When our dog changes its life stage, is diagnosed with a he alth problem or, simply, we want to offer it a higher quality food than the one it is consuming, it is important that we take into account some recommendations so that the change is successful.
Giving another food abruptly could lead to rejection or gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, below, on our site, we explain how to change the dog's food step by step.
Is it bad to change my dog's feed?
First of all, we must spend some time choosing the best food for our dog. Whether it's feed, wet food, dehydrated or homemade, it has to cover its nutritional needs, that's why you have to look for quality. Dogs, as carnivores that they are, require that their menu be made up, above all, of protein of animal origin. The rest of the ingredients can be cereals, vegetables, fruits, etc., but not sugars or artificial additives.
If we are giving our dog a good quality feed and switch to a worse one, the change would be negative, although the dog accepts it well. We could notice that the appearance of his coat worsens or that his stools are more abundant and smell worse, since the food will have fewer usable nutrients and will generate more waste. If the quality is very low and the nutritional needs of the dog are not covered, more serious problems of malnutrition, anemia or different symptoms related to vitamin deficiencies could appear.
On the other hand, if we ask ourselves what happens if I change my dog's food for a better one, we will notice benefits, as greater he alth, shinier fur, or smaller stools. Therefore, it is possible to change the food and it will not be negative if it is done to improve quality, treat a disease and always following the guidelines that we explain in the following section.
How to change a dog's food?
A sudden change of food in dogs is contraindicated, as it could cause digestive discomfort, such as loose stools or diarrhoea. In addition, the dog may reject the new food if it is not given after a adaptation period If the change is between different feeds, the dog usually accepts it well, except that whether it is a diet food or similar, which tend to be more tasteless. But when the dog is receiving homemade food and we want to give it food, it is common for rejection to arise.
To avoid this, you have to offer him his food as usual, but change about a quarter for the new food. After a couple of days, we'll switch to half of each meal. Another couple of days later we will increase the new menu until only a quarter of the old food is left in the feeder. This gradual process will take about a week, enough time for your dog to get used to the taste and your body to the new nutrients. This way we avoid both rejection and he alth problems.
When to switch from puppy to adult?
As we pointed out earlier, there are changes in the life stage of the dog that necessarily lead to a change of feed, since the nutritional needs are modified and, therefore, it is essential that the food adjusts to it. The clearest example is the transition from puppy to adult. But until when a dog is given puppy food does not have a single answer. In general, the change from puppy to adult food occurs when the dog is one year old, which is the moment when growth is considered complete. But it is known that larger and giant breeds continue to grow up to 18 and even 24 months Therefore, the switch to adult feed is also delayed. If in doubt, it is best to consult your veterinarian.
So that our puppy accepts the change of food well, our advice is, in addition to doing it gradually, to do it between feed of the same brand, as long as it is quality feed. An example of this is KOME feed, a brand of 100% natural feed that has several varieties, such as:
- Chicken and rice puppy food.
- Salmon feed, fruits and vegetables.
- Chicken and lamb feed.
- Grain-free chicken, tuna and vegetable feed.
- Chicken and salmon mini dog food.
When making a change between feed of the same brand, since these will have approximately the same components, it will be easier for the dog to better assimilate the change of food. If you want more information about this Spanish feed brand, you can read this other article about KOME Feed – Composition, ingredients and opinions.
On the other hand, another change in life stage occurs when the dog passes from adult to elder. This moment ranges between 7 and 10 years, also depending on the size. The bigger a dog is, the sooner it ages.
I changed my dog's food and he doesn't want to eat, why?
Sometimes the change of food is not successful. In most cases, it is because the new has not been offered according to the gradual pattern or the dog is given food treats off the menu. For example, if the dog is given homemade food, he will reject the feed and will be able to spend even several days without eating, waiting for that piece of chicken or whatever we give him because we feel sorry for him. In that case, we'll have to be very strictand not offer him anything other than what I think of him. Put the appropriate amount of food according to its weight in the feeder and leave it at its disposal for only 10-15 minutes. Then remove it and do not give it anything until the next meal. The number of daily servings will depend on the age of the dog. In any case, always feed him at the same time. It is very important to establish a routine.
When the rejection occurs to a food that the dog has to eat because it has a disease, we can use some tricks to make it more attractive, always consulting with the veterinarian. For example, we can moisten it with warm water or homemade vegetable, meat or fish broth.
I changed my dog's food and he has diarrhoea, what do I do?
If the feed change was abrupt, it is possible that the result is diarrhoea. In that case, you have to start the gradual administration schedule of the new food that we have explained in previous sections, as long as it is occasional diarrhea in a he althy animal. When the dog is a puppy, elderly, already suffering from an illness, diarrhea lasts for several days or the animal shows other clinical signs such as dehydration or vomiting, you should consult the veterinarian. It is this professional who must assess whether to establish any treatment against the symptoms that the dog presents, such as serum therapy, antidiarrheals, antiemetics, etc. You will also have to rule out the existence of any disease and establish whether or not it is necessary or not that, until the digestive system recovers, the dog should consume a food specially formulated for gastrointestinal disorders.
