The challenges of changing food
Changing food poses new challenges for your dog's digestive tract. The gastrointestinal tract is adjusted to the previous diet and can react sensitively to changes.
Studies show that dogs’ digestive tracts take a few days to adjust to a new diet. A gradual and gentle change of food helps to minimise indigestion such as diarrhoea or flatulence. A food’s composition influences the amount and type of digestive enzymes needed. Dry food can intensify the digestive process, as the stomach must spend longer breaking down the food.
Raw food contains more moisture than dry food. So to be able to benefit from compact dry food and its high nutrient density, your dog’s digestion must slowly change. And your dog needs to drink more water to optimally digest the dry food. Most dry dog foods have a moisture content of less than 10%, so you should moisten the food slightly at first. This facilitates the transition.
The microorganisms in the intestine, which are essential for digestion and the immune system, also adapt to the new food composition. FOS and MOS – fructo-oligosaccharides and mannan-oligosaccharides – are fibre and prebiotics that support ‘good’ gut bacteria. If a dry food contains FOS and MOS, this can stabilise digestion in the long term.
By changing slowly, you give your dog's gastrointestinal tract the necessary time to adapt. This reduces the risk of digestive problems and stabilises your dog's intestinal flora. An abrupt change can overwhelm the digestive tract and lead to avoidable stress.
Tip: Make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times.
Bowl by bowl – changing food in small steps
A ‘classic’ feed change involves slowly introducing the new feed. At each meal, a small amount of the new food is mixed into their usual one. The proportion of new food is gradually increased over the course of 2 weeks until only the new food is left in the bowl. Since the composition and digestion times of BARF and dry food differ significantly, experts often advise against combining both types of food in one meal. While dry food spends longer in the stomach due to its low moisture content, BARF’s higher water content means it is digested more quickly.The calorie density and nutrient concentration of dry food also deviates greatly from that of a raw meat diet. This makes it difficult to calculate the right food portions exactly.
Make the food change as gentle as possible for your dog. A good start is to gradually replace the daily treat ration with the new dry food. This allows your dog to slowly get used to the new food. Then gradually reduce the amount of BARF feed until you can replace a complete meal with dry food.
Pay close attention to how your dog reacts to the change and give him enough time to get used to it. If all goes well, further reduce the amount of old food until only dry food is being served.
It is best to gradually replace one meal at a time over a period of about 14 days (or longer for sensitive dogs). For example, start with dry food in the morning and continue with raw food in the evening. This allows your dog's digestive tract to slowly get used to the new food without being overwhelmed.
Feeding both types of food simultaneously in one meal can unnecessarily strain their gastrointestinal tract and cause digestive problems such as flatulence or diarrhoea. A careful change of feed reduces the chance of digestive problems.
Conclusion: Patience pays off
Switching from BARF to dry food is a sensible step that can bring many benefits – from easier handling in everyday life to a balanced supply of nutrients. It is crucial to approach the change gently and patiently so that your dog can easily accept the change. 14 days is a realistic period for a successful feed change.
Choose a high-quality dry food that provides all the important nutrients to ensure that your dog is well taken care of. Pay attention to the individual needs of your four-legged friend and adjust the pace of the changeover if necessary. With patience, care and loving support, you can make the change from raw food to dry food a positive experience. If questions or uncertainties arise, do not hesitate to seek veterinary advice. Your dog will thank you.
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