Senior food for Irish Setters with digestibility issues

Your vet raising digestibility at the annual check is worth taking seriously — Irish Setters can be sensitive stomachs at the best of times, and at nine they're solidly into their senior years. Senior dogs generally need fewer calories, more easily absorbed protein, and better joint support than adult formulas provide. Before I point you anywhere specific: what are they currently eating, and did your vet mention anything else — weight, coat condition, any loose stools or other symptoms?

That's a really helpful picture. Variable stools and a dull coat together often point to the same root cause — protein that isn't being fully absorbed, which is exactly what happens when an active, larger-breed dog stays on a standard adult formula too long. The good news is this is fixable with the right food. Has he had any food sensitivities or allergies in the past, or is digestion the main concern?

Perfect — that makes this straightforward. I'd go with Hill's Science Plan Youthful Vitality Senior 7+ Large Breed with Chicken. It's specifically formulated for large senior dogs, the protein is highly digestible, and it contains elevated omega-3 and -6 fatty acids which directly address that coat dullness your vet noticed. It also has L-carnitine to support lean muscle mass, which matters for a setter who's still active. The fibre blend is gentle enough to stabilise stool consistency without being so low-residue that it causes other issues. It's a meaningful step up from a standard adult Royal Canin in terms of senior-specific nutrition, and it's widely available on Amazon UK. Transition over about ten days — 25% new food to start, increasing gradually — to avoid unsettling his stomach further during the switch.

The Hill's Youthful Vitality does contain glucosamine and chondroitin at levels that offer some baseline joint support, which is exactly right for a dog your vet is keeping an eye on but hasn't diagnosed with a joint condition yet. If he develops more obvious stiffness down the line, you'd look at adding a dedicated joint supplement on top — but for now, a senior food with built-in joint support is the proportionate response. Your vet flagged it early, which is the best position to be in.

Good call. Give it six to eight weeks before you judge the results — coat improvement takes a full growth cycle to show up properly. If his stools settle within the first two weeks and his coat starts looking shinier by week six, you'll know it's working. And it's worth mentioning to your vet at the next check that you've made the switch — they'll be glad to hear it.