Senior Border Collie gut health & appetite support

A 15-year-old Border Collie with sluggish digestion and a fading appetite — that's a really common combination in very senior dogs, and it's worth taking seriously. Gut motility genuinely does slow with age, and when food stops moving through efficiently it often kills appetite too, creating a frustrating cycle. Probiotics can make a real difference here, but strain choice and whether you're also addressing motility matters a lot — not every product is built for an elderly dog's needs. Before I point you anywhere specific: has your vet assessed this, and are there any other symptoms alongside the slow digestion and appetite drop — things like weight loss, lethargy, or any vomiting?

That picture makes a lot of sense — slow transit, reduced gut muscle tone, and appetite driven down by a system that never quite empties. Good that the vet has ruled out anything more serious. What you're dealing with is essentially age-related gut slowdown rather than illness. For a dog this old I'd want something that addresses both the bacterial balance and the digestive enzyme side, because at 15 her pancreatic enzyme output is likely reduced too, which compounds the motility issue. Is she on any other supplements or a prescription diet, or just regular senior kibble at the moment?

Right — that 4kg loss tells you the system really isn't absorbing well, which points to enzyme deficiency as much as motility. Here's what I'd recommend: Protexin Pro-Fibre for Dogs. It's a genuinely well-formulated product that combines a multi-strain probiotic with prebiotics and digestive enzymes in one, specifically designed for dogs with slow or compromised digestion. The fibre component helps stimulate motility gently without any harsh laxative effect — important at her age — and the enzyme blend takes pressure off a pancreas that isn't producing at full capacity anymore. It comes as a palatable powder you mix into food, which is practical when appetite is already fragile. Use a small amount initially to avoid overloading a sluggish gut, and give it four to six weeks — senior dogs respond more slowly than younger ones. The weight loss is the thing to keep watching; if she continues to drop despite appetite improving, go back to the vet. But this is the right first intervention.

Yes — a couple of practical things. First, consider splitting her daily food into three or four smaller meals rather than two. Smaller volumes move through an elderly gut more easily and tend to stimulate appetite better too, because the gut isn't overwhelmed. Second, add a small amount of warm water or low-sodium bone broth to the kibble — it softens the food, which helps transit, and the smell often tempts reluctant eaters. Some owners also find that warming the food slightly (not microwaving to hot, just to room temperature or slightly above) makes a big difference to interest in food for senior dogs. If she's still losing weight after six weeks on the Protexin Pro-Fibre, it'd be worth discussing a digestive enzyme-only product like Lintbells YuDIGEST with your vet, or even a veterinary hydrolysed diet. But start with the basics — the combination of the supplement and smaller, more appealing meals often turns things around quite noticeably.

I think you'll see some movement — literally — within the first couple of weeks, though full appetite improvement takes longer. Keep a simple log of bowel movements and how much she eats each day; it sounds tedious but it's genuinely useful for spotting whether it's working and gives you something concrete to share with your vet at her next check. At 15 she deserves every bit of support you can give her digestion. Good luck with her.