Should You Mix Wet And Dry Dog Food
Mixing wet and dry dog food or wet and dry cat food is fine as long as both options are of high quality and meet your pets nutritional and other health needs. Quality wet and dry foods are formulated to provide your pet with all the protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need to thrive.
How To Properly Transition Your Dog’s Food
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There are plenty of reasons you may want to switch your dogs current food. Perhaps your dog has been diagnosed with a health issue, youre looking to switch to a more premium dog food, or maybe your dog is just getting older and needs something that better fits their changing nutritional needs.
It is important that your dog switch their food gradually. Switching dog food too fast can lead to tummy trouble for your furry companion. This is particularly important after adopting a dog from shelter while it is often a good idea to keep your dog on the same food that he was fed at shelter, if you do decide to feed something else you might need to be even more patient. While a dog is adjusting to a new home, he might have anxieties and as a result digestion issues. Because of this reason, many pet parents may blame the food for the digestion issues. While that can be possible, its best to not do a bunch of switches in the first month or so until your dog starts to get familiar with their new home.
To transition, mix your dogs current food with their new food. Over 7 days, gradually decrease the amount of the current dog food while increasing the amount of new dog food.
Do Consider Mixing Pet Foods With Different Shapes Textures And Aromas
The shape, texture and aroma are among the most important pet food attributes that entice your dog or cat’s appetite. Try to shake things up a bit by offering your pet a mix of foods with different shapes, textures and/or aromas. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover how much your dog or cat will enjoy the adventure that is eating again.
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How To Implement Rotational Feeding
Since the process of changing your dogs diet should been done over the course of a week, you dont have to necessarily change his food on daily or weekly basis . I recommend doing it every month to three months, or plan it around the time you usually replenish your dog food supplies. During the transitional period, youll feed your dog increasing amounts of the new food, and decreased amounts of the old food, until you have completely switched to the new food. Take note of the serving sizes and calorie countdifferent brands and formulas suggest variants on how much of the food you should be serving at each meal.
Rotational feeding is an optimal time to try out a new brand or dog food type. For example, if you usually give your dog dry kibble, you can slowly rotate a homemade recipe or dehydrated formula in the mix. Im a fervent believer in rotational feeding and my dog, Oscar, enjoys the change of menu. I usually change it up when I notice the lack of excitement around meal times. Ive changed him from dry kibble, to homemade, to Honest Kitchens dehydrated food .
I love to see him eating with gusto which is sorely lacking with a dry kibble menu. A rotational feeding plan allows me to try to foods to see which ones keep him active, healthy and licking his lips.
Is It Ok To Play Switcheroo With Your Pet Foods
Originally published as a three-part series on Fully Vetted.
Do you switch your pets food around? Be honest. Assuming you feed commercial, do you succumb to whatever super-premium canned kitty food is on sale this week? Is it one month Halo, next month Canidae? If so you shouldnt feel so bad about it .
Yes, veterinarians can be kind of funny on this topic. Get us chatting on the subject of pet foods and youll find we tend towards the conservative. So, too, does it go on the subject of switching pet foods.
For example, when asked if the occasional food switcheroo might be OK, most vets will offer up their best frowny face and lace their next few sentences with ominous gastrointestinal details involving the words “bowels,” “gut,” and “microflora” none of which sound too promising with respect to your pets potential diet change.
So you know, we vets tend to cop this cautionary attitude for one understandable reason: The vast majority of our gastroenteritis cases revolve around pets whose diets were suddenly changed. Hence, our profound and persistent distrust of pet owners when it comes to messing with our patients diets. Because it sucks to have to hospitalize a patient for three days after her three-year-long love affair with lamb and rice ended in a venison and potato-ey pool of bloody diarrhea.
Heres how I see it:
There’s obviously much more to this food-switching issue than meets the eye.
Heres how I see it:
1. Variety .
3. Non-cutaneous food allergies .
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Variability In Our Dogs Diets
All complete and balanced pet foods, even the ones made of the best ingredients, contain a premixed vitamin/mineral supplement. This is intended to ensure that the finished products contain a minimum amount of the nutrients deemed vital for canine health. This is needed because many of the nutrients present in the food ingredients are destroyed in the manufacturing process, and because its difficult to find food sources of some nutrients, especially the trace minerals.
Despite the inclusion of the vitamin/mineral premixes, however, laboratory analysis of the finished pet food may reveal a wide range of levels for all the nutrients contained in the finished products. The Association of American Feed Control Officials provides guidelines for minimum levels for most nutrients, and maximum levels . Within this basic framework, however, manufacturers have a lot of room to formulate their products to different levels, based on their own research, experience, and philosophies.
In fact, an interested dog owner can find quite a bit of variability in the nutrient levels in different pet foods that is, if the maker will disclose this sort of minutiae.
The Right Time To Change Foods
Your pets nutritional needs often change with different life stages. So it makes sense to move to a different food when your pet grows from a puppy or kitten to an adult and again when they enter their senior years.
Certain health conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes or simply weight gain may necessitate a diet change. Or you may just have personal reasons for trying a new formula, such as ingredient or brand preferences or just to save money. Its important to note that if your pet suddenly stops enjoying the current food you purchase, you should consult your veterinarian before making a switch.
Whatever the reason, there are actually times when you may not want to change your pets food, and thats when your dog or cat is really sick. A diet change may add more stress to a body that needs to focus on getting healthy.
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How Many Times Per Day Should I Feed My Dog
Many people still think that all dogs should be fed only once per day, but professionals know better than this now. To keep your adult dog healthy, you should feed him twice per day, and to keep a puppy of 6 months or younger healthy, you should feed him 3-4 meals per day.
Puppies dont need as much to eat at each meal, but they use up their food more quickly, and thats why they need to be fed more often. They require more nutrients and calories than their adult counterparts, but their stomachs cannot take in a lot at once. Puppies over 6 months old need to be fed 2-3 times per day.
Reasons For Changing Dog Foods
Its okay to switch dog food. In fact, at some point, it may be necessary. Here are a few reasons you may need to switch up your dogs food:
- Age: Around their first birthday , puppies need to transition to an adult dog food. Around age seven, most dogs are considered senior and may benefit from switching to a senior formula.
- Weight: If your dog is not his ideal body condition, your veterinarian may recommend a weight management formula. Not all weight changes need to be addressed through a change in the food itself. It may just require feeding more or less of the current food. Your veterinarian can help you determine whats best for your dog.
- Activity Levels: Dogs who participate in shows, sporting or agility events or who have demanding jobs may need a formula to support those activities. These types of dog foods often have higher levels of protein and calories. As dogs retire from these activities, they may need to switch to a lower-calorie food to avoid unnecessary weight gain.
- Health: Some foods have been formulated to help veterinarians nutritionally manage certain health conditions. For example, your veterinarian may prescribe a therapeutic formula to help support the unique nutritional needs of dogs with GI conditions.
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Dog Food For Dogs With Sensitivities
Like humans, dogs enjoy, and should consume a variety of different foods. Although they are descended from wolves, and thereby classified as Carnivora, research shows that dogs are monogastric omnivores. This means that in addition to meat, dogs can enjoy a variety of other food sources. Rotating your dog’s food not only is enjoyable for his taste buds, but also can stave off potential food allergies.
Dull And Lethargic: Recovery From Illness
If your dog is recovering from a recent illness, surgery or a stressful event, he may be feeling a little run down and duller than normal. Can his normal diet support him through times of illness or recovery? In these times, he might benefit from a diet that has a high energy content and is enriched with immune-boosting antioxidants, to boost his recovery. However, if your dog is suddenly acting dull, weak or lethargic then it is important to seek veterinary advice before changing his diet.
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Why Do Dogs Lick You
Affection: Theres a pretty good chance that your dog is licking you because it loves you! Its why many people call them kisses. Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs. Licking is a natural action for dogs. They learned it from the grooming and affection given to them as.
Food Intolerances And Allergies
It is actually not variety but subjecting your dog to the same food all the time that causes food allergies. Your dog gets sensitized to the ingredients in the formula, and his body develops a reaction. Senior dogs that have eaten the same food all their lives are seriously prone to allergic reactions.
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How To Rotate Your Dog’s Food
It it not necessary to change your dog’s food on a daily or even weekly basis, although it is recommended that you rotate your dog’s food every three months or fewer. The new food can be the same brand and a different flavor or you can elect to choose a whole new brand. To rotate to the new food, transition your dog slowly over the course of a week. With each meal, feed him increasing amounts of the new food, and decreased amounts of the old food, until you have completely switched to the new food.
Signs That You Need To Change Your Dogs Food
If your dog is eating a good quality, nutritious diet, then he is more likely to feel great and look healthy on the outside too. There are some obvious signs that your dog might show that can be linked to a poor diet. If your dog is showing any of these signs, it may be time to change your dogs food!
Here are six common signs that your dog needs a new diet
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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.
Different Life Stages = Different Food
During different stages of your dogs life, he will have different dietary needs. There is no one food that can achieve everything your dog needs for his entire life- it just doesnt exist- no matter what the advertising on the packet says!
For example, a growing puppy needs much more energy and nutrients than a senior dog. And if an adult dog is fed a puppy formulated diet, it will likely pile on the pounds quite quickly and become fat. Veterinary nutritionists now recommend that you should feed your dog according to his life stage to keep your dog healthy and improve his quality of life.
So, what are the different life stages?
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How To Make A Dog’s Dry Food Tastier So He Will Eat It All
This article was co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM. Brian Bourquin, better known as Dr. B to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA accredited hospital and Bostons first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 319,952 times.
Is It Ok To Change Flavors Of Dog Food
You get worn out just trying to decide what you and your family are going to eat every day, so worrying about what your dog is eating is just more headache. On the other hand, you adore your dog, so you want him to enjoy his food and be healthy.
Does he enjoy his food or is he just eating it because its all he has? Is he as healthy as he can be? Are you starting to question your dog food choices and habits? Here is the low down on what to do and not to do with dog foods.
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How Often Should I Change Dog Food Flavor
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A diet change may add more stress to a body that needs to focus on getting healthy. Whether you’re switching brands, changing from dry to canned food or simply changing flavors, the key is to make the transition gradually. Start by adding a small amount of the new food while slightly reducing the previous food.
One may also ask, should dogs eat the same food everyday? Dogs get tired of eating the same thing every day.They’re fine eating the same thing all the time. Changing types or brands of food can make your dog sick. If you do need to change his food, do it slowly over a few days. Give your dog a bit more of the new food and a bit less of the old food each day.
Hereof, how often should you change dog food?
Most experts recommend transitioning to a new food gradually starting with about 20-25% new and slowly increasing that amount to a full 100% over a 7 to 10 day period.
Do dogs get bored of eating the same food?
Dogs don’t have the same tastes that we have for novel foods and combinations so don’t get bored of the same food every day. They don’t enjoy salty or bitter foods to the same level that we do because of this. However, dogs have a taste receptor that humans lack, for them the taste of water is enjoyable.
Is It Ok To Change Dog Food
Under normal circumstances, we don’t need to frequently change different brands of dog food to dogs. During a period of stable development and growth of a dog, it is sufficient to feed it with one kind of dog food. Of course, there are situations where dog food needs to be changed if necessary. For example, puppies need to change from puppy dog food to adult dog food after they reach adulthood. However, there is a problem. Whether changing the brand of dog food has any effect on the dog?
As long as you choose the right food for your dog and change the dog food according to the scientific method, it will have no effect on the dog. In the process of changing dog food for pet dogs, dogs are often prone to gastrointestinal discomfort and appetite loss, and the main reason may be that the dog can not immediately adapt to the new dog food, or the method of changing dog food is not right.
To change dog food for dogs, you need to choose a reliable brand of dog food . Remember, those unqualified products cannot be used to feed pet dogs. To change dog food for dogs, in addition to choosing a trusted brand, it also depends on whether the dog food is really suitable for dogs. Whether the ratio of nutrition mix, whether the price is appropriate, etc., choosing a suitable brand of dog food for pet dogs is the prerequisite for food change.
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