When transitioning foods, make sure your pet gets plenty of water to help his tummy break down the new diet. Bonus: Raw diets like Austin's own Bones & Co. naturally contain LOTS of water!
There are many great reasons to transition pet food to keep your fur child guessing at dinner time: Maybe Fluffy has developed a food sensitivity, or Fido needs to shed a few pounds. Perhaps a current favorite might be discontinued. Or, if your pup has grown up or kitty is slowing down a bit in his senior years, an adult or senior formula is in his future. But, the most common reason to transition pet foods: pet parents are upgrading to top quality, nutritious pet foods to give their pets the best chance at a long, healthy life. Whatever the reason, follow these five tips on how to transition pet food to decrease the chances of a puppy tummy ache.5 Tips on How to Transition Pet Food
1. Take It Slow
Westlake shopper, Hugo
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Mixing the old and new foods is the best way to ensure an easy diet change. Most pet food companies recommend the following feeding schedule when transitioning your pet’s diet:
- Days 1 and 2- 75% old food, 25% new food
- Days 3 and 4- 50% old food, 50% new food
- Days 5 and 6- 25% old food, 75% new food
- Day 7- 100% new food
- Please keep in mind that each animal is different. Should your pet experience an upset stomach, increase pet food transition time to let his body adjust.
- As previously mentioned in our supplements discussion, probiotics- like Herbsmith Microflora- are a key aspect of maintaining healthy gut bacteria.
- Also, Primal’s unpasteurized goat’s milk is not only delicious, but will help aid in the digestive process.
- These fortify your pet's gut bacteria, so his tummy can more easily tackle a pet food transition.
- If your pretty kitty is already eating a fish protein-based food, try the fish formula of another high-quality food.
- Maintaining the same protein source ensures that she is already able to process the main ingredient of the new food.
- If you know your pet is sensitive to a specific ingredient, be sure to read the label prior to choosing a new food.
- Avoiding these sensitivities will make the switch that much easier for both you and your pooch.
- Some foods are more nutritionally dense than others, meaning there’s more good stuff packed into each bite. In this case, your pet will need to eat less to avoid overeating and weight gain. But don’t worry, your furry friend will still feel full and satisfied.
Is your pooch THIS excited for his new food? Slow him down! Eating new food too quickly could cause an upset digestive system. Some pets may experience gastrointestinal upset like vomiting and diarrhea during transition. Don't panic; this is not uncommon. It may be due to a change in nutrient content like fiber and protein, or ravenously gulping down a more palatable food than before. Just like how we humans may experience GI stress when we try new foods or switch to a new diet, so too do our pet's bodies need some time to adjust to process all of the healthy new macronutrients. Need to switch up your pet's dinner time? Drop into any Tomlinson's location and a friendly team member would be eager to help you find a great food on which your pet can thrive. Have you successfully transitioned your dog or cat from one food to another? We’d love to hear any additional tips and tricks that helped to keep your pet happy and healthy during the switch. Comment below, or share over on our Facebook page! Sources: DOG for DOG, Canidae, Wellness
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