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Questions
Yes, raw food can suit many senior dogs, and age alone isn’t a reason to stop feeding raw. A senior dog raw diet follows the same basic principles as an adult diet, with extra attention to body condition, portion size, dental comfort and any health conditions.
For raw feeding senior dogs in NZ, the practical approach is to keep meals balanced, make them easy to eat and adjust portions as your dog’s activity changes. There’s no need to make a dramatic change just because your dog has reached a certain birthday.
Ageing looks different from dog to dog, but a few everyday changes are common:
Keep an eye on your dog as an individual. A steady routine, regular weigh-ins and a look at body shape can tell you more than age alone.
Yes — plenty of senior dogs do brilliantly on raw, and age itself is rarely the deciding factor. What matters is whether your dog is holding good body condition and muscle, eating comfortably and thriving on what’s in the bowl. Many owners find their older dogs eat with more enthusiasm on fresh food than they ever did on dry.
One myth worth retiring: the idea that all senior dogs should eat less protein. Healthy older dogs still need quality protein to hold onto muscle — cutting it back because of a birthday does more harm than good. The exception is a diagnosed condition like kidney disease, where your vet may recommend a different balance. That’s their call, not an age rule.
And the honest bit: raw feeding isn’t a cure for arthritis or anything else. What it does is give an older dog real, digestible food that’s easy to adjust as their needs change — which is worth plenty in itself.
Run your hands lightly along your dog’s ribs — you want to feel them easily without seeing them. From above there should be a waist, and from the side a gentle tuck behind the ribs. Muscle loss around the hips, shoulders and spine is the other thing to watch as dogs age.
You know your dog’s shape better than any chart does; if in doubt, your vet can give you an honest second opinion in seconds.
A less active dog may do well with a slightly smaller portion or a leaner protein. Our Wild & Novel range includes lean options like kangaroo, goat and venison — popular with owners of slowing-down dogs who still want variety.
Don’t cut portions sharply or change several things at once. Make modest adjustments, then watch your dog’s shape, energy and appetite over the following weeks.
For a healthy senior, maintaining good-quality protein is generally more useful than automatically restricting it. If your dog has kidney disease or another diagnosed condition, their diet may need a different balance, so follow your vet’s advice.
Some owners also add green-lipped mussel or bone broth to a senior’s routine. To be straight with you: these are nice additions, not medicines. But bone broth genuinely earns its place for an older dog — a warm splash of our lamb, goat or duck broth makes a bowl far more interesting to a dog whose appetite has faded, and adds welcome moisture too.
If your dog’s teeth are worn or chewing seems uncomfortable, choose a minced texture rather than asking them to work on large chunks or whole bones. Our My Pooch Ready-Made Raw Meals come in pre-portioned daily meals, making it easier to serve a consistent amount without weighing every ingredient yourself.
A few small changes may also help:
Some older dogs still manage appropriately selected raw meaty bones, but dental health and chewing style matter. If your dog’s teeth are worn or sore, skip whole bones and choose a meal with a minced texture instead.
For dogs that can chew comfortably, softer edible bones such as chicken frames or wings may be more suitable than large, hard weight-bearing bones. Always supervise, choose a size that suits your dog and never feed cooked bones. See our guide to feeding raw bones for more on choosing and supervising them.
| Option | May suit | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Minced meals | Dogs that find big chunks harder to manage | Check the texture and how your dog handles the meal |
| Pre-portioned meals | Owners who want a straightforward daily portion | Reassess the portion if your dog’s activity or body condition changes |
| Raw meaty bones | Dogs that chew confidently and comfortably | Supervise closely; avoid cooked and very hard bones |
Weight gain can creep up gradually as a dog slows down. It’s worth acting early: carrying extra weight can make everyday movement harder and can affect your dog’s comfort.
Use our Feeding Calculator as a starting estimate, not a fixed prescription. Its usual adult feeding range may need adjusting for your senior’s activity, ideal weight and the energy content of their food.
Weigh your dog regularly, monthly is a practical routine for many households, and check their body condition at the same time. Remember that treats, chews and toppers count too. If your dog is gaining or losing weight without an obvious reason, talk to your vet.
The basic process is much the same as for an adult dog, though you can take it more slowly if that suits your dog. Start with a simple meal, introduce one change at a time and watch how your dog responds. Many older dogs take to a new routine more easily than their owners expect.
For a step-by-step approach, read our guide to transitioning to raw. Handle raw food hygienically: keep it frozen until needed, thaw it in the fridge, wash hands and clean bowls and surfaces after feeding.
A quick chat with your vet is a smart move before switching any dog with kidney disease, pancreatitis or an arthritis treatment plan — their condition may change what balance of food suits them. The same goes for unexplained weight loss or a sudden appetite change; those deserve a check-up, not a diet experiment.
For healthy seniors with the green light, raw feeding is usually a straightforward switch — often easier than owners expect.
Yes, for most healthy older dogs — plenty of seniors thrive on raw, keeping better muscle and enthusiasm for dinner than they had on processed food. Watch their weight and condition as they age, same as any dog.
No — that’s outdated advice. Good-quality protein is what keeps an older dog’s muscle on, and muscle keeps them mobile. Only a diagnosed condition like kidney disease changes the picture, and your vet will guide that.
Use the Feeding Calculator as a starting point, then adjust based on your dog’s ideal weight, body condition, activity and the food’s energy content. Recheck their shape and weight regularly.
Minced meals — no wrestling with big chunks, and every bit of the meal goes down comfortably. If chewing suddenly becomes hard, book a dental check rather than writing it off as age.
Some owners tell us their older dogs seem more comfortable and more mobile after switching to fresh food — but that’s their experience, not medicine, and every dog is different. Keep your vet’s treatment plan going, and consider diet changes as a companion to it rather than a replacement.
Almost never. Older dogs switch to raw successfully all the time, and many take to it faster than their owners expect. Go gradually and enjoy watching them rediscover their appetite.
Raw food for senior dogs doesn’t need to be complicated: a balanced meal, a texture they can manage and portions that match the dog they are today. Our Raw Dog Feeding Guide has more on amounts and building a routine, and if you’d like an easier start, our Ready-Made Meals and bone broths do the work for you. Our team are raw feeders themselves — ask us anything.
The straight answers on raw dog food safety in NZ, bacteria, balance, bones and the simple habits that manage all three.
Yes, puppies can thrive on raw. The key is food that's complete for growth and portions that match their age. This NZ guide answers the two questions we hear most: when to start, and how much to feed, plus calcium balance, teething bones and how Ready-Made Meals make it easy.
