How Long Does It Take To Transition a Dog to New Food?

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There’s a good chance your dog’s diet will need to change several times throughout their life. Maybe your puppy is growing up, or perhaps you suspect a developing food allergy. Maybe your dog’s current food has been discontinued, or their dietary needs have changed. Whatever the reason, knowing how to transition dog food properly can be a huge help.

Springing a sudden dietary change on your dog can cause confusion—some dogs are resistant to change, especially when it comes to food type, texture, and flavor. There’s also your dog’s delicate digestion to consider.

“Dogs can have notoriously sensitive stomachs,” says Dr. Andrew Raskin, veterinarian and managing partner with CityVet. “Couple that with the huge variety of new and boutique dog foods available, and it’s easy to see a perfect storm for an upset tummy when changing diets.” To minimize the risks involved, make dietary transitions slowly over at least seven days—or longer if you can manage it.

In this article, we cover how to transition your dog to a new diet, plus the signs a diet change is going well and how to troubleshoot if it isn’t.

Step-by-Step Guide to Switching Foods

According to Dr. Raskin, it’s important to take your time—slower is better. Easing your dog into an unfamiliar diet for at least a week helps reduce the risk of digestive upset. And if you have a picky eater, a slower transition may also help prevent your pup from refusing the new food.

The key is to mix the two products, slowly replacing the old food with the new one. Try to start when you have at least two weeks of your dog’s old food left.

• Days 1-3: On the first day, replace a quarter of your dog’s old food with the new recipe (25% new food and 75% old food). Monitor for signs of digestive upset, such as gas or changes in stool consistency. Follow this ratio for two or three days or until your dog’s digestion settles.
• Days 4-5: Increase the ratio to 50% new food and 50% old food. Repeat this ratio until any symptoms of digestive upset resolve.
• Days 6-7: Adjust the ratio to 75% new food with 25% old food. Follow this ratio as long as needed for your dog’s digestion to normalize, usually two or so days.
• Days 8-10: Complete the transition with a ratio of 100% new food to 0% old food around day eight, nine, or ten. If digestive symptoms arise, drop down to a ratio of 90% new food (10% old food) for a day or two before completing the transition.

How long it takes to transition your dog to a new food depends on several factors, says Dr. Raskin. Some dogs seamlessly transition in as little as seven days, while pups with sensitive stomachs or picky palates may need 10 to 14 days (or longer). The type of dog food you’re feeding may also influence how long it takes to transition.

How To Switch Types and Brands

According to Dr. Raskin, dietary adjustments within the same brand or with similar proteins can often happen faster than more drastic dietary changes, like switching food type. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Switching brands

If you’re sticking to the same type of food (like dry or wet), changing brands should be pretty straightforward. Aim to transition gradually over the course of 7 to 10 days, mixing the new food into the old until your dog is eating entirely new food.

Simplify things by:

• Choosing a formula as close to your dog’s original diet as possible
• Sticking to the same protein and carbohydrate sources
• Aiming for a similar guaranteed analysis
• Selecting a brand made by the same manufacturer

If your dog’s current food is suddenly discontinued or recalled, you might need to switch immediately. Start by offering a small meal of only the new food, about 25% of their typical portion. If your dog eats the food without issue, make their next meal slightly bigger.

If your dog is reluctant to eat, remove the food after 30 minutes and try again at the next meal. Repeat this sequence, working up to a full portion of the new food.

Switching food types

When switching from one type of dog food to another, Dr. Raskin recommends progressing slowly. You may want to extend the transition to 10 or 14 days instead of 7.

Don’t forget you’re also acclimating your dog to a new food texture. For instance, when switching from canned food to kibble, consider moistening the food with water or bone broth until your pup gets used to the drier texture. To go the other way, try spooning high-moisture dog foods on top of kibble or serve the two side-by-side in the same bowl.

Remember that different food types have different caloric densities—meaning your dog’s bowl might be more or less filled on the new food. Online calculators can help you determine how much of each type of food to feed as you transition to your dog’s new diet.

Switching to raw

Switching to a raw diet requires especially careful consideration. Proponents of raw feeding suggest such diets offer increased palatability and digestibility, but raw food isn’t always the right choice for all dogs. Both commercial and homemade raw diets may pose a risk of exposure to foodborne pathogens like salmonella and E. coli.

It’s a good idea to discuss a dietary change to raw food with your vet and follow their instructions for transitioning—especially if you’re switching to raw for health reasons.

Switching after stomach upset

When your dog’s stomach is upset, your vet may recommend feeding a bland diet, like chicken and rice. After your dog recovers, it’s important to ease them back onto their regular food slowly. Otherwise, you risk upsetting their stomach all over again.

In most cases, vets recommend mixing the two diets over several days. Start by replacing 25% of the bland diet with regular dog food, then gradually increase the proportion of regular dog food.

During the switch, monitor your dog for signs of stomach upset. If your pup develops diarrhea or vomiting, go back to the amount of bland food you were feeding them before they started having digestive issues. Continue feeding them this amount for another few meals.

Once your dog has returned to their regular diet, avoid giving them treats, edible chews, or anything other than their regular food for the first week. Consult your vet if gastrointestinal symptoms persist or worsen.

Switching from puppy food to adult food

Vets typically recommend switching from puppy to adult food when a puppy reaches full size. Depending on your puppy’s breed, they might stop growing anywhere from 7 to 24 months of age. If you’re worried about your pup’s sensitive stomach, consider switching to an adult dog food recipe from the same brand or manufacturer.

Signs It’s Working

Every dog is different, and it’s impossible to predict exactly how your pup will react to dietary modifications. “We are hoping for normal demeanor, energy, and stool formation,” says Dr. Raskin.

Here are some signs your dog’s transition to a new food is going well:

• They continue to eat with enthusiasm and finish their meals as usual.
• Your dog’s energy and activity levels remain consistent.
• They have healthy, regular bowel movements.
• Your dog’s body weight and condition remain stable.
• There’s no sign of an allergic reaction (e.g., itchy skin, paw licking, ear infections).

It’s normal for your dog to get a little gassy or have loose stools when you change their diet. As long as symptoms remain mild and temporary, there’s usually no cause for concern.

Signs To Slow Down Or Stop

Even if you follow all the recommended steps to a tee, Dr. Raskin says some dogs will still develop digestive symptoms. It may also take their system a little longer to get used to the new food. Continue to monitor your dog throughout the process and make adjustments as needed.

Here are some signs your dog’s transition to a new diet is not going well:

• Your dog doesn’t finish their meals or refuses the new food outright.
• They develop diarrhea or vomiting that lasts over 24 hours.
• Your dog starts exhibiting signs of an allergic reaction.
• Their appetite, exercise tolerance, or activity level starts to decline.
• You notice blood in your dog’s stool or vomit.
• They lose a significant amount of weight (unintentionally).

If at any point your dog’s diarrhea or other digestive symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, check in with your vet. You may need to stop the transition entirely (or choose a different product) if your dog develops severe digestive distress or has an allergic reaction.

Why Isn’t It Working?

If your dog’s diet change isn’t going well, your veterinarian can help you troubleshoot. Once you’ve identified the issue, you can adjust your plan and move forward. Here are some common reasons dietary transitions might fail.

Transitioning too fast

Some dogs just don’t tolerate dietary changes well. If your pup has a particularly sensitive stomach, you may need to slow down the process. In such cases, Dr. Raskin recommends giving your dog at least five days to adjust to each transition stage. It may also help to make smaller adjustments, replacing an additional 5-10% of your dog’s regular diet with the new food at a time.

Food allergies

Dogs can have allergies and intolerances to ingredients in dog food—most commonly proteins like beef, chicken, and lamb. If your dog is allergic to something in their new food, they might exhibit frequent scratching, paw-licking or -chewing, skin rashes or hot spots, red or watery eyes, or recurrent ear infections.

Dogs with food allergies may require a hypoallergenic diet that doesn’t contain any triggering ingredients.

Underlying health issues

Besides food allergies, other underlying health issues could be to blame for a failed diet change. Gastrointestinal issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pancreatitis, colitis, or even intestinal parasites could cause your pup to react poorly to certain foods

Dental issues could also be a factor, especially if your dog has trouble transitioning from a soft product like canned or fresh food to something that requires more chewing, like kibble.

Low-quality food

Dogs are notorious for eating just about anything you put in front of them, but palatability and nutritional quality still matter. If your dog doesn’t seem interested in the new food you’re offering—or if you’ve noticed a decline in energy, activity, or body weight—it’s worth taking a closer look at the product’s formulation.

Low-quality dog food might not meet your dog’s dietary needs, and products that rely heavily on fillers and artificial additives could trigger allergies or digestive sensitivities.

Stress

Just like humans, dogs can display both physical and behavioral signs of stress. In some cases, stress affects a dog’s appetite, causing them to temporarily refuse food or treats. Though many causes of stress are temporary (like vet visits or environmental changes), it’s always a good idea to consult your vet if your dog’s behavior or appetite changes.

With so many options out there, it can be challenging to find the perfect dietary fit for your particular pup. “If a diet change doesn’t go well, I recommend reassessing your dog’s lifestyle and making sure it is matched by the diet,” says Dr. Raskin. Your vet is the best person to help you find the right dog food and to advise you on how to make the transition smoothly.