My senior Labrador: Does kibble size really matter for their diet?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If she is doing well on the food you are feeding I personally do not think you have to change. Just watch her weight as obesity is a huge problem in labs and only worsens arthritis. I would first look with in the brand you are feeding to see fi they make a senior formula that is also lamb and rice. I do like Hill's senior diets but they only come in chicken. I wish you and Lucy the best!

Hi there and thank you for your post! The size of kibble may make it easier for a smaller dog to eat if the kibble bites are smaller. Sometimes, depending on the dog and Its preference for texture, some small dogs prefer large bites over small bites and some dogs prefer small bites over large bite. I would offer both types to see which one is preferred. There are no health benefits over eating small versus large kibble. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns that you may have

My understanding with senior diets is that there are no general guidelines that all follow. This can lead to a wide variation in the protein and mineral content of these senior diets. In general, if a senior dog is healthy and doing well on their current adult diet, I do not recommend switching diets, nor do most veterinary nutritionists. As always, talk to Tova's vet to see if their recommendation differs, but given her sensitive stomach concerns, I would hesitate to change anything.

Senior dog food formulas are lower in calories and contain less fat, protein and sodium. These may not fulfill the nutritional requirements of your dog. Furthermore, neither AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nor the National Research Council (NRC) provides guidelines for senior dog formulas. There is NO distinction made between the nutritional requirements for adult dogs and those for senior dogs. As a result, the ingredients used in pet food marketed for ‘seniors’ is determined by the manufacturer and varies widely.

Yes, it is fine to feed Kiba a food that is larger kibble! In fact, feeding larger kibble makes dogs chew a little more, which is great for preventing tartar build up on their teeth. Just watch Kiba the first few times that you feed it to make sure that he is chewing well and doesn't seem to have any choking from swallowing large pieces.

Great question! Generally a senior dog is around seven and eight years of age, but smaller breeds may be considered seniors a little later in life, such as around 10 years of age. You can wait until Grover is at least eight years of age before staring him on a senior food, but if he's healthy and active, you can wait until he is 10. Best of luck, I hope this helps :-)

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I would recommend Royal Canin Labrador Retriever formula or Purina ProPlan Large Breed. Both of these formulas will support his medium to large size frame, joint health as well his full nutritional needs. Both companies have veterinarians on staff to properly formulate their diets. I hope this information helps!