How To Change Your Dog Food And Introduce Your Pet To It

By Shari Evans


Unlike humans, a dog can get sick just by a sudden change of the kind of food that he eats. Their digestive system is not designed to handle abrupt transitions. Doing so can cause an upset stomach, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting. To make sure that your beloved canine friend is protected while changing food brands or types, it is important that you know the correct steps on doing it. Aside from many things that you have to consider, you will still have to hear the expert's advice as it remains to be a necessity especially for those who only want the best for their babies.

Searching for a New Food for your Dog

The first thing that you have to decide on is whether you'll feed your dog with canned or a dry food. For older dogs, it is not necessary to change the kind of food that they have been eating. While for puppies that are no longer getting the right amount of nutrients from the old type of food, it is advisable to learn more about their breed before settling down to a certain kind of food or brand. For pet parents who always leave food on the bowl at all times, dry is the best option.

The safety and nutrition is what most pet parents are searching for on different brands. Most brands that guarantees complete nutrition and safe ingredients have recommendation and approval coming from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. The amount of carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients intake will depend on a dog's shape, size, age and activity level and you have to make sure that a serving contains the right amount of these. Before you buy and introduce the brand make sure that you can easily find it on the market to save you from another transition.

New Food Introduction

This is the step where you have to take some extra care and caution. Now that you have chosen the right brand for your beloved pet, the next challenge is how you are going to introduce it to their systems. On the first day of transition, mix a small amount of the new brand with their old food. Gradually increase the amount everyday and observe your dog's appetite, stool and other behavior. Check for signs of digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. For you to make sure of the right measurements, you can check then printed instructions on the food package.

In cases that your dog does develop problems while under transition, give them the right does of Pepto-Bismol or Imodium. You can temporarily mix the food with rice and boneless chicken breast until the new food completely phased it out. Monitor your dog for days and check for signs of improvement. If there is no progress with the condition, contact your veterinarian to have your canine friend checked. On the first time that you saw blood in vomit and stool of your dog, even though the transition is only happening for a day, call your vet immediately.




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