Transitioning Between Diets
Written by Dr Claire Stevens
There inevitably comes a time in every dog’s life when a change of diet is needed. This may be due to a weight issue, an allergy, or some other disagreement with the previous diet, or maybe you simply want to try something new to give your pooch a bit of variety. Hypro Premium is a grain-free dog food that is made from locally sourced natural ingredients, offering a healthy alternative, especially for dogs that suffer from grain allergies.
Whether the change of diet is recommended by your vet or whether it’s your own personal choice, switching to a new brand of dog food is a bit more complex than it may seem. To prevent any unpleasant tummy upsets it is advisable to transition from the old diet to the new gradually, following the steps outlined below.
How to Switch from Other Diets to Hypro Premium
Changing your dog’s diet abruptly can cause tummy upsets that could not only make your pooch feel grim but also result in a loss of appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting. If you decide it’s time to change your pet’s food, you should switch over to the new food gradually to allow your dog’s digestive system to adapt to the new diet. It is best to make the transition over a week or so. During the transition period you should ideally feed some of the old food together with a little bit of the new food, gradually reducing the amount of the old food and increasing the amount of new food as the week progresses, something like this:
- Day 1-2: 75% old food + 25% new food
- Day 3-4: 50% old food + 50% new food
- Day 5-6: 25% old food + 75% new food
- Day 7: 100% new food (assuming all is well)
For dogs that suffer from food allergies, gastrointestinal issues or those that are prone to stomach upsets, the transition process can be extended to two weeks, to give their system more time to adjust. Monitor how your pet responds to the new food, and if you notice any adverse reactions, such as a single bout of diarrhoea, vomiting or a change in appetite, you may need to slow the transition process down a bit and extend it for another week.
Adverse Reactions to Food
First, we need to differentiate between adverse food reactions and food allergies. An adverse reaction to food is a broader term that generally covers any food-related reaction your pet may have in response to his diet, such as food intolerance, stomach upsets, and includes food allergies. Food allergies, on the other hand, are caused by a direct response from your pet’s immune system after eating something his body interprets as being harmful. Symptoms of an adverse food reaction in dogs include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and a change in appetite. Symptoms of food allergies can also include these signs but are typically accompanied by symptoms of the skin such as welts and rashes, itchy and inflamed skin. In dogs, some food allergies are caused by an allergic reaction to grain. Hypro Premium dog food is made from locally sourced all-natural ingredients and is grain-free, offering a healthy alternative for dogs that suffer from grain allergies.
If your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms it is advisable to have him examined by a veterinarian to rule out any other health issue, as many illnesses can have similar symptoms. Should your vet suspect that your pet is reacting adversely to his diet, he may recommend an elimination strategy, where your pet will be put on a hypoallergenic prescription diet that excludes all other foods for two months or more. If this resolves your pet’s symptoms, it could indicate that his food was to blame. Your vet may also suggest you start adding certain foods to your pet’s diet to see if they trigger a reaction. This will help pinpoint which foods disagree with your dog, so you know which ones to eliminate from your pet’s diet altogether.
Choosing the Best Dog Food
With so many different brands of dog food on the market, choosing the best diet for your pet can seem rather an overwhelming task. Since the dietary requirements vary from dog to dog, there is no single food that is good for every dog. There is also a lot of misinformation out there, particularly online. So instead of relying on Google as your go-to source, when it comes to your pet’s diet, rather consult your veterinarian for sound advice.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the pet food industry and is tasked with establishing definitions for many of the terms that appear on a dog food packaging. Hypro Premium is a hypoallergenic, grain-free, complete and balanced diet, and is AFFCO approved.
Finding the ultimate diet for your pooch can be a long-winded process and may require some advice from your veterinarian. Gradually switching to the new diet, while also keeping a close eye on your pet, will go a long way to help prevent any adverse reactions and will ensure that the transition process goes smoothly.
