How to change our dog step by step

Although the dog food It is something that should normally be constant and without variations, in certain stages of your life, or under certain treatments, A food change may be necessary. Here we make you a summary of how you can do it step by step in a safe way for your pets, even puppies, also considering some complications that may arise in The food transition process And how you can solve them in the best way.

The dog digestive system

We must begin by understanding that our dog's digestive system is very different from the human, and while we find it more nutritious to have a changing diet with multiple food, due to the bacteria found in the body of our pet, to them A constant diet is convenient, that is, it is healthier to eat every day of the same type of food.

The dog has a greater problem to face a change in food, so, if we simply change their feed overnight, we are likely to cause diarrhea or other eating disorders, so we must plan a planning to perform a Gradual diet change.

Make sure it is the right time for the food transition

The first thing to do is be sure that the time has come to change diet to our pet. The most common reason is because of age, although it is recommended that it is recommended to consult with your veterinarian, because the maturation process is different for each race, for example small dogs normally only require a few months to stop being considered puppies, although large breeds must be up to more than a year, and sometimes almost two, with their same type of initial food.

Improve the quality of your pet's feed, it is also another reason to make a food transition, because this can allow you to improve your health, physical state, and of course also its appearance with a brighter fur.

For health reasons they are also required Changes in a dog diet, and unless it is an urgent change indicated by the veterinarian, the process must be carried out gradually.

How to apply food change

The recommended period to perform our dog's food transition is one week, of course it can be a little less or a little more, although this period of time you can take it as the main basis.

Days 1- 2

The first two days, it is recommended to add 25% of the new feed Within the same dog of the dog, of course not separated, it is fine to stir it, so that our pet cannot divide it either so easy, and thus begin to get used to the new flavor.

Days 3-4

If everything goes well, and your dog has not presented a negative reaction to the new food, from the third day you can already mix the food dish with 50% of the new feed and 50% of the previous food, for this point, Your pet must already accept the new flavor more easily.

5-6 days

From the 5 day it is recommended to maintain a proportion of 75% of the new feed and only 25% of the Previous dog food, only to keep in mind the previous consistency, but already having a greater proportion of the new diet.

Day 7

If the sixth day has been overcome without problem and Your pet eats the new feed In an acceptable way, you will then be ready to take the final step from the seventh day, that is, give a total ration of the New feed for dogs, and so you can continue until necessary.

Complications that may arise, and some tricks to overcome them

Of course not all dogs have the same ease to change food, if you notice that yours resists eating new feed, here we present some possible solutions.

Get used to them at your time

In general, a recommendation that is always in force for the Food dogs and puppies It is the fact of trying to get used to eating their hours, although sometimes this is a factor that we do not give importance and that, particularly in food change processes, can generate even more complications.

If you notice that your dog is inappropriate with the new food shots, you are then before a great pretext to start generating a more exact feeding rate. A trick to press it a bit to ingest the new feed, is to serve your shots only for reduced periods, for example one hour. In this way, your pet will begin to get used, and you will know that you have to eat at a certain time, otherwise you will no longer have food available. It may sound somewhat cruel, but in reality it is quite beneficial for dogs, as it is also favorable for its digestive system.

Improves consistency

On some occasions, the consistency of the feed can be different, which can cause some confusion and repulsion in your dog towards the new food. Although you can also spoil it a bit during this Food transition stage and add some warm water or food chicken broth. Of course it does not have to be very hot and your dog does not need salt either, but in this way it will have a more appetizing presentation that encourages it to consume the new food. You will not have to always do it, but at least it will be helpful in this phase to change the diet.

Some special ingredient

Yes or with this Your pet accepts the new feed, you can also consult with your veterinarian some alternatives to even more attractive the new food. For example, adding a little molten butter you could add an attractive smell that your dog will hardly resist, also some other strong ingredients, such as a little tuna, can serve to attract the smell of your pet and seduce it to try the new feed.

Just remember that each change in your dog should always be done gradually, and if you are advised by a specialist you can have a greater confidence that you are taking your pet through a safe process and that will end up being beneficial for your health.