Can I just switch my dog to raw 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.

Switching Your Dog Food Cold Turkey? Heres What You Need To Know [Step-By-Step Guide]

So often, we hear about how it is not good to go cold turkey when switching your dogs food

And the truth is that suddenly switching foods can cause significant problems, such as upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, and more

However, there are situations when switching dog food cold turkey is the only option

So in this article, well be discussing how you can successfully change your dog food even if you have to do it cold turkey, and well be covering the following information

• Why Change Dog Food Cold Turkey?
• Possible Symptoms Of Changing Dog Food Too Quickly
• Switching Dog Food Without Mixing Old And New Food [Step-By-Step Guide]
• New Dog Food Recommendations

In the end, you know the reasons why its sometimes necessary to change your dogs food cold turkey

and youll have a step-by-step guide to help you get through the process as easy as possible.

Lets start by discussing the reason why you might have to change your dogs food cold turkey

What Will Help You And Your Dog Most?

Why Change Dog Food Cold Turkey?

If youre able to, its best to transition your dogs food gradually. Youll usually do this by mixing in the new food with the old and then gradually phasing out the old food

But that being said, there are some times when dog parents need to change out their pups food without mixing

For example, one reason for a cold turkey switch may be that the current diet your dog is on is no longer working. This might be because your dog is having a reaction to his or her current food

Or because your dog is developing a new health condition that requires a quick change away from his current diet

Another reason why a dogs food may have to be changed cold turkey is that the food is no longer easily available or even available to you at all, in which case you must go with something else

In either situation, there is no room for a gradual switch which, again, is a better option But the good news is that there are some things you can do to make a cold turkey switch a little easier.

Possible Symptoms Of Changing Dog Food Too Quickly

Unlike us humans, dogs are accustomed to eating the same diet for several years, and when you introduce sudden changes to their diet, it can cause a number of issues

Some of the symptoms that can occur when you change out your dogs food cold turkey are

• diarrhea
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• loss of appetite

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms as you transition his or her food, but sure to contact a vet for guidance

>>Click Here To Chat (Online 24/7) With A Verified Veterinarian In Minutes!

Switching Dog Food Without Mixing Old And New Food [Step-By-Step Guide]

If youve ruled out transitioning your dogs food gradually, this section will provide you with a step-by-step guide that might help your dog have a more successful transition

Step 1: Have Your Dog Fast

The first thing you should do if you need to switch your dogs food cold turkey is to have your dog fast for one meal

Having your dog fast will allow time for any old food to leave his or her stomach, and once your dogs stomach is empty, you can then start transitioning to the new food

Keep in mind that you should only fast your dog for one meal before transitioning to the new food.

Step 2: Feed Less On The First Day

Next, youll want to feed your dog less than his normal amount on the first day of new food

Experts recommend that you feed your dog around a half portion of what he will normally eat, and after that, you can monitor your dog to see how his stomach reacts.

Step 3: Use Digestive Aids To Help Your Dog Transition To The New Food

Again, switching dog food cold turkey can be hard on a dogs stomach, but digestive aids can make this process a little more painless

Two highly recommended digestive aids are plain pumpkin or probiotics

Using Pumpkin To Switch Dog Food

Plain pumpkin is an excellent source of soluble fiber that works well at firming the stool, which will help keep diarrhea at bay

In addition to that, pumpkin is high in vitamins A, C, and E, and it also contains minerals your dog needs such as potassium and iron

So aside from being good for staving off diarrhea, pumpkin is also a healthy food thats good for your dogs overall digestive health

Its also easy to give to your dog because you can simply mix some canned pumpkin right into his or her new food.

Using Probiotics To Switch Dog Food

Another option is to pick up some probiotics that are specially made for dogs

Probiotics are great for helping your dog transition to the new food because they contain good bacteria that will aid your dog with digestion

Now before giving your dog probiotics, its a good idea to talk with a veterinarian about it beforehand, just to be on the safe side

>>Click Here To Chat (Online 24/7) With A Verified Veterinarian In Minutes!

But once you get the all-clear from the vet, here are some of the best probiotics that you can give your dog

Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Supplement

Nusentia is a budget-friendly probiotic supplement, and it can be found on both Amazon and Chewy

It contains six strains of probiotics, and every scoop of this formula will give your dog around a billion CFU (colony-forming units)

Its also shelf-stable, so you dont have to worry about it spoiling, and you dont have to store it in the refrigerator either

Dogs under 50 pounds typically get one scoop a day, and dogs over 50 pounds typically get two scoops a day.

Purina Fortiflora Canine Nutritional Supplement

The Purina Fortiflora Canine Nutritional Supplement is also pretty affordable, and its nice because its portioned into individual packages

All you need to do is sprinkle one package of the probiotics on your dogs food, and your dog will get the daily amount of probiotics needed to maintain good digestive health

These probiotics are really appealing because theyre simple and easy to use, and dogs usually find them to be delicious.

PetVitalityPRO Probiotics for Dogs

This is another affordable probiotic supplement, and it comes in the form of a chewable treat

So if you want to give your dog a treat and promote good digestive health all at the same time, then PetVitalityPRO Probiotics for Dogs might be a great option for you

All you do is give your dog one of these chews every day, and you can be sure that your fur baby is getting all the necessary good bacteria to have a healthy digestive system.

New Dog Food Recommendations

If youre looking to switch dog food, and havent decided on a new food yet. I cant recommend Ollie highly enough

I like Ollie because its extremely high-quality dog food, dogs find it delicious, and its really convenient to have it sent straight to your house

In addition to that, the meals are tailored to the specific needs of your dog, and all the food is designed to be very nutritious

If youd like to learn more about why Ollie is one of the best dog foods you can get, click the link below

>> Click Here To Learn Why Ollie Is Right For You!

What Will Help You And Your Dog Most?

Switching Dog Food Cold Turkey Final Thoughts

Like I mentioned earlier, its always best to gradually introduce new food to your dog, but sometimes thats just not an option

If you are in a position where you need to switch your dogs food cold turkey, be sure to follow the steps in this guide

Hopefully, it will make the transition as smooth as possible for your pup

But if your dog starts acting weird or gets sick after changing food, make sure you contact a vet immediately for guidance.