Why is it important to gradually switch

Use the guidelines on the packaging for feeding recommendations. Your pet may need less to maintain their ideal body weight. Using a different scoop can result in overfeeding, which in turn can cause loose stool or weight gain. In some cases, a slow transition is not possible. Another exception to the gradual switch is switching from grain-based kibble to a grain-free or raw diet. Grains have a slow digestion time and when the two types of food are mixed, the different rates of digestion can cause digestive upset.

Fast Your Pet. Laurie Lawrence in the area of Equine Nutrition. Kristen has been a performance horse nutritionist for an industry feed manufacturer for more than a decade.

Her job entails evaluating and improving the performance of the sport horse through proper nutrition. Favorite Share:. About The Author. Related Posts. Dead space. Search Search for:. Weekly Poll:. Do you plan to blanket your horse this winter? Yes, my horse will wear a blanket this winter. Yes, my horse will wear a blanket, but only during inclement weather. Any change to the type or amount of feed should be done gradually over a period of several days.

Start by mixing a small portion of new feed into the old ration, gradually increasing the new feed and decreasing the old until the change is complete. As much as possible, feed on the same schedule every day. When moving to new batch of hay, start by adding just a handful of the new supply, and gradually increase the amount of old hay you replace with the new. Your dog has to go on a weight management diet, or a prescribed diet to cut down on the risk for kidney stones, or a special diet for heart or kidney disease.

You might think that because so many dogs will scarf up any food in sight, all you have to do is stop feeding the food he has been eating and start feeding the new one. That does work in some cases, but much of the time, a more gradual transition is necessary to avoid the unpleasant symptoms of gastrointestinal upset — gurgling, excess gas, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.

How gradual? Some dogs will need a month to 6 weeks to make the transition comfortably, although in most cases, a week should do, says Tufts board-certified veterinary nutritionist Deborah Linder, DVM. She recommends checking the chart below as a general guideline:.