Mostly I feed my dog homemade kidney failure prevention diet, but sometimes I run out, so I supplement with “senior” dog food. As far as I can tell, the difference between a “senior” diet and an “adult dog” diet is that most senior diets are slightly lower in protein, calories, and sodium, though sometimes they have glucosamine added as well (which may be good for older dogs’ joints).

I found a total of five cruelty-free senior diets from my list of cruelty-free pet foods.  Yes, it DID take forever going to all of those websites looking for senior diets.  It’s kind of strange that there are so few cruelty-free senior diets available — most dogs spend a few years on senior diets, so you’d think more cruelty-free pet food companies would offer them. Unfortunately none of the cruelty free senior diets I’ve found so far use cage-free animal ingredients, and only two use organic ingredients (animals raised organically lead much better lives than those raised non-organically, so I’m very much in favor of buying organic petfood if it has meat in it). It’s very frustrating — I went to all thirty-nine of the cruelty free pet food companies’ webpages, and a bunch of them use organic ingredients and/or cage-free animal ingredients, but not any of the five listed below.

The Five Cruelty-Free Senior Diet Dog Food Producing Companies are:

Kumpi: Kumpi makes Kumpi Senior Dog Food (no senior cat food available), which apparently has five meat meal sources, living viable microorganisms, kelp, amino acid chelated minerals, digestive enzymes, yucca shidegera, and chicken fat, and does not contain any by-products, wheat or grain. However, Kumpi Senior Dog Food does not appear to be made from organic ingredients, nor does it use cage-free animal ingredients. It is available from Kumpi Dog Food – $18 for a 4lb bag, $34 for a 20lb bag, and $50 for a 35lb bag — the costs include the product, shipping, and handling.

Ingredients: Non-genetically modified Corn Meal, Chicken Meal, Meat & Bone Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [a source of Vitamin E] and Citric Acid), Rice, Chicken Liver Meal, Lamb Meal, Fish Meal, Egg Product, Dried Cheese, Dried Kelp Meal, Flax Seed Meal, Cod Liver Oil, Yeast Culture, Linoleic Acid, Lecithin, Salt, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Chloride, Manganese Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Carbonate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid, Biotin, Inositol, Calcium Iodate, Yucca Schidigera Extract. Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein not less than 20.0%, Crude Fat not less than 8.0%, Crude Fiber not more than 5.0%, Moisture not more than 10.0%

Natural Life: Natural Life makes Natural Life Senior Formula for dogs (no senior cat food available) — Natural Life claims that Natural Life Senior Formula is easier on older dogs’ digestive systems, has high quality protein to ensure nutrition without undue strain on the kidneys, has no added salt to guard against unnecessary water retention, is low in fat, glucosamine fortified, ester-c fortified, and naturally preserved. It appears to use no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. However, it does not appear to be organic or use cage-free meats.

Ingredients: Ground Yellow Corn, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Ground Whole Wheat, Natural Flavors, Dried Eggs, Fish Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Ground Flax Seeds, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Poultry Fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols, citric acid, rosemary extract and ascorbyl palmitate - a Vitamin C ester), Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Whey, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride,Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Natural Antioxidants, Vitamin Supplements (E,A,B2,B12,D3), Niacin, Calcium Ascorbate, Calcium Pantothenate,Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Inositol, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite.

Newman’s Own Organics makes Newman’s Own Organics Senior Diet Chicken and Rice Dog Food (a senior cat food is also available), which has has Oregon-Tilth-certified-organic grains and meats, but does not use cage-free meats. I’ve written up a complete review here. Newman’s Own Organics Senior Diet Chicken and Rice is available — $11.99 for a 5 lb bag — at petfooddirect.com.

Ingredients: Organic Barley, Organic Rice, Organic Milo, Organic Oats, Chicken, Organic Ground Flax Seed, Chicken Meal, Organic Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Naturally Stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols, Citric Acid, and Rosemary), Organic Carrots, Organic Potatoes, Calcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Potassium Chloride, Kelp, Parsley, Dehydrated Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dehydrated Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of chelated zinc), choline chloride, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Ascorbate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite.

Veterinary Nutritional Formula: Veterinary Nutritional Formula makes Silver Maintenance Dog Food, which claims to use 100% human grade ingredients, be meat based, have no by-products, beef, wheat, corn, soya, or artificial preservatives. However, it does not appear to be organic or use cage-free meats. It’s available at the Veterinary Nutritional Formula website – 18lbs for $29.99 — and has free shipping to zip codes under 80000.

Ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, lamb meal, whole oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract), flaxseed meal, flaxseed meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, iron sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, vitamin B-12 supplement, cobalt proteinate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, copper sulfate, vitamin D-3 supplement (D-activated animal sterol), cobalt carbonate, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, ethylene diamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, menadine dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (a source of vitamin K activity), sodium selenate. DAILY FEEDING GUIDE: 10 lbs-2/3 cups, 20 lbs-1 1/4 cups, 40 lbs-2 cups, 60 lbs-2 3/4 cups, 80 lbs-3 cups, 100 lbs- 4 cups. GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Protein 24% Min - Fat 10% Min - Fiber 7% Max - Moisture 10% Max.

Wysong: Wysong makes Wysong Senior Diet Dog Food (they also make a senior cat food – Geriatrx), which Wysong claims is a natural, premium, organic pet food that is an excellent well-rounded starting point for older dogs that should be rotated with other Wysong Diets and fresh foods as described in the Wysong Optimal Health Program. Their website states that they use organic ingredients. However, they do not appear to use cage-free meats. Wysong Senior Diet Dog Food is available at the Wysong website online store – an 8 lb bag is $12.99.

Ingredients: Turkey, Potato, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oat Groats, Ground Corn, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols as a source of vitamin E), Eggs, Whey, Dried Yogurt, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sage Extract, Rosemary Extract, Dried Kelp, Fish Oil, Garlic, Black Pepper, Artichoke, L-Carnitine, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Yeast Culture, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Product, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement. Analysis: Protein 18%, Fat 10%, Fiber 5%, Moisture 12%