Change of food for dogs - this is how it works

There are two main reasons for changing a dog's diet: reaching a new stage of development and health problems.Developmental stages are related to the age of the dog, for example a change of diet is necessary when your puppy becomes an adult dog. Health problems include intolerances and allergies, obesity and illnesses. If you change your dog's diet due to a health problem, you should liaise closely with your vet. They are best placed to advise you on how to proceed with the change of food.

Changing your dog's diet doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. During this time, gradually reduce the amount of the old food while increasing the amount of the new food. Follow these guidelines for the change of food:

• from day 1: 75 % old feed, 25 % new feed
• from day 4: 50 % old feed, 50 % new feed
• from day 7: 25 % old food, 75 % new food
• from day 10: 100 % new food

The more sensitive your dog is, the longer you should take to change their food. For example, if your dog is already older and you are changing his previous food to a senior food, such as theWet Food Menu Golden Octobergive him enough time to get used to it.

It is of course different if your dog needs new food due to an illness. In this case, you should switch to the new food immediately.

Some dogs may experience problems if the food is changed too abruptly. This is shown by these symptoms:

• Bloating
• Increased stools
• Appetite loss
• Soft stools and diarrhoea
• Vomit
• Itching

Pay attention to these symptoms during the change of food and, if necessary, slow down the process by maintaining the mixing ratio fed.

If these symptoms - especially diarrhoea and vomiting - occur over a longer period of time, you should consult a vet.