If you've ever seen a dog chow down on the contents of an overturned trash can, you might be tempted to think all dogs have iron stomachs. The reality, however, is that dogs can be sensitive to what they eat and changing dog food abruptly can cause nausea, soft stool and loss of appetite.
Whether you just brought home a new pup or you need to switch your existing dog's food, here's how to do it without causing them discomfort.
Keeping Your New Dog on Their Current Food
If you just adopted a new dog, remember that this can be a stressful time. To minimize the number of changes they'll need to adjust to, for the first week or so, stick with the same food they were eating before you adopted them. This may help them feel more at home in their new digs — which is just as good for their emotional health as it is for their digestion.
Find out as much information about your dog's meals as you can from the shelter or previous pet parent, including the brand and type of food and how much and how often they were fed. Ideally, the shelter will provide you with enough food for your pup's first week. If not, pick up a small bag before bringing your dog home. Once they seem comfortable in their new environment, you can gradually transition their food to your preferred option.
Switching Your Dog's Food Gradually
While especially important for new dogs, any transition between dog foods should be handled gradually. Abrupt changes may result in gastrointestinal disturbances, which can compromise your dog's health and comfort. To avoid this, slowly transition your dog to any new food over a period of several days. A good rule of thumb is to add a little more of the new food while reducing the old food over the course of a week. Follow this general guideline when changing dog food:
Days 1-2: Mix 25% of the new food with 75% of the old.
Days 3-4: Mix 50% of the new food with 50% of the old.
Days 5-6: Mix 75% of the new food with 25% of the old.
Day 7 and onward: Feed your dog 100% new food.
Monitoring Your Dog During the Transition
Keep a close eye on your dog's response to their new food during the transition period. In addition to signs of stomach upset, such as vomiting or rejecting the new food, monitor their stool. If it appears runny or abnormally soft, return to a recent old-to-new ratio that did not upset their stomach and make smaller incremental changes, extending the transition period to two weeks. If their signs still don't resolve, contact your veterinarian.
Tasty Tips
What to Do if Your Dog Doesn't Tolerate a New Food
In some cases, a dog may not tolerate a new food no matter how slowly you go, and that's OK. They may not like the taste or texture of their new dog food, or they might have an allergy or intolerance to one of the formula's ingredients. Your vet can help you determine whether this might be the case and recommend a solution. In the meantime, stop feeding your dog the new food entirely and shift them back to what they were eating before the transition.
In these situations, it's always best to reach out to your vet for advice. They may recommend bringing your dog in for a checkup to rule out any underlying health concerns.
Plan B: Transitioning Dog Food Quickly
What if your new dog's previous food is unknown to you, it's on recall or you simply can't get your hands on it? In these cases, introduce your dog to their new food slowly by feeding them small meals every four to six hours, keeping an eye out for signs of trouble in between meals.
Making Food Changes Easy
Your dog's nutritional requirements will change over time, and you shouldn't be afraid to update their formula to ensure they're getting what they need. By slowly transitioning your dog to new foods, you can avoid stomach issues commonly associated with abrupt food changes and make the change easier on you and your canine companion. Always make sure to provide access to fresh, clean water as well, and don't hesitate to contact your vet for additional guidance.
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