A change in food aims to introduce your dog to a new diet – the approaches are as varied as the reasons for a change in food:
- Different age cycles of the dog
- allergies or food intolerances
- switching to diet food
- Previously fed variety is no longer produced
- Desire to switch to a higher quality food
- Picky animals and loss of appetite: changing food offers variety
- No matter what reasons apply to your dog, you should think carefully about switching from wet to dry food or BARF beforehand
Switching from dry to wet food:
- Conversion is usually problem-free
- A high meat content is important
Switching from wet to dry food:
- With wet food, the organism gets part of its water needs from the food. When switching, your dog should therefore get enough water
- Our tip: For better acceptance, moisten the dry food with lukewarm water
Switching to BARF food or from BARF to wet or dry food:
- Important: Nutrient and meat content should be similar
- 0-diet for one day before the change: At least 8-12 hours break between meals
Changing from wet to other wet food/dry to other dry food:
- Change is usually easier and faster
FEED CHANGE IN DETAIL
Age-related feed change
Over the course of a dog's life, it makes sense to switch from puppy to adult and later to senior food. Depending on the stage of life, your animal will require different rations of nutrients, as its needs and activity levels change.
Puppy and junior food:
- From 4 weeks: puppy food; depending on the case: addition of
Dr.Clauder's Puppy Milk Plus - From 8 weeks: Junior food
Adult food:
- From 6 to 24 months (depending on breed)
Senior food:
- Small dogs: from 10 years of age
- Medium-sized dogs: from 8 years of age
- Large dogs: from 7 years of age
Health-related feed change
Changing food in case of illness (diet food):
Dietary foods are not only intended for weight loss, but are also useful for special nutritional purposes: renal insufficiency, intestinal diseases, urinary stones or semolina, allergies and intolerances, obesity.
Changing food in case of intolerances or allergies (hypoallergenic food):
By elimination you can find out which feed ingredient
Your dog is allergic or intolerant to something.
Feed change in case of illness (dietary food):
Changing food in case of illness (hypoallergenic food):
Feed change to support health (Special Diet):
HOW LONG DOES A FOOD CHANGE TAKE?
The duration of a successful feed change depends on the answers to the following questions:
- How old is your dog?
- How long did he eat the previous food?
- Is the change in diet voluntary or for medical reasons?
- How is your dog and his digestion constituted (robust or sensitive)?
Normally: 1 to 2 weeks – for very sensitive animals the transition may take longer.
Type and duration of feed change:
- Changing the puppy's food – 7 to 10 days
- Feed change for adult robust dogs – 7 to 10 days
- Changing food for a sensitive dog – 1 to 2 months
- Changing the food of a senior dog – 10 to 14 days
- Switching from BARF to high-quality wet food – 7 to 10 days
- Switching from BARF to dry food – about 7 days
- Switching from dry to wet food – 7 to 10 days
- Switching from wet to dry food – 14 days to 1 month
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE FOOD?
For dogs, changing food is usually not a problem. Depending on the reason for the change, it can be done abruptly or gradually:
Abrupt/Direct Change
- Feed is immediately completely changed
- Advantage: easy handling Disadvantage: frequent occurrence of symptoms
- Only recommended if your dog is robust
Gradual changeover
- Feed change is gradual
- Advantage: this type of change causes only a few symptoms
- Suitable for all dogs; most commonly used
Always prefer a slow change to an abrupt one. It is gentler and gives the dog's body time to adjust to the new type of food. This allows the intestinal flora to slowly get used to the new food.
Health-related feed change
The quarter method has proven to be effective in the gradual transition:
- Day 1 and 2: Replace a quarter of the familiar food with the new food
- Day 3 and 4: Replace half
- Day 5 and 6: Replace three quarters
- From day 7: Your dog only gets the new food
If your dog is generally sensitive, extend the process to two weeks.
Changing the food for puppies
Changing food can be a challenge for a puppy. Therefore, you should feed the breeder's familiar puppy food for at least two weeks before adding a new one to the diet.
In order to irritate the gastrointestinal tract as little as possible, we recommend a gradual change over a period of one to two weeks: either in one-quarter steps or – for particularly sensitive stomachs – in smaller portions.
Switching between wet food, dry food or BARF
Gentle and gradual approach if there is no medical reason to rush. Long-term mixed feeding of wet and dry food is well tolerated by many dogs. Gradual transition to BARF to avoid digestive disorders in sensitive animals.
You should remember this
Reasons for a change in feed
- Different age cycles of the dog
- allergies or food intolerances
- switching to diet food
- Previously fed variety is no longer produced
- Desire to switch to a higher quality food
- Picky animals and loss of appetite
Age-related feed change
Depending on age, your dog needs different nutrient rations:
- From 4 weeks puppy food, from 8 weeks junior food
- Adult food: from 6th to 24th month (depending on breed)
- Senior food: small dogs from 10, medium-sized dogs from 8, large dogs from 7 years
Health-related feed change
- Changing food in case of illness (diet food): losing weight and special nutritional purposes (e.g. in case of intestinal diseases)
- Changing food in case of intolerances or allergies (hypoallergenic food)
- Feed change for underweight animals (high energy feed)
- Feed change in case of overweight
- Feed change to support health (Special Diet)
duration of the feed change
Depending on the answers to the following questions:
- How old is your dog?
- How long did he eat the previous food?
- Is the change in diet voluntary or for medical reasons?
- How is your dog and his digestion constituted (robust or sensitive)?
- Normal case: 1 to 2 weeks
Reasons for a change in feed
Would you like to learn more about a successful change in food for your dog? You can find more information on the topic in our free information brochure.
Download the information brochureDr.Clauder's for a successful feed change
No matter what reasons you have for changing your pet's food: you will find what you are looking for in Dr.Clauder's range.
Food emergency? The nutrition hotline helps
If you have any questions about animal nutrition, we will be happy to help you. Call us during our service hours or send us an email with your request:
- Telephone: 0800 / 474 476 0
- Email: hotline@dr-clauder.com
These are our service times:
- Monday and Wednesday 3 - 9 pm
- Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Friday 3 - 7 pm
- Sunday 3 - 5 pm (every 1st Sunday of the month)
Also take a look at the FAQs: Maybe the answer to your question is there?
