Transitioning Your Pets Food
Nutrition needs are highly individual and evolving. Many pet parents find that they need to make diet changes. Whether its a long-term switch to a new food, or rotating in different types of proteins or diets, making changes too quickly can cause digestive upset. Here are some steps for a successful transition.
Gradually Mix in New Food.
Unlike us, our pets often eat the same diet for months or years and are not used to sudden changes.
Switching foods abruptly can cause vomiting, diarrhea or excess gas. So its important to change diets gradually.
The Ratio Method.
Keep the ratio of old to new food the same for several days. If at any time during transition your pet experiences gastro-intestinal upset, increase transition time at the previous ratio to allow them time to adjust.
High-quality, high-meat content foods are nutrient dense and usually higher calorie-per-cup than cheap alternatives. Feeding the same amount of a nutrient dense food can cause diarrhea or weight gain from over-feeding. Use the guidelines on the packaging for feeding recommendations. But remember, its just a guideline. Your pet may need less to maintain their ideal body weight. So, its a good idea to cut down on the amount you feed when you switch to a better food.
Measure Appropriately.
The Cold Turkey Switch.
Fast Your Pet. Skip one meal so their stomach is empty of old food contents. Dont skip more than one meal though, especially with cats.
Use Digestive Aids.
How To Transition Your Dog To Raw Food Easily
So youâre thinking about switching your dog to a fresh, raw diet but donât know where to start? Let us show you how easy and simple it can be.
How do I introduce raw food to my dog?
We always recommend a slow introduction to our food over 2 weeks. This is to minimise any potential for stomach upsets which can happen if a change in diet is sudden. A slow introduction can also help with dogs that arenât particularly fond of change or if the change in diet is a big difference. Imagine going from eating processed fast foods all your life then being presented a meal with fresh, unprocessed, uncooked ingredients⦠it may take a bit of getting used to in the beginning. So keep a close eye on them while they are eating their meals, and monitor their stools during the transitioning period.
Here is what you should do over the next two weeks broken down into percentages:
Day 1-3: 20% New 80% OldDay 4-6: 40% New 60% OldDay 7-9: 60% New 40% OldDay 10-12: 80% New 20% OldDay 12+: 100% New Diet
This is just a guide, donât stress about percentages too much. Your dog definitely wonât be pulling you up if you serve them 22% and 78%. Just work towards slowly swapping your dogâs food over 2 weeks.
How much do I feed my dog?
It is important to remember that our feeding guidelines are just a guide and your petsâ metabolism, breed, size, age and activity level may affect their overall nutritional requirements.
Should Dogs Eat Same Food Everyday
Almost every day a dog eats the same thing. It works best to buy a food that your dog can digest at a high level. Once you find a product your pet is enjoying, remain with it. You can generally switch them food for several days or even once a week if you decide to do so. If possible, give your dog new foods a few more times per week and old food a little less frequently.
Read Also: Can You Get Dog Food On Food Stamps
How To Transition To A New Dog Food
Whether you want your dogs to be in peak shape for hunting season, or youre trying out a medical diet to alleviate some canine health problems, there are many reasons you might want to make a dog food transition. So what should you do to make the switch as easy and painless as possible for both you and your dog? Follow these eight strategies to successfully transition your dog to a new diet.
Consider how major the switch is.Some dog food transitions are relatively easy for example, switching from chicken flavor to beef within the same brand like Mossy Oak’s Nature’s Menu. Others are more significant, such as changing brands of dog food, incorporating wet food, or eliminating certain ingredients due to allergies or sensitivities. The more significant the switch, the longer of a transition period you will need. Your dog is also more likely to react negatively to more drastic dog food transition, so if its a big swap, anticipate issues such as upset stomachs or refusing to eat.
Space the transition out over time.Some dogs have an iron stomach and will eat anything in sight, so you can theoretically make the transition cold turkey. But most dogs wont take well to a sudden switch, so its usually best to spread the transition out over five to seven days, using the following food ratios.
- Days 1-2: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new food
- Days 3-4: 50 percent old food, 50 percent new food
- Days 5-6: 25 percent old food, 75 percent new food
- Day 7: 100 percent new food
How To Switch Dog Food Gradually
The best way to transition your dogs food is to mix your current dog food with the new dog food for at least 5 days. This allows for your dogs digestive tract to adjust without suffering from stomach issues.
- Day 1: Feed 75% of your current food and mix in 25% of the new food in each serving to start the adjustment period for clean digestion.
- Day 2: Adjust to feeding 60% of your old food and mix in 40% of the new food in each serving.
- Day 3: Feed 50% of your old food, mixed with 50% of the new food per serving.
- Day 4: Feed 40% of your old food, mixed with 60% of the new food per serving.
- Day 5: Feed 25% of your old food, mixed with 75% of the new food per serving.
- Day 6: Feed 90-100% of the new food at this point you should be very close to a clean digestive transition period.
Break the daily serving size into two meals per day: one in the morning and one in the evening.
Also Check: Purina Vs Pedigree Puppy Food
Transitioning To A New Food Without Illness
When Should You Switch Your Dogs Food
It may become more important for your pup between six and twelve months old. Puppies aged around 5 or 6 months can usually transition to adult foods then. As a pup, this usually results in lower energy requirements you want to switch from puppy food to adult dog food so that your dog has the opportunity to have Spaying or Neutrecising as well.
Recommended Reading: Soften Dog Food
How Long Will A Puppy Have Diarrhea After Switching Food
It is generally recommended that diarrhea from switching foods should not last longer than 3 or 4 days at the very least. In some cases, it may take up to a week for some dogs to adjust to the new food, but that is really pushing it at the very least. It takes most dogs 2 or 3 days to adjust to their new food.
Changing Dog Food Within The Same Brand The Why When And How
While dogs arent as picky as cats, its not uncommon for them to sometimes refuse to eat a certain food. And, yet sometimes it just has to be done. So, here well talk about changing dog food within the same brand the why, when, and how of it all. Additionally, well go over the differences between that and moving to another brand, some of the problems that may arise, and other additional tips and tricks you can employ.
Also Check: Can You Buy Dog Food With Food Stamps
The Proof Is In The Poop
The best way to monitor your dogs digestive health is to pay attention to the quality of the stool. While minor variations in stool color and consistency are normal, any major changes can indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. A great way to evaluate your dogs stool is to use a Fecal Scoring Chart. An ideal fecal score is 34. Lower numbers may indicate dehydration or constipation, while higher numbers are indicative of gastrointestinal upset, which can be due to a variety of factors. If your dogs stool is consistently outside of the normal range, it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian regarding your dogs digestive health.
When Should One Switch Dog Foods
- Puppies become adults at 12 months of age and should transition to an adult dog food to ensure they are receiving proper nutrient levels for adult dogs.
- Large breed puppies should switch to a large breed adult dog food to ensure that their unique needs are met.
- Pregnant or nursing dogs need energy-dense foods with increased calcium content, so be sure to transition them during this particular time to puppy food. However, during pregnancy or nursing, large breed dogs should be switched to regular puppy food, not a large breed puppy food.
- Anytime you plan to switch from kibble to a raw or freeze-dried diet. Adding canned food to kibble is an effortless transition, but if youre making a switch to a raw diet, youll want to take it slower.
Read Also: Good Food For Pomeranians
Transition Dog Food Gradually
Switching your dogs food suddenly can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and decreased appetite. Transitioning food slowly gives your dogs GI system time to adjust.
Plan on taking 1-2 weeks to transition from one dog food to another. Start by adding a small amount of new dog food in with the original food.
Wet Dog Food: Switching Dog Food in Seven Days
Pro Tip: Mix the new dog food thoroughly with the current food so your dog can’t pick and choose which food to eat.
Switching dry dog food follows the same slow transition, extended over 14 days instead of seven.
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.
You May Like: How To Soften Dry Cat Food
Things To Consider Before Switching To Adult Food
Maturity and adulthood can be difficult to predict. To be sure about your puppys age, you can talk to the shelter, breeder, or rescue groups where you adopted your dog as well as talking with a veterinarian to be certain of when to switch your puppy to dog food. The importance of switching lies with nutrition.
Keep A Consistent Schedule
Updating their diet is going to be enough of a change, so be sure to stick to your dogs regular feeding schedule as you transition their food. Doing so will not only keep your pup free from additional changes, but itll also give them reassurance that the new food youre feeding them is something theyll love! If your dog initially refuses to accept the new food, you might want to try removing any uneaten food after 20-30 minutes to show them that this new meal is their only choice.
Read Also: Can You Buy Dog Food With Food Stamps
Switching Dog Food: Tips And Recommendations
- There are a variety of reasons to switch dog food.
- Switching should happen gradually to prevent intestinal upset.
- Side effects of switching food to fast include diarrhea and vomiting.
- Planning and preparation can help make the transition to a new food easier.
Have you ever wondered how dogs can eat the same food every day? It turns out, dogs dont really need variety in their food. Often picky dogs are the ones holding out for human food.
For all the canines readily eating their meals, as long as the food packaging has a label from the Association of American Feed Control Officials , the food is considered complete and balanced. If the food you feed daily is complete and balanced, you are giving your dog everything they need to live.
There are a few good reasons to consider switching dog food. If you need to make a diet change , following a diet transition timeline will help your dog adapt to the new ingredients, and may help prevent some unwanted consequences.
This article will help you understand reasons to switch dog food, how to switch diets, and what to do if you accidentally switch too fast. If you do need to make a change, you will be ready.
Dog Food Transition Schedule
- happens over a 7-10 day period or longer.
- A typical dog food transition:
- Day 1/2 Mix 20% of the new food with 80% of the old.
- Day 3/4 Mix 40% of the new food with 60% of the old.
- Day 4/5 Mix 60% of the new food with 40% of the old.
- Day 5/6/7 Mix 80% of the new food with 20% of the old.
- Day 8/9/10 Feed 90-100% of the new food.
These tips to switch dog food safely will help your dogs tummy as the transition proceeds.
Recommended Reading: Darwin Dog Food Reviews
Assessing The Reason For The Switch
Before you attempt to switch your dogs food, it is important to examine the reason behind the change. Changing your dogs food can be a complicated and gradual process, so before you embark on switching your dogs food, it is important to analyze the reason prompting your decision and assess whether or not it is worth it. Below are a handful of the most common reasons that a pet owner may switch their dogs food.
How To Switch Dog Food
You may be anxious to make the switch to a new food, particularly if the new food will help address any issues your dog is having. A gradual transition is the best way to switch to a new food, though.
We recommend making the switch over a 7- to 10-day period. This gives your dog a chance to adjust to the new food.
Heres our 7- to 10-day plan for switching dog food:
- Days 1 to 2: Feed 3/4 of the normal amount of current food and add 1/4 of the new food.
- Days 3 to 4: Serve half the current food and half the new food.
- Days 5 to 7: Feed 3/4 of the new food and 1/4 the previous food.
- Days 8 to 10: Serve only the new food.
If your dog doesnt seem to like the new food or if he experiences digestive upset, extend the transition over a few more days. You can also ask your veterinarian for advice.
Remember, you can use this transition process any time you need to change your dogs food.
Visit our Pet Expertise page for more nutrition and feeding tips from our experts.
Recommended Reading: Does Canned Dog Food Expire
Changing Your Pet Food: Why And How
Thursday, November 3, 2016 | HealthNutrition
There are many reasons to consider switching pet food flavors, types or brands. But how do you go about changing your pet food, and how do you know its really time?
Your pet may eagerly devour a new type of pet food. But your pets digestive tract may not be as enthusiastic: Vomiting, diarrhea and gas are just a few of the potential consequences to a sudden food switch. Thats why food transitions should be made gradually, over the course of a week or more, to give your pets digestive tract a chance to adjust.