Please can you suggest a good senior dog food for my spaniel, ideally low or grain free. She is not too active now and prefers to mooch rather than run, but has 2 walks a day. She tends to put on weight easily although is in good shape at the moment. Would be grateful for your views.

I would simply cut the quantity of the food she is currently on if it suits her.  Most veteran diets seem to up the grains and reduce the protein, which I don't find suits my dogs as they loose condition (muscle tone and coat).

What do you feel about the high protein of Orijen senior. I am concerned that it may have too much meat and have read that this can do harm to an oldie. The vet has her on Hills Vetessentials, and I have given her 3 months on this food but her coat is not good any more, she is constipated and generally her condition has gone downhill. I am not happy with all the ingredients in the vetessentials but as my vet put her on this I gave it a chance. I would like to give her more healthy ingredients and for this reason have been looking at the Orijen senior grain free, but reports on this differ, so would be grateful for any views.

My friend uses Orijen senior for her 14 yr old JRT and she looks fantastic on it, no issues with it health wise and she's been on it for over a year.

There seem to be differing views over Protein and kidneys. 

A healthy older dogs kidneys should be able to process animal proteins fine, it is non animal proteins that they may have more issues with digesting and straining the kidneys. 

Dogs in renal failure have traditionally been put on low protein, but views differ on whether this is needed or beneficial.

My own view is that the older dog should actually have the better more easily digested high animal protein content foods compared to the young adult dog.

I haven't put any of my dogs on senior food. I have never seen the need for it.

My own view is that the older dog should actually have the better more easily digested high animal protein content foods compared to the young adult dog.
And I completely agree with the above!

The Orijen Adult does say it is for All Lifestages, and yet they also manufacture a Senior version. In your opinion could she stay on the normal adult Orijen. I appreciate this will be your opinion but it really helps to have others views on this as I don't know which way to turn.
I have put my other younger adult dog on the normal adult Orijen which she loves, and pocket wise it would be convenient to have them both on the same, however I will do whatever is best for the oldie spaniel and will buy both versions if need be.
Your input will really help. 

I have my youngster on Orijen Puppy (nearly 6 months) but all the others are on either Orijen Adult or Acana (different grain-free varieties) along with Natural Instinct raw. They are 4 years, 6, 8, 9 and 12. Once the pup hits a year she'll go onto the adult, the same as the rest. I do think a lot of the puppy, junior, adult, lite, senior etc varieties is something of a marketing ploy and if it's a good quality food age is irrelevant, I just adjust quantities accordingly.