Something in the air tonight
They’re never going to smell great. We accept that. But farts that make you throw your head in the opposite direction as you fumble to pull your T-shirt over your nose as a makeshift gas mask are the sign of a problem.
Changing dog food too quickly upsets their stomachs and causes those silent but deadlies. But it can also cause excessive gas too.
Vomiting is another common side effect of changing diet too quickly. Their little stomachs can’t handle such a change. They need time to adjust. This can then affect how much they eat. Your pooch may go on a hunger strike or eat less than they should. This is because the rapid change is making them feel (or actually be) sick. Fair play – if our food made us feel sick, we’d probably go on a hunger strike too.
Problem poos
Every dog is different. The only way to have a successful transition onto a new food is to monitor them and do what’s best for them. But let’s look at some of the problems transitioning too fast can cause.
Diarrhoea is the main symptom in pooches who are struggling with a new food. And when you make the change too quickly, their bodies struggle to adapt which causes this issue.
When their intestines come in contact with a new food too suddenly, it can begin secreting water into the intestines, giving you that puddle of poo you end up awkwardly wiping off individual strands of grass. You might notice your pup needs to go more frequently or urgently, and you may even find blood in their poop.
On the flip side, changing food too quickly can cause constipation.
This may be down to the higher fibre content of their new dish. But dehydration can cause constipation too. And different types of dog food contain different moisture levels.
Typically, dog food moisture content is:
So if your pooch is used to sloppy wet food, an immediate shift to kibble might make them constipated if they don’t drink enough water to make up for losing moisture from their meals.
Another cause of constipation is over-processed foods. They’re difficult to digest and are ruff (see what I did there?) on your pooch’s digestive system. A high-quality, nutrient-dense diet should keep your pup constipation free.
Why is my dog having digestive issues?
Your dog’s health is influenced by his microbiome (the delicate balance of microorganisms that make up his gut). Switching food can cause a temporary destruction to that microbiome, even if you’re switching to a food that will be much better for your dog in the long run.
We recommend making the shift to new food slowly, rather than having your dog go off his old food cold turkey. After your dog has had time to adjust, you should begin to see positive changes.