How To Effectively Change Your Dog’s Diet

As a dog owner, you will encounter times when it is necessary for you to change your dog’s diet. It may be because of a health concern or he may simply have outgrown his previous diet.

In any case, it can be a trying time for both you and your dog, especially if he resists the change.

Here then are a few tips that will make the transition a little bit easier for both of you.

By far the best way to get your dog to accept the new diet is by introducing some of the new elements gradually.

A good starting ratio is 25% new food to 75% old food. Over the next few days, gradually increase the ratio in favor of the new food, but be prepared to scale it back when your dog refuses to eat, or only chooses to eat the new food.

Don’t worry about your dog starving: a healthy animal can go for up to 2 days with little to eat. Besides, chances are he will eventually come around to eating the new food and your weaning process will have been a success!

Make it easy for your dog to accept the new food. There is a time to put your foot down and stress your authority, but this is not it.

A more gentle approach in giving the new food might be more appropriate at this time.

Stay firm in your resolve. It might be tempting to give your dog some treats or bits of food off the dinner table, particularly if he is not eating at all.

This is really not a good idea and will only make it harder for both of you to make the transition. Remember that the change of diet is ultimately for his own good, so you should stick to the plan for his sake.

One of the most challenging aspects of changing diets is convincing your dog to shift to a dry diet after he has been accustomed to wet food all his life. A clever way around this dilemma is by mixing some warm water in with the dry dog food to make it just a little bit mushier.

Over the course of a few days, gradually decrease the amount of water that you mix in so that eventually your dog is eating totally dry dog food.

A final note: when mixing water with the dog food, be sure to discard any uneaten food immediately as it may spoil.