Fresh food for dogs aged 7 and over Senior Dog Food Guide
Updated 6 November 2026 · CoCo Gourmet editorial team
From around 7 years old, many dogs start to move less, drink less or become fussy about food. This guide explains what to look for in food for an older dog, how much a dog aged 7 or over needs each day, what to do when a senior dog stops finishing its meals, and when to consider a therapeutic diet, using CoCo Gourmet fresh dog food as an example.
In short
For a senior dog (around 7 years and over), look for food that is complete and balanced, provides plenty of moisture, is easy to chew and smells appealing, and feed an amount based on weight and age. The five CoCo Gourmet main recipes are complete and balanced to AAFCO 2016 standards and contain about 70–75% moisture, so they can be fed every day as the main meal. A 5 kg dog aged 7 or over needs about 224–281 g a day (Chicken & Vegetables). If your dog has kidney, digestive or skin problems, ask your vet about our Care therapeutic recipes.
01 When is a dog a senior?
Around 7 years old is the usual starting point
Dogs are generally considered seniors from around 7 years old. Larger breeds, which tend to have shorter lifespans, reach this stage a little earlier. The CoCo Gourmet feeding calculator also treats dogs aged 7 and over as seniors when it works out portions.
After this age many dogs show changes that affect how they eat. When and how much varies from dog to dog, so if your dog seems different, it is a good time to look again at what and how much you feed.
- Less activity, slower metabolism. The same amount of food can lead to weight gain, while some dogs lose muscle and get thinner.
- Drinking less water. Some older dogs drink less than they used to.
- Weaker teeth and chewing. Hard kibble can become harder to crunch.
- Changes in smell and appetite. Some dogs become picky, eat slowly or leave food in the bowl.
- A more sensitive stomach. Changing food or eating too much can lead to soft stools.
02 What to look for
4 things to look for in food for an older dog
Moisture
Does the food provide water?
Some dogs drink less as they age. The five CoCo Gourmet main recipes are about 70–75% moisture, compared with 10% or less for kibble, so your dog takes in water with every meal.
Easy to eat
Is it easy to chew and swallow?
Sinew is trimmed from the meat, and the ingredients are cooked and cut to a size that even small dogs find easy to chew and digest. If your dog still struggles, break the food up before serving.
Aroma
Does the smell make your dog want to eat?
Low-temperature cooking and quick freezing keep the aroma of the fresh ingredients. Warming the food to about body temperature brings out the smell even more: about 90 seconds per 100 g in a 500 W microwave, or a few minutes in hot water.
Nutrition and amount
Is it complete, and can you adjust the amount?
All five main recipes meet the AAFCO 2016 nutrient profiles and are vet-supervised. Older dogs can put on weight easily, so work out the amount from weight and age (see the chart below).
03 Nutrition
Nutrition of the 5 main recipes (per 100 g)
| Recipe | Calories | Protein | Fat | Moisture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken & Vegetables | 116kcal | 13.1% | 5.4% | 72.6% |
| Pork & Broccoli | 128kcal | 14.0% | 6.7% | 70.3% |
| Fish & Pumpkin | 105kcal | 12.6% | 4.1% | 73.1% |
| Venison & BeetsRecommended for seniors | 104kcal | 11.6% | 4.3% | 74.2% |
| Beef & Sweet Potato | 102kcal | 10.6% | 4.6% | 75.5% |
Protein and fat are guaranteed minimums; moisture is a guaranteed maximum. Each pack is 100 g.
On our recipe page, Venison & Beets is the recipe we recommend for senior dogs. It combines high-protein, low-fat venison with beetroot and mushrooms (104 kcal per 100 g).
If your dog gains weight easily, Beef & Sweet Potato has the fewest calories of the five (102 kcal) and Fish & Pumpkin has the least fat (4.1% min). Rotating recipes every few days also gives your dog some variety in flavour.
04 How much to feed
Daily feeding chart for dogs aged 7 and over
Amounts for Chicken & Vegetables (116 kcal per 100 g).
| Body weight | Daily energy | As the main meal | As a topper (1/4 of the day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2kg | 131–164kcal | 112–141g | 28–35g |
| 3kg | 178–223kcal | 153–192g | 37–47g |
| 4kg | 221–277kcal | 190–238g | 47–59g |
| 5kg | 261–327kcal | 224–281g | 55–69g |
| 7kg | 336–421kcal | 289–362g | 72–90g |
| 10kg | 440–551kcal | 380–475g | 94–118g |
| 15kg | 596–746kcal | 514–643g | 128–160g |
| 20kg | 740–926kcal | 638–798g | 159–199g |
Assumes a neutered dog aged 7 or over at an ideal body condition. Daily energy = 70 × body weight (kg)0.75 × 1.4. As in the feeding calculator, the chart shows 80–100% of the calculated value; start at the lower end and adjust to your dog's body condition. Each pack is 100 g, so grams ÷ 100 is the number of packs per day.
05 Picky eaters
What to do when a senior dog becomes picky or eats less
When an older dog leaves food in the bowl, small changes to how you serve it often help.
-
01
Warm it to about body temperature. Warm food smells stronger, which can tempt a dog whose sense of smell has dulled.
-
02
Start as a topper. Add a little fresh food on top of the usual food and increase it gradually.
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03
Serve smaller meals more often. Split the daily amount into 2–3 meals so each one is easier to finish.
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04
Rotate recipes. Changing between the five recipes every few days gives some variety in flavour.
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05
Break it up. If chewing seems hard, break the food into smaller pieces before serving.
If your dog suddenly stops eating, seems listless, or vomiting or diarrhoea continues, it may be a sign of illness. Please see your vet first.
06 Care
For senior dogs with health concerns: CoCo Gourmet Care
Care is our range of vet-supervised therapeutic fresh food, with nutrition adjusted for specific health needs. Therapeutic diets should be fed under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Early Kidney Care
Restricted protein, phosphorus and sodium for dogs that need kidney care.
Gastrointestinal Care (Low fat)
Lower fat with highly digestible ingredients, for sensitive stomachs or dogs on a low-fat diet.
Skin & Coat Care
A recipe for skin and coat support, with added antioxidants.
Care comes in frozen 100 g packs, with a 12-pack subscription from HK$290 (52% off). Not sure which one suits your dog? Talk to your vet, or contact us with any questions.
07 FAQs
Senior dog food FAQs
- Can a senior dog eat fresh dog food as its main meal?
- Yes. The five CoCo Gourmet main recipes are complete and balanced to AAFCO 2016 standards, so CoCo Gourmet and fresh water are enough as your dog's everyday diet. If your dog has a chronic condition, talk to your vet before switching.
- How much should a dog aged 7 or over eat each day?
- A neutered 5 kg dog aged 7 or over at an ideal body condition needs about 261–327 kcal a day, which is about 224–281 g of Chicken & Vegetables. The chart on this page shows amounts by weight, and the feeding calculator lets you enter body condition and activity as well.
- Which recipe is best for a senior dog?
- We recommend Venison & Beets, made with high-protein, low-fat venison (104 kcal per 100 g, 74.2% moisture max). If your dog gains weight easily, Beef & Sweet Potato (102 kcal) has the fewest calories and Fish & Pumpkin has the least fat. Rotating recipes every few days adds variety.
- Can an older dog with weak teeth eat it?
- Sinew is trimmed from the meat and the ingredients are cut to a size that even small dogs can chew and digest easily. If your dog still finds it hard, break the food up before serving.
- My senior dog has become a picky eater. What can I do?
- Warm the thawed food to about body temperature to bring out its aroma, add a little on top of the usual food and increase it gradually, or split the day's amount into smaller meals. If your dog suddenly stops eating, it may be unwell, so please see your vet.
- The vet says my dog's kidney values are high. Which food should I choose?
- CoCo Gourmet Early Kidney Care is a therapeutic recipe with restricted protein, phosphorus and sodium. Therapeutic diets should only be fed under your vet's guidance, so show your vet the nutrition details before you start.
- Should I cook fresh food at home or buy dog food? How do I choose food for an older dog?
- Cooking at home lets you choose the ingredients, but meeting every requirement for calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and minerals is difficult, and senior dogs with health problems may need limits on protein or phosphorus. If home cooking will be the main diet, have a vet check the recipe. When buying food for an older dog, check that it is complete and balanced, has suitable calories for your dog's weight, provides moisture, and is easy to chew and appealing to smell. A complete fresh food such as CoCo Gourmet only needs to be thawed and warmed.
- How should an older dog switch from kibble to fresh food?
- Switch over 1–2 weeks. For the first week mix fresh food and the usual food about half and half and watch the stools, then increase the fresh food step by step. Dogs with sensitive stomachs may need about two weeks. While you use it as a topper, reduce the kibble so the daily calories stay the same.
About CoCo Gourmet
CoCo Gourmet is fresh dog food from Japan. The five main recipes are vet-supervised, complete and balanced to AAFCO 2016 standards and made in a human-food factory in Japan, then delivered frozen in 100 g packs with free delivery to every district in Hong Kong, normally within 3–5 working days. A one-off 4-pack is HK$200; a 12-pack subscription is HK$330 (54% off, HK$27.5 per pack). If your dog does not like the first box, you can get a full refund within 7 days.
Order the first box (7-day money-back) What is fresh dog food?
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