Best food for overweight senior Basset Hound

Senior dogs have genuinely different nutritional needs — typically lower calories, better digestibility, and more joint support — but when and how to transition depends heavily on the breed and what's already going on with their health. A 9-year-old Basset Hound carrying extra weight is a situation that deserves a careful look, because Bassets have notoriously slow metabolisms and their long, low frames really suffer when there's extra load on those joints. Can you tell me roughly how much your dog weighs right now, what you're currently feeding them, and whether your vet has flagged any other concerns beyond the weight?

Right, so Bernard is carrying about 8kg more than he should — that's significant on a Basset frame, especially at 9 when those intervertebral discs and elbows are already under pressure. The thyroid note is worth keeping in mind too: even subclinical low thyroid makes weight loss harder, which means the food needs to do more of the heavy lifting. Bakers Complete is quite high in fillers and rendered fats, which is fine for a younger active dog but really not ideal here. Before I suggest anything, does Bernard tend to eat very quickly and seem hungry all the time, or is he more of a slow grazer?

Very classic Basset — they have essentially no off switch around food, which makes a high-fibre formula even more important because it gives him that physical sense of fullness without the calories. For Bernard specifically, I'd recommend Hill's Science Plan Adult 7+ Light dry food. It's formulated for senior dogs with a weight problem rather than just being a generic light food — lower calorie density, higher fibre to help him feel satisfied, and it has added L-carnitine which actively supports fat metabolism, which matters given his borderline thyroid situation. It also has glucosamine and omega-3s built in, which his joints will genuinely thank you for. The 7+ version is right for his age, and it's available in a 12kg bag on Amazon UK which makes it practical to stock. I'd transition him slowly over about two weeks — Bassets can get loose stools if you switch too fast — and weigh him every three to four weeks. With his metabolism, don't expect fast results, but steady loss of around 0.5kg a month is realistic and safe.

Yes, but use the Hill's feeding guide as your starting point rather than just cutting what you currently give — Bakers and Hill's have very different calorie densities, so the volumes will look different. For a dog targeting 30kg, feed to the target weight not his current weight, which is a common trick that makes a real difference. Hill's labels make this fairly clear. And be strict with treats — if anyone in the house is slipping him extras, that can easily wipe out the deficit. If you want to give him something during training or just to keep him happy, a few pieces of plain cooked chicken or carrot work well and won't derail things.

Good luck with Bernard — he sounds like a character. The transition will be the trickiest bit, but once he's settled on the new food you should start seeing gradual progress. If after two or three months he's not losing anything despite following the guide, it's worth going back to the vet to recheck that thyroid, as sometimes these things tip over time. But for most Bassets in his situation, the right food and consistent portions makes a real difference.