Changing a dog's diet—what is the proper way to do it?

When choosing a feeding regimen for their dog, owners have several options to choose from.The most popular options include dry food, wet food, and homemade meals, which require a good understanding of the nutritional value of the ingredients.What to do when your dog's diet needs to be adjusted?What are the natural consequences of these changes??- Our expert, Dr. Jacek Wilczak, an expert on....Pet Nutrition at the Pet Food Production Plant Dolina Noteci.

How might the dietary change take place??

Common side effects of changing a dog’s diet include diarrhea, stomach upset, and various concerning behaviors indicative of digestive and absorption disorders.Many pet owners may misjudge the quality of the food they are feeding their pets based on these symptoms.

How to properly switch your pet's food?

It all depends on the pace of change.If you’re just switching brands of food but sticking with the same feeding method—for example, switching from one dry food to another—your dog’s body will gradually adjust.Remember to introduce the new food gradually by adding small amounts of it to your pet’s current food.You can gradually increase the proportion of the new food until you are feeding the full portion.High-quality pet food should not cause any concerning symptoms.The occurrence of long-term, concerning symptoms in a dog may indicate a food intolerance to a certain ingredient or poor-quality food.

What happens to a dog's body when switching from dry food to wet food?

If your dog has been eating dry food up until now and you suddenly switch to wet food, you may see a negative reaction from your dog’s digestive system.Due to its composition, dry dog food is a highly processed and concentrated product, and the digestion process and the time it spends in a dog’s digestive tract are longer.This is because the ratio of food volume to nutrient content is higher than in wet food.Wet foods, as minimally processed products, are generally more digestible and are absorbed more efficiently, resulting in a shorter transit time through the digestive tract.That is why a dog that has been fed dry food exclusively may experience diarrhea, bloating, or increased flatulence after being given wet food.It takes time for a sluggish digestive system to respond and adjust to easily digestible foods.The solution is to serve smaller portions of food but more frequently—of course, without exceeding the recommended amounts.This is something to keep in mind regardless of the type of food being served.