Senior (small breed) Feeding Guide: Protein, Calories and Key Nutrients

Old dogs lose muscle, not fat — cutting protein in seniors is outdated advice that shortens lives. Keep protein high, but check kidney values annually before raising phosphorus-rich meals.

Stage at a glance

These targets assume a complete feed meeting AAFCO for the named stage. A senior formula without a published protein percentage is not a senior formula — it is marketing.

What actually changes at this stage

Energy density moves first, everything else follows. Cup counts swing 30-50% across stages for the same dog, which is why bag charts print ranges so wide they are almost useless.

• Re-weigh the dog monthly; the scale settles stage questions faster than any chart.
• Transition formulas over 7-10 days — stage switches are the most common transition people rush.
• Treats scale with the stage too: a puppy training week can quietly double the calorie budget.

Common mistakes at senior

Feeding by the bag chart instead of body condition, staying on puppy food too long (or too briefly for large breeds), and cutting protein in seniors. All three are fixable today.

Feed to the body condition you can see and feel, with 26%+ protein as the floor for this stage.