How Often Should You Change Dog Food – There are many reasons to consider changing the flavor, type or brand of pet food. But how do you change your pet’s food and how do you know?
Your pet may be eager to eat a new type of pet food. But your pet’s digestive tract may not be so enthusiastic: vomiting, diarrhea and gas are just some of the possible consequences of a sudden change in food. Therefore, food should be changed gradually, over a week or so, to give your pet’s digestive tract a chance to adapt.
How Often Should You Change Dog Food
Your pet’s nutritional needs often change with different life stages. Therefore, it makes sense to switch to other foods as your pet grows from a puppy or kitten to an adult and again as they enter old age.
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Certain health conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes or simply weight gain, may require changes in diet. Or maybe you have a personal reason for trying a new formula, like an ingredient or brand preference (Taste of the Wild, for example, has a lot of interesting options) or just to save money. It is important to note that if your pet suddenly stops “enjoying” the current food you have purchased, you should consult your veterinarian before making any changes.
You want to change your pet’s food, and that’s when your dog or cat is really sick. Changing your diet can add more stress to a body that should be focusing on being healthy.
Whether you’re changing brands, switching from dry to canned food, or simply changing tastes, the key is to change gradually.
Start by adding a small amount of new food while cutting back on the previous food. This means that the pet starts with about 75 percent of the previous food and 25 percent of the new food. Over the next 7 to 10 days (14 days for dogs with sensitive stomachs), you can gradually change the proportion of food to 50 percent of the previous food with 50 percent of the new food, then 25 percent of the previous food with 75 percent. new food until the pet ends up eating 100 percent new food.
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If your pet is experiencing vomiting, loose stools, excessive gas or digestive noises, talk to your vet. Usually, it’s better to slow down the transition more than to suddenly go back to your previous diet.
If you have been feeding your pet free, this may be a good time to switch to regular food. Instead of leaving food out all day, put out a bowl and then remove anything your pet hasn’t eaten after 20 or 30 minutes. For pets that may not be enthusiastic about the change, a mild hunger pang may encourage them to accept the new food.
Since cats have a reputation for being picky eaters, it helps to expose them to a variety of foods as kittens. Try giving them dry and canned food, as well as different sizes and shapes of kibble (with a gradual transition, of course). This can make transitioning to food easier later on.
If your cat refuses a new food, you don’t want him to go without food for more than 24 hours; this can lead to a serious medical condition called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver. When switching your cat to canned food, try warming the food slightly so that the aroma attracts it. You can also try dividing your daily food allocation into smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, or even use food puzzles to reduce meal times.
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If you still have problems, talk to your vet. Some food transitions can cause bacterial imbalances in the digestive tract that may require additional probiotics or even antibiotics. Your vet can help get your pet back on track in no time.
The information in this blog was developed with our veterinarians and is designed to help educate pet parents. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health or diet, talk to your veterinarian. A “rotating diet” is when you frequently change dog food to give your puppy different proteins. For example, you can go from chicken to beef to turkey and then back to chicken.
A quick check online will show you that there is some disagreement among pet parents about how often you should change dog food, or even if you should change dog food at all.
There are actually pros and cons to changing what you feed your puppy, and what works well for one dog may not work for another. But in general, it’s not a bad idea to give your dog new experiences and new foods to try!
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First and foremost, variety is the spice of life – and that’s as true for your dog as it is for you. If your puppy gets bored easily, you may want to change the dog’s food from time to time to keep the meals varied and interesting.
Also, nutritionally, different proteins contain different levels of vitamins. For example: beef is naturally rich in vitamin A, rabbit is naturally high in vitamin D, and salmon contains high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. Although these foods meet AAFCO guidelines for containing the minimum amount of vitamins needed, the extra boost doesn’t hurt!
Finally, one of the biggest reasons to change dog food frequently is to make things easier. You may encounter a situation where you have to change dog food, either for medical reasons or simply because your preferred food is out of stock. If your dog is used to eating different foods, he can adapt easily. On the other hand, if your dog has only ever eaten one food and never tried anything else, he may refuse to eat when you really need him.
However, there are some risks you must take when switching dog foods, so it may not be the best choice for every situation. If you have a highly sensitive pet, you may want to consult a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to discuss the benefits or drawbacks of changing their diet.
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Also, if you change dog food too quickly, or if your dog really has a sensitive stomach, the change can cause gastrointestinal upset. That’s no fun for Fido – or for you! Therefore, do it slowly when introducing new proteins or foods into your dog’s diet.
Not all proteins or foods will be suitable for your puppy. There are some cases where you may find that your best friend is allergic to certain proteins, but it’s good to know so you can eliminate them from his diet in the future. Nowadays, you can ask your vet to do an allergy test before considering a food change.
Whenever you change a dog’s food, it is best to change only one aspect of the food at a time. For example, you can keep the same brand and choose a different protein. Or, maybe you’re feeding the same protein but changing its form—wet versus dry, for example. Another option is to keep your dog’s main food the same but change the toppings you add to the food.
When choosing a new protein, don’t be afraid to switch to more unusual proteins that your dog may not have tried before, such as salmon, duck or rabbit. Each of these proteins has a slightly different nutritional balance, and you may find your dog’s new favorite!
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One of the easiest ways to change dog food without opening multiple bags is to wait until the bag you’re using starts to shrink. Then, buy the new food and use the last part of the old food to mix it in during the transition.
Take at least a few days to transition your puppy to the new food, changing the ratio of old food to new food slightly each day. Most dogs adjust to a new diet within a week of transition, but some dogs need two weeks or more if they have sensitive stomachs that react easily to diet changes. The potential for temporary GI upset is why you shouldn’t change dog food too often; once a month or every few months is enough.
So is a rotating diet good for dogs? Is it okay to change dog food every once in a while? Well, it all depends.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding your dog. A rotating diet works well for most dogs, adding variety to their lives and preparing them for possible twists and turns down the road. But constantly changing food may not be the best option for other dogs, if they have sensitive stomachs, allergies or special health needs.
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However you feed your puppy, it’s important to pay attention to his health and behavior. As long as your dog is eating enthusiastically and being their normal self, there’s nothing wrong with developing your child’s appetite! Your dog’s diet has a huge impact on their health and happiness. wrong
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