When To Switch Puppy To Dog Food
Most puppies need to transition to adult food around 1-year-old, though age and breed may be factors here. Larger breeds may grow up to 18-24 months, so they can stay on a large breed puppy food longer than smaller breeds.
The best way to tell when your dog is ready to transition from puppy food to adult is to monitor their weight. Dogs tend to reach full height and length before reaching their adult weight range, so monitor their weight and muscle development using the dog body conditioning score.
This can help determine if your puppy is ready to switch to adult food. Adult dogs fed puppy food can gain excess weight and maybe consume higher levels of nutrients, like calcium, than they require, which could lead to problems as they age.
How To Start Rotational Feeding
There are a few different approaches to rotational feeding. Some suggested plans are outlined below and our customer support team are here to help if you need a little guidance along the way.
- Switch from one protein to another, as you finish a packet of food and begin a new one. For example, feed one bag of grain free chicken Clusters and change to grain free turkey Clusters, with a few days of the two foods combined to make the transition smooth. Bag number three could see a return to chicken Clusters, or a new protein, like beef.
- Alternate between grain free and whole grain recipes, but keep the protein consistent. If, say, your pup has multiple meat allergies and can only eat fish, you could rotate between the whole grain fish, LID fish and grain free fish recipes in our Dehydrated line.
- Rotate between form factors. For example, if your dog typically only eats dry food such as our Beef whole grain Clusters, try our whole grain beef dehydrated food next time around, or our beef stew wet food as an occasional alternative. Outside of flavor variation, this solution really provides an assortment of different textures to help keep things interesting
- Have two foods on the go and mix and match at each meal. This could mean serving turkey at breakfast and beef for dinner, or Clusters in the morning and Dehydrated at night. This solution works well for those with busy schedules since Clusters are quick to serve, and a little more time can be take over hydrating the evening meal.
How To Tell If A New Diet Is Working
If all goes well, by the end of the transition period, your pooch will have completely switched to their new food without encountering any major issues. But how do you know if the new diet is having the desired effect and offering all the nutrition your dog needs?
Once your dog has been eating their new food for a couple of months, youll be better placed to see how theyre responding to the dietary change. And the best way to make this assessment is to look at your dog.
Do they look happy and healthy? Are they in the right weight range? Does their coat look shiny and glossy? Do they have plenty of energy?
You can also check your pet for any signs that they may be having issues with the new food, such as skin irritations or continuing digestive problems. And if there are any signs that the new diet may not be producing the desired results, schedule an appointment with your vet so you can find out what to do next.
A high-quality diet is essential for keeping your dog happy and healthy. Digestive problems and food allergies can be expensive to treat. Compare pet health insurance plans to save more than $270 a year on vet care.
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Always Select The Right Place And Time
Dogs depend on smell to connect the scent of a certain food type with how they feel. For this reason, a sick pet can associate a new food you are trying to introduce as bad simply because your pet is sick. This leads to your pet refusing to eat the food. If this happens, helping your dog adapt to a new food later will be difficult.
So, if you are planning on changing dog food, we highly suggest you pick the right place and time. That is, make sure your dog is healthy and not sick. Also, do not feed your dog new food while at the hospital. Allow your dog to be discharged and feed the dog new food at home.
Doing so at the hospital will distract your dog as many obstacles will be present. If you have several pets and you would like to change their diet successfully, separate them during meal times.
Which Is The Best Pet Food For My Pet
There is a bewildering number of pet foods available on the market today, and it can be hard to find the right one for your pet. Overall, the best dog or cat food is determined by the health and nutritional needs for your specific pet, which is why your vet is best resource when it comes to your fur kids diet.
But there is a difference between premium pet food and grocery store brandsand it has to do with more than just price. In general, premium pet food brands, such as Orijen and Acana, contain no fillers, synthetic colors, preservatives, artificial flavors, growth hormones or antibiotics.
Pets are similar to us in that they are what they eat. Feeding a premium pet food that meets guidelines for a complete and balanced diet as set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials a voluntary membership association of local, state and federal agencies to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remediesand that contains nutrients sourced from minimally and carefully processed high-quality ingredients positively impacts the health of your pet the same way eating whole, fresh foods instead of McDonalds french fries impacts your body. For instance, Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is made with 85% quality animal ingredients including fresh chicken and turkey and cage-free eggs, while Acana Free-Run Poultry Recipe + Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food features free-run poultry and wholesome, high-in-fiber grains.
$25.99
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Digestive Aids To Help Switch Your Dogs Food
Diet changes are inevitable, and sometimes, no matter how delicate and gradually you make the switch, some dogs need a little extra help adapting to their new diet. There are plenty of doggy digestive aids, but some are better than others when it comes to transitioning your dog to a new food.
Nummy Tum Tums Organic Pumpkin
Pumpkin is great for managing symptoms of digestive issues from diet changes, but it can also be used preventatively. Starting your dogs diet change with pumpkin included can limit, and for some dogs, eliminate reactions.
Another fibrous food aid that can provide valuable fibre and moisture is sweet potatoes, though these are high in natural sugars, so they should be fed less frequently.
Omega Alpha Probiotic 8 Plus
A big part of your dogs digestion is the healthy bacteria that live and flourish in your dogs small intestine. This bacteria breaks down dog food into individual nutrients to be distributed throughout your dogs body.
Probiotic supplements are made of several strains of healthy gut bacteria that help your dog break down new foods easier. Look for supplements that offer both pre and probiotics as these will quickly raise good bacteria levels and provide food for that bacteria to colonize and reproduce.
When Should I Consider Changing My Dog’s Diet
- Your dog is moving out of one three key life stages and into another: puppy, adult, and senior. Each one of these life stages has a unique set of needs that can benefit from tailored nutrition.
- Your dog is pregnant. A lactating dog will need extra energy, and may require a new diet that is better suited to their nutritional needs.
- An illness or condition which needs added nutritional support, such as skin sensitivity or gastrointestinal upset.
- You’ve been researching various dog foods or have spoken to your veterinarian and have decided to change your pet’s food.
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Special Considerations For Transitioning
- Puppies come of age at 12 months, so ensure your transition takes into account the nutrient-dense needs of adult dogs as they approach this age.
- Pregnant dogs should have plenty of calcium in their diet, so account for this whilst transitioning.
- Always follow your veterinarians advice with regards to diets.
- Exercise caution if switching to frozen, raw food diets as the handling of raw dog food can be dangerous to immuno-compromised children and adults, the elderly, and pregnant women.
- Insect-based protein and cold-pressed dog food are nutrient-dense, so always have a less is more mentality. About 30 per cent less food is required per meal .
Why Change Their Diet Anyway
If it aint broke, dont fix it. Even if your veterinarian has not recommended a specific diet for your dog, many dog owners choose to switch dog food to provide them with a better, more nutritious diet, benefit the environment, reduce the risk of gastrointestinal problems developing, and many more valid reasons.
Most dog food is manufactured as kibble in a process called extrusion, which cooks the raw components at extremely high temperatures, thereby killing off much of the essential nutrients your dog needs to keep healthy. If your dog is eating kibble at the moment, now is the time to consider cold-pressed dog food such as Bug Bakes for its myriad benefits.
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How To Transition Your Dog Or Cat To A New Food
Need to switch your pet’s dog food or cat food? There are several reasons why you may want to change to a new food brand or formula:
- You’re bringing a new pet home and want to put them on a different formula
- Your pet has a food allergy or sensitivity
- Your pet is entering a new life stage
- Your pet needs to gain or lose weight
- Your veterinarian has recommended a specific diet for your pet
- You want to change your pet to a functional or minimally processed diet
Whatever the reason is for change, you should always consult with a veterinarian before transitioning your pet to a new diet. Dogs and cats can experience an upset stomach if you don’t transition them to a new food gradually. Transitioning too quickly can lead to diarrhea, vomiting or even loss of appetite.
When transitioning to a new pet food, do so slowly over a period of about 710 days, mixing an increasing amount of new food with old food each day:
- Start with 75% old food mixed with 25% new food for approximately three days
- Then mix 50% old with 50% new for approximately three days
- Then 75% new, 25% old for approximately three days
- Then 100% new
While we mentioned a few reasons you may need to change your dog or cat’s food, with the risk of pet sensitivity to new food, why would you want to switch to a new food at all? Here is some additional informaiton to explain the likely scenarios, and what makes switching foods so important at these junctures:
Changing Dog Food Doesnt Have To Be Hard
Changing dog food is very simple but to ensure success, you need to monitor your dog. If your dog is making less mess in the yard, then its mean your dog is absorbing and digesting the new food better. If your pet dog coat is shiny and the eyes are clear, then it means the transition is working.
If your dog experiences stomach upset or diarrhea, the problem may be with the food or the transition period is too fast. To avoid this, consult your pet doctor.
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Switching Dog Food Due To Pet Food Recall Etc
Changes to your dogs diet should be made gradually. In fact, taking five to seven days to mix increasing amounts of the new brand of dog food in with decreasing amounts of the old brand reduces the chances that your dog will develop an upset stomach or refuse to eat. But what do you do when you have to switch your dogs food quickly due to a food recall or other circumstances, like a diet-related illness?
To minimize the risk that your dog will have a bad reaction to the rapid diet change, there are some important steps you must take.
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Changing Your Dogs Diet Is Not Something You Can Do Overnight The Shift To A New Food Should Be Made Slowly To Avoid Stomach Upsets Heres Our Guide Of How To Transition Your Dog To A New Food In A Smooth And Comfortable Way For Them
If youve decided to make a change to your dogs diet, whether its a different brand, a new balance between wet and dry food, or even shifting from puppy food to adult pet food, its really important that you do so slowly. While we can happily eat a variety of foods in one day, our pets have very different digestive systems, which need a focus on balance. Some dogs are likely to have a more sensitive stomach than others but, even so, an abrupt change in diet can lead to digestive upsets. Gradually introducing the food over a 14-day period is the best way to avoid some of the issues that can occur with a change to diet.
We recommend the following approach to transition your dog to a new food:
Days 1-4
What to do if your dog doesnt like the new food
If you follow the 14-day transition process, its most likely that your pet will quickly adapt to their new diet. But if you notice your pet avoiding their food, it may be more to do with what they are eating outside of their bowl. If your pet is receiving too many treats, they may start to avoid their main meals. Its important that you avoid overfeeding them to ensure that they look forward to their daily meals to satisfy their hunger and keep them healthy.
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When To Switch To Senior Dog Food
This is another change that has quite a lot of variation depending on your dog breed. Its hard to know exactly how long individual dogs will live so most people tend to go by averages. Large dog breeds tend to have much shorter lifespans than small dog breeds. So, the age at which they might switch to senior food will differ. Again, the best person to speak to about this change is your vet. But, you may want to consider switching to senior food when your dog starts to slow down a little. Or if they are having any trouble with digestion and joint problems.
Best Multivitamin With Probiotics
If you could give your dog one multivitamin to protect her gut when transitioning to a new food, Daily Great is your best bet. Many pet parents wait until their dog shows signs of stomach upset to add a probiotic or digestive product to her diet. Daily Great targets four things in one: vitamins and minerals for overall health, omega-3s for healthy skin and coat, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint and hip support, and a probiotic for digestive care.
Highlights
- Give twice a day with meals to support your dogs digestive care
- Chewable format makes it easy to dispense
- Formulated with good bacteria and ingredients to promote healthy digestion
- Can be used daily before, during, and after the new dog food transition
- Made in America with 120 soft chews per container
- Delivers gastric comfort to dogs switching to a new food
Things to Consider
- Number of chews dispensed depends on the weight of the dog
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Safely To Changing Brands Of Dog Food
So how do you safely change the food your dog eats? Gradually.
Once youve got your recommendation or done your research to find a new brand of dog food with the ingredients your dog needs, you can start the switch. Another option is to make your own dog food.
Expect the process of swapping dog food brands to take about seven days. If your dog has extreme sensitivities when eating, it may take a little longer to transition them.
Its also a good idea to start with small bags of dog food. If your dog has an adverse reaction, you wont waste a as much money going through the process of trying out different brands.
Tips For Changing Dog Food Safely
A lot of pet parents wonder. When is the right time for changing dog food or what steps should one take when switching dog food? What you need to know is there are many reasons why pet owners will opt to switch dog food.
For starters, the dog is no longer a puppy. Puppy food is rich in calories. This helps to fuel growth and development of the puppy. For adult dog food, it is not high in calories.
The second reason why pet parents switch dog food is that the dog is neutered. This is because spayed dogs need fewer calories. Lastly, pet owners switch dog food because their dog is getting old. As a dog gets old, he or she needs special nutritional requirements.
There are other reasons why dog owners will change dog food and all are genuinely valid.
So, how can pet parents go about switching dog food? Here are 5 tips for changing dog food safely.
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