7 Day Senior Dog Diet Plan

The 7-Day Senior Dog Diet Plan
Real food suggestions, portion guidance, and a simple plan to put it all into practice. 

You've noticed the changes. Slower getting up in the morning. Less interest in the bowl than there used to be. Maybe a little rounder through the middle — or a little bonier than you remember.

Diet is one of the biggest levers you have over how comfortable your dog's next few years are. It's also one of the easiest things to get wrong, because most advice is either too vague to act on ("switch to a senior formula") or genuinely risky — homemade recipes that quietly leave out calcium, zinc, and the vitamins an aging body depends on.

This guide gives you something specific instead. Seven days, one small change each, with real foods, real portions, and a prep routine that takes thirty minutes a week.

What's inside

• A calorie and portion chart by body weight — so you know roughly what your dog should be eating before you change anything
• The 10% topper rule, plus a calorie cheat sheet for 11 safe toppers, from chicken and sardines to pumpkin and blueberries
• Nine senior-friendly foods and exactly what each one helps with — omega-3s for stiff joints, pumpkin for digestion, bone broth for a fading appetite
• A "never feed" list covering grapes, xylitol, onion and garlic, and the everyday foods that hide them
• Seven themed days — Gentle Start, Joint Support, Lean Protein, Hydration, Brain Boost, Digestive Reset, and Build Your Rotation — each with breakfast, dinner, and an optional snack
• A food transition schedule for switching foods without stomach upset
• A 30-minute Sunday prep session that makes weekday meals take under a minute
• What to watch for, including the symptoms that mean a same-day vet call rather than a diet tweak
• A printable shopping list and 7-day tracker, with space for notes to bring to your next vet visit

The approach

Every day starts with a complete, balanced senior formula as the base, then adds one small, purposeful topper on top. That's deliberate. Fully homemade diets are far easier to get wrong than most people realise, and the gaps cause real harm over months — especially in older dogs whose organs are already working harder. A balanced base removes that risk entirely, while toppers still give you flexibility, better palatability, and targeted support where your dog actually needs it.

If you'd rather go fully homemade, the guide tells you how to do that safely too.

Who it's for

Owners of dogs around seven and older — or five and up for giant breeds. It's especially useful if your dog has started leaving food, putting on weight, slowing down with stiff joints, or struggling to chew.

No cooking course, no overhaul — just seven manageable days.