breed of joint health supplements, Nutramax Dasuquin works wonders for larger breed senior pets.  These soft chews contain several unique ingredients, including green tea and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), and each chew is formulated to deliver maximum cartilage support. This is one of the best supplements for senior dogs with arthritis.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Most powerful non-prescription hip and joint supplement for older dogs on the market
  • Works well for larger senior pets that tend to have arthritis and other mobility issues
  • Recommended as the number one hip and joint supplement by veterinarians

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  •  Price point not for everyone’s budget

Best Budget Supplement

Nutri-Vet Senior-Vite Chewables is our pick for Best Budget Supplement for older dogs.  Similar to multivitamins you and I take, these chewables provide a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals essential for your senior pet.  Antioxidants are included in each tablet and work to minimize the amount of free radicals, also known as oxidants, in your senior pet’s body.  Potent ingredients working together support cardiac and brain function and help combat degenerative mechanisms and oxidative stress to promote health and vitality.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Formulated with a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals
  • Made in the USA
  • Four-month supply means one bottle goes a long way

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Liver flavor may not appeal to all senior pets

Best Supplement Under $30

If your senior pet doesn’t like chewables or tablets, VETFLIX 10-IN-1 Liquid Multivitamin is just the ticket for you.  As the name says, this is a liquid multivitamin with a helpful dropper to make it easy to dispense.  Whether squirting directly into their mouths or mixing with their food, this multivitamin offers options for you to give to your older dog.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Provides extensive renal support for senior pets
  • Easy to dispense with included dropper
  • Neutral flavor sure to please the pickiest palettes.

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Only a 30-day supply

Best of the Rest

In this section we are going to explore several of the best senior pet supplements designed to target specific issues your senior pet might have.

Best Supplement for Skin and Coat Issues

One of our senior pets has terrible skin issues and Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil has done wonders for her.  Full of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, this oil is sourced from wild Alaskan Salmon and provides a full range of benefits including shinier coat, softer skin and mobility support.  Conveniently, this product can be easily dispensed into your pet’s food.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Comes in a convenient bottle with pump for easy dispensing
  • Provides maximum benefit for a range of issues
  • Works for both senior dogs and cats

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Must be refrigerated, taking up space in your fridge

Best Supplement for GI Issues

Remember earlier when I talked about how one of our senior dogs was practically hacking up a hairball?  Well, this is the product we used to get it under control and to completely eliminate.  Containing a blend of pumpkin, apples, fennel, ginger and pre-biotics, this product works wonders on the digestive tract, in addition to promoting healthy bowel and colon functions.  If you’re looking to ensure your senior pet’s digestive systems are properly functioning through the use of a completely natural product, this is the one to get.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • Comes as a single or a two pack
  • Only five all-natural ingredients that are easily recognizable
  • Supports a healthy digestive tract and bowel movements

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Powder form not the most ideal way to give your senior fur baby

Best Supplement for Pain Management

There are a lot of hip and joint support supplements out there, so it is important to do a lot of research.  Thankfully, we have done that for you and throw our support behind PetHonesty Hemp Mobility Senior Hip & Joint Support.  We have had great success hemp-based products for a many different ailments our senior pets have had, and this product does wonders, not only for hips and joints, but also for inflammation issues, flexibility issues, and pain management.  As an added benefit, this PetHonesty product actually helps create healthy nails, coat and skin, a win/win!

Things That Get Us Excited

  • A range of benefits, in addition to managing hip and joint problems
  • Completely natural ingredients that are easy to understand
  • Up to a three-month supply

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Only one flavor and no alternative ingredient options

Best Supplement for Stress and Anxiety - Liquid

For those with senior pets that are anxious, nervous or just restless from loud noises such as fireworks, Billion Pets Pure Organic Hemp Oil might be the relief you are looking for.  This stuff will give both you and your senior fur baby peace of mind.  As an added benefit, this hemp oil product is also a multivitamin and may assist with issues surround hip and joint stiffness and inflammation.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • An amazing product for easing anxiety and nervous behavior
  • One bottle will potentially last two months, if given daily
  • Liquid form makes it easy to dispense

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • May have a very negative taste for your senior pet

Best Supplement for Stress and Anxiety – Soft Chews

For those who would prefer to give their senior pets a treat rather than an oil, Premium Care Calming Treats are exactly those…treats!  Finally a product that isn’t just a medicine but is also something your senior dog will WANT to eat!  Premium Care Calming Treats are effective for 99% of dog-related anxieties, through the use of all-natural ingredients found in many human-grade supplements.  This means your senior dog is getting only the best.  Additionally, these treats are not made with fillers meant to unnecessarily bulk up the product.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • 120 chews per bottle means you could have a four-month supply
  • Calming ingredients are also found in human-grade relaxing products
  • Made in the USA

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • Pickier senior pets may not like to chew their treats

Best Supplement for Inflammation

Amazing Nutritionals Turmeric Chews do one thing really well, eliminate inflammation in senior pet joints.  To accomplish this, Amazing Nutritionals uses a proprietary blend of all-natural ingredients to maximize potency.  There are no byproducts or artificial fillers in these treats and they are completely safe for even the most allergy sensitive senior pet.  Best of all, there are 120 treats in each bottle, possibly giving you a four-month supply.

Things That Get Us Excited

  • No messy powders or liquids to deal with
  • Specifically treats inflammation, the cause of many senior pet ailments
  • No refrigeration is required, giving you storage flexibility

Things That We Aren’t So Excited About

  • May not be as effective as a multivitamin product

FAQ

What are some of the things I should look for in a quality supplement?

It can be really overwhelming shopping for health supplements for your senior pet.  There are a ton of things to consider.  What brand should you buy?  What ingredients should you look for?  Are there supplements I shouldn’t buy for my senior pet? 

There are several things that you should consider as you look for quality supplements for your senior pet.  First, are the ingredients ones that you recognize when you read the label?  If you don’t recognize the first few, if not all, of the ingredients on the list, you should reconsider your purchase.  

Second, if you are interested in going down the all-natural path for your senior pet, would the ingredients be familiar enough that YOU would be OK taking the supplement?  Most all-natural senior pet supplements are, in many ways, the same sort of products we humans take, such as multivitamins and hip & joint products, and the senior pet supplements you are considering should have many of the same vitamins, minerals and ingredients as some of the stuff you take daily.  

Finally, does the supplement you are considering have ingredients that actually do what the supplement is supposed to do.  In other words, does a hip & joint product contain glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM?  Does a multivitamin contain the letter vitamins (e.g. A, B, C and D vitamins) and other substances such as iron and calcium?  If not, move on to something else.

What is considered a senior dog?

While most of us have fun calculating our dog’s age related to humans by multiplying their dog’s age by 7, there are two things to consider when determining if your dog is really a senior dog, breed and size.  Generally speaking, larger breeds are considered seniors a younger age than medium and small breeds.  Smaller breeds tend to have longer life spans and larger dogs tend to have shorter life spans.  Additionally, certain breeds tend to live much longer than others of similar size.  For small breeds, senior pet status is achieved around age 11.  Medium breeds achieve senior pet status around 9-10 and larger/giant breeds achieve their senior pet status around 7-8.

Should I give my senior dog supplements?

As with all new food, medicine and other things, you should always first consult your veterinarian before starting your senior pet on a new supplement or vitamin.  Senior dogs have different needs than dogs in earlier stages of life, such as puppies and young adults.  That being said, supplements are generally safe for senior pets.  Look for supplements produced by reputable companies you know or that have been around for a long time.  Also do research on what other senior pet owners are saying about their experiences with supplements.

Can I give my dog too many vitamins?

We all want to ensure that our senior pets have a quality life.  Vitamins, minerals and supplements can and should be a part of your senior pet’s life…but there are limits.  Pay close attention to the dosing instructions for any supplement you plan to give your senior pet and don’t go beyond that amount.  Also, ensure that you and your veterinarian are having discussions regarding what is best for your senior pet.  They are medical professionals and will be able to ensure that you are on the right track with the supplements you are using.

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