This is a specific conversation about Dog food — finding the right one — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A 15-year-old Pomeranian losing weight slowly with a small appetite — that's a situation that needs some care to get right. At that age, the priority shifts away from balanced moderation and toward getting enough calories in, because senior small dogs can go downhill quickly once they start dropping weight. The right food here is calorie-dense, highly palatable, and easy to eat. Before I point you to something specific, can I ask: has your vet ruled out anything underlying — dental pain, kidney issues, thyroid changes? And what are you currently offering, and roughly how much is she actually eating in a day?
Vet checked her out a couple of months ago, said her kidneys are fine and teeth aren't causing pain. She just doesn't seem interested in food the way she used to. She's about 2.5kg now, was 3kg last year. I'm giving her a senior dry food but she often leaves most of it. She'll eat wet food more reliably but I haven't found one she goes mad for.
inparticular.ai
That's really useful. Half a kilo over a year on a dog that size is significant — you're right to take it seriously. Dry food is almost always a losing battle at this stage; the smell is weaker, it's harder to chew even with good teeth, and it just doesn't trigger appetite the way wet food does. Given her kidneys are clear, you're not constrained to low-protein formulas, which opens things up. Is she still mobile and eating on her own, or do you sometimes have to hand-feed to get anything into her?
She eats on her own if she's interested, but some days she just walks away. Hand-feeding occasionally works when nothing else does. She does seem to prefer stronger-smelling food.
inparticular.ai
Good — that tells me palatability is the main lever here. I'd go with Royal Canin Ageing 12+ wet food in the loaf format. It's designed specifically for small breeds over 12, comes as a smooth pâté which is easy to eat and smells noticeably more appealing than most wet foods, and it has a decent calorie density for a senior formula. It's not the highest-calorie wet food on the market, but it's nutritionally complete and formulated for exactly the kind of dog you're describing — a small senior who needs gentle encouragement to eat enough. The loaf texture also warms well if you want to boost the aroma slightly, which can help on low-appetite days. It's available in multipacks on Amazon UK, which keeps the cost reasonable. I'd serve it slightly warm, offer small amounts more frequently rather than two meals, and track her weight every two to three weeks so you can tell if it's working.
That sounds sensible. Is there anything else I should be doing alongside the food change?
inparticular.ai
A few things worth considering. First, keep meal sizes small — a senior with a reduced appetite often does better with three or four small servings than two larger ones. Second, if she's still leaving food after two or three weeks on the new formula, it's worth going back to the vet; appetite changes in very old dogs can evolve, and sometimes there's a short-term appetite stimulant that helps bridge the gap. Third, don't layer on supplements without vet guidance — some well-intentioned additions can reduce rather than increase appeal. The main job right now is just getting enough in her consistently. If the Royal Canin loaf isn't landing well after a couple of weeks, Forthglade Complete Grain Free senior wet food is a good second option with a stronger meat smell that some fussy dogs prefer.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order the Royal Canin and try the warming trick.
inparticular.ai
Good plan. Warming it for ten seconds in the microwave and stirring well before serving makes a real difference — just check it's not hot, only gently warm. Keep an eye on the scales every couple of weeks, and if she's stabilised at 2.5kg that's a reasonable outcome. If she's still dropping, go back to the vet sooner rather than later. You're doing the right things for her.
