This is a specific conversation about Senior dog food — what changes as they age — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A nine-year-old Shih Tzu in a small flat with a quiet lifestyle — weight management is absolutely the right thing to be thinking about. Senior dogs genuinely need fewer calories as their metabolism slows, and small breeds living indoors can pile on the grams without you even noticing until it shows up on the vet's scales. Before I point you in a clear direction, a couple of quick questions: what are you currently feeding him or her, and roughly what does the vet say about their weight right now — borderline, or already overweight? Any other health issues I should know about, like joints or dental problems?
She's on James Wellbeloved adult dry food at the moment. The vet said she's a bit chunky but not obese yet — body condition score 6 out of 9. No real health issues, just a bit stiff getting up sometimes in the mornings.
inparticular.ai
That's really useful — a BCS of 6 means you've caught it at exactly the right moment, and the morning stiffness is typical for a Shih Tzu of this age, likely the start of some joint wear. James Wellbeloved is a decent food but it's a standard adult formula — it's not calibrated for a senior small breed who's already trending heavy and barely moving. What she needs now is lower calories per serving, better joint support (glucosamine and chondroitin), and ideally something formulated for her breed's specific jaw shape so she's actually chewing properly rather than gulping. Can I ask — are you open to staying with dry food, or would you consider wet or a mix?
Happy to stay with dry food, it's just easier. Would a breed-specific food make a real difference or is that mostly marketing?
inparticular.ai
Honestly, with most breeds the breed-specific angle is mostly marketing — but Shih Tzus are one of the exceptions where it actually matters. Their flat face and underbite mean they physically struggle with standard kibble shapes; breed-specific kibble is designed so they can pick it up and chew it properly, which helps with digestion and stops them swallowing air. For your girl right now, I'd move her onto Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult 8+. It's formulated specifically for this breed from age eight, it has a lower calorie density than a standard adult food, it includes glucosamine and chondroitin for those stiff joints, and the kibble shape is genuinely designed for the Shih Tzu jaw. It's not the cheapest on the shelf, but it's doing several jobs at once — weight management, joint support, and digestibility — without you needing to add supplements. Transition her over about ten days, mixing it in gradually so her stomach adjusts.
That sounds really sensible actually. How much should I be feeding her — she's about 6.5kg?
inparticular.ai
At 6.5kg with a BCS of 6, you want to feed to her ideal weight rather than her current weight — so aim for around 5.5kg as your target and feed accordingly. The Royal Canin Shih Tzu 8+ feeding guide puts a 5.5kg dog at roughly 60–65g per day. Split that into two meals rather than one, which helps keep her metabolism ticking and reduces the chance of her feeling hungry and scrounging. And keep treats minimal — they add up fast with small dogs. If you're not already using a proper measuring cup or kitchen scales, it's worth doing; eyeballing kibble is one of the most common reasons small dogs quietly gain weight over time.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order it today.
inparticular.ai
Great — you're doing exactly the right thing catching it now rather than later. Give it about six to eight weeks and then pop her back on the scales; you should see a small but meaningful drop if the portions are right. If she's still not losing after two months, it's worth a quick vet chat to rule out anything like a sluggish thyroid, which can happen in older dogs. But honestly, at BCS 6 with a food change and careful portioning, most dogs respond well. Good luck with her.
