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Tip 91 - Switching pet foods - How
to safely switch your pet’s food
Whether you are switching from a puppy/kitten food to an adult
formula or switching to a new brand of pet food entirely, there
are some steps that you should follow to ensure that the change
is gradual and safe for your pet. Any abrupt change in diet may
result in stomach upset and discomfort for your cat or dog and
the diarrhea that ensues is neither pleasant for you or your pet.
Gradually transitioning from one food to another over a seven day
period will greatly reduce the risk of your pet developing a gastro-intestinal
upset.
The Seven Day Plan to a Healthy Diet Change
The following example will be used to help illustrate the Seven
Day Plan:
You are feeding your puppy 2 cups a day of his favourite puppy
food brand and you wish to switch him over to an adult food. Here
is what you should do to ensure that the change is smooth and gradual
and least likely to cause sickness and diarrhea.
Day 1 – Feed 75% of your pet's daily ration with
your current brand and feed the remaining 25% with the brand that
you wish to switch to. In our example this would mean feeding the
puppy one and a half cups of puppy food and half a cup of adult
food.
Day 2 – Same as Day 1.
Day 3 – Feed 50% of the daily ration with your current
brand and fill the remaining 50% with the new brand that you are
switching to. In our example, the puppy would be fed one cup of
puppy food and one cup of adult food on this day.
Day 4 – Same as Day 3.
Day 5 – Only feed 25% of the daily ration with your
current brand and fill the remaining 75% with the new food. On
this day the puppy would get half a cup of puppy food and one and
a half cups of adult food.
Day 6 – Same as Day 5.
Day 7 – Feed 100% of the daily ration with the new
food. On this day the puppy would be fed two cups of adult
food and the transition would be complete.
In most situations it is advisable
to switch your pet from a puppy or kitten food to an adult formula
around nine months of age to a year. Keeping your pet on
a growth formula for too long can cause them to gain excess weight.
Obesity in pets is just as serious as it is in humans and can lead
to many health problems, such as cardiovascular and joint disease.
Be aware that switching to an adult formula at nine months of age
to one year may not be advisable in all situations. An exception
to this rule of thumb is in large breed dogs, such as Great Danes.
Puppies of these breeds typically need to be a fed a growth formula
for a longer period of time. You should consult with your breeder
or veterinarian for specific details related to your breed of choice.
Switching your older pets to a specialized senior formula at seven
years of age is also strongly recommended in most situations.
Diet and nutrition are an essential component of your
pet's health and wellness and feeding your pets a high quality
food will help to ensure that they live a long and happy life. A wide assortment
of prescription diets are also available to treat and control a variety of
medical conditions in dogs and cats. Please consult your veterinarian about
what food is appropriate to meet the needs of your particular furry friend. Although
these diets may seem pricey in the short term, the cost they can save you on
medical expenses down the road make them well worth the investment. Besides,
who doesn't want the very best for their beloved dog or cat?
By Melanie Youngs - Pets.ca writer
© Pets.ca
2007
www.pets.ca
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