Is it okay to switch between wet and dry dog food

How to Switch & Transition Dog Foods

Maybe your veterinarian has recommended a prescription diet, or perhaps youve simply decided to try a new brand. Whatever the reason for the switch, changing your dogs diet is more complex than simply pouring the new food into a bowl. In order to avoid upsetting your dogs stomach, you will need to transition to the new food the right way. Heres the best way to switch dog foods.

How to Change Your Dogs Food

Switching your dogs food abruptly can cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite. Any time you decide to change your dogs food, you should transition to the new diet gradually in order to give your dogs system time to adjust to the change. Ideally, these transitions should happen over 5-7 days. During this transition, you will gradually incorporate more and more of the new food by mixing it with your dogs current diet. For most dogs, a good diet transition will look like this:

• Day 1: 25% new diet and 75% old diet.
• Day 3: 50% new diet and 50% old diet.
• Day 5: 75% new diet and 25% old diet.
• Day 7: 100% new diet.

Some dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, or other gastrointestinal diseases may need an even longer transition period. The key to a good diet transition is monitoring your dogs individual response. If, at any point during the diet transition, your dog displays concerning signs such as changes in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, you should proceed more slowly. And if you have transitioned gradually and your dog is still experiencing stomach upset, it is best to consult with your veterinarian. In some cases, it may be necessary to choose a different diet.

Adverse Food Reactions in Dogs

An adverse food reaction is a blanket term used to describe a number of different food-related illnesses in dogs such as food allergies, food intolerance, and other gastrointestinal diseases. Many people will describe their dogs as having food allergies but this is not always accurate. True allergies involve a very specific response from the dogs immune system and this is not definitively diagnosed in many cases. Thus, it is more accurate to refer to these events as adverse food reactions.

Adverse food reactions can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, cutaneous symptoms, or a combination of the two. Gastrointestinal signs of an adverse food reaction include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in appetite. Cutaneous symptoms include a wide range of signs such as itching, skin inflammation, hair loss, and many different types of rashes. There are many other illnesses that can cause similar symptoms, so it is important to have your dog evaluated by your veterinarian if these symptoms occur.

If your veterinarian suspects your dog is having an adverse food reaction, they may recommend performing an elimination diet trial. This means your dog will eat only a prescription hypoallergenic diet and no other food sources for at least eight weeks. If your dogs symptoms resolve during the diet trial, this can be a sign that food was the culprit. At the end of the eight-week trial, your veterinarian may also perform a challenge trial by reintroducing certain foods into your dogs diet to see if they provoke another reaction. The challenge trial can help you and your veterinarian determine exactly which foods are problematic for your dog, so you can avoid them in the future.

The Proof is in the Poop!

The best way to monitor your dogs digestive health is to pay attention to the quality of the stool. While minor variations in stool color and consistency are normal, any major changes can indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. A great way to evaluate your dogs stool is to use aFecal Scoring Chart. An ideal fecal score is 34. Lower numbers may indicate dehydration or constipation, while higher numbers are indicative ofgastrointestinal upset, which can be due to a variety of factors. If your dogs stool is consistently outside of the normal range, it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian regarding your dogs digestive health.

How to Choose a Dog Food

Choosing an appropriate dietfor your dog is a complicated process. The sheer number of dog food options available is overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is no one diet that is best for every dog. Just like humans, dogs are individuals and their dietary needs vary depending on factors such as age, health, and personal preferences.

To make the process even more complicated, there are also a lot ofmyths about dog foodon the internet. Many people fall victim to advertising campaigns or scare tactics warning them away from commercial dog foods. Fortunately, theWorld Small Animal Veterinary Associationhas published a guide entitled The Savvy Dog Owners Guide: Nutrition on the Internet to help pet owners decipher fact from fiction when doing their own research about dog food.

Learninghow to read a pet food labelcan also help demystify the process of choosing a dog food. The information on a pet food label is guided by theAssociation of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO is responsible for establishing definitions for many of the terms you will find on a bag of dog food. Understanding theselabeling requirementscan make it easier to identify which products are best for your dog. Look for the words complete and balanced diet on the label.

Findingthe best food for your dogcan be a lengthy process, but with the right tools and a gradual transition, you can ensure the switch is successful. During the transition, be sure to monitor your dogs appetite, behavior, and stool quality to help determine whether the new diet is the right choice for your dog. As always, your veterinarian is your best resource for information regarding your dogs health and nutrition.

Changing Dog Food Within The Same Brand The Why, When, And How

Last Updated on November 2, 2021 by Marco

While dogs arent as picky as cats, its not uncommon for them to sometimes refuse to eat a certain food. And, yet sometimes it just has to be done. So, here well talk about changing dog food within the same brand the why, when, and how of it all. Additionally, well go over the differences between that and moving to another brand, some of the problems that may arise, and other additional tips and tricks you can employ.

When Should You Change Your Dogs Diet?

There are many different reasons to change your dogs diet. Some are serious and urgent, others are less major but still valid. Here are the main reasons you may want to consider:

• Your pup is simply growing either into an adult or into a senior dog and its time to move on to a new type of food
• Youve discovered a certain health issue such as diabetes, kidney disease, or a certain gastrointestinal issue that necessitates a diet change
• Youve discovered that your previous dog food wasnt of a high enough quality
• You want to diversify your dogs diet
• Youre looking to reduce your dogs weight
• Youd like to save money with a lower cost (but still good!) dog food

Either of those is a good reason to switch to a different food. Fortunately, your dog will take on the change well enough. If it doesnt, read on to see a few solutions.

Why Consider Changing Dog Food Within The Same Brand?

Generally speaking, it wouldnt matter much whether you switch to a different brand or just to a different flavor/type within the same brand. Either way, the ingredients will likely be quite different.

The first and foremost rule, in either case, should be the actual quality of the food. If you believe your current brand offers high enough quality across all its different types of food stick with it. However, if the very reason for the switch is the low quality of the food then obviously, changing dog food within the same brand is a bad idea.

How Long Does Changing Dog Food Take and How To Go About It?

That will depend on the dogs preferences and tendencies for stubbornness. Many dogs will happily switch to a new food whenever given the chance. However, in some cases, a dog can be obstinate for a few days or even a couple of weeks.

The most sure-fire way to deal with such a stubborn dog is to change its food gradually. This usually means mixing 75% of the old food with 25% at first. If the dog refuses that ratio, try 80/20 or even 90/10 if you have to. Whatever ratio is finally deemed Acceptable by your dog, stay on it for a few days.

Then, slowly start reducing the amount of old food and adding more of the new food. After about a week or so you can transition into a 50/50. After another few days to a week 25/75. From there, the jump to 100% new food should be a matter of no more than a couple more days.

In total, even the most stubborn dogs should be ok with a full transition after 14 days if youve made the transition smooth enough.

Learn more about:Can Dogs Eat Maraschino Cherries Or Are The Drawbacks Too High?

Are There Possible Problems When Transitioning Dog Food?

While diet transitioning is often done to avoid certain health issues, it can also cause them, albeit rarely. Most notably, a sudden diet switch can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and overall an upset stomach. This doesnt mean that theres something wrong with your pet or with the dog food, however. Most of the time, the issue was just in the sudden switch.

So, if youve had to go through a slow and transitional switch, you most likely wont face these issues. In fact, this is another way to avoid the stomach upset from a sudden switch do it gradually as outlined above.

Naturally, you should still consult with your vet if youve noticed even a slight problem. Even though its probably nothing major, its good to be careful.

My Dog Doesnt Want To Eat At All What To Do and Should I Wait?

On rare occasions, a dog may refuse to touch its new food even if its mixed in a 10/90 ratio with the dogs old food. Canines do have strong noses, after all. In such a situation, waiting a bit can work as your dog may surrender after a couple of meals without eating.

This leads to another question how long should you wait if your dog is extra stubborn? How long can dogs go without eating? Hypothetically, a dog can go without food for 3 to 5 days without any major health problems. However, thats generally too risky. Going over 48 hours without food can rarely lead to some health issues. So, waiting 48 hours or 4 meals is generally acceptable.

Do keep in mind, however, that your dog may start looking for food elsewhere. Usually, this means going through the trash can or trying to open the fridge.

How To Switch Dog Food If Your Dog Is Free Feeding?

If youre free-feeding your dog you can still try both a sudden and a gradual food switch. That being said, its a good idea to use the occasion to switch to a strict feeding schedule of 2 or 3 separate meals a day. The wait between meals will further incentivize your dog to eat when its given food.

Additional Tips and Tricks For When You Are Changing Your Dogs Diet

Here are a few more tips that may help you:

• Remove the bowl after 20 to 30 minutes if your dog has refused to eat
• Mix some of your dogs favorite food with the food
• Add another delicacy such as fish sauce or something else your dog likes
• If nothing helps, talk with your vet

So, Changing Dog Food Its Sometimes Difficult But Never Impossible

Even if your dog is extra stubborn about it, dont despair. Just take things slow, make the switch gradual, and make sure your dog is eating at least once every 48 hours (or 24 hours to be extra safe). Sooner or later, with enough patience and persistence, your dog will get used to and accept the new food.

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Jordan is an animallover who specializes in dachshunds. He has owned and cared for dachshunds since he was a child, and his passion for these unique dogs has only grown with time. Jordan is an avid researcher and learner, and spends a large portion of his free time studying the history, behaviour, and health of dachshunds. He has a knack for training and socializing his own dogs, and loves introducing them to new experiences. When not caring for his own pets, Jordan likes to volunteer at local animal rescue shelters, helping to find homes for abandoned dachshunds. He is a true animal advocate, and dedicates his time to ensure that all animals receive the love, respect, and care they deserve.