This is a specific conversation about Senior dog care — what changes and what helps — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Senior dogs need adjustments in several areas — nutrition, joint support, dental care, and sometimes sleep — but how much and when depends significantly on breed and the individual dog. Small breeds like Malteses often age differently from larger dogs, and their digestive systems can be particularly sensitive. What breed and age is your dog, are there specific health concerns you're managing, and what's prompted your search today?
She's a 13-year-old Maltese. I recently switched her to a senior-specific dog food and she started vomiting pretty regularly. I've gone back to her old food for now but I know she probably does need something formulated for her age. Just want something that won't upset her stomach.
inparticular.ai
That's a really common issue — a lot of senior formulas pack in extra supplements or switch protein sources in ways that don't sit well with older small dogs, especially Malteses who can have touchy digestion at the best of times. Before I point you in a direction, a couple of quick questions: what was the food she reacted to, and do you know if it was a dry kibble or wet? And is she otherwise well — good energy for her age, no weight loss, drinking normally?
It was a dry kibble — one of the big supermarket senior brands. She seemed okay otherwise, just the vomiting. She's actually pretty sprightly for 13, a little stiff in the mornings but eating well once I switched back. No weight loss.
inparticular.ai
Good to know she's otherwise doing well — that's reassuring. The issue with a lot of supermarket senior kibbles is that they tend to use lower-quality proteins and add a lot of fillers alongside the senior supplements, which is a rough combination for a small, older digestive system. Given her age, her sensitivity, and the fact that she's still doing well overall, I'd move her to a wet food rather than dry. Wet food is easier to digest, higher in moisture which matters more as dogs age, and gentler on the stomach. My specific recommendation is Forthglade Complete Grain Free Adult Senior in chicken or turkey — it's a soft, lightly cooked wet food with a single main protein, no grains, no artificial anything, and it's formulated for seniors without being over-supplemented. It's widely available on Amazon UK and reasonably priced for the quality. Transition slowly — mix a little in with her current food over about a week — and her stomach should handle it well.
That sounds really sensible actually. I hadn't thought about switching to wet food entirely. Is that okay for her teeth though? I'd always heard dry food was better for dental health.
inparticular.ai
That's a persistent myth, honestly. Dry kibble doesn't clean teeth in any meaningful way — most dogs swallow it whole, and even when they chew it, it's not doing much for tartar. Dental health in dogs really comes down to brushing and occasional dental chews, not the texture of their food. At 13, her digestion and hydration are more important concerns than any marginal benefit from kibble crunch. If you want to support her teeth alongside the food change, a daily dental chew like Virbac C.E.T. chews would do far more than kibble ever could. But the wet food switch itself won't harm her teeth at all.
That's really helpful, thank you. I'll order the Forthglade and try the slow transition. Should I stick with chicken or is turkey better for sensitive stomachs?
inparticular.ai
Either is fine for sensitive stomachs — both are lean, easily digestible proteins. Turkey is very slightly lower in fat, which some people prefer for older dogs, but honestly the difference is minimal. If she's never had any reaction to chicken before, start with chicken since it's often the more palatable flavour for fussy eaters. If she turns her nose up at it, turkey is a good second try. The main thing is the grain-free, single-protein format — that's what'll make the real difference after a kibble that was clearly too much for her system.
