Senior food for a 9-year-old Chow Chow mix

A 9-year-old Chow Chow mix — that's a breed that often keeps its youthful stubbornness well into old age, which can make you forget they're actually a senior dog with genuinely different nutritional needs. Senior dogs typically benefit from lower calories to prevent weight gain, better digestibility, and added joint support — but exactly when and how to transition depends a lot on the individual dog's breed, size, and health. To point you in the right direction: does your dog have any current health conditions — joints, digestion, skin, anything like that? And what are they eating right now?

That's really helpful. At 28kg and naturally low-energy, she's at real risk of quietly gaining weight as her metabolism slows further — Chow mixes are notorious for that. The dry coat in winter is worth addressing too; it's often a sign that her diet is a bit light on omega fatty acids. Harrington's is decent food but it's a maintenance adult formula, so it's not doing much for her joints or coat at this stage. What's her current coat like beyond winter — does she shed heavily or get any itching?

Right, so the picture is: a low-activity dog approaching senior age, heavy shedder, coat that dries out, no major conditions but weight management is going to matter more and more. My recommendation is Hill's Science Plan Adult 7+ Active Longevity with Chicken, dry formula. It's widely available on Amazon UK and it's one of the more genuinely science-backed senior foods rather than just marketing. The calorie density is lower than standard adult food, which matters for a dog who'd happily sleep through her daily walk. It has added omega-6 fatty acids specifically for skin and coat, which should help with that winter dryness and reduce the worst of the shedding. It also has adjusted phosphorus levels to support kidney health long-term — something Chow-type breeds can be prone to as they age. It's not a weight-loss formula, so you're not overcorrecting, but it gives you a buffer. I'd transition over about two weeks — her Chow stubbornness may mean she's suspicious of new food, so go slowly.

Yes, absolutely — 7+ is the right range. Senior food labels aren't a cliff edge; they indicate when these nutritional adjustments become beneficial, not a strict start date. For a medium-to-large breed like her, the metabolic slowdown and joint changes tend to begin from around 7, so starting now is well-timed rather than early. If anything, you're catching it at exactly the right moment before any weight or coat issues have a chance to establish themselves.

Chicken is a good starting point — it's the most reliably accepted flavour and it's what the nutritional research behind the formula is primarily based on. If she turns her nose up at it (which she might, being a Chow), the lamb version is a reasonable alternative with a very similar nutritional profile. But try chicken first; most dogs who are suspicious of new food come around once it's properly blended in during the transition. Good luck with her — she sounds like a wonderfully grumpy character.