Is your senior pet getting enough protein?

About The Golden Years Protein Checker

The Golden Years Protein Checker tells you how much protein a pet food actually contains once the water is taken out, and compares that figure against a sensible aim for a healthy senior dog or cat. You enter the crude protein and moisture percentages printed on the pack; the tool converts them to a dry matter basis, which is the only way two foods can be compared fairly.

What it looks at

• Species — the aim differs for dogs and cats
• Crude protein percentage, as printed on the label
• Moisture percentage, as printed on the label
• Label format for your region (US, India, EU or GCC), which changes how the figures are presented
• Optionally, calories per kilogram, to express protein per 1,000 kcal

What your result means

Below a sensible senior level

The food falls under our working aim of 25% dry matter protein for a healthy senior dog, or 35% for a healthy senior cat. Healthy seniors should not be protein-restricted — ageing animals lose muscle more readily, and generous protein helps hold it. Worth reviewing the food with your vet.

At or above the senior aim

The food meets the aim above, and sits comfortably over the AAFCO adult-maintenance minimum of 18% dry matter for dogs and 26% for cats. There is no single official senior target, but nutritionists agree healthy seniors should not be protein-restricted. If your pet has diagnosed kidney disease the picture changes — that is an IRIS-staging conversation with your vet.

Above our high-protein mark

Above 50% dry matter for dogs or 55% for cats — our own working definition of high-protein, as there is no official one. This is fine for a healthy senior, and current evidence does not show that generous protein harms healthy kidneys. At this level it is worth asking about phosphorus, which is more closely linked to kidney change over time than protein is, particularly in cats.

What this tool cannot tell you

Label figures are regulatory minimums and maximums rather than measured values, so treat every result as a screening estimate. Dry matter protein says nothing about digestibility, protein source, or overall dietary balance — a higher number is not automatically a better food. This tool is aimed at healthy seniors; if your pet has diagnosed kidney, liver or other disease, the targets here do not apply and your vet's do.