Dogs eating food

How to transition your dog onto Different Dog food

14 September 2022Dog Training

Firstly, if you’re new around here – welcome to the pack! It’s great to have you on board. At Different Dog, we are all about changing dogs’ lives with real food and we’re so excited to start cooking for your pup.


It’s likely you’re reading this as you’re switching your dog over from a processed dry or wet food diet, changing from a different fresh food, or simply wanting to start your new dog on a fresh diet. And if you are, you’re in the right place as we’re here to make that journey so much easier!


No matter your circumstances, it’s important to take it slow when introducing new food to your dog. If your dog isn’t used to variety in their diet, like the range of meat, vegetables and fruits in our recipes, changing your dog’s food can cause temporary digestive distress, despite it being a healthier diet. Thankfully with a good transition plan and some patience, your dog will be thriving in no time.


How long does it take to transition my dog?


The time required to transition your dog from their original dog food to fresh can vary depending on the age, the type of diet they are used to, and the sensitivity of your dog, but in general, we recommend a steady transition over 7- 10 days.


See below a handy guide which shows roughly what quantities you should be giving your dog over a 10-day period.

Table explaining the current vs different dog food ratio for the transition period

There are a few things you may notice when switching your dog over from different foods, so don’t be alarmed if you spot these changes. They’re all completely normal and we have an in-house vet and nutritionist if you need to ask them any questions along the way so don’t hesitate to get in touch.


Switching from another fresh cooked dog food:


Other fresh food companies tend to use high amounts of legumes in their recipes such as lentils. These are used to increase the protein percentages of a food and act as a cheap filler ingredient. On top of that, they are anti-nutrients, high in phytates that bind to minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium and calcium which prevents your dog from absorbing them.


Our recipes don’t contain any legumes, grains, or filler ingredients, so you may see some loose stools or a decrease in stool volume when transitioning onto our food. Don’t worry, this is totally normal and they will soon be pooping normally again, and they’ll likely be smaller and less smelly too. Happy days!


Switching from dry kibble or wet foods:


Processed diets such as kibble are acidic whereas a fresh, whole-food diet is an alkaline way of feeding. Transitioning from one to the other can cause periods of reflux as well as changes in poop colour and firmness as the gut microbiome adjusts. Again, there’s no need to worry as this is normal and will correct itself over the period of 10-day transitioning.


Switching from a raw food diet


Moving from a raw to fresh cooked food diet might result in no transitioning changes as these are both bioavailable food sources for your dog. However, if you’ve moved from a diet with a high bone content (a natural source of fibre), you may notice looser stools initially.

Different Dog meal being cooked in a pan

A detox period is normal!


Some dogs will go through a detox period when transitioning from a processed diet onto a fresh food diet. This is essentially the process of clearing out the body and it can last for up to 3 weeks but nothing to be concerned about!


During this time, the body removes diseased and damaged cells to generate new healthy cells – these help build a stronger immune system. When a dog’s body has been exposed to eating synthetic foods, free from natural vitamins and minerals for a long period of time, cells become overloaded with toxins and inflammation. As a result of this, the body attempts to detoxify itself which can lead to the following symptoms:


  • Greasy flaky skin & coat
  • Mucus on stools
  • Loose stools
  • Bad breath
  • Gunky eyes and ears


Your dog will be back thriving in no time but adding a high strength probiotic, you can help your dog through this process.


If you’re worried about these symptoms and believe your dog is unwell, always speak with your vet, or if you have any questions, our in-house nutritionist Bianca is on hand to help you out so get in touch at feedme@differentdog.com.


We feed thousands of happy and healthy dogs every month and would love to hear how your pup is getting on with their new Different Dog diet. We’re pretty sure there’ll be lots of tail wagging and bowl licking to come!

Dog sticking his tongue up his nose

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Different Dog exists to improve the lives of dogs through freshly, hand-cooked food. Different Dog's recipes are nutritionally balanced by their vet and pet nutritionist for optimum canine health. They have expanded their production facilities and market presence since 2018 to reach more dog families across the UK.

It is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

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