By old age, Jack, like any living organism, has a lower metabolic rate, and therefore the number of calories burned should be lower.

If left on the same diet as a young dog, it can lead to obesity in an older Jack and the development of various internal diseases.

If you're feeding your pet ready-made dog food, switch to specialty dog food for older dogs. Every brand of food usually has a "7+" food, for dogs after age 7. However, its name doesn't mean that as soon as your Jack turns 7, you should immediately switch him to that food. If you have an active or working dog that doesn't show any signs of aging or change his activity, take your time and leave him on the old food.

If you're feeding Jack natural foods, general guidelines are as follows:

• Reduce your total food intake by 10-20% to avoid weight gain.
• Reduce the protein content of your daily diet by 25% to reduce the burden on your kidneys,
• Increase fiber content to improve digestion. Older dogs are quite often constipated. Dietary fiber may help alleviate this problem.
• Increase vitamins and micronutrients, especially antioxidants.
• Increase fatty acids to prevent dry skin and to keep the skin and coat healthy.

To make sure you get the right diet, ask your veterinarian to help you find the right diet to keep your elderly pet in good physical condition. In addition, if Jack has age-related conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, or kidney failure, the vet will advise you on special vitamins or food supplements to address his current problems.