Last question, I promise. Changing food this time. - Paw Talk

corgimom · #1 09-19-2006, 05:24 PM

Sorry, one last question. Then I promise I'll stop talking about how excited I am that Tippy is coming (assuming the foster doesn't change her mind, of course.)

Tippy is currently eating Purina (no clue which one. All I was told is that shelter gave her Purina. The foster is bringing the rest of the bag with her, so I will have enough for a few days before I need to buy some) Ein and Tucker eat ProPlan for sensitive skin and stomach, and I would like to eventually get Tippy on that so that they are all on the same food. I know that I need to gradually mix the foods together for about a week or so (we usually play it safe and do it over 10 days minimum). But Tippy is going to be going through ALOT of changes. New brothers, new parents, new home, adjusting to being an inside dog instead of an outside dog. I want to give her time to settle in/de-stress before I change her food. Do you think a week would be long enough to allow her to settle in before I start to change her food?

emailqueen · #2 09-19-2006, 05:25 PM

I think that the sooner the better!!

Puttin510 · #3 09-19-2006, 05:32 PM

Yeah when you think about it, she will already be nervous, could have a bit of runny stool because of that. Go ahead and mix her old with new when she gets there. By the end of the week she will be more comfy, and ready for full ProPlan

Puttin510 · #4 09-19-2006, 05:33 PM

Oh in shelters, Alot of times the dogs just eat whats available, so they may have food changes often.

Leo · #5 09-19-2006, 06:27 PM

hmm I guess I differ slightly on this .... I think a very SLOW change over the course of several weeks is the best way to switch foods.... I have all 3 of mine on Purina Pro Plan sensitive stomach & skin ( I LOVE IT!!!) ..... when we switched earlier this year we did it over the course of 3 weeks because I have 1 guy with sensitive stomach issues.... I think new home, 2 new dogs is going to be stressful enough to her system that a switch of foods could cause her Mange to flare up.... I know with some types of mange stress can be a huge factor to a flare up. DO it over a few weeks
1st week 1/4 new & 3/4 old.
2nd week 1/2 new 1/2 old
3rd week 3/4 new 1/4 old
4th week 100% new
This would cause less stress on her system than switching it over only a weeks time.
Bet you can't wait to get her... take tons of pics for us

corgimom · #6 09-19-2006, 06:47 PM

When we switched to the ProPlan, we switched Ein in 10 days and Tucker over 2 weeks, because of sensitivie stomach. He did fine with 1/2 and 1/2, but when we went to 3/4 ProPlan, he started having problems, so we did 2/3 ProPlan for several days before going to 3/4. I love the food, too. Tucker doesn't throw up anymore, and his nails do not splinter nearly as bad as they used to (when I trim them). Now I usually get 1 that splinters (sometimes none), versus over 1/2 splintering before. I wish I had found this food a long time ago.

Leo · #7 09-19-2006, 08:48 PM

The biggest differences I saw were my sensitive stomach guy not puking once a week anymore, nice firm stools and super shiny coats when we were switching from Iams to Pro Plan we saw a difference in their coats within the first week when they were still on 1/4 pro plan 3/4 Iams (Leo had been on Science Diet for Small breed Puppies).