Raw food for senior Cocker Spaniel losing muscle

Muscle loss in an older Cocker Spaniel is something diet genuinely can make a difference to — your vet is right to flag it. The key issue at this age is that seniors need more protein, not less, and a lot of commercial senior foods actually reduce protein to protect the kidneys, which is the wrong call unless there's a confirmed kidney problem. Raw done well can be excellent for this — but done badly it creates nutritional gaps that cause real harm over time, and the difference is balance and sourcing. Before I point you anywhere specific: has your dog been on raw before, or would this be a first switch? And is your vet's concern purely muscle wasting, or are there other things going on like joint stiffness or digestive issues?

That's really helpful, and good news on the kidneys — it means you've got room to push protein up properly. For a first-time raw switch in an 11-year-old, I'd steer you toward a complete nugget format rather than a minced block, purely because portion control is easier and the texture tends to be gentler on older digestive systems adjusting to raw. Given the muscle concern and the back leg stiffness, I'd also want something with a decent omega-3 profile, not just high protein. Can I ask — roughly how much does she weigh now? And does she have any known food sensitivities or proteins she's done badly on?

Right, so she's lost around 18% of her body weight — that's meaningful, and getting her back toward 11kg with lean muscle rather than fat is the goal. For her specifically, I'd go with Natures Menu Country Hunter Raw Nuggets in the Chicken with Superfoods variety. It's a properly complete raw food — AAFCO-aligned nutritional profile, no fillers, high meat content sitting around 70%, and the chicken base gives you that familiar protein she's already tolerant of. The nugget format is perfect for a 9kg dog because you can dial portions precisely, and the added salmon oil in the recipe gives you omega-3s that will actually support that joint stiffness alongside the muscle rebuilding. Thaw overnight in the fridge, feed twice a day, and I'd transition over 10 days minimum given her age — older guts need a slower switchover. At her current weight you're looking at roughly 250–270g per day total, split across two meals, then reassess once she's back toward her target weight.

The Country Hunter nuggets are genuinely complete, so you don't need to add anything to meet her basic nutritional requirements. That said, given her age and the back leg stiffness you mentioned, I'd consider adding a separate joint supplement alongside — not because the food is lacking, but because a therapeutic dose of green-lipped mussel or a dedicated joint complex is higher than what any complete food can practically include. YuMOVE Senior is the one I'd suggest there — it's vet-recommended, well-dosed, and works well alongside a raw diet without any interference. But start with the food change first, let her settle for three or four weeks, then add the joint support so you can tell what's doing what. If muscle mass isn't visibly improving within six to eight weeks, that's a conversation to go back to your vet with.

Good — and honestly, the fact that her kidneys are clear and she has no food sensitivities makes this a straightforward switch. The main thing is patience with the transition and keeping an eye on her stool quality in the first two weeks — slightly firmer and smaller is normal with raw, but if you see anything loose persisting beyond a week, slow the transition down further. She's 11 but that's not old for a Cocker Spaniel — they regularly make it to 14 or 15, and getting her nutrition right now gives her the best chance of a comfortable, active few more years.