There are many reasons to change your dog’s current diet. Either you don’t have access to the food he was on when you adopted him, he is entering a new stage of physical development, or he’s having a bad reaction to his current diet.
Regardless of why you change his diet the number one course of action is to do it slowly. Different diets have different effects on your dog’s digestive system. One diet might be high in carbohydrates and low in proteins and the next one just the opposite. It takes up to two weeks to ensure that your dog’s digestive system will accept the new diet. In my experience sudden changes, especially from a high carb to high protein diet, the digestive system is disrupted, causing loose stool, and sometimes vomiting.
Here is my suggested course of action to prevent gastrointestinal disruption:
Days 1-3, offer ¾ of the current food with ¼ of the new food Days 4-7, offer ½ of the current food with ½ of the new food Days 7-12, offer ¼ of the current food with ¾ of the new food After day 13, offer 100% new food
Ensuring the switch goes smoothly
In my experience, the best way to make sure the change goes smoothly is to be observant of the consistency of your dog’s feces. This may sound like something you’d rather not do, but it is important as this will tell you whether or not your dog’s digestive system is in good form.
The stool should be dark brown and solid with no mucus, light color or liquid. Also, your dog should not be overly gassy. A dog with gas is not pleasant to be around and this may mean that his diet is not appropriate for his system. I have found that a diet high in fiber will lower the intestinal gas. Most senior diets have a high fiber ratio.
A dog receiving a healthy diet will have a shiny, soft coat, clear eyes, no nasal discharge, normal breathing patterns, normal energy levels and friendly demeanor.
Other considerations
I always read the labels of the food before making a pet food purchase, making certain it is appropriate for any individual dog’s age and exercise level. I also make certain it is nutritious and not just total filler. Here are three things I look for:
The first three ingredients should be meat, not by-product, corn, wheat or soy. If there are more than 5 grains listed in the ingredients do not purchase that food. If there are preservatives such as Ethoxyquin, BHA or BHT do not purchase that food.
Allergic Reactions
Many dogs can be allergic to specific ingredients. Three of my current dogs have chicken allergies; one a fish allergy and another a pork allergy. If this is the reason you are changing your dog’s diet there are two ways to approach the situation. First, have your veterinarian do an allergy test. This will list all of the ingredients that you can avoid. Second, as you wait for the allergy test results, do a process of elimination. Begin with a basic diet of just meat, bone meal and rice, along with some amino acids such as olive oil. Should your dog still have a reaction (itchy, sneezy, loose stool), change the type of meat you are using.
There are many brands and types of dog foods. Do your homework and research the brands and what they contain. Make certain it is right for your dog’s digestive system. Don’t do a sudden change; take your time and slowly change the food according to the above mentioned ratio.
Always observe your dog for allergic reactions to his diet. Food allergies are the most common reasons dogs have itchy, dry skin, sneeze, abnormal stool and often even behavioral problems.