Can I Feed My Dog Different Brands Of Food
Many pet foods are formulated with a specific life stage, lifestyle and sometimes even health condition in mind. Mixing foods willy-nilly without taking this into consideration can inadvertently impact your pet negatively, including causing undesired weight gain, overexposure to certain vitamins and minerals, etc.
Should I Wet My Dogs Dry Food
Advantages of adding water to dog food
Palatability: by moistening the kibble, its flavor and smell are enhanced, thus making the food more palatable and appetizing for dogs. Digestibility: compared to dry feed, wet feed is more easily digested and requires less effort from the digestive system to process.
How To Feed Your Dogs Growing Needs
As your dog grows, their dietary needs change. Each blend of Just Right is uniquely crafted to support your dogs lifestage or lifestyle, so you never have to worry if you are missing an important dietary milestone.
Follow these tips for feeding your dog at each lifestage:
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Puppy food should help support areas like healthy brain and vision development, proper bone and muscle growth, and a strong immune system. · Now that you know when to switch from puppy food to adult dog food, keep in mind that adult dog food should help support their unique nutritional needs and lifestyle.
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Consider your dogs activity level, skin and coat health, body condition, and digestive health.
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As your dog grows, their metabolism changes can lead to weight gain or loss of lean body mass, so calories and type of diet should be adjusted accordingly.
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Dog food designed for the nutritional needs of your dog from puppy to senior should help support areas like bone and joint health, strong muscles, and changing activity level.
Ready to switch dog food? Create your dogâs personalized blend of dog food that grows and changes as your dog does. Start your dogs unique blend today.
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Why Adult Dog Food Is Important
Puppy food is nutrient rich and high in calories to support your puppys growth, development and high energy levels.
Continuing to feed puppy food past the point of maturity could cause him to become overweight, which can lead to other health problems.
Choose a complete and balanced adult dog food formula once your puppy reaches maturity to help him maintain his ideal body condition.
Switching Dog Food: Should You Do It
There are a few situations in a dogs life that may justify a food change.
These include:
- A transition from puppy food to dog food
- A transition from dog food to a senior dog food
- A transition from kibble to a canned version
- A transition to a veterinary-recommended prescription diet
Many pet owners will switch from a puppy-specific formula to an adult dog food formula as their puppies grow up. A food change may also be recommended when dogs enter the senior phase of their lives as nutrient and calorie needs change.
If your dog was born with a medical condition, or develops one during their life, a change in diet prescribed to address the condition may help your pet to feel better and even live longer. For instance, if your dog has digestive problems, your veterinarian may recommend switching to a dog food for sensitive stomachs.
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How To Transition Your Dog To Fresh Whole Food
The time required to transition your dog from commercial dog food to fresh, high quality JustFoodForDogs can vary depending on the age and sensitivity of your dog, but in general it takes about 5-10 days.
Think of this transition as more of a detox. For many dogs it will be the first introduction to preservative-free whole food so as a rule of thumb, go slow, as there is no need to rush the transition.
Once your dog is fully transitioned onto a whole food diet, the need for transition is over. He or she is free to enjoy all our recipes.
Once your dog has acclimated to JustFoodForDogs you will probably notice significant improvements. Even premium dog food and “healthy dog food” brands contain a staggering volume of indigestible ingredients, preservatives, chemicals, etc.
You will likely experience one or more of the following signs within weeks of converting to JustFoodForDogs:
- Healthy, soft, shiny coat
- Little to no doggie odor’
- Well-formed stool
It can vary depending on the age and sensitivity of the dog but in general about 5-10 days. Think of this transition as more of a detox. For many dogs it will be the first introduction to preservative-free whole food so as a rule of thumb, go slow, as there is no need to rush the transition. Once your dog is fully transitioned onto a whole food diet, the need for transitioning is over. He or she is free to enjoy all our recipes!
Why We Love The Switch
Now, our golden retriever Rascaleats a 100% human-grade dog food diet! Jared and I always joke that we could eat Rascals food with enough sriracha. Let me preface by saying that I NEVER thought I would be the type of person that made their dogs food homemade.
At first, the thought of homemade dog food was so daunting and just downright boogie. I can honestly say that making his food doesnt cost much more than the prescription diet he was on beforehand.
After watching the documentary Pet Fooled we realized just how unregulated the dog food industry was and started to feel stronger about our homemade switch.
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Why Feed Your Dog A Premium Food
You know that quality counts, so you feed your puppy that provides balanced nutrition. What food should you choose when they grow into an adult?
Feeding them a high-quality adult food like will help them maintain the same superb nutrition they received as a puppy. In contrast, switching to a lower-quality brand at this stage of your dogs life may upset their digestive system and wont provide them with the same level of nutritional excellence they were raised on. Check out our to find the right food for your all-grown-up pup!
Premium adult dog foods like the ones we make at IAMS are specifically designed to provide your dog with:
- High-quality ingredients that support whole-body health
- Balanced levels of protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals
- Omega-6 fatty acids that help nourish and support your dogs skin and coat
What does it all add up to? A happy, healthy dog.
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Recipe Variations: What Natural Foods Can I Feed My Dog
Home-cooked dog food diets can be one of the best ways to keep your best friend happy and healthy. As always, check with your vet before testing a new dog diet, but here are some of my best recommendations:
- Protein: Rascal digests ground turkey really well but you can try ground beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and Rascals personal favorite: venison. If you dont have a meat grinder, you can ask your butcher to grind it for you or cut it up super fine before cooking.
- Vegetables: Spinach, butternut squash, cranberries, cauliflower, apples, green beans. Here is an entire list of AKC approved fruits and vegetables you can give your dog.
- Grains & Carbs: Rice, quinoa, barley, whole grain pasta, and potatoes can be great options. If you can believe it, Rascal is actually allergic to rice. I wish I were kidding.
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How To Choose A Senior Dog Food
If you and your veterinarian decide that switching to a senior dog food is correct for your dog, choose a senior dog food with the guidelines below and follow the diet transition guidelines above according to their intestinal sensitivity.
Guidelines for choosing a senior dog food:
- Look for an AAFCO label stating that the food is complete and balanced
- Consider staying with the brand of food that has worked well in the past
- Consider a formula that includes joint support for arthritis
- Look for ingredients you feel comfortable feeding
- Find a senior dog food that fits within your budget
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Choose The Approach Thats Right For You
Every pet handles diet changes differently, and playing it safe is recommended for newbies and dogs with known digestive sensitivities. As much as food changes can lead to inconvenient and messy consequences, the real concern should be the discomfort and danger to your dog.
A quick food change might be the most convenient, but your dog is the one who will be feeling the effects.
Once youve found a method that works for you and your dog, you may want to consider a rotational feeding plan for your dog. Find two or three diets that work well for your dog and start to feed them regularly.
This could be weekly or monthly changes, or even just grabbing a new flavour each time you restock on dog food. Your dog will become more accustomed to food changes in time and practice, and transitions will become easier and easier.
What are your tips for changing your dogs food? Share your successes and struggles with us in the comments below!
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When To Switch To Adult Dog Food
Dogs under 12 months of age are typically referred to as puppies while dogs over 12 months are considered adults. As a general rule, puppies can be safely switched to adult dog food when they reach 80% of their expected adult size.
However, just because your puppy is technically of adult age, doesnt necessarily mean hes ready for adult dog food. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to determining when to switch to adult dog food, primarily your puppys breed size. For small breed dogs thats typically somewhere between 9-10 months, while for medium breeds and larger dogs, it might be closer to 12-18 months.
Why You May Want To Transition Your Pet To A New Food
Just like you may have to make some adjustments to your own diet to keep yourself at your healthiest, you may similarly have to change your pets diet to keep them in tip-top shape.
Has your picky eater suddenly decided that they dont like their kibble? Has your kitten grown up into an adult feline? Consult your vetthey may recommend that its time to transition your pet to a new food. In addition to an unexpected dislike of their old food or transitioning into a new life stage, other reasons why your veterinarian may recommend changing your dog or cats food can include:
- Your pets current food causes gastrointestinal upset, like gas or diarrhea
- Your pet is overweight and needs a weight-loss food
- Your pet has allergies that may be alleviated through a specialized diet
- Theyre suffering from aliments like dull haircoat or poor energy that can be alleviated through additional nutrients in their diet
- Your pet has been diagnosed with a health condition that requires a specific diet to help treat
- Its otherwise been determined that their nutritional needs arent being
You may also find yourself considering a diet change-up if you want to purchase a food made and sourced in the United States, or be forced to find a new food if your pets old grub has been recalled or discounted. Just be sure to keep your vet in the loop: You should always consult them before making changes to your pets diet.
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We Recommend 2 Methods To Transition From Dry Food To Raw
Finding The Adult Right Food
Not all pet food is made the same way. When it comes to finding the right formula, look for a food that is gently cooked and highly digestible. A slow-cooking process, like the Bil-Jac Nutri-Lock cooking method, helps to protect the key nutrients your dog needs his daily diet.
Dry foods that are cooked quickly in large batches at high temperatures and pressure, the way most dog foods are processed, can have nutrients damaged in the cooking process. In turn, your furry friend could suffer from an upset stomach and even loose stools.
Its also good to maintain some consistency with your food choices. If youve been feeding your puppy a super-premium puppy food like Bil-Jac, its just as important to feed him a super-premium adult food as well.
Youll also want to match your dogs size with the right formula. Dogs don’t require a breed-specific dog food, but their size does make a difference in their metabolism. As such, you’ll want to select a high-quality dog food made for large breeds, small breeds, or more average-size dogs to match your particular pooch.
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Large And Giant Breeds
Large breed dogs weigh 50 to 80 pounds at maturity while giant breeds weigh over 80 pounds. Large breeds often take more than 12 months to reach their adult size and giant breeds may take 18 to 24 months.
The primary concern with these puppies is controlling the rate of growth. If large and giant breed puppies grow too quickly, it can stress the developing bones and joints, increasing the puppys risk for orthopedic problems in adulthood. These growing, large breed puppies should be fed a diet of specially-formulated large breed puppy food, such as American Journeys large breed puppy food.
As adults, large and giant breeds need significantly more calories than smaller dogs. Their needs for protein are quite high but controlling the fat content of your dogs diet is essential for preventing obesity. A large-breed adult dog food contains the ideal combination of protein and fat for bigger dogs.
Make the Switch Slowly
When it comes to transitioning your dog onto a new recipe, slow and steady is the way to go. Making sudden changes to your dogs diet can trigger digestive upset which can be unpleasant for both you and your pup. Simply mix a small amount of adult dog food with your puppys current food, slowly increasing the ratio of new to old food over the course of a week or so.
Its important to work with your veterinarian to meet the individual nutritional needs of your pet.
How Long Does It Take For A Dog’s Stomach To Settle After Changing Food
It depends on how upset your dogs stomach is as to how quickly it will settle down again. If your dog has slightly soft stools you may find this self-resolves in a couple of days.
If, however, your dog has reacted very poorly to a change in diet and has very runny stools, then you may need to intervene with a few days of bland, easy-to-digest food. Cooked chicken or fish and boiled rice tend to settle most dogs down, and you could use some dog probiotics too to help improve their gut flora again.
If things arent resolving or your dog seems unwell then always seek help from your vet in case there is something else going on.
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Best Probiotic With Fiber
Eliminate the fear of switching dog food by keeping a can of Fruitables Switch on hand. Touted as the just-right balance of soluble to insoluble fiber, Switch supports a healthy gut to ensure a smooth transition to your dogs new food. We love the transparency of this products, as its one and only ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is safe for humans and dogs, and the pure pumpkin in Switch contains no additives or preservatives.
Highlights
- Tasty pumpkin base is a flavor most dogs love
- Helps decrease the risk of loose stool or digestive issues when changing foods
- Made in the USA and developed by a veterinarian
- Easily replace 30 percent of your dogs current food with Switch when transitioning
- Can be used after transitioning for a daily fiber addition
Things to Consider
- Unused portion must be refrigerated after opening and remains fresh up to seven days
- Contains 4 calories per tablespoon
- Consult with your dogs veterinarian first if your pet has a medical condition or takes medication