It’s important to not abruptly change dog foods. Animals adjust to what they are being fed and need time to readjust to something new. Also, you may find they will flat out refuse new dog food, very common with Chihuahua and other Toy breeds if you don’t allow time for them to get used to it.
Feeding your dog the best and most healthy diet for him should be of key importance. The better fuel you put into your dog (or into you!), the better chances he (or you) will live longer and with fewer health issues.
Visit Sojourner Farms, and learn more about their fresh foods program for dogs and cats, and how you can make all-natural, homemade pet food in minutes.
Switching Can Be Stressful
You may have a certain brand you prefer or you may have your dog on prescription food. Either way, you may feel, or be forced, to switch your animal’s food with something you or your veterinarian feel will be better for him.
First of all, switching foods can be somewhat stressful thing for your animal. If the dog is changing owners, or you are moving to a new location, hold off until the dog has become acclimated to their new master or environment. Too much emotional stress at once can be overwhelming.
Steps To Take
The first step to changing foods is to create a mixture of 25% new food and 75% current diet to feed your pet. If the dog does not accept the 25/75 mixture, reduce the amount of new food until the dog eats their food as it normally does. Remember to be patient don’t rush. When the dog is readily accepting the 25% new food mixture, move onto the next step.
Now that they are getting used to a small amount of the new food, mix in 50% of the new diet. Their dog bowl should be half old food and half new. Once again, if your animal is hesitant or rejects the half and half mix, lower the amount of new food until they are receptive.
The next obvious step is to switch over to 75% new food, 25% old food. Make sure you do not move through these steps too quickly - give your dog time to get used to the changes. When they are comfortable with the upped amount of new food, it’s time to move onto the final phase of the switch.
Your dog should now be having no problems or hesitance with eating the new food provided. Now completely lose the old food and give him 100% new food. Moving to all new food should be no issue, but if your dog is still experiencing some anxiety, remember all dogs are different and some just require a little more time and patience.
Switching over dog foods is a procedure that requires effort on your part, but do remember that your animal will eventually welcome the new food every day just as he welcomed the old food previously.
In this day and age, more and more is being discovered about our dogs dietary needs and more importance is placed on providing healthy foods that fuel their body more efficiently.
The concern for taking care of our bodies is not just one that is focused on the human diet; it affects our pets as well. Read the dog foods label as carefully as you read the labels of foods you prepare for the rest of our family.
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