Nutritional needs of senior companion animals change significantly with age, and evidence-based feeding approaches maintain bodyweight, muscle mass and organ function in ageing dogs and cats.
Senior nutrition welfare impacts on quality of life directly - animals with maintained muscle mass move better, maintain independence longer and have better metabolic health. The misconception that senior pets need less protein has led to widespread feeding of diets that accelerate the muscle loss that reduces senior pet quality of life. Evidence-based senior nutrition for healthy animals emphasises adequate, high-quality protein rather than restriction. Dietary changes for disease-specific reasons (phosphorus restriction for CKD, sodium restriction for heart disease) are appropriate when indicated, but should not be applied as general senior feeding principles. Working with your vet to match diet to your individual senior animal's specific health status provides better welfare than following generic 'senior' labelling.