As a pet owner, you may transition your pet from one diet to another for various reasons. Whatever the reason for switching diets, several basic but important steps for gradually transitioning diets can be followed to help ensure a successful diet transition without the unwanted side effects that may result from a rapid switch.
Reasons for Switching Diets:
- Age/Life Lifestyle Changes: Switching from an all-life stages/puppy/kitten diet to an adult diet, an adult diet to a senior pet diet, or dry to wet food.
- Weight: Over or underweight pets may require specific diets that better fit their individual nutritional and metabolic needs
- Allergies/Food Sensitivities: food allergies and sensitivities are common for many pets, and switching diets may be necessary for managing food allergies successfully
- Health Conditions: Many conditions (e.g. chronic kidney disease, bladder stones, pancreatitis, etc) require prescription or specially formulated diets as an integral part of management.
- Pet Preference: All pets have specific preferences, and some pets may simply no longer enjoy their current diet.
Negative Effects of a Rapid Diet Transition:
Abruptly switching a pet’s diet may result in vomiting, diarrhea, gas, upset stomach, and other gastrointestinal issues. Gradually transitioning from the old to the new diet is the best way to help avoid unwanted symptoms. However, while acute gastrointestinal signs may be a reaction to a rapid change in diet, if the symptoms do not improve over a few days this may be a sign of intolerance to the new diet.
Instructions for Safely Transitioning Diets:
Changing to a new diet should never be done rapidly. The best way to transition from one diet to another is to gradually mix the diets in increasing increments over seven days. This gradual transition allows the pet’s gastrointestinal tract to adjust to the new diet slowly, avoiding the negative symptoms of switching diets too quickly. Minimize any treats given over the week while transitioning diets.
Diet Transition Timeline: Monitor for any signs of digestive issues or discomfort before moving on to the next step.
- Day 1-2: MIx 75% of the old diet with 25% of the new diet
- Day 3-4: Mix 50% of the old diet with 50% of the new diet
- Day 5-6: Mix 25% of the old diet with 25% of the new diet
- Day 7 and onward: 100% new diet
If at any time during the transition your pet does experience gastrointestinal upset go back to the previous step for another two days before moving forward. Your pet may experience mild diarrhea for 1-3 days during the transition. Adding probiotics, transitioning slowly, and monitoring for a positive response from your pet before moving on to the next step will reduce the risk of prolonged diarrhea or worsening gastrointestinal signs.
What if a Slow Transition is Impossible:
In some instances, you may not be able to transition from one diet to another slowly as recommended (ex: the old diet is no longer available for purchase, pet food recall, etc). In these cases instead of using the old diet, it is recommended to use bland highly digestible ingredients, like boiled chicken and rice, to mix with the new diet. Additionally, including a probiotic supplement can help maintain a healthy gut during the diet transition.
When to Contact a Veterinarian:
If your pet is experiencing severe prolonged diarrhea (over 3 days), begins vomiting, becomes lethargic, or stops eating following a diet transition you should consult with a veterinarian. Changing a pet’s diet is unlikely to cause long-term serious health concerns, however abrupt changes in diet can lead to severe reactions, especially if your pet has an intolerance or certain underlying medical conditions. Transition to new diets gradually, monitor for negative clinical signs and contact a veterinarian in case of any severe or prolonged reactions.
