Is it okay t mix 2 different types of kibble?

[Darlene68]

Just wondering if this was okay to do..or not. Thanks for any input!

[Ellie May]

Sure, it's just fine as long as they are both complete and balanced.

Not sure why so many people mix and rotate though. Not necessary...

[Britster]

I think it'd be fine! As long as they don't get upset tummies from the mix of kibbles every day.

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Sure, it's just fine as long as they are both complete and balanced.

Not sure why so many people mix and rotate though. Not necessary...

Here's some of my reasons, main one being I have a dog who will refuse to eat for days unless things are changed up a bit. He has always been this way, since 9 weeks old. After a month or so, he just gets tired of eating the same food, plain and simple. I don't see a problem with changing his kibble for him to make it more exciting. We have 2-3 foods that we rotate with and I buy a new one once one bag is almost done.

Dogs (actually all mammals) are designed to consume a range of different foods, and to obtain differing vitamins and minerals from each. They are not designed to eat “only chicken” or “only lamb” or any other food item for eternity. Changing foods, importantly the contents of those foods, every so often helps to give them the variety their bodies were designed to thrive on.

There is no one dog food in existence that “has it all”. And remember, the feeding trials that foods go through only last for six months (and not all foods are even trialled). Changing foods periodically helps to ensure that no dietary deficiencies or excesses build up over time.

Variety is the spice of life. Who wants to eat the same food day in and day out? Could you do it? For months or years? Feeding your dog something different helps to ensure that he does not become bored and frustrated with his food. This will not make your dog picky - we are talking about periodic changes here, not serving up something different or adding goodies to tempt him every time he doesn’t like his dinner.
And most importantly of all:

It helps to avoid the development of allergies. In a few extreme cases, you (or your dog) may be instantly and violently allergic to something. But that is a few extreme cases only - the vast majority of allergies are things that build up over time and with constant exposure. The surest way to develop an allergy to chicken, for example, is to consume it daily for an extended period. It is no coincidence that the most common allergens are things that have commonly been used in dog foods for many years. The (modern) advice given by nutritionists is that feeding a wide variety of different foods, preferably from a young age, can help to avoid the development of allergies in the first place (that's the advice given for humans too).

Common signs of allergies are itchy skin, red itchy paws, chewing paws, yeast infections, ear infections, and skin infections that may respond to antibiotics but reappear as soon as the antibiotics are discontinued.

That all adds up to changing the food you feed every once in a while. That means changing to a food with different main ingredients. There is very little benefit to switching from one chicken/rice food to another, for example. If you have been feeding a food with chicken as the main ingredient, then it is far better that the next food is based on lamb, or turkey, or fish, or beef, etc and that the other main ingredients are also varied.

[Ellie May]

Brit, I'd much rather see a dog each a variety of kibble than be miserable. I just mean it is taken as fact that it is best to rotate, but from what I've seen, veterinary nutritionists don't necessarily agree. I think the major problem comes in when too many proteins (or grains) are given. I see owners go for all the exotics and their dogs have been exposed to close to ten meats at one time or another. So when an elimination diet is needed, there is very little to choose from, esp. if the dog doesn't do well on some of the new meats for whattever reason. I mean, most dogs have been exposed to chicken, lamb, pork, etc. if they have had a commercial kibble with just "meat" as an ingredient. Then the new thing is to rotate between fish and duck and bison and and and. So, that is where one of the problems comes in. BTW, I think there is so much we don't yet understand. Ellie was on SD for years and not really itchy at all. Switched to RC and she went off. Thought it was the corn, but SD has corn too. Soooooooo........... Now tons of foods make her itch. Very odd.

[143julz]

When we first got Dudley the breeder had him on Chicken Soup which I continued. Not long afterwards his poop became very loose, took him to the vet to make sure everything was ok and Dr gave me some I/D.....
I mixed it in w/ Chick Soup until the I/D was gone (about 2wks) after he was back to straight Chick Soup, he woudln't eat it

Spoke to Dr and he gave me another supply of I/D mixed it in and he ate like a champ Been mixing I/D and Chick Soup since we had him, almost 2 yr now I hate going to Dr to get his food(I/D), it's a drive for us but for Dudley, ANYTHING!!!

[WV~Yorkies]

Sure shouldn't be a problem.

[Darlene68]

Thanks for the replys, I appreciate it!

[Beamers Mom]

When we were stationed in England and I was buying dog food at the commissary, I bought two or three different brands and mixed them together. Because sometimes the commissary would be out of a particular brand. The furbabies would be used to the other brands and we wouldn't have to worry about switching them from one brand to another. if one particular brand couldn't be mixed in with their food sometimes they wouldn't even notice it.

[Princes mom]

Prince eats Blue Buff (low cal), Solid Gold Wee Bits and Wellness. I don't mix them together in one bowl, but we do alternate days so he has a nice variety of of premium foods.

[erinlee]

Originally Posted by Britster

I think it'd be fine! As long as they don't get upset tummies from the mix of kibbles every day.


Here's some of my reasons, main one being I have a dog who will refuse to eat for days unless things are changed up a bit. He has always been this way, since 9 weeks old. After a month or so, he just gets tired of eating the same food, plain and simple. I don't see a problem with changing his kibble for him to make it more exciting. We have 2-3 foods that we rotate with and I buy a new one once one bag is almost done.

Dogs (actually all mammals) are designed to consume a range of different foods, and to obtain differing vitamins and minerals from each. They are not designed to eat “only chicken” or “only lamb” or any other food item for eternity. Changing foods, importantly the contents of those foods, every so often helps to give them the variety their bodies were designed to thrive on.

There is no one dog food in existence that “has it all”. And remember, the feeding trials that foods go through only last for six months (and not all foods are even trialled). Changing foods periodically helps to ensure that no dietary deficiencies or excesses build up over time.

Variety is the spice of life. Who wants to eat the same food day in and day out? Could you do it? For months or years? Feeding your dog something different helps to ensure that he does not become bored and frustrated with his food. This will not make your dog picky - we are talking about periodic changes here, not serving up something different or adding goodies to tempt him every time he doesn’t like his dinner.
And most importantly of all:

It helps to avoid the development of allergies. In a few extreme cases, you (or your dog) may be instantly and violently allergic to something. But that is a few extreme cases only - the vast majority of allergies are things that build up over time and with constant exposure. The surest way to develop an allergy to chicken, for example, is to consume it daily for an extended period. It is no coincidence that the most common allergens are things that have commonly been used in dog foods for many years. The (modern) advice given by nutritionists is that feeding a wide variety of different foods, preferably from a young age, can help to avoid the development of allergies in the first place (that's the advice given for humans too).

Common signs of allergies are itchy skin, red itchy paws, chewing paws, yeast infections, ear infections, and skin infections that may respond to antibiotics but reappear as soon as the antibiotics are discontinued.

That all adds up to changing the food you feed every once in a while. That means changing to a food with different main ingredients. There is very little benefit to switching from one chicken/rice food to another, for example. If you have been feeding a food with chicken as the main ingredient, then it is far better that the next food is based on lamb, or turkey, or fish, or beef, etc and that the other main ingredients are also varied.

I could not have said it better myself!!! My dogs get a rotation of protein sources!

[Willard Morash]

It is NOT OK to mix two different foods unless you are switching foods. Mixing foods can cause your dog to reject important vitamins and minerals. If there is a different type of calcium in one food than the other it can confuse the dogs digestive system and make it reject both calciums!

For more on these listen to the audio on this page:

- HealthyPetBiz

It's the 4th audio on the page.

[vickyfan]

The pet food shop around my house always give me free bags of food to try. There is a period of time I have Acana (I broght that), Fromm, nutrisca, nature variety instinct, and ultra nutro(get this from pets mart) at home. So I did some experiment about mixing food. My puppy, Minnie loves Acana and ultra nutro the most. The result of 1/2 ultra nutro, a little more than 1/4 of acana, and 1/4 of Fromm gives Minnie the most firm and healthy stool. She is so energetic and healthy. So I think I am going to stick with that. When I try put more those premium food in her bowl, she has lose stool. So I guess mixing 4 stars food with 5-6 stars food does the best for my dog.

[Ginas_babys]

I end up mixing two different brands of kibble once a month when one bag of kibble is almost gone and I start the other (so I mix the rest of the old bag with the new one).I rotate between different brands and flavours of grain free kibble for mine (exept now that Bella is on RC birth plan) and Milo does great

[DBlain]

I feed Lola a mix, one is Blue with the fish and sweet potatoe, the other is Life's Abundance with Chicken and Rice, I feel this way she has two protein sources and a mix of rice and sweet potato. I also mix in some chicken based Blue Buff about a week before I take her to lady that babysits a bunch of yorkies in her home, because that's what she feeds and it is easier for her and Lola who free feeds. Lola is not picky, does not have a sensitive stomach, and does not over eat, so within reason I like not having to be to so restrictive with her diet. This way I don't have to worry if I take her to someone's home and she gets into their dog's dog food. She also gets bits of table scraps like salmon, chicken, crab meat, and beef, but only if the meat is not marinated. Oh and she prefers her crab legs with a little drawn butter

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by Willard Morash

It is NOT OK to mix two different foods unless you are switching foods. Mixing foods can cause your dog to reject important vitamins and minerals. If there is a different type of calcium in one food than the other it can confuse the dogs digestive system and make it reject both calciums!

For more on these listen to the audio on this page:

- HealthyPetBiz

It's the 4th audio on the page.

Absolutely NOT true.

It's also against YT rules to promote your business this way.