Methods for enhancing the quality of life of a senior or super senior animalby feeding the animal a compositioncomprising at least one omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and variouscombinations of amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants inamounts effective to enhance alertness, improve vitality, protect cartilage,maintain muscle mass, enhance digestibility, andim-prove skin and pelage quality. Changes in expression of genes associatedwith several biological pathways induced in an animalby feeding it said composition are consistent with an enhanced quality oflife.
