Variety is not the spice of anything in a dog's food bowl. Most dogs get so used to a certain kind of food that changing it suddenly could lead to gastrointestinal problems. Yet a change may be necessary if the dog has allergies, isn't eating right, or a certain food is recalled. You must gradually change the food so the dog can get used to the new while not completely abandoning the old. This is sometimes called the "pension" method.
Things You'll Need
- dog food
Instructions
Mix 1/3 cup of the new food with 2/3 cup of the old. Feed the dog this mix for a few days, which is enough time for the dog's digestive system to adjust.
Change the proportions after the fourth day and keep that mix for the next three days. If the dogs stool gets loose, go back to previous step. However, the dog should be used to the new food by now.
Switch to the new food entirely on the seventh or eighth day.
If you're switching from expanded to pelleted dog food, the food proportions should be changed by day. On the first day, feed the dog a meal of 25 percent new and 75 percent old food with a bone. Serve the dog equal parts of old and new food on day two, then 75 percent new food and 25 percent old food on day three.