For the Veterinary Team: Introducing Iams Senior Plus Formulas (sponsored by Iams)

As dogs and cats age, they enter a fourth senior life stage around the age of 11 (age 9 for large-breed dogs and age 7 for giant-breed dogs). Health concerns for these older pets include vision loss from cataracts or other ocular diseases, hearing loss from cochlear degeneration, decrease in taste acuity, weight loss, reduced ability to extract energy from food, loss of mobility and flexibility, changes in cognitive function, and dental problems. Pets in this fourth life stage need extra support of age-vulnerable body systems and functions.

New Iams Senior Plus diets are specially formulated to address the needs of senior pets. These diets include:

• High levels of high-quality protein from chicken and egg, with added lysine, to help maintain muscle mass

• More fat (versus adult maintenance formulas) to help maintain ideal weight and body condition

• L-carnitine to help pets utilize dietary fat

• Antioxidants to help maintain immune health

• An adjusted omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio for skin and coat health

• Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate

• Prebiotic fructooligosaccharides and beet pulp to help maintain healthy digestion

• Crunchy kibble, with hexametaphospate to help slow tartar buildup in dogs.

Veterinary teams can recommend Iams ProActive Health and Iams Premium Protection Mature Adult diets for pets in the third midlife stage and new Iams ProActive Health and Iams Premium Protection Senior Plus diets to help senior pets stay healthy and active with additional nutritional support during this important fourth life stage.