How to transfer a dog from natural food to dry

It is not uncommon for you to transfer a four-legged pet from natural food to dry food. Often, this need is resorted to if ordinary food adversely affects the health of the dog. Human products cause complications in the liver, kidneys, and heart muscle. Pet longevity with this diet is greatly reduced. Therefore, experienced veterinarians are urgently advised to do the translation. How to carry out manipulations without harm to the dog, consider today.

Pros and cons of dry food

Dry food, like other food, has its positive and negative qualities. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Pros:

• the owner saves time, as it eliminates the need to prepare food for the dog;
• dry food includes all the necessary vitamins, mineral compounds and amino acids;
• on the package the dosage is indicated taking into account the age of the animal;
• in dry food, add components that are difficult to “get” in everyday life;
• has a healing effect, supports the work of vital organs and systems;
• used in therapeutic and prophylactic diets;
• does not load the liver.

Minuses:

• cheap food does not benefit;
• addictive;
• quality product is expensive;
• the transition is carried out with stress for the dog;
• burdens the pet's gastrointestinal tract;
• chemical species are added to some species.

When the dog needs to be transferred to dry food

1. The translation procedure requires special attention from the owner of the dog. If an animal has diseases directly related to natural food, a switch to dry food is necessary!
2. Visit a specialist, the vet should examine the dog and give its recommendations. It is highly undesirable to switch to dry food if the dog is over 6 years old.
3. At this age, the animal's body is already so used to homemade food,that when eating dry food, serious problems can begin. You will load the dog psychologically and physically.
4. As for puppies, they can be converted to dry food after the onset of 5 months of age. At this age, the gastrointestinal tract is partially formed, so you will not have a tremendous load on him.
5. Be sure to consider the age of the animal, breed, weight. Any transition must be carried out only as directed by the veterinarian. It’s impossible to do such things on your own! Because a dog may have individual intolerance to one or another component.

How to convert a dog to dry food

1. As practice shows, after poor-quality home-made food, the dog quickly becomes accustomed to dry food. All manipulations take from 8 to 14 days. You can not reduce this period, because the body is not ready yet.
2. How is the translation? On the first day, mix 85% of the usual homemade food with 15% of the dry food soaked in water. Every day, reduce the amount of natural food by 5-10%, increasing the amount of dry food.
3. After about 4 days you should feed the animal in the ratio of 50-50, continuing to increase the proportions of dry food.Continue until the pet begins to consume 100% high quality dog ​​food.
4. Here are the basic principles, but you should know one more important thing. Watch out for the presence of clean drinking water in an animal bowl. Change it every 3-4 hours. Food can be given in dry form, if the dog's teeth are good, or soaked (older pets).
5. After a certain time in the intestines of the dog has its own microflora. The digestive tract will work correctly, the condition of the hair, claws, teeth will improve, skin rashes, which often appear from natural food, will disappear.
6. To facilitate the work of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, soak the dry food in room temperature water for the first month. Usually, from 30 to 60 minutes is allocated for soaking, it all depends on the specific feed.
7. Very carefully monitor the condition of the dog in the first 10 days after the end of the transfer. If you notice the slightest indisposition, stop the procedure and go to the veterinarian on the same day. Give him the situation and get a step-by-step guide to the translation.

Rules for transferring dogs to dry food

1. The most important thing to consider is that the transition should be orderly. You can not change the passions of the animal for a couple of days, manipulations are carried out very slowly.
2. A smooth transition will allow the dog to switch to a new diet without stress. In this way, not only the nervous system of the animal is prepared, but also the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver.
3. It is impossible to change the selected food, because in the process of eating the dog gets used to it, its environment is formed in the intestine. If you buy another product, dysbacteriosis can develop.
4. If the pet did not like the option you chose, make the transition from one dry food to another and at the same time give the dog probiotics.
5. It is worth mentioning the quality of dry food. Immediately exclude such options as “Pedigri”, “Chappi” and others. Choose only premium food that is as balanced and natural as possible.
6. Carefully monitor the health of the dog during the transition to dry food. If the animal's coat has deteriorated, there are strange eruptions on the abdomen or back, the frequency of stool has changed (constipation), the feed is not suitable.

What to do if the dog does not want to eat dry food

1. It is not uncommon when, by virtue of habit, the animal completely refuses to eat the food of your choice. A dog may go hungry for a day or two and still feel depressed. Do not worry, there is a solution!
2. Try to mix dry food with your favorite dog treat. Or treat the animal one grain of grain "from the hands." Sometimes the owners start the game, and as a reward they slowly feed their pet a portion of food.
3. An animal can not eat food, because it has no elementary appetite. Take the habit of walking the dog every time before eating. Go jogging to arouse your appetite.
4. If the dog has no prohibitions regarding the use of dry food with natural food, mix in some of his favorite chicken, turkey or other treats. Gradually remove the natural food from the diet completely.
5. There is another option. Put the dog in a bowl of food (dry or soaked), stand next to and say “Give it up!”, “Take it away!”. The animal from greed eats everything. Usually dogs are greedy when there is another pet in the house.
6. If you get too obstinate dog who eats human food with pleasure, but refuses to buy food, do otherwise. Don't treat him to natural food in the future.Wait until the animal gets hungry to eat "his".

It is rather difficult to transfer a dog to dry food, if you don’t know where to start. Remember the main rule - all manipulations should be carried out slowly without stress for the animal. Be sure to get a veterinarian consultation before the transfer, choose only high-quality food.

Video: how to feed a dog dry food