Do you want to make your pet one happy puppy? Are you curious about food transitions when it comes to your furry friend?
Switching dog food can be hard, however, it can lead to better overall health for the pets we all love. That's why you need to learn the basics behind changing pet foods.
Are you interested in having a happy doggo? If so, keep reading for all you need to know about dry food transitioning.
- The Right Pacing
When you're changing dog food, you want to add new chow gradually. By doing so, you ensure that your best friend adjusts to their new diet. If you're switching from kibble to dry food, your dog might have trouble ingesting and digesting their meals.
This is common and results from your pets adaptation to the new food. If you have a puppy, it might have trouble chewing a dry, much harder diet. Start by adding a small portion of dry food to kibble. Approximately 1/5 of the total meal should be dry food in the beginning.
- Mix Well
When transitioning dog food, you need to mix your dogs dry and wet food evenly. By doing so, your pet will still taste the meal they're used to. If you're so bold, try warming up your wet food to make the dry mix seem more appetizing.
- The 50/50 Method
During the first week, you should only add up to 1/4 dry food to your dog's dish. After the first week, you can start adding a fraction more at a time. Once a couple of weeks have passed, switch to the 50/50 method.
Replace half of your dog's dish with dry food. Add the two previous steps together to promise your dog is well-adjusted to their new dinner. The adding 50% proportions to your dog food, it the tipping point for a full replacement.
- Puppy Rules
All dogs are susceptible to tooth problems. Preparing your puppy for a hard diet strengthens their teeth and stands between future molar issues.
The real question is: "when to switch to adult dog food?" Simply put, you can start feeding your puppy dry foods early on. Within a few weeks, after they start weening, you can add dry food to their diet.
However, if your puppy has any cavities or molar problems, you shouldn't start adding dry foods to their diet. Instead, use teeth strengthening brands of soft foods or add small amounts of dry food every now and then.
- Choose the Chow Carefully
The best way to switch dog food relies on the ingredients you choose. For starters, you want to prevent plaque buildup. To remedy this potential issue, Stay away from chewy dry foods and wet foods. These both stick to your dog's teeth and create plaque over time.
Surprisingly, carrot slices, apple slices, and squash are all great snacks for your dog. You can add these ingredients to your dry food, as they won't stick to your dog's teeth and make them healthier.
Raw bones and cranberries get your dog's teeth into better shape. These two seemingly unrelated ingredients encourage owners to add variety to their animal's dishes.
One final tip: if your dog craves snacks at dinner, have all the ingredients listed above ready for them to snack on. Doing this makes them eat less and maintain a good weight.
- Create a Reward System
All dogs are trainable. When it comes to food, it's important you create sensory stimuli that leads them toward a dish of new dog food. For example, if you're getting your dog to switch to dry food, try rewarding them with a small treat each time they finish their dry food.
Over time, as your dog responds to your treat reward system, you can decrease the number of treats they receive. When they've completely switched over, you can stop the training process.
Be sure to never feed your dog table scraps directly. This will pull them away from eating from their dish. If you want to convince your doggo to eat his new meal, you can even add water to make the food softer and more familiar.
- Changing Foods for Different Types of Dogs
Before you start changing your dog's diet, categorize your pet by breed, size, and age. Once you've done this, start doing some research behind your dog's diet. Here are some pointers.
- If your dog has a large appetite, you might be able to encourage them into eating their dry food by adding only a small amount of wet food
- Larger dogs might require dry foods earlier on
- Small pets often have smaller teeth and may require soft food for longer
Look over all the advantages of dry dog food before moving forward. It's also encouraged that you experiment with many dieting techniques before diving into a meal replacement.
Switching Dog Food for Your Best Friend
Dogs are friends for the whole family. They keep us comforted, joyful, and help maintain a care-free lifestyle. Why not return the favor?
After reading this article, you have a better idea of switching dog food. All you need is to start with adding small amounts of dry food and carefully add more over time. Be sure to take time with smaller dogs and puppies and always choose brands with healthy teeth improving ingredients.
What's next? Your actions in the early stages of your dog's development are essential to a long and happy life. Now that you know better, don't stop at pet foods. Go out and contact the providers of your pets favorite supplies!
