Rotating dog food has been a growing trend among pet owners for years. It has never been more popular than now, and for many different reasons. Rotating your dog’s food simply means feeding your dog (or cat!) a variety of different flavours and recipes over time. Feeding a rotation-based diet is recommended by many popular pet food brands, like Acana, Carna4, and Instinct; industry leaders in super-premium pet foods. In fact, many Veterinarians and pet nutrition experts also recommend rotational feeding for dogs as a healthy way to feed your pooch.
Is it Safe to Rotate Dog Food?
Yes! The vast majority of dogs can benefit greatly from a rotating diet, which provides your pooch with more diverse sources of nutrition. Feeding your dog a variety of different formulas, either from the same or different brands, is also a great way to add enrichment to their life; eating new foods is exciting and can help to reduce boredom.
For dogs with existing allergies, it’s smart to stick with a food that works for them. For many dogs, this may mean eating the same food indefinitely is the smartest option. This is more typical with purebred breeds such as
Benefits of Rotation Feeding Dog Food:
- It may lessen the chances of your dog developing a food allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance
- Increased interest in mealtime, which is also beneficial for picky eaters
- May help improve digestion for many pets
- An excellent enrichment tool that alleviates boredom and adds enrichment
- Prevents pets from becoming dependent on one food
There is nothing wrong with feeding your dog one food forever, providing it is made with well-balanced ingredients from good quality sources. For several reasons, a pet may require a limited-ingredient diet. This could be due to allergies or problems with digestion, and in these instances, rotating pet food is not recommended. This is especially true if you found a food that they do well with. Thankfully, there is no shortage of top-quality options available, including those with novel proteins.
Some dog breeds may be prone to food allergies and intolerance, even though they may not be currently exhibiting any symptoms. This includes German Shepherds, Collies, Terriers, and also Cocker Spaniels. By rotating foods containing different ingredients, you can reduce the exposure your pet may have to potentially high-risk allergens.
How Often Should I Rotate My Dog’s Food?
Some pet owners will switch their pet’s food with every bag they purchase. For the average dog owner this is about 11 times per year. Others may either feed the same food several times in a row before switching, or even mixing different foods together. However often you decide to rotate your pet’s food, transitioning is easy if done properly. Begin by mixing the new food with the current food at about a 75/25 ratio. Over the following 5-7 days, gradually increase the amount of new food until the transition is complete. This will help prevent digestive upset. Spend a longer time transitioning pets with sensitive stomachs.
For some dogs, with seemingly iron stomachs, changing meals more frequently is possible. In fact, some of our clients open several smaller bags of food and switch things up at every single meal!
What Are The Best Dog Food Brands For Rotating?
Many dog food brands are well-designed for rotation feeding. For example, brands like Carna4, Acana, and Smack use the same (or very similar) recipes for all of their formulas, and simply switch the protein source. Try switching between different formulas in the same brand for awhile, and if your pooch does well, then consider incorporating additional brands. Check out our list of the top Canadian-made dog foods.
If you have difficulty keeping your pet interested in their meals, or just want to give their taste buds some stimulation, consider giving rotational feeding a try!