Pet Diet Changes:
Changing your pet’s diet can be problematic, as like humans they get accustomed to a particular diet and find it difficult to switch. First and foremost, do not expect the transition to take place overnight. Gradually mix the new food into the pet’s existing food in a 25-75 ratio.
Increase the quantity of the new food over a week or so until it completely takes over. The pet will in all probability take over, but in case it totally stops eating you need not worry as a few skipped meals are not likely to affect it. Gentle encouragement is the key here, as if the pet possesses a streak of stubbornness; you may be forced to relent.
So it would be advisable to be careful on that score.
Most importantly do not give in as training a pet is like training your toddler, the pet possesses as many manipulative skills as your child does and can tug at your emotions. The amount of liquid in your pet’s food can also be problematic, especially if it is used to wet food and has to switch to dry. You could add a little warm water to your food or alternatively put it in the microwave for a bit. But be sure to throw it away if it remains uneaten for more than half an hour. Since you are already changing the food and it becomes difficult for the pet to adjust to, it would be better to not change the place it eats or the bowl it eats from as too many changes can put the pet completely off. Avoid giving it table scraps as this will not leave it hungry enough to try out its new food. Feed your pet at regular intervals and take the food away after twenty minutes. This method is highly beneficial for overweight dogs and large breeds. You may also want to change its diet as it grows older, particularly increasing the amount of fiber in its diet. Brown rice, barley, broccoli and raw kale are good sources of fiber but they will have to be put through a meat processor so your pet cannot pick out only the meat and leave out the rest. Make sure it has plenty of fresh clean water to drink and keep its water bowl about four feet away from the food, so it doesn’t drink water and fill its stomach.
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