There are numerous reasons for switching up your dog’s diet.
Perhaps your puppy has grown into a full-grown dog now, or he may have gained some extra weight. It is possible that his skin has suddenly become itchy, and you suspect that his dinner is the cause.
Attempting to resolve this issue within a 24-hour period is not advisable since introducing a new type of dog food abruptly may result in complications.
You should take your time instead, as it will ultimately be worth it. Trust us on this.
In the following sections, we will cover additional rationales for changing your dog’s food, the optimal approach to doing so without risk, and determining if modifications are required.
How to Transition to a New Dog Food: A Step-by-Step Plan
To ensure a successful transition to a different brand of dog food, it is important to implement the change gradually.
Blending the new recipe with the old in bit-by-bit fashion can help to avoid some common discomforts when starting a new diet. You can use this template as a starting point:
For the first two days, 25% of the food will be the old one, while the remaining 75% will be the new one.
Between days 3 and 4, half of the food provided will be old and the other half will be new.
From day 5 to day 6, the ratio of old food to new food is 75:25.
On the seventh day, all food consumed will be completely new.
Feel free to make adjustments where you need to .
While some dogs may adapt easily to a sudden change in their diet, others may require a longer period of adjustment to the new components. It should be noted that there are multiple ways to approach this situation.
Trust your instincts, as well as those of your furry friend. In case your dog is experiencing stomach trouble, take a step back and adjust the pace to a more suitable one.
Reasons to Change Your Dog’s Food
Numerous factors may contribute to your decision to alter your dog’s diet.
- It doesn’t provide enough energy . If the bright and bouncy dog you know and love has been acting sluggish, his diet might be to blame. Maybe it’s time for a new recipe that can keep your pup feeling energetic.
- The food doesn’t pass the taste test . Since your dog will be eating the food you pick every day, it’s important that he likes it. If you’ve got a picky eater on your hands, a tastier meal might solve the problem.
- Your dog is entering a new life stage . Doggos in different life stages need a different balance of nutrients from their food. For the 7 to 14 months (depending on the breed), puppy food will support his growing body. When he’s grown, food made for adults will help maintain a healthy weight. When he’s about 7 or 8 years old a senior dog food can help address any age-related concerns.
- Your dog has gained too much weight. If there’s a little? extra weight on your dog, his food could be a factor. A recipe that’s specially formulated to manage his weight could be the key to getting him healthier and happier.
- Your dog has stomach issues . There may be foods that are difficult for your dog to tolerate. You can help by finding a new food that is easier for your pooch to digest.
- Your dog’s health has changed . Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you have to adjust. Conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease may call for a change in diet.
- Your dog is pregnant or nursing . If your fur baby has babies of her own, her diet may need to change. Since her body needs to support her puppies, she’ll need food that’s a lot more calorie-dense and contains all of the extra nutrients her body needs.
- Your dog has special dietary needs .Your vet may recommend a special food if your dog has developed food allergies or needs more support for healthy joints .
- Your current food has become too expensive . Over time, the extra cost of a certain type of food can build up and you may decide that a cheaper option is the way to go.
Signs That Your Dog Is Not Adjusting Well to His New Food
Despite gradually introducing a new food to your dog, it may still cause discomfort and it may take some time for them to adapt to the new diet. In some cases, if your dog continues to struggle with the transition, it may be necessary to go back to the beginning and start again.
These are a few indicators that your dog is not adapting well to the new food:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Change in appetite
To figure out your dog’s tolerance towards what it consumes, observe the contents of its output.
The consistency and appearance of your canine’s feces offer an accurate indication of his digestive wellness. Should your pooch’s excrement be discolored, runny, or watery, it implies that the recent diet regimen is not suitable for him and you may want to decelerate or switch to a dissimilar brand of chow.
Caution: Some Dogs React Badly to New Foods
Whenever your dog samples a new kind of food, it carries a possibility of having an adverse reaction to some or all of the constituents.
It is not always true that allergies are the cause, even though many individuals believe so.
When the immune system becomes overly sensitive to a typically innocuous substance, it manifests as an allergy. The immune system responds to the allergen by inducing inflammation, which can result in itchy skin, as well as occasional hives and swelling.
Canine companions with genuine food allergies may necessitate a dog food consisting of a single protein or perhaps a hypoallergenic regimen.
However, certain dogs may encounter digestive problems when their diet is changed. If the immune system is not involved, it is generally considered an unfavorable food response rather than an allergy.
In such instances, opting for a different food that does not contain the substance causing stomach discomfort should suffice.
BONUS: How to Choose the Best Dog Food
If the world was perfect, dog food would be homogeneous. Yet, there are a plethora of choices available to dog owners, each possessing the label of the best dog food variety on the market. The process of selecting a dog food product which is wholesome, budget-friendly, and appetizing to your furry friend can be distressing. Our collection of professional recommendations can assist you in reducing your alternatives.
What Makes a Dog Food “Good”?
Dry kibble or wet canned food are the most common foods people provide their dogs. Even though we might not find these processed foods enticing, they have all the essential nutrients required for a dog to maintain good health. Veteran professionals have thoroughly tested and closely monitored the production of quality commercial dog foods. What specifically is contained in these kinds of dog foods?
Cats are strict carnivores, but dogs are not. Although most of their diet consists of meat, they can also obtain nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not just optional, but they can provide crucial vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Ideally, dog food should consist of meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The premium dog foods include superior versions of these components that suit your dog’s digestive system.
Dog Food Nutrition
To meet your canine companion’s nutritional requirements, the ideal dog food must be chosen. Though most commercial dog food types are formulated with the minimum dietary needs for dogs, it should always be kept in mind that each dog has unique nutritional necessities.
Throughout their lives, dogs need a variety of nutrients in varying amounts. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, so it’s a wise choice to feed a young dog either puppy formula or an “all life stages” food. If you’re uncertain about the differing nutritional needs between adult and puppy dogs, you can find information on the recommended nutrients and amounts, categorized by weight and age, in the Merck Veterinary Manual. It’s important to note that both large breed dogs and puppies and small breed dogs and puppies have distinct nutritional needs.
Dog Food Myths and Misinformation
Numerous dog food misconceptions and inaccurate information regarding dog nourishment can be found on the Internet. To navigate through the sea of information, abide by a straightforward principle: verify your sources. Numerous individuals, with good intentions, assert claims about dog nutrition without supporting them with scientific data. During your research, ensure that the assertions are supported by credible sources such as a veterinarian, canine nutritionist, or scientific investigation. It is also not harmful to be doubtful. If something appears too fantastic to be genuine, chances are it isn’t genuine.
Dog owners have queries regarding dog food options that include or exclude grains, peas, and animal byproducts. If your veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with a grain allergy, switching to a grain-free diet is advisable with veterinary guidance. Generally, grains are a wholesome source of nutrients, and animal byproducts like organ meats and entrails are highly nutritious. Byproducts that meet regulatory standards and exclude items like hooves, hair, floor sweepings, intestinal contents, or manure are nutritious for dogs. It’s advisable to discuss any concerns about your dog’s food with your veterinarian.
How to Read a Dog Food Label
Deciphering between a good and bad dog food can be achieved by reading the label, though this task can be difficult due to the small print and inconvenience of handling large bags of dog food in stores. Additionally, labels can be deceptive, as stated in the Merck Veterinary Manual. The Food and Drug Administration mandates that dog food labels must provide eight crucial pieces of information, and specific states may have their own labeling requirements.
- Product name
- Net weight of the product
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Guaranteed analysis
- List of ingredients
- Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
- Statement of nutritional adequacy
- Feeding guidelines
Product Name
Just by reading the product name, you can gather information about its contents. A product labeled as “beef” must contain a minimum of 70 percent beef. However, if it’s labeled as “beef dinner,” “beef entrée,” or “beef platter,” it only needs to have at least 10 percent beef. “With beef” requires a minimum of 3 percent beef, while “beef flavor” indicates that there is just enough beef in the product to flavor it (less than 3 percent). The same principle applies to other named ingredients such as “chicken.”
Ingredients
The quality or origin of ingredients cannot be determined solely from the ingredient list on a dog food label. To even out the distribution, manufacturers may divide ingredients such as corn into different types, such as kibbled, flaked, or ground. This results in corn appearing lower on the list despite the higher content of corn in the food. Meat is also a tricky ingredient. The water weight makes up a significant percentage of whole meats, resulting in the overall meat content being lower than it appears. Contrarily, meat meal, though it may not sound appealing, contains more meat than whole meats as there is no water weight to consider.
Even though the quality of the ingredients may not be apparent from the list, it provides information regarding the food’s contents, which is crucial for dogs with dietary restrictions or allergies and beneficial for owners who want to provide their dogs with distinct types of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.
Choosing the Best Dog Food
It is your responsibility as a dog owner to decide which dog food is suitable for your pet. You are the one who closely observes your dog and can determine if the food is appropriate by checking if your dog has solid and healthy feces, is lively and in good physical condition, and maintains a healthy appetite.
During this process, your vet can provide a wealth of valuable information. They have expertise in pet nutrition beyond that of most owners, as well as access to previously unavailable research and resources. Your vet is capable of assisting you in simplifying your choices and eager to address any inquiries you may have regarding your dog’s food.
