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Maybe your veterinarian has recommended a prescription diet, or perhaps you’ve decided to try a new brand. Whatever the reason for the switch, changing your dog’s diet is more complex than simply pouring the new food into a bowl.
Key Points
To avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach, you’ll need to transition to the new food gradually. Here’s the best way to switch dog foods.
How to Change Your Dog’s Food
Switching your dog’s food abruptly can cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and a decreased appetite. Whenever you change your dog’s food, you should transition to the new diet gradually to give your dog’s system time to adjust. 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 dog’s 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 conditions may need a longer transition period. The key to a good diet transition is monitoring your dog’s individual response. If at any point during the diet transition your dog shows concerning signs, you should proceed more slowly. And if you’ve transitioned gradually and your dog is still experiencing stomach upset, it’s 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 for a range of food-related illnesses in dogs, including food allergies, food intolerance, and other gastrointestinal diseases. Many people will describe their dogs as having “food allergies,” but this isn’t always accurate. True allergies involve a very specific response from the dog’s immune system — and this isn’t definitively diagnosed in many cases. Therefore, it’s 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 or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
Cutaneous symptoms include a wide range of signs, including:
Many other illnesses can cause similar symptoms, so it’s 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 an elimination diet trial. This means your dog will eat only a prescription hypoallergenic diet and no other foods for at least 8 weeks.
If your dog’s symptoms resolve during the diet trial, food was likely the culprit. Your veterinarian may then perform a challenge trial by reintroducing certain foods into your dog’s diet to see if they provoke another reaction. This process will help you identify which specific foods to avoid moving forward.
Monitoring Your Dog’s Digestive Health
The best way to monitor your dog’s 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 you need to address. A great way to evaluate your dog’s stool is to use a Fecal Scoring Chart. An ideal fecal score is 3–4. Lower numbers may indicate dehydration or constipation, while higher numbers are indicative of gastrointestinal upset, which can be due to a variety of factors.
If your dog’s stool is consistently outside of the normal range, you may wish to consult your veterinarian regarding your dog’s digestive health.
How to Choose a Dog Food
Choosing an appropriate diet for your dog is a complicated process. The sheer number of dog food options available is overwhelming. Unfortunately, no one diet 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.
Learning how to read a pet food label can also help demystify the process of choosing a dog food. The information on a pet food label is guided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO establishes definitions for many of the terms you’ll find on a bag of dog food. Understanding these labeling requirements can make it easier to identify which food is best for your dog. Specifically, look for the words “complete and balanced diet” on the label as a key indicator of a quality dog food product.
Finding the best food for your dog can be a lengthy process, but with the right tools and a gradual transition, you can ensure the switch is successful. During the transition, monitor your dog’s appetite, behavior, and stool quality to help determine whether the new diet is the right choice. As always, your veterinarian is your best resource for information regarding your dog’s health and nutrition.