Nutrition and Aging in Companion Animals

The aging process is associated with alterations in a variety of physiological systems and metabolic processes. These alterations are not well-defined in companion animals. Understanding these age-associated changes will aid in designing nutritional interventions specific for the geriatric population of companion animals. In the dog, age-associated physiological changes include a decline in the cell-mediated parameters of the immune response and alterations in body composition (i.e., increased body fat and decreased lean body mass). Metabolic changes include decreased ability to utilize glucose and alterations in the elongation of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Nutritional interventions such as antioxidant vitamins, adequate dietary protein, and adjusted levels of long chain fatty acids have the potential to slow the aging process in these animals.