My senior dog seems less interested in food, what should I do?

Open the food bag and smell it yourself, since dry food can go stale or slightly rancid within a few weeks of opening, especially in a warm kitchen. Check your dog's mouth gently for redness, a broken tooth, or an odor, since dental discomfort is one of the most common, overlooked reasons a senior dog eats less enthusiastically.

Warming wet food to roughly room temperature, adding a small splash of warm water to dry kibble, or offering two smaller meals instead of one larger one can all make food more appealing to a senior dog with a less sensitive nose. A stiff neck or back can also make lowering the head to a floor bowl genuinely uncomfortable, so raising the bowl slightly is worth trying.

A day or two of picky eating is rarely serious on its own. But reduced interest that lasts beyond two or three days, especially alongside weight loss, lethargy, or vomiting, is a clear signal to book a vet visit rather than continuing to try new food options at home.

Keep a brief log of what your dog did and did not eat each day, including how much was left in the bowl. This small habit turns a vague worry into something concrete and specific to describe at a vet visit, if one becomes necessary.