[BaileyGirl]

I was checking out the www.dogfoodanalysis.com site that someone mentioned and noticed that they recommend that you change your dog's food periodically - at least every three months, if not more frequently (every time the bag runs out if your dog can stomach it).

They don't necessarily mean switching brands, although you could do that, but you could also change to a different formula made by the same brand. A few reasons, as quoted from their site:

"_ 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”...Changing foods periodically helps to ensure that no dietary deficiencies or excesses build up over time."

They also mention that it's good to change to a food with different main ingredients every once in awhile (i.e switching from chicken to lamb as main ingredient).

Do any of you do this?? I thought that it wasn't a good thing to switch food too often... When you find a dog food that works for your dog, wouldn't you stick with it?

[RonE]

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who actually does this.

I used to switch from lamb-and-rice- to chicken-and-rice within the same brand and I'm not even sure THAT was a good idea.

It seems like switching frequently would be a recipe for chronic soft stools and other tummy problems.

[britishbandit]

I avoid switching dog food like the plague! It's too hard of a transition on them to do it often. I honestly believe once you've found one that works well, stick with it for good.

[Shalva]

I dont think that switching food is a problem unless your dog has a problem with switching
now my dogs are on a raw diet and they get a variety of foods everyday.... i add new things all the time and every day they get different food.....

my cats I switch foods on them fairly often because of a cat i had with allergies and the problem we ran into was that if he ate the same food for more than a bag (small bag) he would develop an intolerance to it.....

I think that switching foods is a good idea..... but it all depends on your dog and whether your dog can handle the switches.....I would not transition every food, I dont' really get the transitioning thing especailly when I watch my dogs that eat differently every single day and I don't transition them.... to be honest in many ways I feel like switching foods needs to be done as a puppy.... I do think that we create these dogs that can't eat multiple foods and need to be transitioned.... and while I realize that our domestic dogs are far removed from the wild.... I think we have created this problem....

to me for puppies I would switch their foods around and I have been reading the data that suggests its a good idea but if you are doing it for an adult dog I would say it depends on your dog and your best bet is to get your puppies used to switching foods from the time they are pups.
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[aubreyea]

We switch between Nutro lamb and rice and Blue buffalo sweet potato and fish
We do the switch about every week. They really like both and are getting more of a variety. Oh, and we started the switch gradually but now that they are used to it we just switch completely each week and they haven't had any stomach problems.

[briteday]

My dogs don't have problems with it. Since one of mine has lots of food allergies, I only buy brands and flavors that accomodate her needs. However, the other dog doesn't always like the current choice, so she'll sniff around the other's bowl, then we let the second one have the same as the first for a few days. We seem to have a limited selection of premium foods in our area that meet our allergy needs. So mine only get about 4-5 different foods, and I only change up when something is on sale. We usually have 2 different foods in the house at a time.

[CrzyBritNAmerica]

I wondered about this too. I don't plan to change brands as I don't think there is need to with Bridgette, but we are using Natural Balance (Venison and Brown Rice) at the moment and I wanted to switch flavors some. I suppose that would be okay then if she doesn't show any signs of upset?

[luvntzus]

I definitely think variety is important. It doesn't make any sense for a dog to eat the exact same thing for its entire life. Dogs that are used to a variety of different foods don't need to have their food transitioned.

Do people eat a diet of just chicken and rice with a multivitamin for months straight? I don't think so..... if you did, then yeah, you'd have digestive upset when you tried to eat something different. My dog has eaten a variety of different kibbles, canned food, meat babyfood, and healthy "people food" since he was a puppy. I switch foods cold turkey and there's no digestive upset.

[Elijah]

Originally Posted by luvntzus

I definitely think variety is important. It doesn't make any sense for a dog to eat the exact same thing for its entire life. Dogs that are used to a variety of different foods don't need to have their food transitioned.

Do people eat a diet of just chicken and rice with a multivitamin for months straight? I don't think so..... if you did, then yeah, you'd have digestive upset when you tried to eat something different. My dog has eaten a variety of different kibbles, canned food, meat babyfood, and healthy "people food" since he was a puppy. I switch foods cold turkey and there's no digestive upset.

I think this is "right on". I love hot dogs but, I can only take them 2-3 times a week and only one at a time. I'd hate to know that's all I was allowed for the duration of my time on earth. No particular dog food is 100% right for them 100% of the time and I believe a bit of variety should be in order. It certainly shouldn't hurt anything changing around every so often...three months or what have you. Something on the order of this...just one of many examples.

http://www.timberwolforganics.com/

http://www.eaglepack.com/Pages/HS_Home.html

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

If someone still doesn't care to rotate their dogs food, I would at least add blueberries, cranberries, yogurt, pumpkin to their food to give them a little variety. Adding some "spice" to their diet can only be beneficial and suppertime may not be as mundane to them with a bit of change. The Missing Link is always good to add.

Just my take on this. You can just get a six pound sampler bag of a given food just to see if they'll be able to eat or not. They may be allergic to some of the ingredients and just getting a smaller bag won't hurt so much if you have to ditch it.

[Captbob]

I feed my dog Natural Balance products and switch her periodically from one formula to another. She has no problem with that at all, it likes eating each one of them.

[poodleholic]

I have Standard Poodles, a breed alleged to have "sensitive" stomachs, however, I feed a wide variety from brands that I have determined (from use) that do not cause gas or loose or soft stools, and my two have no digestive problems. They are:

Innova EVO (poultry and red meats)
Natural Balance (all, including the food roll, and the canned)
Canidae
Wysong - dehydrated

In addition, they are given fresh ground meats that are poached (sirloin, lamb, venison, bison), fresh, steamed vegetables, brown rice (which is added to the commercial foods listed above), baked sweet potato, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, omlette w/cheese, sardines packed in spring water, live-cultured yogurt, peeled apple & pear, blueberries, and many others.

Treats are mainly BaaBaaQs (dehydrated lamb lung), braunswieger, string cheese, on occasion give them brie and cheddar, but limited. Inside Kongs they get peanut butter, kibble, cottage cheese, apple or pear, sliced kosher hot dogs, and cream cheese to seal the openings.

Oh, and the favorite, Pizza! Not often, but now and then, and never w/onion, of course.

[Amitiel]

Originally Posted by ilovemypets

i always heard that dogs should be kept on the same food, and never to switch foods.... my best friend is a vet tech and that is what she told me...
besides if you actually think that they are actually getting the nutrition they really need from commercial pet food, then you are so mistaken....
please read this:
http://shout.to/thetruth
after i read it i was horrified and couldn't believe it was even legal!
i immediately switched my pets to ameri-pet food, and they love it!
if you want to know about it or want any info about it please go here:
http://ilovemypets.ameri-petonline.com

i sure hope this opens your eyes, cause our pets deserve only the best!

hope you do not mind I have sent an email requesting a sample of the Ameri-pet food - if I buy, are you set to receive anything for the referral? if so pm me and I will give your name / whatever for that - thank you