changing dog food?

Question

I will be picking up my maltipoo puppy this afternoon, He is eating pro plan puppy food at the moment but it is sooo expensive, Do need to continue to feed him this or is there a less expensive food that is just as good, and if so how do I change his food out without messing his diet up?

Answer 1

the best way to change foods, is slowly.
stated buy mixing 3 quarters pro plan to 1 quarter of your choice. keep that up for a week, then go to half and half for a week, the 1quarter pro plan to 3 quarters your choice brand for a week then finally all your choice.
this is so much easier on there bellies.
good luck and enjoy

Answer 2

As long as the puppy is not allergic to the new food, you should be fine. Just slowly introduce the new food over 3-5 days. On the first day 1/4 of the food is the new stuff, then gradually increase it until you're at 100% of the new food.

The rule of thumb is to feed your dog the best food you can afford. Choose something with little-to-no corn. I can't really help you on cheaper -- I feed my dog Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dog Food which is only $2 cheaper than the Pro Plan.

Answer 3

I've heard the best puppy food is Bil Jac, but we havent tried it as of yet. Check the ingredients though, it shouldnt have corn in it, as that is just a filler and many dogs are allergic to it. As for switching, do it gradually. Give him 75% old food with 25% new food. Then 50/50. Then 25/75. Or even slower than that if he has a sensitive stomach, like 20/80, 40/60, 60/40, etc. If you switch it without doing it gradually it usually cause diarrhea and who likes that?

Answer 4

Check with your vet but I have been told that you can start by mixing 1/4th of the new dog food in with the old for a couple days and then mix it 1/2 for a few days and then 3/4th. If now bad affects occur you should be able to change it over in a week or so.

Answer 5

almost any food is fine especially if it has chicken, beef or rice in it. To change the dog over from one food to the next should be done slowly so you didn't upset its stomach. so start by mixing the two together and gradually reduce the amount of expensive food. I would do it over a week to 10 days. That worked well for me.

Answer 6

we changed my dogs food too

if its wet food i ont now what to tell you but to ask you vet

If the food that its eating now is solid than you can buy a bag of the other food that you want to try

each time that the dog eats for about 3 weeks mix the 2 foods together

If the dog is still doing well than you can try making most o the food the new brand for about 1 and a half weeks and see how that goes

than if the dog is still doin well than you can try all the time
with he new food brand

if durin he poccess the do starts to act unnormal you should thke it to vet

my dog did in and likes his new food a lot

Answer 7

Pro Plan is one of the cheaper dog foods I'd consider for my dog. "Saving" money by buying cheap food is kind of like saving money by skipping oil changes on your car. You can have short term savings, but in the long term it's not a good idea.

Answer 8

Find a lesser expensive alternitave for him. He will adjust to one or more brands. Personally, I feed Alpo prime cuts dry food mixed with Alpo prime cuts canned food mixed daily since my dogs were pups. They are now 9 yrs. and 3 yrs and very healthy. The downside is, they don't eat as well if I buy a different brand! Visit www.purina.com and look at all their brands. Good luck to ya.

Answer 9

Change the food slowly, i didnt know that when i got my dog, and he keeped up-chucking, so finally i had to take him to the vet, and thats A LOT more money than dog food $$. please change it slowly, but if u cant buy this food, then how can u get a dog??? not tryin to be rued or nuthin, but i just dont see how u can afford a dog but NOT food for it.

Answer 10

We use purina dog chow and our dogs look better now than they did when we fed eukinuba. Start by mixing the new food a little at a time until it is the only thing you are using.