If you change foods often you can keep your dog’s GI tract upset on an ongoing basis which will lead to other health problems. You can also look at your dog’s weight, his skin and coat, his energy level, his eyes, and other signs to see if he looks and acts healthy. Implications of Changing Your New Dog's Dog Food | Hill's Pet, Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Small Paws™ Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe dog food, Hill's® Science Diet® Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe dog food, Adult Perfect Weight Small & Mini Dog Food. Canned food is higher in protein. Even in this situation, you can help your puppy adjust to a … Slowly shift him back to the old food and start again with something else after giving his tummy a break. HOWEVER, constantly switching the dog's food is harmful as that can cause more serious gastric upset. On day four, mix 80 percent of the new food with 20 percent of the old. Many dog owners may choose to keep their dogs on the same food throughout their lives. Changing your dog's food when it is one year old is a general rule. Trademarks owned by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U.S. only; registration status in other geographies may be different. I suggest that they give their dogs one food for 2-4 months, and then switch to another food… Seeing canines chow down on the contents of an overturned trash can you might be tempted to think they have iron stomachs. You may have wondered if this is a good idea or not. When Vets Tell You To Switch from Grain Free Kibble to Grains. Changing dog food isn't something you should rush into, especially when bringing home a new dog. Here are some thoughts about this practice. Foods with grains contain phytates that bind some of the minerals added to the food so they aren’t absorbed by your dog. Additionally, as when making any food change, try to do so gradually, by mixing increasingly large portions of the new food in with your dog’s current food over a period of a week or so. A nutrient profile is designed to show that the food looks good on paper. This is particularly true if you are feeding a dog food that has achieved AAFCO approval through feeding trials. Extra tips for switching I recommend you feed dry or canned food separately from dehydrated or raw meals because they digest at different rates. Your vet may recommend trying novel proteins—a fancy way of saying “types of meat your dog has never tried.” Shop limited ingredient dog food Out with the old; in with the new. Taste of the Wild and Orijen, two good dog food brands, recommend rotating your dog’s food if you feed their brands. If they can catch a rat, they’ll eat it. She wouldn’t eat it so I added a small amount of plain, skinless, boiled chicken (I only used 1 chicken leg quarter over a 3 day period) but recently she hasn’t been doing well. The more proteins your dog is exposed to, the more you increase the chance that your dog could become allergic to something. To make a protein, amino acids are linked together in a long chain. It's ok. Again, according to these companies, in the wild a wolf/dog would be eating different kinds of prey and thus getting many different kinds of amino acids in his diet. You don’t have to stick with one dog food all the time. Once you are able to recognize the signs of adulthood in your pup and you are ready to make the switch to adult dog food, you … She writes frequently about pets and pet health in her home office, where she is assisted by a lapful of furbabies. Ideally, they should provide you with enough for your dog's first week. Other people rotate more often but the more often you rotate the more likely you are to upset your dog’s stomach, especially if you have a breed or dog with a sensitive stomach. You can keep your dog healthy and try to support his immune system. You can mix some of the new formula in with the old formula to make the change over the course of a few days. Wet food contains less calories per gram than dry food. A stressed or weakened immune system is more likely to show a reaction if your dog is prone to allergies. Learn what to look for in healthy pet food & nutrition, including ingredients, quality of the manufacturer, your pet's age, and any special needs they have. Follow this feeding schedule: Day 1: Feed 75% of the old food mixed with 25% of the new food … For the first week, feed a mixture of canned food with your pet's dry food to allow the body to adjust. Although there are hundreds of different amino acids, only 21 are used in animal proteins. Dogs don’t do well when you change food that often. Changing dog food should be done gradually over at least a 2 week period. So you need to pick … However, you should always consult with your vet before making the switch and stick with puppy food if you have any doubt. Most dogs are happy eating the same food regularly. Even though I keep all garbage secure, there is always the dog-lover friend or relative who wants to sneak Rover food off their plates or that piece of hot dog. If you continue to have trouble changing dog food, or if his stools contain blood or an unusual color, you should consult a veterinarian. That’s not how the immune system works. Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins and different meat proteins can have slightly different amino acids. Tailored nutrition with our special Small & Mini antioxidant blend for lifelong immune support, Supports healthy joints, immune system, digestion, lean muscle & beautiful coat, Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition. You don’t have to stick with one dog food all the time. To help make a dog food transition go smoothly for your new housemate, follow these steps: Ask the shelter to send some food home with you. Once he's used to it, gradually switch him to your preferred brand or formula. If they can get the leftovers from a fried fish dinner, down the hatch. Switching food gradually helps the dog’s body adjust to the new food. Animals can lose almost all their fat and half their protein and still survive, but if they lose 15% of their water, it will mean death. Your dog’s stomach needs time to adjust to eating the new food. The potential stomach ache (and mess) should be enough of a reason to go slow when transitioning dog food, but above all, consider the numerous changes your new dog is already dealing with as he settles into his new life. It could be that the new dog food contains ingredients to which your dog has an intolerance or allergy. I like for my dog to get variety, different sources primarily of protein, including fish, internal organs like liver, and both dry and wet food. These differ between wet and dry diets. Of course, it’s possible that your 10-year-old dog can suddenly develop an allergy to chicken after eating a chicken-based dog food for years but if he does, you will have lots of other good dog foods to choose for him that use other protein sources. Required fields are marked *. Changing your dog’s food can be a difficult task because it can upset your dog’s stomach and create digestion problems. Gradually switch your dog's food. If they can't, find out what they were feeding your dog before you adopted him and pick up a small bag before bringing him home. Promotes healthy brain, eye, muscle & immune system development. Give your dog plenty of water, especially now, as he'll need to stay hydrated during the transition. Most people will change dog foods for various reasons from time to time. For large breed dogs that are around 5 years of age, their food should switch to a mature adult or senior large breed dog food so that their special nutrient requirements are met. Your email address will not be published. Perhaps your dog has been diagnosed with a health issue, you’re 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. You should not have to feed your dog a variety of dog foods in order for him to achieve good health under these circumstances, especially if you are feeding a good quality food. A feeding routine makes a necessary food change easier. Foods that may have once been amongst the best available are constantly being surpassed (this is a … Depending on the minerals involved, this can be harmful in some cases. The reality, however, is that dogs have surprisingly sensitive tummies, and abrupt changes to their food can upset them. When your dog is used to eating at the same times each day, his body becomes conditioned to expect food at those times. My dog is very picky & my regular dog food wasn’t in production for a few months so I had to switch. Okay, it’s an old school approach but it works. As long as your dog is eating one food and not showing any signs of allergies or a food intolerance, there is no need to rotate food to “prevent” allergies. If you wish to add some canned food or a little homemade stew to their food to make it tastier, that’s fine, but dogs usually don’t like a lot of change. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They keep changing food. I switched my dog from pedigree to Purina, because Purina seemed like it was better quality and my dog was eating it like crazy. The most common reason you might need to switch your puppy to dog food early is if he has gained too much weight or has been neutered. Your dog is now able to learn commands more quickly and do more complicated stunts and tricks than a puppy would. "A feeding routine helps your dog cope when there are changes in the household." Again, see your vet to ensure he's taking to it healthily. Wow. The recipe for successful food transitioning is to do it gradually. Changing foods every so often means that you keep yourself aware of what is available. They switch from food to food constantly. So, too, does it go on the subject of switching pet foods. By Jennifer Coates, DVM Changes to your dog’s diet should be made gradually. I’ve followed this pattern for over fifty years and never had any stomach problems with my various dogs; some purebreds and some mixed breeds. What You Should Know About Grain Free Dog Food. How gradually should you switch? This could explain why some grain-free food companies have recommended rotating foods. Posted March 20, 2019 by greendog & filed under diet and health, Dog Nutrition, Heart Health, pet food ingredients, prescription pet foods, specific ingredients, Useful.. You may have heard something online or from your vet about the issue of dogs eating grain free foods sometimes showing low levels of taurine in their bloodwork. The wider the variety of ingredients you introduce to your dog, the more likely you are to encounter something he might be allergic to. Some dogs have immune systems that are overactive or which react inappropriately. The reality, however, is that dogs have surprisingly sensitive tummies, and abrupt changes to their food can upset them. In fact, exposing your dog to the proteins in other foods can cause an allergic reaction to the new proteins. That’s not always the reason, but it often is. 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. Sometimes owners have to switch food abruptly, due to a recall or other unforeseen circumstances. Switching your dog’s food abruptly can cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite. Many dogs will not hesitate to readily devour canned food. It is important that your dog switch their food gradually. Where you store your cat and dog food can make a big difference in the quality and freshness once it is opened. By periodically switching dog foods, the unhealthy consequences of serving the same imperfect products can be minimized. A dog can have this kind of reaction to lots of different things, including food ingredients. Most healthy dogs can have their food switched over a gradual seven day transition. Tips for Switching Dog Food. My last question was whether or not I *had* to rotate protein sources and your very reasonable article would suggest I don’t. Large or giant breed puppies take a little longer to reach maturity, and many of them are still growing until they turn two years old. This is a particular problem with small boutique dog food companies which do not invest the money to do expensive six-month feeding trials. Some people like to rotate their dog’s food, either using the same brand and different formulas or several different brands. Rotating dog food is something many dog owners feel is a good idea for the health of their dog. A switch in brands may or may not cause problems depending on the quality of ingredients and the make up of levels in protein, fat, fiber etc. Byproducts are the leftovers other than meat, such as brains, blood and bones. Switch slowly. 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