Great work. The good news is that with an appropriate transition and some patience, your dog will be over the hump in no time. We recommend making the shift to new food slowly, rather than having your dog go off his old food cold turkey.
After your dog has had time to adjust, you should begin to see positive changes. Here are some other reasons your dog could have an upset stomach that you should rule out first:. While some may have firmer stools, some may experience diarrhea and need to go more often, another product of an adjusting microbiome. You may also notice changes in poop color. This is totally normal since your pet is eating new ingredients.
But if your pet experiences dark, bloody stool or diarrhea that lasts longer than three days, you should talk to your vet. Each recipe is carefully formulated to include healthy fats and oils that promote coat health and facilitate growth in your pet. Only water is permitted. Bring a fecal sample to your veterinarian to check for intestinal parasites.
After the 24 hour fast, begin feeding a combination of boiled white meat chicken with all the skin and fat removed and the water poured off and boiled long grain white rice.
The combination of rice to chicken will be 2 to 1. Feed several small meals per day rather than one or two large meals. You may also come into the office to purchase a bland diet prescription food. You must allow his intestinal tract to become normal again.
We Offer Financing Options. And although your intentions are good, you should resist the urge. How gradually should you switch? Most experts recommend taking between five to seven days, adding a little more of the new food and reducing the old each day. PetMD recommends the following feeding ratio:. Keep an eye on your dog's reaction to the new food. In addition to signs of stomach upset, you should also keep an eye on your dog's stool. If it appears runny or abnormally soft, or if your dog shows other signs of an upset stomach, slow down this process and give him more time to adjust.
Your dog may not seem to tolerate the new food, no matter how slowly you go, and that's OK too. Slowly shift him back to the old food and start again with something else after giving his tummy a break. It could be that the new dog food contains ingredients to which your dog has an intolerance or allergy. If you continue to have trouble changing dog food, or if his stools contain blood or an unusual color, you should consult a veterinarian.
Give your dog plenty of water, especially now, as he'll need to stay hydrated during the transition. If he stops drinking, however, or seems to be drinking an excessive amount, this might be a sign of a more complicated digestion issue with the new food. Again, see your vet to ensure he's taking to it healthily.
You might be in a situation where your new dog's previous food is unknown to you, and his old food simply isn't something you can get your hands on. In this case, consider introducing your dog to his new food slowly by feeding him small meals every few hours, keeping an eye out for signs of trouble in between meals.
If necessary, choose an easily digestible formula to start off with. Once he's used to it, gradually switch him to your preferred brand or formula.
The potential stomach ache and mess should be enough of a reason to go slow when transitioning dog food, but above all, consider the numerous changes your new dog is already dealing with as he settles into his new life.
Like people, dogs take comfort in the familiar. Being served the food he knows during his first few days with you will help him feel more at home in his new digs—which is just as good for his emotional health as it is for his digestion. While minor variations in stool color and consistency are normal, any major changes can indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.
An ideal fecal score is 3—4. Lower numbers may indicate dehydration or constipation, while higher numbers are indicative of gastrointestinal upset , which can be due to a variety of factors. Choosing an appropriate diet for your dog is a complicated process. The sheer number of dog food options available is overwhelming. Just like humans, dogs are individuals and their dietary needs vary depending on factors such as age, health, and personal preferences.
To make the process even more complicated, there are also a lot of myths about dog food on the internet. Many people fall victim to advertising campaigns or scare tactics warning them away from commercial dog foods. Learning how to read a pet food label can also help demystify the process of choosing a dog food. AAFCO is responsible for establishing definitions for many of the terms you will find on a bag of dog food.
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