Forthglade senior dog food
Forthglade's senior range keeps the brand's usual lightly baked and wet recipes, adjusted for a dog whose appetite, teeth or activity level have changed with age. It suits a dog eating less than they used to, carrying more weight than is ideal, or simply past the point where a rich, high-fat adult recipe still makes sense. Here is what actually changes in the senior formulas and how to choose between the formats.
What actually changes in a senior recipe
The senior recipes sit lighter than Forthglade's standard adult range: less fat, fewer calories per tray, and portions built around a dog whose energy needs have dropped rather than one still working or growing. As with the rest of the range, there are no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives in the list, and the recipes are lightly baked or cooked as trays, pouches and cans rather than extruded into dry kibble.
That soft, moist texture is worth knowing about on its own merits. An older dog losing teeth or developing gum sensitivity often struggles with hard kibble long before anyone notices, and a wet or lightly baked meal needs far less chewing. The higher moisture content also helps a dog who is drinking less than they should, which is a genuinely common change in older dogs and one that is easy to miss.
Choosing between the formats
Forthglade sells the senior range as trays, pouches and cans, and the choice between them comes down to portion size and how quickly you get through a pack rather than any real difference in what is in the recipe. A single dog on a small portion will get more out of a resealable pouch than an open can sitting in the fridge for two days.
The soft bite treats sit alongside the meals rather than replacing them, and they are worth having in for a dog who has gone off harder biscuits — the texture is the whole point, not a downgrade. Keep treats a small part of the day's food regardless of how soft they are; an older, less active dog puts on weight from extra treats just as easily as a younger one.
Who the senior range actually suits
Age on its own is not a great reason to switch food — a fit, active nine-year-old terrier and a sedentary nine-year-old mastiff have very different needs, and breed size affects how quickly a dog is considered senior. Watch weight, energy and appetite rather than the calendar, and let those decide when a change is worth making.
If the change you are actually noticing is a sudden drop in appetite, new fussiness, or weight loss rather than a gradual slowing down, treat that as a reason to see a vet before assuming it is simply age. A food change will not fix an underlying problem, and an older dog going off their food is exactly the kind of thing worth having checked properly.
For this need
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- At what age should I move my dog onto a senior food?
- There is no fixed age — it depends heavily on breed size, since giant breeds age faster than small ones and can be considered senior well before ten. Watch for a real drop in energy, a change in body condition, or a vet's suggestion rather than switching on a birthday.
- Does a senior food help with stiffness or joint pain?
- A food change is not a treatment for joint pain, and a dog who has become stiff or reluctant to jump into the car needs a proper look from a vet rather than a diet swap on its own. A lighter, easier-to-digest senior recipe can suit an older dog generally, but it will not resolve pain that has a specific cause.
- Can I mix wet Forthglade with a dry food for my older dog?
- Yes, plenty of owners feed a wet tray alongside a dry kibble, and there is no reason not to as long as the total amount fed matches what your dog actually needs. Introduce any new food gradually over a week or so rather than swapping everything over in one sitting.
- Why has my senior dog gone off a wet food they used to love?
- It is worth checking their mouth and general demeanour before assuming it is just age — dental discomfort, a reduced sense of smell, or a general appetite dip are all common in older dogs. If it lasts more than a couple of days, or comes with any other change, get it looked at rather than waiting it out.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.