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
Your vet has already done the hard work of flagging the right moment — 12 is a good age for a Poodle to move to a senior formula, and it sounds like your dog is being well looked after. Senior dogs genuinely do need something different: fewer calories to avoid weight creep, easier-to-digest protein, and ideally some joint support built in. Before I point you toward something specific, it'd help to know: is this a standard, miniature, or toy Poodle, and did the vet flag any particular concerns — weight, joints, kidneys, teeth? And what are you currently feeding?
She's a miniature Poodle, about 8kg. The vet just said generally she's doing well but her joints could do with some support as she's slowing down a bit. She's currently on Royal Canin Adult dry food, no real issues with it, she eats well.
inparticular.ai
That's a really useful picture — a healthy, good-eating mini Poodle at 8kg whose main need is joint support as she slows down. Since she's already happy on dry kibble and tolerating Royal Canin well, a same-format switch will be easiest on her digestion. My recommendation is Hill's Science Plan Mature Adult 7+ Small & Mini Dry Dog Food with Chicken. It's specifically sized for smaller breeds at this life stage, has controlled calories to protect her weight, and includes added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support — which lines up exactly with what her vet flagged. The protein quality is high and it's very well tolerated in dogs with no existing sensitivities, which fits her profile. It's widely available on Amazon UK and straightforward to keep in stock.
That sounds good. How quickly should I switch her over, and should I mix it with her current food?
inparticular.ai
Yes, definitely mix them — a gradual transition is much kinder on her gut than a sudden swap, even if she has a strong stomach. A reliable approach is about 10 days: start with roughly 25% new food mixed into 75% old for the first three days, then go 50/50 for the next three, then 75% new for three days, and finally full switch. Because she's 12 and her digestion is a little less resilient than it was, slower is always safer. Watch her stools through the transition — if things get loose, just slow the pace down rather than pushing through.
Perfect, that's really helpful. One more thing — should I be adding any supplements on top, like fish oil for her joints?
inparticular.ai
It's worth checking with your vet before layering supplements onto a complete food, because Hill's already includes omega-3s and joint support at calibrated levels — doubling up isn't always better and occasionally tips balances you don't want tipped. That said, if her vet had joint concerns and wants to go further, a vet-grade omega-3 supplement like YuMOVE is commonly recommended alongside complete foods and is generally safe. I'd mention it at her next checkup and let the vet confirm the dose for her size. For now, the food change alone is a solid step.
