You may be thinking of transitioning your dog to a new food for any number of reasons. Maybe your canine companion has a health condition that necessitates a new formula. Maybe your pet just seems dissatisfied and bored with the same old food you’ve been feeding. And there are many more reasons in between.
Regardless of the reason you’re considering switching your furry friend’s food, there are a few simple tips to make the transition easier for you both. People often believe their pet has a sensitive digestive system or intolerance to new foods when the owners didn’t know or follow the best measures to make the switch easier and healthier for their dog. Here are five tips to help you if you’re considering making a dogfood switch:
First, consult your vet
If your pet is going on a new food for a health condition, it’s likely at the recommendation of your veterinarian. But when we switch our dog’s food for any other reason, we usually don’t think about talking to our vet first. However, your vet’s office can offer valuable advice to help you and your canine companion make a seamless transition. After all, they know the most about your dog’s health history.
Don’t go cold turkey
Many of us have attempted at some point to change our own diets for various reasons, and it’s always hard when we try to drop a habit cold turkey with no transition to a new way of eating. It’s the same for your dog. Vets recommend a gradual transition to a new food, and depending on your dog’s tummy sensitivity, that could take one to two weeks.
The suggestion, says Jason Wilton, D.V.M. and associate veterinarian at Flatt Veterinary Clinic in Cookeville, Tenn., is to start the transition by substituting 25 percent of your dog’s current food with the new food for 2 to 4 days. When you know your dog is acclimated to that blend, substitute half of the old food with the new for 2 to 4 days and evaluate your pet’s acceptance level once again. Follow the same process, substituting 75 percent of the old food with the new, and finally 100 percent. At any point in the process, if your dog show’s disinterest in the food or significant stomach upset after eating, move back to the prior stage.
Remember their sensitive systems
Some dogs’ digestive systems are more sensitive than others, so not all will transition in the same time frame. That’s a good tip to keep in mind if you’re changing food for multiple dogs at the same time. One pet may fully acclimate to new food in a week, while another may take the full two weeks. If it’s been three weeks and your pet is still disinterested in the food or has stomach upset after eating, that could be a sign that you do indeed need to go back to the drawing board. Keep in mind, however, the more frequently food is switched, the more likely your dog is to have digestion difficulties.
Control their treats
Elimination diets can help people figure out what foods they’re sensitive to; likewise, minimizing the variety of treats your dog gets during a feeding transition can help you determine if it’s actually the new food causing potential stomach upset. Some of us are precise about not feeding our furry friend from the table; others of us tend to share bites of healthy snacks like apples or carrots with our dogs. During a food transition, however, it’s best simply to stick to one brand of dog treat that they are accustomed to having and avoid table food altogether. That way, if a feeding issue arises, it’s much easier to determine if it’s being caused by the new dog food. Some dog food and treat companies even make transition supplements.
The proof is in the pooping
What goes in must come out, and the color and texture of your dog’s poop reveals much about its digestive health, Wilton says. Obviously, if your dog is experiencing frequent or consistent diarrhea, that’s a cause for concern, but especially if your dog has a sensitive system, some can be expected. When your dog begins to acclimate to the new food, however, the proof should be in the poop: it should be neither too soft and thin nor too hard; just like Goldilocks, it should be just right. Your dog shouldn’t have to strain to pass it, and it should be solid but pliable. The color shouldn’t be too yellow or clay-colored nor too dark; it should be a shade of light to medium brown. When the color and texture of your dog’s poop fits that description, it indicates that it is successfully transitioning to the new food and that the new food is providing healthy nutrition.
Conclusion
Regardless of why you choose to transition your dog’s food, these tips should save both you and your pet a lot of stomachache by taking the guesswork out of how to make the switch safely and healthfully.