ST. LOUIS, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, a veterinarian who also trains for marathons with her dogs, emphasizes that the nutritional needs of dogs begin to change around age 7, often before any visible signs of aging appear. This shift is especially pertinent for active, sporting, and working dogs, whose enthusiasm can mask early indicators of decline.
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Dr. Lobos states, "An eager dog will keep going long after its body is telling him to slow down. Drive alone doesn't mean your dog is fine. That's the piece I want owners to catch earlier."
Purina Pro Plan AdvantEDGE Senior Support+ is designed to address these changes proactively, focusing on three key areas: cognitive sharpness, immune health, and joint health and mobility. The formula, which is backed by over a decade of peer-reviewed research, prioritizes real chicken as the first ingredient and is available in various formulas for adults, small breeds, and large breeds.
Dr. Lobos highlights that many owners fail to recognize the transition at age 7, noting, "People picture a senior dog as one that's visibly slowing down — stiff getting up, sleeping more. But for a lot of active dogs, especially working ones, the slowdown shows up late. It lags behind the real physiological shift. By the time you see it, the dog's already been dealing with it for a while."
She expresses concern for dogs that display no obvious signs of distress, stating, "The dogs I worry about most are the ones that never act like anything's wrong. Those are the ones I want on a proactive plan, not a reactive one."
Dr. Lobos describes a proactive nutritional plan that includes the three critical support areas offered by Pro Plan AdvantEDGE Senior Support+: cognition through Bright Mind technology, which enhances alertness and mental sharpness; immune health with a blend proven to boost immune response in dogs aged 7 and older; and mobility with joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid.