Imagine waking up in the morning and having the same food every day. Sounds monotonous, right? Well, it does. For this, most of you prefer to change your meal plans frequently to add a spark to your bland eating experience. So, how long for dog to adjust to new food?
Dog owners usually imply this idea on their dogs because they think it’s the same case for dogs. But come to think of it. Is it actually the case? Your body can adjust to a new food, but how long can a dog adapt to a new food?
You should give at least a week or more to let it adapt to the new taste. The ones with sensitive tummies need much longer for this process – at least five to six weeks. Read through this guide to know why and the problems related to it.
Why Does It Take Long For Dogs To Adjust To New Food?
The dog microbiome, i.e., the balance of microorganisms in the gut, is an essential factor influencing how long it will take for your dog to adjust to new food. A sudden transition of food can cause a change in the dog’s microbiome, temporarily leading to health problems like stomach upset- diarrhea or constipation, vomiting and regurgitating, and even decreased appetite.
Here’s a pro tip to avoid this kind of situation: ‘Gradually’ switch to the new diet to give the dog’s system some time to adjust to the change. How gradually should you switch? Don’t worry; we have got you covered! The trick is to simply mix old food with new ones. Follow the 7-Day Transition Schedule for dogs and keep your dog happy and healthy.
- Day 1 – Day 2: 25% new diet and 75% old diet
- Day 3 – Day 4: 50% new diet and 50% old diet
- Day 5 – Day 6: 75% new diet and 25% old diet
- Day 7: 100% new diet
It is usual for a dog to take more than a week to recover from the transition phase. While some dogs do not have any issue switching meals, others with sensitive tummy or food allergies may not be so fortunate. Depending on your dog’s health, it may take only a week to even six weeks to fully adjust to a new meal.
However, if you notice your dog exhibits any sign of discomfort during this transition period, you should allow more time for your dog. Monitor your dog’s activity from time to time. In case of extreme health issues, better make an appointment with your vet if your gut instincts tell you something is off. Trust your instincts!
Why Is It Important To Consider Changing Dog Food To New Ones?
By now, we know changing diet abruptly can give rise to health concerns. Is it really necessary to change meal plans? As dogs continue to grow, their nutrient requirement levels change, so it is essential to switch to a different diet accordingly. Puppies entail a higher amount of food to keep up with their developing stage.
Unlike adult dogs, that is quiet, requiring just the amount to carry on with their health and weight. Pregnant or lactating dogs would have diverse food necessities. Sometimes dog owners want to improve the quality of the food to avoid nutrition deficiency or toxicity. Again, dog owners might switch to a new food as dogs might develop certain allergies to some products, though it is not frequently observed in dogs.
Problems Faced By Dogs While Adjusting To New Food
Gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea, vomiting, and a decreased appetite are major health concerns regarding this food switch.
Stomach Upset
You may notice Stool inconsistency when dogs taste new food. Due to the change in the dog’s gut flora, while others may have diarrhea.
Imagine being invited to a party and replying with “Oops, my dog is my having diarrhea, I can’t come to the party tonight’ just because you already made a food switch without proper guidelines. We are here to save your neck from this kind of situation. Here’s what to do:
- Keep your dog hydrated.
- Give a diet easy to digest, for example, a diet with chicken breast or white fish for proteins and white rice or potato for carbohydrates.
- Give additional dietary supplements like dog probiotics to aid in the digestion process.
Follow the basic steps or proper guidelines and get ready to party stress-free!
Stool Color
A change in diet may change the poop color. If you notice a dark or bloody stool for more than three days, you should consult with your vet.
Vomiting Or Regurgitation
Dogs might throw up food because the new food isn’t adjusting to their body system. That being said, consult a vet if this reaches an extreme level just to be on the safe side.
Decrease In Appetite
It is common for everyone to have a loss of appetite when sick. Similarly, for dogs, a transition to different food causes stomach upset in the first place, and they become sick, so their urge to eat decreases as well.
Pick The Right Commercial Food Brand
Picking the right food brand is a factor that will help the dog adjust to new food. A low-quality food comprises artificial ingredients that might irritate the dog’s stomach. This will make it hard for the dog to adjust to the food, no matter how gradually you introduce it or how much mixing is done.
As a general rule, if appropriate nutrition is provided, the body automatically adjusts to the meal more smoothly. So, a high-quality food brand is very much important.
How Quickly Do Dogs Adapt To New Pet Food
The new food being provided may be difficult for dogs to get used to. For instance, some dogs may take a few days to change, and others may never learn to eat it. One solution that might help is carrying the old food for dogs for a short time, so they are not forced to make such an adaptation.
The dog will often adjust in a few hours or days rather than weeks or months. However, some dogs do have problems. The only way to know if it is your dog or another dog’s concern is to feed another dog the same food and compare the results.
First of all, you’re feeding one different diet. The second thing you need to know is that what you are doing has nothing to do with the diet or the dog’s environment (that might include things like weather and people).
Implications Of Changing Your New Dog’s Dog Food
People frequently question what sort of food their pets should be eating. You may learn more about the effects of modifying a dog’s food from this article. You love your pet, so you take responsibility for his health by following the vet’s recommendations on proper feeding, exercise, and medical care. You want to keep him healthy and happy, after all.
You also know that the vet’s recommendations are based on science and that he has researched to establish them as sound. As such, you will likely be using the same ingredients for your new puppy’s food as for the older dog you’ve constantly fed.
But many people wonder if they could get even better nutrition for their dogs if they might change their dog food. So you start to do some reading– and what you read is confusing! There are just so many brands of dog food on the market today, with more being introduced daily.
Conclusion
If you have a dog, we believe you will treat it as if it were your child. Isn’t that what everyone does, after all? Because dogs are similar to children, the last thing you would want is to associate it with the discomfort of gastrointestinal problems. There are various reasons why dogs might suffer from gastrointestinal problems.
One can result from the dog’s gut flora reactions due to an abrupt change in the meal. If that’s the case, to steer clear from this issue, make sure you gradually introduce the new food to the dog and follow a proper transition schedule.
It will take a minimum of 5-7 days and a maximum of 40-42 days to adjust to a new meal fully, depending on the dog’s sensitivity. There is a saying that goes like ‘Forewarned is forearmed’ so better take all necessary precautions. I hope now you know how long for dog to adjust to new food.
FAQs
1.How Do I Tell If The New Diet Has Adjusted Well With The Dog’s System And Is Suitable For The Dog?
Ans: By the end of the transition period, if you notice everything is fine, it means the dog has adjusted well to the new meal. To know whether the new meal provides sufficient nutrition to the dog, just ask yourself these questions- ‘Is the dog happy and healthy?’ ‘Is the dog energetic?’ If yes, then you know it is the right one.
2.How Often Should I Change My Dog’s Food?
Ans: It is recommended to change dog food every three months at least. Given that your dog doesn’t suffer from digestive problems when you familiarize it with new food, you can consider changing the food items every time it runs out.
3.Isn’t My Dog Bored Of Having The Same Meal Every Day?
Ans: Dogs have only 1,700 taste buds that are around one-sixth powerful as ours. As they have fewer taste receptors, their craving for having different meals every day will be less. Don’t worry; your dog will not get tired of having the same meal every day. As long as it is delicious and provides all the requirements, it’s completely fine.
4.How To Transition Your Dog To A New Food?
Ans: Determine the difference between your current food and the new one You must understand what type of texture or nutrients your dog is eating to know where to start.
5.Why Is My Dog Throwing Up Undigested Food Hours After Eating?
Ans: Firstly, you may want to talk to your vet about what might be the cause before making any changes to the type or amount of food that is available. You can also try offering a small meal for a few days and checking if he stops throwing it up or if there is an alteration in his food choices.
