Changing Your Pet's Diet

I recently researched changing my pets' food when I switched from commercial to Wenaewe organic dog food. The following information is what I discovered. Hope it helps someone out there and saves them hours of research.

In the wake of the Pet Food Recalls many people have been changing their pet’s food. Once you have jumped the first hurdle of choosing a different food the next challenge is getting your cat or dog to eat the new cuisine.
Pets don't respond well to new foods and any changes to their food should be introduced gradually to prevent stomach distress. Pets are creatures of habit and most usually won't take to new food right away. The best solution for changing your pet's diet is to mix their old food with the new food as recommended by veterinarians.
There are many different opinions on how much of the new food is introduced at a time and for how long. We, at petfoodfreebies.com, prefer the quarters method.
3/4 old food to 1/4 new food served for at least 2 days
1/2 old food to 1/2 served new food for at least 2 days
1/4 new food to 1/2 served new food for at least 2 days
Finally you can feed your pet only the new food.
Though this seems like a drawn out process it will make both you and your pet a lot happier.
You can introduce yogurt as a mild protein to help your pet's stomach adjust if you want to transition your pet from soft food to hard food. Many veterinarians recommend a hard, crunchy kibble to help maintain good dental hygiene.
The possible side effects for not switching your pet's food gradually are: Stomach cramps, indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting,heartburn, and lack of appetite.
Steer clear of changing your pet's diet prior to an event or competition to prevent possible stomach upset and diarrhea.
You should not change your pet's food on a regular basis. This will lead to chronic stomach upset, picky eating, and on-going diarrhea. So resist that urge to buy a different brand each time you need food to save money or time because you'll end up spending the money at the vet.

DAG