JustFoodForDogs vs The Farmer's Dog for Senior Dogs
By Sarah Bennett · Last updated June 11, 2026 · 12 min read
JustFoodForDogs vs The Farmer's Dog is the fresh-food question senior dog owners ask most, because by the time a dog is gray around the muzzle, the appetite, dental, and chronic-disease problems that fresh food is pitched to solve are often already here. The short answer: both are genuinely excellent human-grade fresh foods made by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, and for a healthy senior either one is a fine choice. The difference that matters for an older dog is what happens when a diagnosis arrives. JustFoodForDogs is the only one of the two with feeding-trial testing and a real veterinary prescription line; The Farmer's Dog is the more hands-off, calorie-portioned subscription. If your senior is healthy and you want set-and-forget, The Farmer's Dog is hard to beat. If your senior has, or is likely to develop, kidney, liver, or GI disease, JustFoodForDogs can follow her into that chapter and The Farmer's Dog cannot.
We are not veterinarians, and we have not personally fed both brands to every dog. What follows draws on published manufacturer data, AAFCO documentation, peer-reviewed veterinary nutrition research, and aggregated owner reviews. If you are still deciding between fresh food and kibble at all, start with our best food for senior dogs guide; this article is for owners who have settled on fresh and are choosing between these two specific brands.
Our Ratings at a Glance
1
JustFoodForDogs4.7 / 5Best for a senior who may need a therapeutic diet
- Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists; 100% USDA human-grade ingredients
- The only fresh brand to complete AAFCO feeding trials (a year, 30 dogs, full bloodwork and organ panels)
- True veterinary prescription line for kidney, liver, and GI disease (requires a vet prescription on file)
- Buy three ways: frozen subscription, shelf-stable pantry fresh, or in stores like Petco and many vet clinics
2
The Farmer's Dog4.4 / 5Best hands-off subscription for a healthy senior
- Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards
- Human-grade, gently cooked, and pre-portioned to your dog's exact calorie target
- Subscription only, frozen and shipped; first box is typically 50% off
- Grain-free recipes only; no prescription or therapeutic options for chronic disease
JustFoodForDogs vs The Farmer's Dog: The 30-Second Comparison
| JustFoodForDogs | The Farmer's Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Formulation | Board-certified vet nutritionists | Board-certified vet nutritionists |
| AAFCO standard | Met, plus completed feeding trials | Met by formulation |
| Made in | Own kitchens, California (USDA human-grade) | USDA human-grade facilities |
| Prescription diets | Yes (kidney, liver, GI; vet Rx required) | No |
| Grain options | Grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes | Grain-free only |
| How to buy | Subscription, shelf-stable pantry packs, and in stores | Subscription only |
| Portioning | By recipe and weight | Pre-portioned to calorie target |
| Rough cost/day | ~$2 (small) to $10-15 (large) | ~$2.30 (small) to $20+ (very large) |
| Senior standout | Therapeutic diets + buying flexibility | Hands-off, calorie-controlled convenience |
Both meet the same baseline credential standard the big brands use, so this is not a quality-versus-junk comparison. It is a comparison of two strong options with different strengths.
What Each One Actually Is
JustFoodForDogs is a fresh dog food company whose recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, made from ingredients that are 100% certified for human consumption by the USDA, and cooked in the company's own kitchens in Newport Beach and West Hollywood, California. It sells the same food three ways: a frozen home-delivery subscription, shelf-stable "pantry fresh" packs you can keep without a freezer, and refrigerated or frozen meals in retail stores including Petco and many veterinary clinics. It also runs a separate veterinary prescription line for dogs with diagnosed disease.
The Farmer's Dog is a direct-to-consumer fresh food subscription. Meals are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards, gently cooked in USDA human-grade facilities, portioned per dog from a profile you submit (age, weight, activity, body condition), frozen, and shipped on a recurring schedule. There is no retail option and no prescription line; it is one thing done well, delivered to your door. We covered it in depth in our Farmer's Dog senior review.
A useful piece of context for both: there is no AAFCO "senior" life stage. Any food labeled "senior" is using a marketing term, not a regulated profile. What matters for an older dog is whether the food meets Adult Maintenance or All Life Stages and carries the protein, fat, and mineral levels appropriate for her condition. Both brands meet recognized AAFCO standards.
Evidence and Testing: The First Real Difference
This is where the two part ways for the first time.
AAFCO lets a food prove it is complete and balanced two ways: by formulation (the recipe is calculated, on paper, to hit the nutrient profile) or by feeding trial (real dogs eat the food and are monitored for health). The Farmer's Dog meets AAFCO standards by formulation, which is the common and accepted method most major brands use.
JustFoodForDogs went further. It is the first dog food company to complete the standardized AAFCO feeding trials using companion dogs living in their own homes, and it exceeded the bare minimum considerably. The AAFCO feeding-trial minimum is four blood values tracked over six months in six dogs. JustFoodForDogs ran its trials for a full year across 30 dogs, with complete blood counts and full internal organ chemistry panels. Feeding-trial testing does not automatically make a food "better" than a well-formulated one, but it is the stronger form of evidence, and for owners who weigh the science it is a real point in JustFoodForDogs' favor.
The Farmer's Dog has its own evidence to point to: a 2024 metabolomic study led by Dr. Heather Huson at Cornell University found that senior dogs switched to fresh food showed lower levels of advanced glycation end products and metabolic markers consistent with healthier aging. The study is peer-reviewed, and the directional finding fits the broader literature, but it was funded by The Farmer's Dog, which is worth keeping in mind. It is evidence for fresh food in general more than for one recipe over another.
Prescription Diets: The Difference That Decides It for Many Seniors
Here is the single most senior-relevant fact in this comparison. Older dogs develop chronic disease. Kidney disease is common, so is liver disease, so are chronic GI problems, and the dietary management of all three is not optional, it is part of the treatment.
JustFoodForDogs has a true veterinary prescription line with formulas built for kidney support, liver support, and gastrointestinal disease, among others. These are restricted diets: the company requires a prescription from your veterinarian on file before it will ship them, the same gatekeeping that applies to Hill's Prescription Diet or Royal Canin Veterinary. For a senior dog who needs a controlled-phosphorus renal diet but whose owner wants fresh, human-grade food rather than a prescription kibble or can, this is close to unique in the fresh-food category.
The Farmer's Dog has no prescription line at all. Its standard recipes are higher in protein than most renal prescription diets, which can be exactly wrong for a dog with advanced kidney disease. If your senior is diagnosed with a condition that needs a therapeutic diet, The Farmer's Dog cannot follow her there; you would have to switch to a prescription diet from another maker.
If your dog is healthy today, this may feel like a non-issue. But seniors are, by definition, the dogs most likely to need a therapeutic diet within a year or two. Choosing a brand that can stay with her through a diagnosis is a quietly practical reason to lean toward JustFoodForDogs for an older dog, even if you start on a standard recipe.
Recipes, Protein, and the Grain-Free Question
For a healthy senior, both brands land in the right nutritional zone. Current AAHA Senior Care guidance supports higher protein for older dogs to fight muscle loss, not the old "low protein for seniors" myth, and both brands run protein well above the minimum.
Two differences are worth knowing:
- Grain-free vs grain-inclusive. The Farmer's Dog recipes are grain-free. JustFoodForDogs offers both grain-inclusive recipes (with whole grains like brown rice and oats) and grain-free options. The FDA's investigation into a possible link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy remains unconfirmed and was never proven, but many owners and some veterinarians now prefer grain-inclusive food when there is no medical reason to avoid grains. If that is you, JustFoodForDogs gives you the choice and The Farmer's Dog does not.
- Protein level for kidney dogs. Both brands' standard recipes are higher in protein than a renal prescription diet. For a senior with confirmed kidney disease, recipe selection becomes a clinical question, which loops back to the prescription point above: JustFoodForDogs can hand you a vet-formulated renal diet, The Farmer's Dog asks you to manage protein with a standard recipe or leave.
For the everyday healthy senior with no diagnosis, this section is close to a tie. The recipe differences matter most precisely when a health condition is in the picture.
The Farmer's Dog vs JustFoodForDogs Price: What You Actually Pay
Neither is a budget food. Both price by your dog's weight and calorie needs, and both are typically two to five times the cost of a quality senior kibble. These are 2026 reference figures; the live price tracks your dog's exact calorie target, so check each brand's website for a current quote.
| Dog size | JustFoodForDogs (approx.) | The Farmer's Dog (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (~10 lb) | ~$2/day | ~$2.30/day |
| Medium (~40 lb) | ~$4.50-6/day | ~$6-9/day |
| Large (~80 lb) | ~$10-15/day | ~$18-27/day |
| First order | No standard discount | Typically 50% off starter box |
| Subscription required | No (also in-store and pantry packs) | Yes |
JustFoodForDogs tends to be slightly cheaper for small dogs and is the only one you can buy in smaller quantities without a subscription, which matters when testing with a picky senior. The Farmer's Dog is the cleaner subscription experience but offers no flexibility if she goes off the food mid-cycle.
A strategy that applies to either brand: use fresh food as a topper on quality kibble rather than the whole diet. A spoonful mixed in lifts palatability for a senior who has slowed at the bowl, at a fraction of the full-diet cost. JustFoodForDogs' shelf-stable and in-store formats make the topper approach especially easy.
Convenience and Buying Flexibility
The Farmer's Dog wins on hands-off simplicity. You fill out a profile once, and pre-portioned meals arrive on a schedule already matched to your dog's calorie needs. For a healthy senior who needs steady weight management, the portion-to-the-calorie model genuinely helps prevent the slow weight creep that ages a dog's joints.
JustFoodForDogs wins on flexibility. Because you can buy it as a subscription, as shelf-stable pantry packs, or off a store shelf at Petco or a vet clinic, you are not locked in. This matters more than it sounds for seniors specifically: an older dog's appetite can change week to week, and the subscription-only model has a real failure mode, you can end up with a freezer full of food she has decided she no longer likes. Being able to walk into a store and buy two packs to test avoids that trap.
If your life includes frequent travel, boarding, or a small freezer, JustFoodForDogs' shelf-stable option is the more forgiving choice. If you want to never think about it again, The Farmer's Dog is built for that.
JustFoodForDogs vs The Farmer's Dog: Which for Your Senior Dog
Choose JustFoodForDogs if:
- Your dog has, or is at real risk of, kidney disease, liver disease, or chronic GI problems, the prescription line is the deciding factor
- You want the strongest available evidence (completed feeding trials)
- You prefer a grain-inclusive recipe, or want the option
- You want buying flexibility: in-store, shelf-stable, or subscription
- Her appetite is unpredictable and you do not want to commit a freezer to one recipe
Choose The Farmer's Dog if:
- Your senior is healthy and you want the most hands-off, set-and-forget subscription
- Calorie-controlled, pre-portioned meals would help you manage her weight
- You value a single, simple, well-executed product over options
- You are comfortable with grain-free and have no need for a therapeutic diet
Either is a good choice if your dog is a healthy senior with a stable appetite and no diagnosis; at that point you are choosing between two strong foods, and convenience and price are reasonable tiebreakers. Both also beat the third option many owners overlook, which is simply feeding less of a great food and more attention, but that is a different article.
For the fuller field of options across price points, our best food for senior dogs guide compares six, and our Farmer's Dog senior review goes deeper on that brand alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for senior dogs, JustFoodForDogs or The Farmer's Dog?
For a healthy senior, both are excellent and the choice comes down to convenience and price. For a senior with, or at risk of, chronic disease, JustFoodForDogs is the stronger pick because it is the only one of the two with a veterinary prescription line (kidney, liver, GI) and completed AAFCO feeding trials. The Farmer's Dog is the more hands-off, calorie-portioned subscription for a dog who is doing well.
Is JustFoodForDogs good for a dog with kidney disease?
JustFoodForDogs offers a vet-prescribed renal support diet, which is fresh, human-grade, and controlled for protein and phosphorus, but it requires a prescription from your veterinarian on file. Its standard (non-prescription) recipes are higher in protein and are not a substitute for a renal diet in advanced kidney disease. Always involve your vet in the diet plan for a dog with kidney disease.
Does The Farmer's Dog have a senior or prescription recipe?
No. The Farmer's Dog does not offer a senior-specific recipe (no brand truly can, since AAFCO does not define a senior life stage) and it has no prescription or therapeutic line. Its All Life Stages recipes suit healthy seniors but cannot replace a veterinary diet for a diagnosed condition.
Are both AAFCO approved?
Both meet AAFCO nutrient standards. The Farmer's Dog meets them by formulation, the common method. JustFoodForDogs meets them by formulation and has also completed AAFCO feeding trials, the stronger form of validation, running a year-long study across 30 dogs with full bloodwork.
Which is cheaper, JustFoodForDogs or The Farmer's Dog?
The two are in the same premium range, and the cheaper one for your dog depends on her weight and calorie needs. The Farmer's Dog starts around $2.30/day for small dogs; JustFoodForDogs starts under $2/day for small dogs. JustFoodForDogs can be cheaper to test because you can buy small amounts in stores or as shelf-stable packs rather than committing to a subscription.
Can I feed fresh food as a topper instead of the whole diet?
Yes, and for many senior owners it is the smartest middle path. A spoonful of fresh food stirred into quality kibble lifts palatability for a dog whose appetite has dropped, at a fraction of the full-diet cost. JustFoodForDogs' shelf-stable packs make the topper approach especially easy. If your dog has stopped eating well, a fresh topper is often the first thing to try.
Which fresh dog food is best for senior dogs overall?
For most healthy senior dogs, either JustFoodForDogs or The Farmer's Dog is a strong choice, and the best one is the one your dog actually eats consistently. The practical distinction: JustFoodForDogs is the better pick if your senior has a chronic condition or you want the option of a prescription diet down the road; The Farmer's Dog is the better pick if your dog is healthy and you want the simplest possible subscription. Both outperform most kibble on palatability, moisture, and whole-ingredient quality, which are the things that matter most for an older dog who has started to lose interest in her bowl.
Is JustFoodForDogs good for old dogs?
Yes. JustFoodForDogs is one of the strongest options specifically for older dogs because it covers more of the situations a senior dog is likely to face. It is human-grade and AAFCO feeding-trial tested for everyday use, and it has a veterinary prescription line for kidney, liver, and GI disease that no competitor in the fresh-food category currently matches. For a dog who is 8 or older and healthy today, the ability to stay on the same brand if a diagnosis arrives later is a practical reason many owners choose it over an equally good but less flexible competitor.
Sources
- JustFoodForDogs, Research and feeding-trial documentation. justfoodfordogs.com/research
- JustFoodForDogs Veterinary Support (prescription) Diets. justfoodfordogs.com
- The Farmer's Dog, Ingredients and FAQ. thefarmersdog.com/faq
- Huson, H. et al. (2024), Fresh food and healthier aging in senior dogs (Cornell). petfoodindustry.com
- AAFCO, Methods of substantiating nutritional adequacy (formulation vs feeding trial). aafco.org
- 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. aaha.org
- U.S. FDA, Investigation into potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (status: unconfirmed). fda.gov
Keep Reading
- The Farmer's Dog Review for Senior Dogs, a deep dive on that brand alone
- Best Food for Senior Dogs, six options compared across price points
- Senior Dog Kidney Disease, why diet is part of the treatment
- Senior Dog Won't Eat, when fresh food (or a fresh topper) is the right answer
- Best Joint Supplements for Senior Dogs, pairing nutrition with evidence-supported supplements
About the authors
Sarah Bennett writes about senior dog care from a household centered on her Border Collie, Lucy. For this JustFoodForDogs vs The Farmer's Dog comparison, her central editorial concern was the chronic-disease angle, which fresh brand can actually follow a senior dog into kidney or liver disease, because that is the question that matters most for an older dog. She is not a veterinarian; her work is reported, sourced from veterinary literature and manufacturer documentation, and reviewed against published guidelines.
Leo Bennett is the co-author of Senior Dog Daily and Sarah's husband. The pair share research and writing duties on the site.