I Can't Believe I'm Asking This...Dog Care Advice Needed

[ronandannette]

OK, so I may be on record as not being a "pet person". Guilty as charged. Yet here we are with a 4 y.o. male Morkie in the household - call it a cross between pet-sitting and a possible re-homing situation. My son LOVES him and my husband likes him, so no need for anyone to worry that he's lacking for affection, care or attention. He and I are managing to mostly ignore each other, to both our satisfaction.

He eats about 1/2 a can of wet food and maybe 1/4 cup of dry food per day. He's finally run out of the dry food that came with him so I picked some up today. Although I tried to remember exactly what it was, I missed a little - got the brand correct but it's not the exact same stuff. Here's the question: The bag says that if this is a new feed, it should be transitioned in by mixing with the usual food, over a 14 day period, to avoid stomach upset. How important is this? Please advise ASAP, because it's almost his suppertime and I'd really like to not have to go back out to the store. TIA (Help me out here, @TipsyTraveler)

 

[nw6675]

So, I might get flamed, but we don't transition our Shih Tzu and she's sensitive/picky. We just switched. Same brand, different flavor.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

It really depends on the dog. It might not bother some. But I would never just switch up a food on a new pet (I've had cats and dogs) and not expect some gastro distress which I don't think you would like to deal with.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

So, I might get flamed, but we don't transition our Shih Tzu and she's sensitive/picky. We just switched. Same brand, different flavor.

Oh yeah, same brands, different flavors I think wouldn't do too much, but I wouldn't just randomly switch brands without some kind of transition phase (i probably wouldn't do 2 weeks...just wait until the old food ran out).

 

[ronandannette]

It really depends on the dog. It might not bother some. But I would never just switch up a food on a new pet (I've had cats and dogs) and not expect some gastro distress which I don't think you would like to deal with.

What's the worst that could happen? Sorry to have to be indelicate, but would it maybe make him puke or poop or are we talking about real harm? If it's the two former, well, the deal in having him here is that somebody else handles that.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I think it differs from dog to dog. I have two dogs and when their food was switched to another brand, absolutely nothing happened with one dog but the other had diarrhea for 1-2 days. Some dogs have way more sensitive stomaches than others. The one with the stomach issues is a BMD and the other one is a Dalmatian/Lab mix.

They recently had to swap to another flavor (same brand) since the BMD doesn't like it anymore.....some dogs are divas.

 

[princesscinderella]

You are just looking at likely some vomit and or diarrhea possibly, but switching foods abruptly won’t do any harm to their overall health. I love the honest food company pet food my dogs stopped getting the gross tear stains after switching to this human food grade pet food. Best of luck with your new dog

 

[ronandannette]

Oh yeah, same brands, different flavors I think wouldn't do too much, but I wouldn't just randomly switch brands without some kind of transition phase (i probably wouldn't do 2 weeks...just wait until the old food ran out).

This is what he used to have v.s. what I bought today. There is none of the old stuff left.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I would consider giving him a little more wet food and a little less dry food for a few days and see how he does.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I would consider giving him a little more wet food and a little less dry food for a few days and see how he does.

This is good advice. I have had Yorkies for 40 years. Toy dogs have very delicate digestive systems and are easily upset.
Normally, transition should be done over seven days, giving 75 percent old with 25 percent new for three days, then 50 percent with 50 percent new for three days, then 25 percent old with 25 percent new for three days, then 100 percent new.

 

[BrianL]

He will probably be totally fine with it. Some dogs can be picky - most pretty much eat anything. It's a decent quality food, so if he eats it, then I wouldn't worry. If her turns his nose up at it, well, you have a cat-dog. My mom's dog is so spoiled that she will walk away from bacon and steak and all the other nonsense my mom feeds her. She will never turn down cat poop though! Man, dogs....

 

[mumto3girls]

We have a small dog and did the slow transition when we changed out her food early on. Then COVID hit and I sometimes had trouble getting her food and sometimes had to switch and, at least once, rather abruptly although I was able to get the same brand. She was fine despite her occasionally fussy stomach. Worst case is probably a bit of diarrhea or vomiting, he might also not want to eat it, but should come around when really hungry. I don’t think there is any chance of long term harm. I like the more canned food/less dry as you transition idea upthread.

When I worry about these kinds of things I remind myself that when she’s out in the yard she eats grass, deer crap and other random things. When I’m walking her she sometimes tries to drink out of puddles. How bad could slightly different food be?

Good luck! We had a yorkie growing up. Cute, but stubborn as could be.

 

[TippyThomas]

We deal with many brand and forms of food for the dogs and cats at the shelter simply because of the food donations we receive. Some of our dogs do fine with changes and some others struggle. We try very hard to keep those that struggle on the same brand and/or form just to make life easier for them. Their struggle is usually loose stools and/or vomiting. Loose stools is a much more common struggle for ours. I agree with the advice to give more wet food than usual, adding in the new kibble as well. Good luck with it all and I hope it turns out to be a wonderful experience for you either way.

 

[lovin'fl]

We have almost 17 year old cairn. Always told to mix food to transition. To avoid the runs. Yet he gets all kinds of people food (per the DH who spoils). Sometimes things mess him up and a lot of times it doesn't. And now, with him being like 100 in dog years and not a big eater, we switch up all the time just to get him to eat (and take his meds). I mentioned being worried about that to the vet...the constant switching when we have been told to transition all these years...and she said do whatever to get him to eat. So, don't think it's a huge issue.

 

[lifesavacation]

I think it depends on the dog whether it matters or not. My dog will get a major stomach issue with even a sniff of a food change. BTDT and it’s a mess. My dog can’t have any people food either.

 

[ronandannette]

I think it depends on the dog whether it matters or not. My dog will get a major stomach issue with even a sniff of a food change. BTDT and it’s a mess. My dog can’t have any people food either.

No thanks. This dog wouldn't still be here if he had issues like that.

 

[mommasita]

Ooh, I wanna see him! I tried my guy with the bag on the right, fussy **** and nope.
I am not a good one to respond, as I just switch, , although slowly. He eats the presidents choice chicken and rice for small breeds.

 

[LSUmiss]

This is what he used to have v.s. what I bought today. There is none of the old stuff left.
View attachment 770204View attachment 770205

I think that will be fine. Likely similar ingredients. I have switched up like the before & my dog tends to have a sensitive stomach.

 

[ronandannette]

I think that will be fine. Likely similar ingredients. I have switched up like the before & my dog tends to have a sensitive stomach.

Here's to hoping. He really doesn't eat very much dry food. Only if there's nothing in the wet food bowl and nobody's given him a treat in the last 10 minutes. He does seem to enjoy toying with it though - dumps it out of the bowl onto the floor and bats it around immediately when it is served.

 

[LSUmiss]

Here's to hoping. He really doesn't eat very much dry food. Only if there's nothing in the wet food bowl and nobody's given him a treat in the last 10 minutes. He does seem to enjoy toying with it though - dumps it out of the bowl onto the floor and bats it around immediately when it is served.

Lol! Mine can’t even eat treats b/c he’ll have stomach issues so I think he’ll be ok.