Best food for senior Cocker Spaniel with weight loss

A 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel losing weight and going off their food is something that needs careful handling — and I want to be straightforward with you before we even talk about food. Reduced appetite and weight loss in a dog this age can be a sign of something underlying — dental pain, kidney changes, thyroid issues — and those need ruling out by a vet before you spend money trying different foods. Has your vet seen her recently, or is this something you've noticed building up over the past few weeks?

That's really reassuring — a clean blood panel at 13 is genuinely good news. And the pattern you're describing, a dog who's eaten the same dry kibble for years suddenly losing interest in it, is very common in older dogs. Smell and taste sensitivity does decline with age, and dry food becomes less appealing. The texture also gets harder for some older dogs to manage if their teeth or gums are even slightly sensitive. Can I ask — is she still interested in food generally, like if you offer her something different, something smellier or wetter? Or is she just generally unenthusiastic about eating?

That tells you everything — she's not off food, she's off that specific dry food. Completely switching to a high-quality wet food at her age is often the right move, and I'd point you toward the Royal Canin Ageing 12+ wet food pouches. She's already on Royal Canin dry so there's no brand loyalty issue, and this is specifically formulated for dogs over 12 — it supports kidney function, joint health, and digestibility, all relevant for a 13-year-old. More importantly for your situation, the wet format is much more aromatic and palatable than kibble, which is exactly what you need right now. It comes in a mousse texture that's easy to eat, which matters as dogs age. The pouches make portion control straightforward too, so you can monitor whether she's eating her full portion each day, which is worth tracking given the weight loss.

Given that she's actively losing weight and needs to eat more consistently, I'd go fully wet for now rather than mixing — mixing can sometimes mean she eats around the dry bits anyway, and you want reliable calorie intake. Once her weight stabilises and she's eating well again, you could reintroduce a small amount of dry if you want the dental benefit, but palatability and calories are the priority right now. I'd also suggest weighing her every two weeks at home if you have kitchen scales — a simple way to track whether things are moving in the right direction without a vet visit each time. If she's still losing weight after four to six weeks on the new food, that's worth flagging back to your vet even with the clean bloods.

That sounds like a solid plan. Most dogs make the switch very happily — wet food after years of kibble tends to go down a treat. Keep an eye on stool consistency for the first week or so as her gut adjusts, but there shouldn't be much drama if the transition is straightforward. I hope she's back to clearing her bowl soon.