Use this method to make switching foods easier and gentler on your pet’s digestive system
There are a number of good reasons you might change the food your pet is eating, including:
- Pet enters a new stage of life [puppy/kitten stage to adult, or adult to senior]
- Pet develops a food allergy
- Pet requires a prescription diet to manage health issues, such as obesity or liver disease
- Pet refuses to eat its regular food
- Pet could benefit from a higher-quality food than the one it currently eats
[Note: Before changing your pet’s diet, consult with your veterinarian.
In the case of prescription diets, your pet may need to be
on a strictly measured amount, rather than free-choice feeding.]
The key to making the switch is to gradually introduce the new food, so that your pet’s digestive system has time to adjust to the new ingredients.
Dr. Donald Miele, a Norfolk veterinarian at Little Creek Veterinary Clinic, recommends using this formula to introduce a new food to your pet:
Days 1 and 2: Feed 3 parts old food and 1 part new food*
Days 3 and 4: Feed 2 parts old food and 2 parts new food (i.e. half and half)
Days 5 and 6: Feed 1 part old food and 3 parts new food
Day 7: Feed only the new food
*Be sure to calculate how much of each food to give, so that you are not overfeeding.
Note: If your pet experiences loose stools during the transition, your veterinarian may recommend adding probiotics to the diet.
Questions? Clients of Little Creek Veterinary Clinic can Contact Us for more information.
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This article originally appeared on January 21, 2016.