I understand; I too have a senior, she is a Great Dane and 13 years old. She was having some digestion problems and besides old age, I wondered if it was the dog food and that is when I researched the home cooked recipes. I have experimented with some things and found as long as I keep both of them away from foods with grains they are the picture of health. I did substantial research on bulldogs prior to getting Amber (had Great Danes for 15+ years and our daughter wanted a bulldog) and found they are highly allergic to grains of almost any type. When I research the dog food there is a limited supply that is grain free and the ones that are grain free are rather pricey. So, by trail and error I found myself making her food and her coat is absolutely beautiful, that is when I put the Dane on homemade food too. I will admit I do travel and my husband stays home with the dogs then so I do back up their homemade food with Blue Buffalo dog food on those occassions. It comes in kibbles and can; Amber doesn't do well on kibbles, she gets sick because she eats too fast so I get her canned but the Dane does well on the kibbles.
Good luck with the little one. Take Care.
Good luck with the little one. Take Care.