COVID-19 & your pets: there’s heaps of food to go around!
The food you choose to feed your pet is a very personal choice for you and your pet, and can be based on palatability or taste, convenience and value, including quality and cost and historical use and recommendation from others. The approach that each brand or manufacturer takes to making a diet can also vary greatly and influence the decisions you make in food and feeding.
What’s important to the PFIAA is that your pet has ongoing access to quality, safe product, produced to the high standard expected of our members. Having a variety of quality options available for you to select from is important and we’re here ensure this now, and well into the future
A one-size-fits-all approach for a pet’s diet isn’t practical over their lifetime as their needs and circumstances change. You will need to change their diet from time to time. If you have chosen, or have been instructed (by your vet, for example) to change your pets’ diet, here is a guide on how to do this effectively.
It is recommended to introduce a new diet slowly. The reason for this is to minimise any potential digestive upsets which can happen if a change in diet is sudden. Some pets will have no issues with a quick changeover, however many do, so it’s best to go slow. This will also assist your pet in getting used to the new taste and texture (kibble shape or wet food format) which is particularly useful if they haven’t made many changes in the past or need to transition to a different diet for medical reasons. Generally, a 5-7-day transition is a recommended minimum, but for particularly sensitive or ill pets, this might be extended to up to 2 weeks, for example. Be sure to adopt a schedule that works best for you and your pet.
For a healthy pet the transition, as recommended by vets, would be 7 days.
New Food
If your pet is sensitive or has had problems in past changing diets in the past, 2 week transition is likely more appropriate.
Another consideration, particularly for pets who have had upsets in the past is a probiotic or prebiotic supplement. It may be a useful addition to help the digestive system adjust, as these assist the establishment and maintenance of normal gut bacteria, and often help promote ‘regularity’ and healthy stools.
All considered, we’re aiming to minimise gastrointestinal upsets, which is seen most often as loose or inconsistent stools. Be sure to monitor ‘back end performance’ and notify your veterinary practice if at all concerned. Most important is that your pet gets all that they need from a great product, and that both you and they are satisfied in every way.