How To Transition Dog To New Food

Myths Associated With Transitioning

One thing that I do want you to realize is that having loose stools during a transition IS NOT NORMAL, though you can expect your pets stool to change and maybe become more loose for a small period of time, you should not continue moving through the transition process if your pet has loose stools.

I know some people call this diarrhea during transition a detox which is not true.

When you switch your dog from one diet to another the entire system has to adjust the pancreas needs to release different proportions of digestive enzymes, the gut microbiome needs to transition to digest new fibrous materials , certain digestive systems for vitamins, minerals, proteins or fats may need to be up-regulated or down-regulated in order to maintain homeostasis within the body. Though detox sounds very exciting that isnt what it happening. Their body is adjusting, transitioning, and adapting to a new diet composition. If you move too quickly through this transition process it can cause a medical condition called gastroenteritis which is simply inflammation to the gastrointestinal system this inflammation can lead to damage of the different components of the gut.

How Quickly Do Dogs Adapt To New Pet Food

Prepare for unexpected vet bills

But if youve found a better diet for your dog, youll also need to take special care to help them adjust to their new food.

But how long does it take dogs to adjust to a new food? And what can you do to make the transition easier? Keep reading to find out.

Why would you want to feed your dog a different diet? Whats the point of switching foods?

There are actually several important reasons why you may need to transition your fur-baby to a new food, such as:

• You want to feed a higher-quality food to your dog

• Your pet has a food allergy or is sensitive to a particular ingredient

• Your dog needs to lose or gain weight

• Its time for your puppy to switch to adult dog food

• Youre welcoming a new puppy or adopting a dog

• You want to switch from dry to wet food to give your pet more variety

• Your pet needs to switch to a special diet on the advice of your veterinarian

Some dogs will switch to a new food with no hassles at all. But for many dogs, introducing them to a new diet can result in an upset stomach. Were talking diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive symptoms, all of which can be quite unpleasant for your dog and quite worrying for you.

So instead of abruptly cutting off their old diet and feeding their new one, its important to make the change gradually so your dog has a chance to adapt.

The ratios should look something like this:

• Vomiting

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

Recommended Reading: Who Makes Dr Pol Dog Food

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

Why Is My Dog Having Digestive Issues

Your dogs health is influenced by his microbiome . Switching food can cause a temporary destruction to that microbiome, even if youre switching to a food that will be much better for your dog in the long run.

We recommend making the shift to new food slowly, rather than having your dog go off his old food cold turkey. After your dog has had time to adjust, you should begin to see positive changes.

Don’t Miss: Rachael Ray Cat Food Recall 2019

Variation On Dog’s Diarrhea Recipe

There are several variations for a dog’s diarrhea recipe. Pumpkin is great for helping a dog with diarrhea.

Pumpkin is a great natural remedy for diarrhea in dogs. Pumpkin is a natural laxative and helps dogs with frequent diarrhea.

It soothes the digestive tract and promotes bile flow, which helps break down fats and proteins.

Pumpkin fiber helps with regular bowel movements by absorbing water in the colon.

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.

More dog posts

Read Also: Can You Get Dog Food With Food Stamps

Contrary To Popular Belief Its A Great Idea To Change Up Your Dogs Diet

The monotony of the same old, same old routine kibble isnt meeting all of your dogs nutritional needs. Rotation feeding involves varying your poochs menu on a periodic basis so he can broaden his palette and experience a wider range of nutrients and ingredients.

Imagine eating the same meal, day in, day out. Even if it was your favorite food , the shine would eventually wear off. At first, youd be excited: Pizza for breakfast! Woo hoo! But give it a week or two. Id bet that the novelty would wear off and youd never want to touch a piece of it for a long time. And thats one of the reasons why pet owners incorporate rotation feeding as part of their dogs diet.

Most people opt for a conventional feeding plan for their dog. Your dog is served the same food at every meal. Rotation feeding involves varying a dogs menu on a daily, weekly, or other routine basis.

Guide To Pet Diet Preparation During Their Transition From Puppy To Adult

Food is an essential part of life, be it humans or dogs. Do you own a dog who is transitioning from a puppy to an adult? Dogs go from being puppies to adults in a short span of time. Their bodies change and they require food that fits their metabolism. Here in the UK , constant changes in weather can cause discomfort to dogs, especially during the transition period.

Every dogs body needs a change in food at some point or another. Switching dog food according to your pets needs can sometimes become challenging because of various understandable reasons. It is very important to know how to switch to a new dog food gradually and you should read on, to find out more

Recommended Reading: Iams Intestinal Plus Canned Dog Food

Recommended Serving Size For Homemade Dog Food:

The amount of homemade dog food that your dog will require is dependent upon how much your dog weighs and how active he or she is. This amount varies from dog-to-dog. I suggest talking to your vet and getting their advice on a good starting point.

You can also monitor your dog to make sure they are maintaining their weight and staying happy and active.

This recipe makes about 6 cups of food, which is 3 days worth of food for Charlie who is about 45 pounds. You can easily adjust this amount based on the weight of your dog. Also, feel free to scale this recipe up and double or even triple it, if you wanted to cook less often.

The Results From Feeding Our Diy Dog Food

Back to the story of Bug

After only a couple of weeks of feeding her a homemade diet, the hubby and I were blown away by how much her mental and physical health improved. And we wholeheartedly believe she was able to bounce back because of her new food.

She went from an ailing, exhausted, incontinent, tail-down dog to a happy, energetic, curious, communicative pup. While she isnt miraculously walking again, her hip dysplasia also hasnt progressed or caused her any pain.

Weve learned to watch for signs that she needs to relieve herself as weve realized she knows when she has to go, she just cant get there without our help.

We feed both of our pugs the same food, with the hope that we can stave off any potential health problems for our older one.

When we travel, well bring their homemade food on the road in a cooler. On occasion, weve even ordered their dinner from a restaurant when we ran out of food .

If were camping, well usually just feed them whatever were cooking in camp they love corn on the cob, hobo packs , and the whole assortment of tri-tip, sausages, and ribs that weve usually got going on.

As you might imagine they lovecamping trips!

Homemade dog food gives us the flexibility to fine-tune their diet as needed. Im forever grateful for the extra time we were given with our beloved Bug as a result of the food we chose to feed her.

Read Also: Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Liquid

How To Pick An Adult Dog Food

Here are a few guidelines to help you choose an adult dog food when the time is right:

• To make the transition as smooth as possible, consider keeping the brand of adult food consistent with the brand of puppy food you were feeding.
• It is important that the food is complete and balanced so that your dog will receive all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need in the correct proportions to support a functioning body.
• Make sure you are happy with the ingredients list. If you have any concerns, speak to your veterinarian.
• Be sure you are happy with the price tag. Since your dog will be on this long-term, make the food fits within your budget .

Once you have found the right food for your young adult dog, be sure to follow the diet transition schedule above to minimize stomach upset.

When To Transition Your Dog’s Food

Remember these tips when switching your dogs food:

• 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. If you have a large breed dog, talk to your vet first, as they may recommend keeping them on their puppy food a few months longer to ensure they get the proper calories to grow to their full adult form.
• Remember large and small breed puppies should be transitioned to the appropriate breed-size adult dog food to ensure that their special needs are met.
• For small and medium size dogs who are older about the age of 7 they should transition to a mature adult or senior dog food to ensure they are receiving the appropriate level of nutrients for that older lifestage.
• Larger breed dogs should transition to a senior dog food around the age of 6 as their bones and muscles age a little quicker than their smaller counterparts.
• Follow the feeding guidelines: when mixing the old and new food together, it is important to continue to feed the proper amounts, so be sure to use measuring cups and do your best to get the instructed calorie count correct.

Read Also: Is Iams Dog Food Any Good

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.

Homemade Dog Food Sources

• Meats: chicken, turkey, beef, bison, pork, lamb, venison
• Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, zucchini, summer squash, spinach, kale, collard greens, chard, thawed frozen peas
• Complex carbohydrates: brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, lentils, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, winter squash

Recommended Serving Amounts

• 2 pounds of food per day for a 100-pound dog
• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of food per day for a 50-pound dog
• 1/2 to 3/4 pound of food per day for a 25-pound dog
• 5 to 6 1/2 ounces of food per day for a 10-pound dog

This information is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Every dog’s dietary needs are different. Please consult with your veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own dog’s diet.

Also Check: Is Natural Balance Dog Food Made In China

When Do I Need To Take My Dog To The Vet

If your pet is vomiting or has diarrhea for more than three days, or has symptoms accompanied by lethargy, you should talk to your vet about the transition.

If your dog suffers from a serious medical condition, such as advanced kidney disease or pancreatitis, they may require a more stringent diet, and Nom Nom may not be the right fit. Remember to consult your veterinarian before changing his diet.

The Nom Nom R& D team is on the lookout for dogs that experience regular diarrhea to participate in their new GI targeted probiotics trial. Sound like someone in your house? See if your dog qualifies for this paid research study here.

How To Transition Your Dog Onto A New Food

Prior to transitioning your pup onto a new food there are two main things I want to you consider The first is if the food your are transitioning your pup to is even appropriate for your pup meaning is this food the best choice for my pup at this moment in their life. Now sometimes there will be some trial-and-error associated with finding the perfect food for your pup, but doing some research prior to the transition can be really helpful, and avoid a lot of headache going forward. If you need help figuring out how to choose a pet food, or how to figure out if a food is appropriate for your pup make sure to head over to my article on that first! The second thing to consider is if it is the right time to transition your pup to the new food

Read Also: What Does Dog Food Taste Like