Changing Dog Food: How to do It The Right Way

Changing food suddenly can cause problems with your dog’s gastrointestinal system, which may also put them off their new food. Common signs and symptoms caused by a rapid change include:

Dehydration can also occur due to not wanting to eat or drink (which can quickly become dangerous or even fatal in very young or very old dogs), so taking your time and transitioning to new dog food slowly, in small increments can help to protect these vulnerable pooches.

The reason why these symptoms can occur after switching dog food without mixing is because the ingredients in the new food can be a shock to their system, leading to an upset stomach (which may also upset you - no owner likes to see their pooch in pain!).

Changing dog food too suddenly can unfortunately cause a whole host of gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting.

However, transitioning from one dog food to another doesn’t have to end in a poorly pooch. It should be done in a certain way (unless your vet has specified a quick change) to avoid any problems for your pup. If your pooch does show signs of gastrointestinal problems whilst switching their grub, stool hardening tablets, like the VetIQ Stool Firm, can help settle the stomach and replenish good gut flora to help your dog recover.

If your dog’s vomiting gets worse, or does not resolve itself in a few days, a visit to the vet to rule out any underlying issues is always recommended.

When transitioning to new dog food, slow and steady is the name of the game.

Taking your time and allowing your pooch to get used to it over the course of 1-2 weeks can greatly reduce the likelihood of any stomach upset, as well as allowing your canine companion to acclimatise to the taste and texture.

It’s also important to ensure you know which foods are safe for dogs to eat when considering changing your pet’s food.

Most dogs aren’t fussy when it comes to their dinner, and many will gulp down their new food with relish, but in itself cause problems, so investing in a bowl like the Dogit Anti Gulp Bowl can help to slow them down when eating and avoid stomach upset. But knowing how to introduce new food to dogs can ensure they still enjoy it without risking it making another unwanted appearance.

By taking a small amount of your dog’s regular food out and replacing it with a small amount of the new food, their digestive system and palate can get used to it without it being a shock to the system.

Each day, the new food is increased as the old food amount is decreased, reducing it more and more until you’re feeding only the new food. If your dog starts exhibiting any symptoms of an upset stomach, you should lessen the amount of new food being fed and add more of the one they’re used to by an equivalent amount, as this can improve their symptoms.

In general, transitioning from one dog food to another should take around 1-2 weeks (7-14 days), depending on the breed and age of your pooch, the type of food they’re transitioning from/to, and any medical problems they may have.

Dogs that are very old or very young should always be given extra time to acclimatise, as some of the symptoms arising from sudden changes, such as vomiting, diarrhoea or anorexia, are more dangerous in both young and old dogs.

When it comes to how long it takes to swap dog foods, the breed of your pet may well come into play, as some breeds are more susceptible to gastrointestinal upset than others.

Dog breeds with deep chests, such as Great Danes or Labradors, are susceptible to tummy trouble, as well as some small breeds such as Shih-Tzus and Pugs.

If you own one of these breeds, watching out for symptoms of an upset stomach when switching dog food is important, as is ensuring that you make the transition slowly and steadily.

Additionally, pooches who suffer from underlying health conditions like diabetes, food intolerances/allergies or colitis should also be very closely monitored when switching over their food, and in some cases the transition should be under the guidance of a veterinarian.

This is because rapidly changing a dog's food when they already have a health problem can exacerbate any symptoms they may already have, or cause flare ups of painful or debilitating conditions.

If the time is taken to transition their food slowly over 14 days or more, they should experience no problems. Over time, their tummies will get used to the tasty new grub.

Stress can also contribute to digestive problems or discomfort, so trying a calming diffuser, such as the Beaphar Canicomfort Calming Diffuser Starter Kit, and sticking to a routine can play a part in ensuring the transition to new food is as comfortable as possible for your dog.

All in all, when considering changing your dog's food (whether for health or other reasons), knowing how to do so safely and slowly over the course of a few weeks will not only ensure your pet doesn't experience some of the unpleasant (or sometimes dangerous) side effects of switching food too quickly, but will encourage them to eat and enjoy it.

By following our top tips, your dog should get used to their tasty new food in no time at all. But if you are concerned about their welfare along the way, be sure to contact your vet for their expert advice.

Explore our range of yummy, healthy dog food today to get your furry friend excited for dinner time!