Despite their eagerness to eat everything in sight (or within sniffing distance!), dogs have surprisingly sensitive stomachs.
If you're considering changing your dog's food, you must bear a couple of things in mind.
Changing your dog's food is not a one-step process. It is important not to rush the process and most importantly, it is vital to listen to your dog during the transition. To help make the transition go smoothly for your furry friend, just follow our guidelines below.
Change Your Dogs Food Gradually
- Once you have selected the new food you are going to switch your dog to, you should begin the transition gradually.
- Mix 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 of the old food, and feed this mix to your dog for a minimum of 3-5 days. Tip: your dog's stool (poop!) is a great indicator of your dog's adjustment to their new food. If the stool is firm & normal, they are adjusting well. If their stool is loose & abnormal it is an indicator that they are having difficulty adjusting to the new food.
- Once your dog has adjusted to the above mix, increase the allotment of new food. Mix 1/2 of the new food with 1/2 of the old food, and feed this mix to your dog until your dog has adjusted to it.
- Next, mix 3/4 of the new food with 1/4 of your dog's old food. Monitor your dog once more, continue to feed them this mix until you are certain they have adjusted to it.
- Once the dog is fully adjusted, you can feed your dog 100% of the new food.
Our 'Nice n Natural Pure' Range
Additional Tips:
- Generally allow your dog a minimum of 7 - 10 days to transition foods.
- Dogs with sensitive stomachs can take up to 6 weeks to transition to foods.
- The same transition rules apply to wet and dry food.
- If you are switching your dog from a low nutritional food to a nutrient-rich food it can be a major change to the system. This transition will likely cause digestive upset and loose stool if not changed gradually. In this scenario, it is important to pay additional attention to your dog's needs.
If you have a question about switching your dog food, call your local Petworld Store where our helpful and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help and answer your questions.
If you have more questions, reach out to our nearest petworld store or call us now