12 Superfoods for Dogs, Young and Gray-Muzzled

Written by

Serena Faber-Nelson

Founder of Pretty Fluffy · Author of Dog Mama

Updated 20 October 20269 min read

As featured in Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine & Cesar’s Way

About Serena

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over. Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

All articles by Serena

Standing at the counter with a spoonful of pumpkin in hand, most dog moms have wondered the same thing: is this actually doing any good, or is it just a sweet gesture? The best superfoods for dogs are ordinary kitchen foods, served plain and in small amounts, that add something extra to a complete diet: omega-3 fats from fish, gentle fiber, a little more protein and color-rich antioxidants.

Below are twelve of them, grouped by what each one does best, with notes on serving it safely. For lighter everyday snacks, this dog-safe fruit list is a good companion. Several matter even more once a muzzle starts to gray, so a dedicated section covers senior dogs, including whether salmon suits an older dog.

Omega-3 Foods for Dog Skin, Coat and Joints

Omega-3 fatty acids help calm inflammation, which is why they come up in conversations about itchy skin, dull coats and stiff joints alike. The form matters, though. Fish supplies EPA and DHA ready to use, while chia and flax supply ALA, which dogs convert only in small amounts.

Salmon and Sardines for Dogs

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and anchovies are the richest everyday source of EPA and DHA, the omega-3s that support skin, coat, joints and the aging brain. They bring easily digested protein too, which helps a dog hold on to muscle.

Serve salmon cooked and boneless, or sardines packed in water with no added salt, once or twice a week. Never share raw salmon or trout: fish from the Pacific Northwest, including southern Vancouver Island, can carry a fluke that causes salmon poisoning disease, which is usually fatal untreated. Vomiting, fever or refusing food within a week of a raw fish snack needs a vet the same day.

Chia Seeds for Dogs

Chia seeds are tiny but dense. Roughly a third of their weight is fiber, and they carry plant omega-3, calcium and protein. That fiber supports steady digestion, and the omega-3 gives irritated skin a little anti-inflammatory backup.

Because the omega-3 in chia is ALA, it is a helpful everyday extra rather than the food doing the heavy lifting for joints or the brain. If an older dog seems confused or restless at night, this guide to the signs of dog dementia is worth reading before a vet visit.

Soak a pinch in water for a few minutes until it forms a gel, then stir it into food.

Flaxseed Oil for Dogs

Flaxseed oil is another ALA source, and many dog parents reach for it when a coat turns dry and flaky. It is calorie-dense, so a few drops go a long way, and it spoils quickly once opened, so keep the bottle in the fridge.

Follow the dosing on the label, or ask your vet for an amount that suits your dog's size. For sore joints, fish-based omega-3s do more, so flax works best as a supporting player.

Eggs for Dogs

A plain, fully cooked egg is one of the most complete proteins a dog can eat, with every essential amino acid plus selenium, riboflavin and fatty acids that support a glossy coat. Boil or scramble it with no butter, oil or salt, and chop it to suit your dog's mouth.

Raw egg is best avoided because of Salmonella, and the yolk is rich enough that one egg uses up a small dog's treat allowance quickly. This guide to feeding eggs to dogs covers portions by size.

Gut-Friendly Dog Superfoods for Easy Digestion

A comfortable gut shapes how a dog feels every day, and these four foods are some of the gentlest ways to support it.

Pumpkin for Dogs

Plain cooked pumpkin carries both soluble and insoluble fiber, which can firm up a loose stool or get a sluggish one moving. Choose canned pumpkin with pumpkin as the only ingredient, never pie filling, which adds sugar and spice. This guide to pumpkin for dogs has portions by weight.

Pumpkin is at its most plentiful around the holidays, and the plain servings set aside before the pie is made are the ones worth sharing. This guide to holiday foods dogs can share at Thanksgiving shows how to do the same with the rest of the meal.

Plain Yogurt for Dogs

Plain yogurt adds protein, calcium and live cultures, and plain Greek yogurt is lower in lactose than regular tubs, which suits more dogs. Choose unsweetened yogurt with no xylitol, a sweetener found in some light and sugar-free tubs that is toxic to dogs.

Start with a teaspoon to see how your dog handles dairy, and skip it if gas or loose stools follow. This guide to yogurt for dogs explains which tubs are safe.

Oats for Dogs

Cooked oats are rich in soluble fiber, which helps a dog feel full and supports steady digestion. That makes them handy for less active dogs prone to weight gain, and gentle for dogs who need a bland, easy meal.

Cook them in water, never milk, with no sugar, salt or flavoring, and let them cool before serving. If your dog is struggling to keep weight on rather than lose it, this guide to the best foods for dog weight gain covers calorie-dense options.

Bone Broth for Dogs

Bone broth is mostly water, with a little protein and the gelatin that gives it body. Warmed over dry food, it adds moisture and aroma that can tempt a picky eater.

Make it plain or buy one made for dogs, since broths for people usually contain onion, garlic and salt.

Antioxidant Fruits and Vegetables for Dogs

Brightly colored produce brings antioxidants, vitamins and fiber in a low-calorie package.

Blueberries for Dogs

Blueberries are one of the lowest-calorie fruits a dog can have, at under a calorie per berry, and their deep color comes from anthocyanins, a family of antioxidants.

Halve or mash them for toy breeds, who can choke on a whole berry. This guide to blueberries for dogs has portions by size.

Apples for Dogs

Crisp apple slices bring fiber, vitamin C and plenty of water, and the crunch gives teeth a light scrub, though it never replaces brushing. Leave the skin on, since much of the fiber sits there.

Always cut away the core, seeds and stem first. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, and the core is a choking risk. This guide to apples for dogs covers portions by size.

Sweet Potato for Dogs

Cooked sweet potato supplies beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A for eyes, skin and coat, along with fiber and vitamin C. Bake or steam it plain, peel it, and mash or cube it once cool.

It is starchier than pumpkin, so think of a spoonful rather than a side dish, and skip raw sweet potato, which is hard to digest.

Carrots for Dogs

Carrots are crunchy, light and full of beta-carotene, and a medium carrot holds only around 25 calories. Raw sticks suit dogs who love to chew, while steamed rounds suit seniors and dogs with sensitive teeth.

Cut them small enough to swallow safely, since whole carrots and thick rounds can lodge in the throat. This guide to carrots for dogs covers serving sizes and choking-safe cuts.

Senior Dog Superfood Picks for the Golden Years

The best senior dog superfoods support the changes that come with age: cooked salmon or sardines for omega-3s that ease stiff joints and support the aging brain, pumpkin, oats and plain yogurt for a slower and more sensitive gut, and cooked eggs for the protein that protects muscle. Serve them plain, in small amounts, as toppers on a complete senior diet.

Is Salmon Good for Senior Dogs?

Yes, for most older dogs. Cooked salmon is soft, easy to digest, rich in EPA and DHA, and high in quality protein, which matters because seniors still need protein to keep their muscle. Salmon-based senior dog food is a good choice too, as long as the label states it is complete and balanced for adult dogs.

Dogs with kidney disease, pancreatitis or a prescription diet are the exception. Their fat and protein needs are specific, so check with your vet before adding fish or switching food.

Benefits of Superfoods for Senior Dogs

Aging brings a slower metabolism, stiffer joints, a touchier gut and, for many dogs, changes in memory and sleep. Small additions help with each: fish for joints and cognition, fiber for regularity and carrots for low-calorie crunch. For the bigger picture, this guide to caring for a senior dog covers diet alongside exercise, dental care and routine.

Soft and Liquid Food Options for Senior Dogs

Worn or missing teeth can make a crunchy topper unkind. Mashed pumpkin, scrambled egg, flaked salmon and soaked chia are all gentle on a tender mouth, and warm bone broth poured over kibble softens it in minutes. A dog who has gone off solid food needs a vet-recommended liquid diet, not broth alone.

When a Dog Becomes a Senior

Size matters more than birthdays. Dogs are generally considered senior at around 75 percent of their expected lifespan, which can mean five or six for a giant breed and ten to twelve for a small one.

How Much Superfood to Add to the Bowl

Portions and the 10 Percent Treat Rule

Superfoods are toppers, not meals. All treats and extras together should stay under about 10 percent of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete and balanced food.

Introduce one food at a time and wait a day to see how your dog's stomach responds. Flaxseed oil, salmon and egg yolk add up fastest, so trim the kibble slightly on those days.

Superfood Extras for Puppies

A growing puppy needs nearly all of their calories from complete puppy food, so extras stay tiny: a little mashed pumpkin, plain yogurt or a halved blueberry once they eat solids.

Keeping Superfood Toppers Safe for Your Dog

Healthy-Looking Foods Dogs Should Skip

Some foods sold as superfoods for people are risky for dogs. Avocado contains persin and is very high in fat, macadamia nuts are toxic, and raisins, which hide in trail mix and granola, can cause sudden kidney failure, as this guide to grapes and raisins explains.

Garlic and onion are toxic even as powders, and xylitol hides in sugar-free yogurt and peanut butter.

When to Call the Vet

Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than a day, there is blood in the stool, or your dog seems lethargic, stops eating or has eaten anything listed above. Dogs with diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatitis or a prescription diet should have every new food cleared first.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Salmon Poisoning
• Petfoodology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, The Skinny on Fat: Essential Fatty Acids and Inflammation
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Senior Dog Care: Special Considerations