There are many dog food delivery services, but the majority of them offer meals with low nutritional value and questionable quality. And if you want your older dog to thrive, they’ll need good quality food that suits their age and caters to any health conditions.
After a lot of research, I've found some companies whose meals are formulated by pet nutritionists and contain high-quality ingredients. Some even offer customization options designed to tailor meals for your senior dog's unique needs.
The Farmer's Dog is the best food delivery for older dogs. It stands out thanks to nutritious recipes that help dogs improve their health. But each service on the list is worth considering, so keep reading to learn more.
The Farmer’s Dog – Best senior dog food delivery overall
Ollie – Best baked food for older dogs
We Feed Raw – Best raw meals for senior dogs
Nom Nom – Best gently cooked recipes for elderly dogs
Spot & Tango – Best gently dried fresh food for dogs
Human-grade food
Certified veterinarians develop the recipes
A detailed meal customization quiz
Current deal: Get 60% Off Your First Box!
The Farmer's Dog offers fresh, well-balanced dog food. Its founders rely on scientific insights and advice from certified vets to craft top-notch dishes. The meals are prepared in USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) kitchens and comprise human-grade meat and veggies. And every recipe exceeds the standards set by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).
The Farmer's Dog has 4 fresh food recipes featuring different proteins – chicken, turkey, pork, and beef. It cooks food at low temperatures to get rid of nasty microorganisms while keeping its nutritional integrity. Then it freezes it to keep it safe until you can put it in your fridge.
Besides meats and veggies, recipes contain vitamins and minerals. Equally important, they don't contain preservatives, dubious powders, or any other additives and by-products that it’s best to steer clear of. What really stands out is the company's transparency in labeling, a refreshing change from many other pet food brands.
The Farmer's Dog provides you with ready-to-eat meals. Just dish them out for your senior dog, and if they like warm meals, add a bit of hot water to the mix. The recipes come pre-portioned for extra convenience, too.
The Farmer's Dog has one of the most detailed dog food personalization quizzes I’ve taken. By answering a series of questions, you can help your old dog get customized meals matching their taste and needs. The quiz covers aspects like age, breed, activity level, and even if your dog is a picky eater. There’s also a section addressing various health concerns, including vomiting, diarrhea, and food allergies.
The company’s eco-aware approach is another highlight. You'll get your orders in eco-friendly packaging, and if you're not around when the delivery shows up, no stress. As long as you're back by 11 pm, the food will hold up fine on your doorstep or porch. The Farmer's Dog delivers to the continental US.
Many vets give a thumbs up to this company's dog food, as highlighted in our tested The Farmer's Dog review. And it's no wonder, since The Farmer’s Dog has board-certified veterinary nutritionists on the team.
Note that these fresh meals aren't shelf-stable because they don't contain processed foods. Meals are good for consumption for 4 days if kept in the fridge and for months if frozen.
The cost of The Farmer's Dog meals depends on various aspects, including your dog’s size and activity level. Prices begin at $2/day for smaller dogs, but for medium to large dogs, expect a heftier price tag. Delivery is free, though.
The dog food delivery service has 3 meal plans
You can buy treats and supplements
The company has a quiz for tailoring meals
Current deal: Get 60% off + FREE Fi GPS Collar ($99 value)
Ollie has 2 baked recipes if your older dog still enjoys crunchy food. Each features a different protein (beef or chicken), and both include veggies and grains. The team first bakes the ground and mixed ingredients at a low heat, before forming and baking them once more. By following this method, the service locks in nutrients while getting rid of any nasties.
Besides baked food, the pet food delivery service has fresh dishes. The fresh assortment is larger, featuring 5 meals with different proteins – pork, lamb, beef, turkey, and chicken. But keep in mind that baked recipes can last longer than fresh.
Ollie offers 3 meal plans, including:
Full Fresh Plan – the priciest and the highest quality food
Half Fresh Plan – premium quality for half the price
Mixed Bowl Plan – more affordable fresh and baked meals combo
Make sure your dog eats fresh meals within 4 days of delivery if refrigerated. To save them for later use, toss them in the freezer, and they'll be good for up to 6 months. If you go for baked dishes, your dog should finish them within 6 weeks of opening.
Ollie's brief quiz lets you customize your older dog's food. Besides age, you'll touch on things like breed, weight, activity, and any dietary quirks. Once you complete the test, you'll get a tailored offer that addresses your pup’s dietary needs and tastes.
That said, while Ollie's quiz is thorough, The Farmer's Dog delves deeper into specific health concerns.
Ollie is all about balanced, human-grade dog food. Vets create meals, ticking off the AAFCO standards in the process. The team's picky about ingredients, so rest assured that your senior dog will get meals packed with vital minerals and vitamins. Read our complete review to learn more about Ollie’s recipes.
Pricing shifts depending on your dog's needs and the selected plan. Prices kick off at $4-$8 per day for a week's worth of food. The pet food subscription service ships products throughout the contiguous US and delivery is free.
The company has 6 raw recipes
Choose between 3 different-sized boxes
Ph.D. nutritionists plan meals
Current deal: Get 40% Off + Free Shipping
We Feed Raw centers its efforts on delivering raw pet food. It partners with Ph.D. nutritionists to ensure its meals are wholly balanced. What's more, these vet-approved dishes not only enhance digestion and immunity but also promote other vital aspects of pet health, which is especially important for older dogs.
We Feed Raw’s dishes mainly comprise animal-derived ingredients, and they feature a mix of proteins. Let's take the Duck Patty Recipe in the image as an example. It contains duck meat, but also turkey gizzards, tails, and liver. Besides, it features key minerals and vitamins. Aside from duck, We Feed Raw also has Beef, Lamb, Turkey, Venison, and Chicken Patty recipes.
Each We Feed Raw meal features around 80% muscle meat, 10% edible bone, and 10% organ meat. The service's food suits cats as well as dogs, as pointed out in our complete review.
You can serve the meals as they are, or optionally sear them slightly. But if your pup doesn’t like raw food, better subscribe to The Farmer's Dog, which specializes in healthy fresh food.
Fill out a brief survey to tailor a meal plan for your senior dog. Based on your responses, the company will suggest meals suited to your dog's dietary profile. The questions touch on aspects like your dog's age, breed, weight, and potential allergies.
Choosing the right box for your pup is pretty straightforward. The Small Box is a great fit for smaller breeds. If you've got a medium-sized dog, the Classic Box will suffice, and if your dog is on the larger side, go for the Big Box.
The service sources USDA-approved, human-grade meats, and its recipes align with the AAFCO guidelines. You can be confident that We Feed Raw's offerings are free from preservatives, fillers, artificial colors, and other undesirables. It gets most ingredients from the USA, and some from New Zealand.
Store We Feed Raw's dishes in the fridge for 4 days at most. Pop them in the freezer to make them last longer, typically up to 6 months.
The cost of the company’s offerings varies based on the recipe and the box size. Pricing begins at $6.59/lb. The Small Box is the most affordable, with the Classic Box next in line, and the Big Box following. We Feed Raw ships its pet food anywhere in the mainland US, and shipping is free regardless of the size of your order.Approved by vets
You can buy probiotic supplements
There is an on-site meal personalization quiz
Nom Nom specializes in gently cooked dog food, but it has supplements, too. What's more, the pet food delivery service has an edge over many other such businesses because it has 2 Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists on its team.
Nom Nom offers 4 recipes suitable for senior dogs of different breeds and sizes:
Beef Mash, featuring potatoes, carrots, eggs, and peas
Chicken Cuisine, packing in sweet potatoes, squash, and spinach
Pork Potluck, blending potatoes, green beans, kale, mushrooms, and squash
Turkey Fare, integrating brown rice, eggs, spinach, and carrots
Buy the Variety Pack to test the waters before subscribing. It contains 200 g of each recipe, which should prove more than enough.
You can buy 2 dog supplements from this business. The Full Spectrum Probiotics for Dogs boost immunity and digestion, while GI Targeted Probiotics for Dogs focus on supporting digestive balance.
Every meal has ingredients you can recognize on sight as the service uses real foods, ensuring its dishes are wholesome. It steers clear of fillers and unwanted additives. Dive into our complete Nom Nom review for a deeper insight into its meals.
Since Nom Nom gently cooks meals before freezing them for shipping, you don't have to do any meal prep. And the food is good for your dog's tummy because it's easy to digest. Besides improving digestion, these meals can enhance your dog’s overall immunity and health.
You can tailor meals for your dog via a short on-site customization questionnaire. You'll answer a few questions, some of which are about your dog's age, current weight, and target weight. I find this test quite basic, so I recommend taking The Farmer's Dog's quiz because it addresses many other factors, including health issues.
The main goal is to create food that wards off chronic illnesses via balanced nutrition. Every Nom Nom recipe aligns with the standards set by the AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles. And besides Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, the company has several Ph.D. nutritionists to assist them.
You can keep Nom Nom's food safely in the fridge for up to 7 days. Freeze it to make it last up to 6 months.
The cost of your pup's meals depends on different factors. Age, activity level, and weight are a few of them. Still, the lowest price you can expect to pay for Nom Nom's recipes is $5/day. The dog food subscription service delivers within the continental USA, and shipping is free.
The service has 4 gently-dried recipes
You can take a meal personalization quiz
The company has fresh meals on offer, too
Spot & Tango's Fresh Dry™ blends the perks of both fresh and dry food. Its UnKibble recipes use whole fresh ingredients for prime nutrition. What's more, they last longer than typical fresh food thanks to the drying process.
There are 4 UnKibble recipes on offer, and these are Beef + Barley, Cod + Salmon, Chicken + Brown Rice, and Turkey + Sweet Potato. If you prefer feeding your pup fresh food, your Spot & Tango options are Beef + Red Millet, Lamb + Brown Rice, and Turkey + Red Quinoa.
UnKibble dishes contain various health-beneficial ingredients. Depending on the recipe, these could be carrots, pumpkin, apple, and kale, among others. These supplemental ingredients provide various health perks for your elderly pup, including weight management and improved skin and coat condition. Eggs, peas, cranberries, and parsley are some other ingredients you may find in different recipes. To learn more about Spot & Tango's meals and ingredients, check out our in-depth review.
Note that the pet food subscription service doesn't have baked dog food on offer. If you prefer to mix and match fresh and baked meals instead of fresh and dry for your old friend, I recommend subscribing to Ollie.
The business's pet food is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. It incorporates mixed tocopherols in its dried recipes and tiny quantities of apple cider vinegar in its Fresh recipes.
Spot & Tango has a pretty comprehensive meal personalization quiz. In fact, I find it nearly on par with The Farmer's Dog's questionnaire. It considers aspects like your pet's age, gender, body shape, and activity level. The survey also touches on over 20 health concerns, many of which are common for senior dogs.
Take a 2-week trial to try the company's food. Should the meals not be a hit with your dog, you'll get a full refund for the trial purchase.
Spot & Tango obtains high-quality meats, fruits, and veggies from reputable farmers and suppliers. Its recipes contain USDA-certified muscle and organ meats. Meals typically consist of 50% meat, 30% nutrient-rich starch, and 20% fruits and vegetables.
Store the dry recipes in a cool, dry spot. That way, they'll be good for consumption for up to 12 months. After opening, your dog should finish them within 8 weeks. As for fresh food, it's safe to eat within 4 days if kept in the fridge. When frozen, it has a shelf life of up to 6 months.
The price per meal is influenced by several aspects, including the meal plan and your dog's size and health. The starting cost is <$1 per meal. You can order Spot & Tango's pet food if you live in the continental USA, and shipping is free of charge.
The company commits to climate strategy
The service has recipes for dogs and cats
You can buy treats and supplements from the business
Open Farm strives to lower the environmental impact of its food production. Several of its products boast a low greenhouse gas emissions rate of 1 kg CO2e or less per pound. If you consider yourself an eco-conscious pet owner, check out meals featuring the Lower Carbon Options label. What's more, Open Farm aims to slash its carbon emissions by 42% before 2030.
The company has 5 dog food types. These are Dry Food, Wet Food, Gently Cooked, RawMix, and Freeze Dried Raw. Depending on your choice, some key proteins may be poultry, beef, white fish, or lamb. Oats, barley, and sweet potatoes are some of the extra ingredients.
Open Farm has various treats and supplements for dogs, and you can look at its Senior Support section to find suitable meals and other products. Some foods I'd gladly serve my pup are the gently-cooked Grass-Fed Beef Recipe and wet Homestead Turkey Rustic Stew. The Skin & Coat and Hip & Joint Supplement Chews are also great for senior dogs.
The Open Farm treats include Jerky Strips, Be Good Bites, and Dehydrated Treats, all featuring proteins from wild-caught fish and humanely raised animals. The company also has bone broths on offer. Grass-Fed Beef, Homestead Turkey, and Harvest Chicken are available options.
You can track the origin of each ingredient in a meal on Open Farm's website. Once you get your order, find the lot code on the bag and input it into the provided search bar. Check out our complete review to learn more about ingredients and nutrition.
What I don't like about Open Farm is the lack of a meal customization quiz. If you mix and match fresh and dry food for your senior dog, take a detailed Spot & Tango questionnaire. It will help you tailor meals based on your dog’s unique needs and taste.
The service champions ethical ingredient sourcing besides sustainability. It partners with suppliers that let their animals roam freely, leading to top-quality proteins. Moreover, these animals were raised on wholesome diets free from antibiotics and hormones. For these reasons, Open Farm is one of the best healthy dog food delivery services around.
The company ships pet food across the contiguous U.S. Orders over $50 qualify for free shipping. For those below $50, the company charges a $5.99 shipping fee.
Open Farm's meal prices fluctuate based on food type and weight. Prices start at $7/day , with dry and raw mixes typically costing less than wet meals. Fresh foods generally come with the steepest price.
The service has grain-free and grain-friendly dehydrated meals
You can also buy dry and wet recipes
The company's meals feature 1 of 5 proteins
Consider The Honest Kitchen if you're looking for long-lasting meals for your senior dogs that are easy to serve. The pet food delivery service offers a range of dehydrated meals that have a shelf life of about 12 months. Add the right amount of water, and it's ready to serve.
The team especially recommends the Dehydrated Grain-Free Fish meal for elderly dogs, but you have ample choices if your old friend isn’t a fan of fish. At the time of my Best Senior Dog Food Delivery Service review, the business had 19 dehydrated meals for pups.
I find The Honest Kitchen's dehydrated meals well-balanced. They contain proteins, fruits, veggies, and, optionally, grains. Depending on the chosen dish, you may find beef, duck, turkey, chicken, salmon, or other fish in recipes. The team adds sweet potatoes, parsley, pumpkin, and cranberries, among other ingredients. Check our full review for a deeper dive into these meals.
The pet food subscription service also has wet and dry foods on offer. Poultry recipes dominate the dry food collection, while wet recipes provide more variety. If you're looking for raw meals, give We Feed Raw a look.
What I like about this service is its many grain-free and grain-friendly choices. You'll have various options if you avoid serving your dog food containing cereals. For this reason, The Honest Kitchen deserves a place among the best grain-free dog food delivery services.
Fill out a quick on-site quiz to tailor your dog's meals. You'll have to state your dog's age, breed size, activity, and more. Also, you can select grain options and skip any ingredients your dog dislikes. If your dog eats fresh food, consider subscribing to The Farmer's Dog, because its quiz addresses health concerns typical for old dogs.
The company gently heats food to remove moisture from it. Such an approach preserves taste and nutritional value. The business states that these recipes are favorites among senior pups who have fewer teeth because of their softness.
The Honest Kitchen uses high-quality, non-GMO ingredients in pet food production. It sticks to rigorous safety standards and sources proteins like wild-caught fish and free-range turkeys. On its site, 80% of subscribers noted better pet digestion after introducing the company’s meals. Also, 77% saw energy boosts, and 71% reported healthier skin and coats.
The price per meal depends on many factors, including your dog's size and food type. But the most affordable recipes cost $5.99 for dry food. The company delivers products everywhere in the mainland US, but also to Hawaii and Alaska. The shipping fee for pet owners in the contiguous US is free for orders over $49. Otherwise, it's $9.
Starting Price | Minimum Order | Meal Type | Shipping | Active Deals | |
$2/day | 2-week starter box | Fresh | Free | Get 60% Off Your First Box! from The Farmers Dog | |
$4-$8 per day | 1 week’s worth of food | Fresh, Baked, Mixed | Free | Get 60% off + FREE Fi GPS Collar ($99 value) from Ollie | |
$6.59/lb | 30 lbs per order | Raw | Free | Get 40% Off + Free Shipping from We Feed Raw | |
$5/day | 1 week’s worth of food | Gently cooked | Free | Get 60% off your first box + free shipping from Nom Nom | |
<$1 per meal | 1 week’s worth of food | Fresh, Dry | Free | Get 50% Off + Free Shipping from Spot & Tango | |
Open Farm | $7/day | 1 week’s worth of food for subscriptions or 1 item for one-time purchase | Fresh, Dry, RawMix, Wet | Free or $5.99 | Save up to 20% on first time orders with code DR20 from Open Farm |
$5.99 for dry food | 1 item for one-time purchase | Dry, Wet, Dehydrated | Free or $9 | 15% Off first order. Use code 15DELIVERYRANK from The Honest Kitchen |
The services I chose are some of the best food providers for elderly dogs. Now, all that remains for you to do to narrow down your choices is the following:
Assess your dog's dietary preferences. Being a responsible pet owner means understanding your dog's specific food needs. Consider whether your pet leans towards fresh, baked, or other types of food. Ollie offers nutritious fresh and baked pup recipes boasting human-grade ingredients and meeting the AAFCO standards.
Watch your dog for any signs of health problems. Stay vigilant about your pet's health. You shouldn't have trouble noticing if they have stomach, skin, or activity issues. And visit your vet regularly, whether the signs are there or not.
Consider personalizing meals. Many pet food delivery services offer meals brimming with health-beneficial ingredients. But far fewer offer some sort of food customization. Given your dog's age, tailoring meals based on their needs and preferences can go a long way. The Farmer's Dog has the best dog food personalization quiz I have taken so far.
Look into the delivery flexibility. Check the expected transit times and if the dog food delivery service operates on set days. Also, see if the courier leaves packages at your entrance or with a neighbor if you're not home. Most pet food subscription services deliver to mainland pet owners only, but The Honest Kitchen ships to Hawaii and Alaska, too.
Many experts consider The Farmer's Dog the best dog food delivery service. Its fresh meals contain human-grade ingredients and are suitable for any life stage. Moreover, the company has a first-class meal personalization quiz and doesn't play label tricks.
Ollie stands out as one of the most affordable dog food delivery services. With its Half-Fresh and Mixed plans, it offers cost-effective options that reduce the price a great deal. What's more, Ollie's meals provide excellent value for the price, making it a top choice for pet owners seeking quality and affordability.
Many companies promote senior dog food as the best for older dogs, but no universal standard supports this claim. Notably, the AAFCO lacks specific guidelines for senior dog nutrition. Thus, don't feel obligated to switch your dog to senior-specific food just because of their advancing age.