Dry food for senior dogs: how it differs from adult food
Advice · · Crunchies
Your dog is getting older and running less, and you’re wondering whether to change the kibble. The word senior on a pack doesn’t tell you much on its own. What matters is what has really changed in the food. We’ll show you with Fish Crunchies Senior & Light next to our two recipes for adult dogs.
Who Senior & Light is for
The recipe is for older dogs of all breeds, for dogs with low activity and for dogs that tend to put on weight. The recipe’s description gives no age from which it applies. So it’s not only about the number of years, but also about how much your dog moves.
What changes in it
| On the label | Senior & Light | Small/Medium | Adult Large Breed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude fat | 16% | 22% | 22% |
| Crude protein | 20% | 27% | 25% |
| Share of animal protein | 78% | 85% | 85% |
| Crude fibre | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Crude ash | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Calcium | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Phosphorus | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Moisture | 7% | 7% | 7% |
So Senior & Light has less fat and less protein. Fibre, ash, calcium, phosphorus and moisture stay the same.
What the composition reveals
Ingredients in the composition are listed in descending order by weight; EU rules on feed labelling require this. Compare the start of the two lists:
- Senior & Light: extruded corn, lard, corn gluten, fish meal.
- Small/Medium and Adult Large Breed: extruded corn, fish meal, lard, corn gluten.
Fish meal comes fourth in Senior & Light and second in the adult recipes. That fits the lower protein content. In all three recipes, fish meal is the only source of animal protein.
Looking for soft kibble?
Crunchies kibble is crunchy balls of extruded corn, and their softer texture makes chewing easier. That goes for all our kibble, not just the senior recipe. But it’s still dry kibble, with 7% moisture.
How much kibble a day
Senior & Light has the same table as the recipes for adult dogs. A 10 kg dog gets 160 g a day, a 20 kg dog 240 g and a 30 kg dog 360 g. You’ll find the amounts for the other weights from 3 to 60 kg on the recipe page. Always make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.
When you change the food, palatability helps: thanks to pork lard, dogs take to the kibble willingly even when the food changes.
The kibble is made in Italy and comes in 1 kg, 4 kg and 15 kg packs. You’ll find other recipes in the dry food for dogs overview. If your vet has recommended a particular food, stick to their advice.