When transitioning a pet to a new diet, think like the tortoise, not the hare.
Photo: Shutterstock / 279photo StudioSick of the sighs and the eye rolls you get from clients when your veterinarian recommends a diet change? In todays busy society, we know clients only retain some of what they hear in the appointment. We can often boost compliance with nutritional recommendations by offering written instructions. Make it easier on yourself and the pet owner an offer a written plan. Here are a few guidelines to gradually transition the pet to a new food.
For dogs
As a general rule of thumb, the transition schedule for some healthy dogs is
> Day 1 and 2: 25% of the recommended diet and 75% of the pets previous diet
> Day 3 and 4: 50/50 split
> Days 5 to 7: 25% of the pets previous diet and 75% of the recommended diet
> Day 8 and on: 1 cup of the recommended diet, discontinuing the previous diet
For cats
When it comes to cats, I recommend making the transition twice as long.
> Day 1 to 4: 25% of the recommended diet and 75% of the pets previous diet
> Day 5 to 8: 50/50 split
> Day 9 to 11: 25% of the pets previous diet and 75% of the recommended diet
> Day 12 and on: 1 cup of the recommended diet, discontinuing the previous diet
Special cases
When it comes to some patientsespecially cats, finicky dogs and any patient whos been illtry a much slower transition. For example, perhaps only a few kibbles of a new dry diet, adding a few more each day. Or if transitioning to a new canned diet, simply using a small amount of the new diet as a top dressing.
Some dogs and cats transition to a new diet easier if its not mixed with or even in the same bowl as their normal diet. In these cases, offering a small amount of the new diet in a separate dish from the pets normal diet may work.
Stop the harmful hurry
Explain that a gradual transition can help avoid gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, vomiting, food aversions and so on. If your veterinarian has recommended a therapeutic diet because the pet had been diagnosed with a medical condition, clients may think they need to make a change to the new diet quickly. Tell clients they dont need to rush this process. Patients, for any number of reasons, may require a more gradual transition plan than a healthy dog or cat.
In my practice, I explain the goal of nutritional management to these worried clients. I tell them a long-term approachwhether its a few more days or a few more weeks generally wont have a major impact on the patients health.
Original post:
Slow and steady wins the transition to a new veterinary diet - dvm360
