When should I switch my pet to senior food?

What 'senior' food actually is

Because AAFCO has no separate senior nutrient profile, any adult-formulated food that meets AAFCO adult maintenance can be labeled 'senior', regardless of what is (or isn't) in the bag. Most senior formulas reduce calorie density, adjust protein and fat, and add joint-support ingredients (glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3), but exact formulations vary widely. Read the guaranteed analysis and ingredient panel, not the marketing.

Reasons to actually change diet in an older pet

• Weight change: switching to a lower-calorie density food if the pet is gaining weight without more food; increasing energy density if the pet is losing weight or has decreased appetite.
• Diagnosed condition: prescription renal, hepatic, cardiac, or joint-support diet directed by your vet.
• Dental disease: softer food or smaller kibble size when eating is uncomfortable.
• Muscle loss: senior cats and dogs benefit from HIGHER quality protein at higher inclusion, not lower, sarcopenia is common and under-treated.

Cats are different

Senior cats are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and osteoarthritis, and each of these has specific dietary implications. Rather than a generic 'senior' formula, most senior cats benefit from an annual blood and urine panel (SDMA, T4, glucose, urine specific gravity) and diet chosen based on the results. Restricting phosphorus in a cat without renal disease is not helpful; putting a diabetic cat on a low-carbohydrate diet can be transformative. Ask your vet.