Switching Pet Food

Make it easy for your dog or cat to switch to a new food. Here are some helpful hints plus directions for using a meaty gravy that makes the new food taste even better.How to introduce a new food.

Most dogs and cats will readily accept the great taste of Science Plan. However, some pets, like people, are creatures of habit. They may be reluctant to give up what has looked, smelled and tasted familiar to them. To help make the transition to a new food easy, the veterinary nutrition experts at Hill’s recommend this options:

Gradual change

When moving your pet to a new lifestage formula or switching to a Science Plan product, it's best to make a gradual transition.While making sure your pet's total amount of daily food intake remains constant, mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the previous food over a ten-day period. This should reduce the possibility of gastro-intestinal upset during a diet change. Please see chart below.

Keep fresh water available at all times.

Note:
It is not unusual for a dog to go without eating for a few days. A cat, however, should not go without eating for longer than 2 days. If your cat refuses to eat for 2 days, call your veterinarian immediately.

If your pet does not easily accept the new food, here are some helpful suggestions:

- Hand feed the new food for the first few days.

- Warm canned food to, but not above, body temperature.

- For dogs, mix dry food with a small amount of warm water. Wait 10 minutes before serving. (Do not use this method for cats.)