Instructions
Buy one last bag or case of cans of your old dog food. Buy the new dog food. One the first day of the change over, change your dogs rations to 80 percent old dog food and 20 percent new dog food. Offer this ratio for the next three days. Watch to make sure he is eating the new dog food, and not leaving it behind in the bow, or hiding it under furniture. Watch for any signs of sickness, such as vomiting and listlessness. Soft stools are common when changing foods.
Mix 50 percent of the old dog food and 50 percent of the new dog food for the next week. Offer the mixture to the dog and pay attention to how he eats. Does he eat both varieties at once? Is he eating just the old food, and then going back for the newer food once he is hungry? Be sure he is eating both foods.
Measure out 75 percent of the new dog food, and add 25 percent of the old dog food for the next three days. Observe your dogs feeding patterns. After the three days, begin giving your dog 100 percent new dog food.
Add a little hot water or dog food gravy to dry kibbles. This will help young puppies switching from soft canned food or mother's milk to dry kibbles. Hot water will soften the chunks, making them easier for an old dog with poor teeth or a young puppy with few teeth to chew. The aroma of dog food gravy (available at pet stores) will entice the dog to try the new food if he is a picky eater.
How to Get a Dog to Eat a New Dog Food
When a dog needs to go on a diet, start a prescription food or change styles of food, you will need to introduce him to a new dog food. Dogs are creatures of habit, and any change in their diets may make them refuse to eat or get diarrhea. However, there are a few tricks to getting a dog to eat a new dog food, making the transition a little easier.