new food transition - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tinalove · 03-23-2012, 07:20 PM

When I get my new puppy I already know that I want to switch her food. How long does it take to transition a puppy? I am thinking that I should buy a bag of her old food and a bag of the one I want to transition her to. I don't want to cause any tummy upsets.

MY OSCAR · 03-23-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinalove

When I get my new puppy I already know that I want to switch her food. How long does it take to transition a puppy? I am thinking that I should buy a bag of her old food and a bag of the one I want to transition her to. I don't want to cause any tummy upsets.

yes, you are right.
buy the same food the breeder is feeding just stay on that till the bag is nearly gone then slowly transition to the new food..

Lovetodream88 · 03-24-2012, 05:04 AM

I would say she needs to stay on her old food for at least a few weeks before you try switching at all because you don't want her to get to stressed with to many changes and then switch slowly when you decided to switch.

107barney · 03-24-2012, 06:13 AM

I switched Teddy's food the first day he came home because I did not like the food the breeder had him on. He never ate another bite of the crap she sent him home with. I have never done these so-called slow transitions with food and haven't had a problem. However, if you want to make sure you can ease him into the new food over a few days. Your veterinarian can give you advice about this transition and what is best for him but there is no way it will take weeks.

sugarmamma · 03-24-2012, 06:24 AM

I have never transitioned Sugar into new foods either.
Even now, with home cooked, her proteins and veggies and grains are switched up within the recipe guidelines routinely with no problems.
Of course, if you have a dog who is prone to GI upsets, you may have to be more cautious.
The breeder should send you home with some of the kibble she is currently eating. Mix a few pieces into the new, better quality, kibble to accustom her to the flavor of the new food maybe.

ritapatt · 03-24-2012, 06:30 AM

I intended to switch Abby slowly but she would have none of that, she wanted the food the other dogs were eating- It was for the best, the Taste of the wild firmed up her poop and was a way better food then what she was on. I never even finished the ziplock bag of food I got from the breeder.

Lovetodream88 · 03-24-2012, 06:42 AM

Well you can chage her food right away but then you have no idea if shes not eating because things are new or because she hates the new food or because something's is wrong. Then there is the fact it could upset her stomach an when you have an untrained puppy having accidents I'm sure you would prefer solid poo rather the diareah. Then there is the fact that it nothing will be the same and everything will be new. My vet has always suggested slow food transitioning.

Lovetodream88 · 03-24-2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 107barney

Have you ever transitioned a dog by just doing it? I have, all three, and there is no digestive upset when a dog goes from a crappy kibble to a higher quality food. My vet always suggested I confer with a vet nutritionist if I had diet questions. And, having a puppy means diarrhea from time to time and it's our job to clean it up not bitch and whine about it. Otherwise don't own a dog!

Well I was not whining about it trust me I picked up a lot of diarrhea when Callie was a puppy because she was sick so that was not what I'm doing. Yes I have transitioned Callie by just doing it and she had diarrhea for a few days and her tummy made lots of noises. Dogs do find some comfort in things that are the same and the food would be the only thing the same so that's what I was mostly worried about is the stress on the pup. We also don't know the the pup is on a terrible food because a food was never named.

107barney · 03-24-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Well I was not whining about it trust me I picked up a lot of diarrhea when Callie was a puppy because she was sick so that was not what I'm doing. Yes I have transitioned Callie by just doing it and she had diarrhea for a few days and her tummy made lots of noises. Dogs do find some comfort in things that are the same and the food would be the only thing the same so that's what I was mostly worried about is the stress on the pup. We also don't know the the pup is on a terrible food because a food was never named.

I've changed food many times over the 12 years of owning my yorkies, and NONE of the times was a transition done. It really doesn't matter what the food is, because the owner doesn't like it. Dogs are individuals, and just because Callie was sick when you swapped her food doesn't mean every other puppy will be.

Lovetodream88 · 03-24-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 107barney

I've changed food many times over the 12 years of owning my yorkies, and NONE of the times was a transition done. It really doesn't matter what the food is, because the owner doesn't like it. Dogs are individuals, and just because Callie was sick when you swapped her food doesn't mean every other puppy will be.

And just because yours didnt get sick dosent mean every other puppy won't.

107barney · 03-24-2012, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

And just because yours didnt get sick dosent mean every other puppy won't.

That's right, it doesn't and I didn't say I guarantee my opinions or advice. I do however stand by the fact that the puppy doesn't need "weeks" of transitioning to a new food like you posted.

OP - good luck, this thread is too redundant for me at this point.

Sheldonsmom · 03-24-2012, 02:32 PM

When we first got Sheldon I feed him the same food the rescue group was giving him for about 2 weeks, I wanted to make his transition to his new home as easy for him as possible since there were so many changes already.
Also I would know how much he was eating, how he was pooping, any signs of upset tummy, etc.

After the 2nd week and mixed 3/4 of old food with and 1/4 of new food for about 2 days, then 1/2 and 1/2 for another 2 days, until he was on the new food 100%.
This was advised by the vet, my friend who is a vet tech and the ladies at the store

Good luck with the new puppy!

Ellie May · 03-24-2012, 02:39 PM

I transition over 3-7 days (75% old, 25% new, 50/50, 25% old, 75% new, 100% new). Usually it ends up being closer to 3 days. When I homecooked, there was no transition between ingredients.

Alternatively, you can make chicken and rice or get some I/D or EN from the vet and transition from that food if you don't want to buy a bag of the old food.

tinalove · 03-24-2012, 04:37 PM

The food is crappy based on dog food advisors. I actually used to have Kirby on this food before I switched her. Kirby was on the crap for about 4 years. I had major stomach issues when I switched her. I did try to speed up the process (bad mistake). But this is a totally different pup. I plan to switch her gradually since she will have stress from the adjustments already. I will buy a bag of the new food and a bag of the old food.

Lovetodream88 · 03-24-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 107barney

That's right, it doesn't and I didn't say I guarantee my opinions or advice. I do however stand by the fact that the puppy doesn't need "weeks" of transitioning to a new food like you posted.

OP - good luck, this thread is too redundant for me at this point.

I didn't mean it took weeks to transition I meant I would wait a few weeks before transitioning.

03-23-2012, 07:20 PM	#1
tinalove YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Orangeburg SC Posts: 567	new food transition When I get my new puppy I already know that I want to switch her food. How long does it take to transition a puppy? I am thinking that I should buy a bag of her old food and a bag of the one I want to transition her to. I don't want to cause any tummy upsets. Last edited by tinalove; 03-23-2012 at 07:21 PM.

03-24-2012, 05:04 AM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,208	I would say she needs to stay on her old food for at least a few weeks before you try switching at all because you don't want her to get to stressed with to many changes and then switch slowly when you decided to switch. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

03-24-2012, 06:13 AM	#4
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I switched Teddy's food the first day he came home because I did not like the food the breeder had him on. He never ate another bite of the crap she sent him home with. I have never done these so-called slow transitions with food and haven't had a problem. However, if you want to make sure you can ease him into the new food over a few days. Your veterinarian can give you advice about this transition and what is best for him but there is no way it will take weeks. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

03-24-2012, 06:24 AM	#5
sugarmamma Donating YT 18K Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Yorkie Zoo Posts: 34,152	I have never transitioned Sugar into new foods either. Even now, with home cooked, her proteins and veggies and grains are switched up within the recipe guidelines routinely with no problems. Of course, if you have a dog who is prone to GI upsets, you may have to be more cautious. The breeder should send you home with some of the kibble she is currently eating. Mix a few pieces into the new, better quality, kibble to accustom her to the flavor of the new food maybe. __________________ Lisa, Mom to Curri Bee Vindi Loo Tikka Masala Sugar Baby

03-24-2012, 06:42 AM	#7
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,208	Well you can chage her food right away but then you have no idea if shes not eating because things are new or because she hates the new food or because something's is wrong. Then there is the fact it could upset her stomach an when you have an untrained puppy having accidents I'm sure you would prefer solid poo rather the diareah. Then there is the fact that it nothing will be the same and everything will be new. My vet has always suggested slow food transitioning. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

03-24-2012, 06:30 AM	#6
ritapatt YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL Posts: 1,400	I intended to switch Abby slowly but she would have none of that, she wanted the food the other dogs were eating- It was for the best, the Taste of the wild firmed up her poop and was a way better food then what she was on. I never even finished the ziplock bag of food I got from the breeder.

03-24-2012, 02:32 PM	#12
Sheldonsmom YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Trumbull, CT, USA Posts: 457	When we first got Sheldon I feed him the same food the rescue group was giving him for about 2 weeks, I wanted to make his transition to his new home as easy for him as possible since there were so many changes already. Also I would know how much he was eating, how he was pooping, any signs of upset tummy, etc. After the 2nd week and mixed 3/4 of old food with and 1/4 of new food for about 2 days, then 1/2 and 1/2 for another 2 days, until he was on the new food 100%. This was advised by the vet, my friend who is a vet tech and the ladies at the store Good luck with the new puppy!

03-24-2012, 02:39 PM	#13
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	I transition over 3-7 days (75% old, 25% new, 50/50, 25% old, 75% new, 100% new). Usually it ends up being closer to 3 days. When I homecooked, there was no transition between ingredients. Alternatively, you can make chicken and rice or get some I/D or EN from the vet and transition from that food if you don't want to buy a bag of the old food. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

03-24-2012, 04:37 PM	#14
tinalove YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Orangeburg SC Posts: 567	The food is crappy based on dog food advisors. I actually used to have Kirby on this food before I switched her. Kirby was on the crap for about 4 years. I had major stomach issues when I switched her. I did try to speed up the process (bad mistake). But this is a totally different pup. I plan to switch her gradually since she will have stress from the adjustments already. I will buy a bag of the new food and a bag of the old food.