Senior Yorkie food switch done right

Losing a food your dog has eaten happily for years — especially at 11 — is genuinely stressful, and the timing matters because older dogs don't handle abrupt changes well. Choosing dog food is complicated at the best of times: the right answer depends on age, size, breed, and health, and the most marketed options are rarely the best fit. Before I point you anywhere, tell me a bit more: what were you feeding before, does your Yorkie have any health issues or sensitivities you're aware of, and how is their digestion generally — any soft stools, fussiness, that kind of thing?

Good to know — sensitive digestion plus an abrupt forced switch is the tricky combination here, but it's very manageable. At 3.2kg she's on the lighter end even for a Yorkie, so calorie density matters; you don't want her overeating to feel satisfied. A few quick questions: is she still active and maintaining weight well, or has she started slowing down and putting on a little? And was the food she was on wet, dry, or a mix?

Perfect — that makes this more straightforward. For a lively, weight-stable 11-year-old Yorkie with a history of loose stools on change, I'd go with Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult 8+. It's breed-specific, which matters here because the kibble shape is designed for Yorkies' narrow jaws, and the formula is tailored for small senior dogs — joint support, coat health, and crucially a digestive blend that genuinely helps with sensitivity. It's also a consistent, well-manufactured product, which is exactly what you want when you're already dealing with an unwanted transition. The transition should still be gradual: mix roughly 25% new food with 75% old food for three or four days if you have any left, then 50/50, then 75/25. If you've run out entirely, go even slower — start with just a tablespoon mixed into whatever plain food you use as a bridge, like plain cooked chicken and rice, then introduce the Royal Canin over ten days to two weeks. Her stomach will thank you for the patience.

It's widely available on Amazon UK — I'd start with the 1.5kg bag rather than committing to the larger size straight away. It's enough to complete a proper transition and see how she settles, and at her size it'll last a good few weeks. If her digestion stays settled and she's eating well after that first bag, then the 3kg is better value. One thing worth knowing: the 8+ formula is specifically for Yorkies over eight, so it's the right version — don't be tempted by the standard adult one, which isn't calibrated the same way.

Good luck with it — she sounds like she's in great shape for 11. The transition just needs a bit of patience, but Yorkies with sensitive stomachs usually settle well on Royal Canin once they're fully switched. If she does get loose stools in the first week, slow the transition down rather than stopping altogether — that normally does the trick.