It happens from time to time that you need to try switching your pet to a new food – perhaps they’re starting a diet trial, maybe a particular product has been 
discontinued, or maybe your veterinarian has identified a better nutritional match for your pet’s needs. Whatever the reason, here’s how to make the change with as little digestive upset for your furry friend as possible.
First, keep in mind that the nutritional composition and calories per cup of each food is different, so you may need to adjust the amount you are feeding to make sure your pet is getting exactly what they need – no less, and no more! Second, planning a gradual transition from one diet to another will help minimize any gastrointestinal upset your companion might experience. Here’s what an easy switch-over can look like.
|| One-Week Transition Plan ||
You can follow this gradual transition plan to move your companion gently to their new food. After this transition week, you can feed solely the new diet going forward.
|| Monitoring the Transition ||
As you gradually transition to your companion’s new food, keep an eye out for any concerning changes in your companion’s condition. A little bit of gas or loose stool can be normal with a diet change, but with a slow transition there should not be significant diarrhea or vomiting – if this occurs, please contact your veterinarian right away. If your companion typically has a sensitive stomach, you can consider adding a probiotic supplement to support their GI tract.
We also recommend a weight check two weeks and four weeks after transitioning to a new food – this is to make sure that your companion’s weight is remaining stable. If there are noticeable gains or losses, you may need to adjust the amount of food you are providing.
