Best Dog Food for Older Dogs With Sensitive Teeth

Just like human beings, dogs go through a lot of changes with age. One of the most common things that start to happen as dogs climb the ladder is their teeth start to decay.

Once you’ve confirmed that bad teeth are an issue for your older dog, it’s time to change their diet. But remember, you know your friend best, so consider these products carefully with your dog in mind.

Here are our 5 recommended foods for older dogs with sensitive teeth:

1. Purina Beneful Prepared Meals
2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural
4. Nutro Adult Cuts In Gravy
5. Wellness Core Hearty Cuts Natural

Whether they have health issues or the teeth simply start to become weaker, it can cause your dog discomfort and even pain. To keep your dog at ease, find the best dog food for older dogs with sensitive teeth.

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Related Reading: Best Food for Older Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs

Top 5 Dog Foods for Older Dogs with Bad Teeth

Let’s take a look at your top 5 options for foods for older dogs with bad teeth.

1. Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Adult Wet Dog Food

The Purina Beneful Prepared Meals Wet Food is another great option for older dogs that have teeth issues. This food is made with real animal protein and comes in three different flavour combinations so your dog doesn’t get bored with meals. 

There are 23 essential vitamins and minerals in the formula to enhance your older dog’s health.

The meat in this food is soft and will be easy for older dogs with bad teeth to lightly chew and swallow.

Ingredients: Savory Rice & Lamb Stew: Water Sufficient For Processing,Wheat Gluten, Liver, White Rice, Meat By-Products, Lamb, Wild Rice, Chicken, Corn Starch-Modified, Peas, Carrots, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Soy Flour, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite. C-4065. Chicken Stew: Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Rice, Meat By-Products, Corn Starch-Modified, Carrots, Peas, Barley, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Soy Flour, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Tricalcium Phosphate, Zinc Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite. B-4069. Beef Stew: Water Sufficient For Processing, Beef, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Meat By-Products, Corn Starch-Modified, Peas, Carrots, Rice, Barley, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Salt,, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Flour, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite. C-4061.

2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Canned Wet Dog Food

The Purina ONE SmartBlend Ground Wet Food is a viable option for older dogs with very bad teeth. If you notice that your dog is in pain anytime they need to chew, this may be a good option. 

This formula is made with real animal protein, vitamins, and minerals for your dog’s health

The high-protein content will keep your older dog strong as they face their teeth troubles. The affordable food is tasty and will bring your older dog back to mealtime each day with a positive attitude.

Ingredients: Lamb and chicken broth, lamb, chicken, liver, pork lungs, sardines, long grain rice, oat meal, carrots, spinach, egg product, ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS AND OTHER INGREDIENTS: Minerals (potassium chloride, salt, tricalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite), carrageenan, guar gum, Vitamins (choline, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-3, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-5, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-2, Vitamin A, folic acid, Vitamin D-3, Vitamin B-7), locust bean gum. H422218

3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Wet Dog Food

The Rachael Ray Nutrish Wet Dog food is a good option for your older dog with bad teeth as it will be soft on the mouth while still providing the necessary nutrients.

This food is made with real animal protein and is available in a variety of flavours for your dog’s preferences. 

The formula contains no meat by-products, fillers, soy, wheat, corn, or artificial flavours or preservatives.

The grain-free formula is meant to go easy on your older dog’s stomach, while still giving them the protein-based diet that will keep their bones and systems strong. The wet formula will be tasty and easy for your pup to eat.

Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Duck, Dried Egg Product, Chicken, Egg White, Green Beans, Carrots, Pea Protein, Brown Rice, Ground Tapioca, Dicalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Caramel (Color), Fish Oil, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Celery Powder, Vitamin E Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Iodate, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity)

4. Nutro Adult Cuts In Gravy Wet Dog Food Trays, Chicken

The NUTRO Wet Food uses high-quality animal protein from trusted sources to provide your older dog with the protein they need in a soft form. This food comes in a variety of flavour options, so you can keep your dog interested from day to day. 

The food comes in a no-mess tray, so you can feed it straight to your dog if you don’t want to put it in a separate bowl.

This soft food is ideal for your older dog with bad teeth.

Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Pork Broth, Chicken Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Pork Plasma, Tapioca Starch, Pea Fiber, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dried Tomatoes, Choline Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Magnesium Proteinate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

5. Wellness Core Hearty Cuts Natural Wet Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

The Wellness Core Canned Wet Food is another option that will be suitable for older dogs with even the worst teeth problems. 

This ground food is grain-free and provides a high protein content that will keep your older dog healthy and full of energy. The food is available in three tasty flavour combinations and they all come with gravy for added texture.

This food will be gentle on your older dog’s stomach and easy for them to eat without too much pain in their teeth.

Ingredients: Turkey, Salmon Broth, Turkey Broth, Whitefish, Turkey Liver, Dried Egg Whites, Sweet Potatoes, Potato Starch, Salmon, Green Beans, Guar Gum, Carrots, Apples, Blueberries, Broccoli, Kale, Parsley, Spinach, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Canola Oil, Inulin, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Signs of Sensitive Teeth In Older Dogs

Before you start looking for the best dog food for older dogs with bad teeth, you need to be sure that the teeth are your dog’s issue. It can sometimes be tricky to get a good look into your dog’s mouth.

If you suspect that your dog is experiencing issues with its teeth, look out for these signs:

• Clear pain while chewing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Bad breath.
• Frequent drooling.
• Discolored teeth or excess tartar.
• Loose or broken teeth.
• Blood or puss in the mouth.

These are all signs that you need to have your dog seen by the veterinarian to find out what is going on with its teeth.

Is Senior Dog Food the Best Option?

Once you’ve confirmed that bad teeth are an issue for your older dog, it’s time to change their diet. Soft food isn’t necessarily the best choice for overall dental hygiene, but when you’re dealing with a dog who’s in pain, older, and just wants to eat, it can be the right way to go.

There are many senior dog foods on the market. It’s easy to assume that this type of food is the logical option for an older dog with teeth issues. The reality is, however, that senior dog food does not always provide what your pup needs.

Just because your dog is getting older, doesn’t change the fact that they still need to consume a diet with a lot of protein and other nutrients. Protein will help your dog maintain their bone mass, organ, and immune functions.

One main issue with senior dog foods is that they have increased fibre content. Humans just assume that dogs need more fibre for digestion as they get older as we do.

This isn’t true for all dogs, and too much fibre may stop your dog’s body from absorbing the nutrients it needs from food.

Rather than feeding your dog senior food, you can continue giving them protein-based food and supplement their diet with things like probiotics. You can even add important elements through home-cooked meals.

The best way to feed your older dog with bad teeth is to give them soft, protein-based foods. Ask your veterinarian what additional supplements your dog will benefit from. We’ve found DoggieWater to be an easy and convenient way to give dogs that extra boost in nutrition.

Final Thoughts

Making sure that your older dog with bad teeth eats is very important. The best way to go about it is to provide them with tasty options that are easy for them to eat. 

Soft and ground wet foods are ideal because they minimize the amount of chewing necessary and still provide the necessary nutrients for your older dog’s optimal health.