Best food for senior Lhasa Apso sensitive stomach

A vet referral for highly digestible food after weight loss and loose stools in an 11-year-old is worth taking seriously — at that age, the gut can become less efficient at absorbing nutrients, which is often what drives both symptoms at once. Before I point you toward something specific, it helps to know a little more: how long has the weight loss been noticeable, is the loose stool happening daily or intermittently, and is he or she still eating with a reasonable appetite? Also, what have you been feeding up until now?

That pattern — good appetite, steady weight loss, daily soft stools — is classic poor nutrient absorption rather than a food intolerance or vomiting problem. James Wellbeloved is a decent food but it's formulated for general adult maintenance, not optimised for digestibility in a senior dog whose gut is working less efficiently. Your vet is pointing you in exactly the right direction. One thing worth confirming: has the vet ruled out other causes like a thyroid issue or EPI? Just checking, because if there's an underlying condition, diet alone may not fully resolve it — though the right food will still help.

Good — clean bloods makes this straightforwardly a nutrition question, which is much easier to solve. My recommendation is Royal Canin Digestive Care small dog dry food. It's formulated specifically for small breeds with digestive sensitivity: the protein sources are highly digestible, the fat level is controlled, the fibre blend includes prebiotics to support gut flora, and the small kibble size is appropriate for a Lhasa Apso. It's also one of the few mainstream foods genuinely designed around nutrient absorption rather than just ingredient exclusion. A lot of owners see firmer stools within two to three weeks on it. Transition slowly over seven to ten days — mix increasing amounts with her current food — since a sudden switch can itself cause loose stools in a sensitive dog.

Dry is fine for her, and in this case it's probably preferable. Wet food can actually be harder to control in terms of fat content and portion accuracy, and at her weight you want to be precise about what she's taking in each day so you can track whether she's regaining. Dry food also gives you a cleaner baseline. If she ever goes off her food or you want to add palatability, you can add a small spoonful of wet on top — Royal Canin do a Digestive Care wet range that pairs well — but I wouldn't switch entirely to wet as a starting point.

You're very welcome. Given that her bloods are clean and her appetite is good, you've caught this at a stage where diet change should make a real difference. Keep an eye on her weight every two to three weeks — even just picking her up and noting whether she feels heavier is useful at this size — and if stools haven't firmed up after four weeks on the new food, it's worth going back to the vet. But most dogs in her situation do respond well to this switch. Good luck with her.