Rotation
Like humans, pets enjoy and benefit from variety. There is no one food that has it all or is perfect for your pet. In fact, feeding the same food over your pet’s lifetime could actually be detrimental to their health. Varying the type of food and rotating among proteins allows for a more diverse and complete micro-nutrient intake. Variety also exposes your pet to exciting tastes and textures that will keep them interested at mealtime.
Rotate your pet’s food every 3 months for:
- Balanced nutrient intake
- Reduced risk of food allergies
- New tastes & textures to retain interest
Effectively switching your pet to and among all-natural foods takes careful planning. The procedure depends partly on how big of a nutritional leap you’re making. Here we’ll outline two transitioning plans and the importance of rotating your pet’s diet.
Transitioning From A Grocery Store Brand
It generally requires more time to transition from one of these foods to a more nutrient-dense formula because the two ingredient lists can be quite different. We recommend switching over a period of 10 days by following the plan below:
# of days-worth of old food to complete this plan: 4.5
Follow the feeding instructions listed on the new bag. You may need to feed less with a more nutrient-dense formula.
Transitioning Among Natural, Nutrient-Dense Brands
These transitions are typically a little easier on your pet’s stomach, but still require some planning — especially when switching to a grain-free food. We recommend switching over a period of 7 days by following the plan below:
# of days-worth of old food to complete this transitioning plan: 3
Remember to follow the recommended feeding instructions listed on your bag.
Transitioning Tips
Consider these ingredients when transitioning:
- Canned pumpkin: helps to firm up stool
- Plain yogurt: aids in digestion