Dog food for elderly dogs
An elderly dog's food often needs to change more than once as they age further, moving beyond a standard senior recipe towards something softer, easier to digest, and more forgiving of a smaller or fussier appetite. What worked for your dog at seven does not always still fit at twelve or thirteen.
How needs shift again in the later years
A senior recipe chosen years earlier is not necessarily still the right one for a genuinely elderly dog. Metabolism, muscle mass, dental health and organ function can all shift further with continued ageing, and a dog in their early teens often has different needs to one who has only just crossed into 'senior' territory.
Weight can go either way in an elderly dog — some gain it through reduced activity, others lose it as muscle mass declines or appetite drops, so the right recipe depends on which direction your individual dog is moving in rather than age alone.
A smaller or changing appetite
It is common for an elderly dog to eat less at each sitting, and splitting the same daily amount into smaller, more frequent meals can help maintain intake without needing to force a large portion at once. A slightly warmed wet food is also often more appealing to a dog whose sense of smell has faded with age.
A genuine and ongoing drop in appetite, rather than simply eating a bit less per meal, is worth raising with a vet rather than assuming it is only age — pain, dental problems and a range of medical conditions can all show up first as reduced interest in food.
Texture and dental considerations
Missing or worn teeth are common in elderly dogs and can make dry kibble genuinely uncomfortable to eat, even for a dog who is otherwise keen on their food. Softening dry food with a little warm water, or switching towards wet food, is a straightforward accommodation.
Watch for a dog who seems hungry but reluctant to actually eat, drops food from their mouth, or chews on one side only — these are dental signs worth having checked rather than assumed to be pickiness.
From the range
The recipes shown here include softer wet options and easily digestible senior formulas suited to an elderly dog whose needs have moved on from a standard adult or early-senior diet, across a range of protein sources.
If your elderly dog has a specific condition — kidney, heart or joint problems are common at this stage — a vet's guidance on the right recipe matters more than any general 'elderly dog food' label, since a medical diet can differ substantially from a general one.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
£82.35
James Wellbeloved Senior Breed Dry Dog Food Turkey Rice
Turkey and rice kibble for senior small-breed dogs, sized for smaller mouths
From£11.69
Barking Heads All Hound Golden Years Chicken
Barking Heads' senior chicken recipe for older dogs, with joint-support additions
£14.99
Bakers 7+ Senior Dog Superfood Chicken with Vegetables
A complete dry food for dogs aged 7 and over, with meaty chunks and wholegrains
£39.15
James Wellbeloved Senior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Rice
Hypoallergenic senior dog food with turkey as the single named animal protein
£69.75
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Dry Dog Food Lamb Veg
Grain-free lamb kibble for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
From£12.75
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Original Lamb and Brown Rice
Single-source lamb and brown rice, formulated for adult and senior dogs with sensitivities
£35.99
Harringtons Senior Dog Chicken
Complete senior chicken dry dog food with 7.5% fat in 1.7kg and 12kg bags
From£6.49
Burns Senior Chicken Rice
Chicken and brown rice with glucosamine and chondroitin, for senior dogs slowing down
From£14.99
Forthglade Complete Senior Lamb Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A 60% lamb complete wet dog food for seniors, with glucosamine and chondroitin
£35.89
Taylors Adult & Senior Working Dog Grain Free Chicken
Grain-free complete food for working dogs, chicken-based, in a 12kg sack
£39.99
Common questions
- Why has my elderly dog gone off their food?
- A gradual, mild reduction can happen with age, but a genuine and ongoing loss of appetite is worth checking with a vet rather than assuming it is only age, since it can point to dental pain, an underlying illness, or discomfort that needs treating.
- Should I switch my elderly dog to wet food?
- It is worth considering if they have dental wear, missing teeth, or a reduced appetite, since wet food is easier to chew and often more appealing when a dog's sense of smell has faded. Introduce it gradually alongside their current food rather than switching overnight.
- How often should I feed an elderly dog?
- Splitting the same total daily amount into smaller, more frequent meals often suits an elderly dog better than one or two large meals, particularly if their appetite has become smaller or less predictable than it used to be.
- Does my elderly dog need a different food to a senior dog food?
- Possibly, as needs can continue to shift well beyond the point a dog is first considered senior. A very old dog with a smaller appetite, dental wear, or a specific health condition may do better on a softer, more easily digested recipe than a standard senior formula.
Related
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.