Charlotte Foster
Do you want your dog to switch from dry food to wet food? Or exactly in the other direction? No matter how you want to change your dog’s feeding, we give you tips on how to change the food as smoothly as possible.
Changing the dog’s diet – avoiding diarrhea
The dog’s diet change follows the same pattern for both wet and dry food:
In the beginning, about a third of the daily ration is replaced by the new food. It is best to separate the meals from dry and wet food because these are metabolized at different speeds. Otherwise, despite the good tolerance of the new food, there could be digestive problems.
If the dog tolerates the new food well, the proportion is gradually increased over a period of one to two weeks until the new food completely replaces the old.
With dry dog food, it is a good idea to feed the new variety as a treat for a day or two beforehand.
Dog food change: My dog does not tolerate the new food
Despite you slowly changing the food, does your dog show severe flatulence, diarrhea, or even vomiting? If this drags on for more than a few days, you should stop trying. Going to the vet can also be useful, especially in the case of severe vomiting and severe diarrhea. Both remove a lot of water from the body, which can lead to circulatory problems.
Caution: Be particularly vigilant with puppies and older dogs or those with pre-existing medical conditions. They are particularly sensitive to diarrhea and vomiting; life-threatening conditions can quickly develop! So always take puppies with diarrhea to the vet right away.
If other side effects appear a few weeks after the dog has changed its diet, skin or tooth problems, this can also indicate that the new food is not optimal. In such cases, you are welcome to talk to your veterinarian about how to optimize feeding.
Dog food conversion in case of illness
Dogs in which a metabolic disease has been diagnosed or who need a different food because of their age should also be gradually accustomed to the new food.
It may be that your darling is initially not very enthusiastic about the new contents of the bowl. “Sneaking in” by the spoonful can help. Wet food can also be given slightly warmed up, which often makes it more attractive. Some sick dogs want you to “hold hands”: place their bowl in front of them and crouch by them while they eat.
If your dog suffers from acute diarrhea, a 24-hour fast from eating can be helpful. Then you start with an easily digestible light diet, which can consist of cooked chicken and rice.
Again, the same applies here: puppies, seniors, and dogs with previous illnesses are not allowed to fast for so long. If your dog has diarrhea, please take these dogs to a veterinarian.