How to transition your dog onto a new food

When you first get your puppy or dog, try to obtain some of their original food to use while they settle in and, if you decide to change their food, to help them gradually transition to their new diet. A change of home, owner and environment can be stressful and can sometimes cause an upset tummy, so a gradual change of diet is best. 

If you are getting your new pet from a breeder they are usually happy to give you some of the diet they were being fed. If this is not possible, just buy enough of the old diet to last two or three weeks. 

If your new puppy or dog has been on an unsuitable diet, weigh up the risks of remaining on the old diet for a bit longer against the risk of a possible tummy upset caused by a sudden change in food at an already stressful time.  

Many diets we feed our dogs are called “life-stage” diets.

These have been designed to meet the nutritional needs of a pet for their age and activity level: as a puppy grows through adolescence to adulthood, and then into their senior years, their nutritional requirements change and they will benefit from being fed a food appropriate to their life-stage. 

Some health problems may benefit from a change in diet to help manage the condition - these are prescription diets and are specially formulated to provide the nutritional needs of specific conditions. For example, some dogs are allergic to beef, and dogs with pancreatitis may need to be fed a low-fat diet.

If it’s necessary to make a more sudden switch from an old food to a new one e.g. to a prescription diet, your vet will explain the best way to do this, weighing up the risks and benefits of suddenly changing to a new diet. 

Occasionally your vet might suggest waiting to change to a prescription diet so that the transition occurs when your pet is feeling better - being unwell can reduce appetite and put them off the new diet.

There is a variety of high-quality complete pet foods out there at a range of different prices and we know that feeding the best quality pet food is important to you, so if you would like advice on which food to choose, speak to your veterinary team or book a free Pets at Home nutrition consultation.

We can help you find a good quality pet food at a price that is affordable; helping you to save money while maintaining your pet’s health.  

If your pet is overweight or underweight it’s best to seek the advice of your vet or veterinary nurse before making changes to their diet: for weight loss, simply reducing the volume of food they are given could result in them receiving inadequate levels of some nutrients, and might mean your pet is constantly hungry. And, whilst it’s encouraging to see your pet lose weight, losing too much, or losing it too quickly, can be detrimental to their health.

There are plenty of specially formulated foods on the market that can help our pets lose weight whilst ensuring they are still getting the right nutrients, in the correct amounts, to stay healthy. Always speak to your veterinary team if you have any questions or concerns.

This won’t be a problem for lots of dogs, but some are a little fussy and might not want to try the new food. If this happens, just keep offering a small amount of the new food and give them time to try it. If your dog still isn’t keen after a few days, consider changing to a different new diet.

If your dog eats the new food but then goes off it, try reducing the amount of the new diet until your dog is eating it again, and then gradually increase it once more. 

Remember to never leave wet or raw food down for long periods - it can attract flies and/or go off. Serve regular, small helpings so that the food is always fresh and attractive to your dog.

Sometimes sudden changes of diet can upset a dog’s tummy: you might see soft faeces or diarrhoea; vomiting and/or flatulence; or they might just not seem themselves. Your dog might not want to eat normally, even though they seemed to like the new diet. 

If you think your dog’s new food has upset their digestion, try reducing the amount of new diet and see whether their tummy settles down. If things haven’t improved within a day or two, remove the new food completely and return to the original diet, and if your dog then seems normal again, begin to re-introduce the new food. If adding the new food back in affects your dog’s digestion again then the new diet might not suit them and you should try an alternative. 

Other things can cause tummy upsets, not just a change in diet: if you’re concerned, give your vet team a call, they will always be happy to help and sometimes it can take veterinary treatment to settle things down.