I have four 7 wk old chihuahuas currently on "half gerber baby food (veg n meat) mixed with puppy canned food" this formula was recommended by my vet to wean them with since the mom had caught the kennel cough about 2 weeks ago. The mom is better now. But the pups are still on that formula and I want to know what is the best way to switch them to dry food? I know I can't just swap it immediately, I don't want them to diarrea all over the kennel. Is it okay if I replace a meal with the dry food a day and increase it over time? How fast or slow to I do this process? I gave them a tiny handful as a snack today while I was gone and their poop turned out normal, is this a good sign? Please share your experiences thanks!
2006-09-30 14:10:21 · 7 answers · asked by Stephanie T 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
With my dog's experience, canned dog food means messy poop!
To ween your dogs, add a bit of dry food into their canned food gradually over a week (more of the dry food and less canned food each day) until there is less then 1/3 wet dog food. Then, just forget the can if your dog is doing alright. I use Iams minichunks or moist and meaty and have no problems.
2006-09-30 14:16:21 · answer #1 · answered by dgm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ween them onto the dry food. Mix the wet and dry food, more wet with some dry at first. Slowly increase the dry food ratio until you are barely are adding wet food at all. Then you can go to straight dry food. This process usually takes a couple of weeks. The poop may still be a little messy at first but it should not be as bad.
2006-09-30 14:54:12 · answer #2 · answered by Social_D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Add the dry to the formula , adding a little more each day until you are feeding all dry.
p.s. use a good meat base dog food.
2006-09-30 14:17:48 · answer #3 · answered by tom n 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont have a dog or puppies but i do have a cat and i noticed that when he eats dry food and then he eats wet food he always gets diarrhea so i just give him dry food most of the time. Don't know if that answers your question though but thats my experience with "messy" poop
2006-09-30 14:19:27 · answer #4 · answered by chica™ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Any time ur change'n a dogs food (puppy or adult) you should mix the 2 together to start with. Next day add alittle more of what you really want to feed to old DF. 3rd day, do the same & by 4th day feed only ur new food.
2006-09-30 15:09:13 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gradually mix the wet and dry together until their stomachs can handle the dry. Every couple of days start decreasing the amount of wet until everntually you have all dry food. good luck with your puppies.
2006-09-30 14:18:23 · answer #6 · answered by kamsmom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my dog has the runs with people food, I dunno how that helps, but it's all I got.
2006-09-30 14:18:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋