Your dog or cat seems to enjoy their current diet, but you’ve made the decision to introduce them to a healthier food (like ORGANIX or Natural Ultramix 
). What’s the best way to make this change? Here are some tips that might ease your mind and your dog or cat’s belly!
First, DO IT SLOWLY. An abrupt change in diet can lead to loose stools, gas or even throwing up. We recommend starting with just a few kibbles of the new food added to the bowl with the current diet. (If you’re transitioning with canned food, the same approach applies.) Over a 7 to 10 day period, add an increasing amount of the new kibble while decreasing the “old” food until your four-legged best friend is enjoying the new formula only.
If, for some reason, you need to change diets quickly, just be prepared for an upset tummy. It’s not unusual and it should pass after a few days. (However, if you see blood in the stool, severe diarrhea ensues for a period of time, or there are any other signs that would suggest your dog or cat is in distress, then consult your veterinarian immediately. Remember though – “distress” does not mean longing eyes pleading with you for more food!)
Second, READ THE NEW FEEDING GUIDELINES CAREFULLY. Higher quality diets are more calorically and nutrient dense, meaning you probably won’t have to feed as much. This is great news for your wallet – your cost per day of feeding a premium natural or organic diet is likely only pennies a day more than what you might have been feeding and yet so much better for your dog or cat.
Third, ALWAYS PROVIDE PLENTY OF FRESH WATER. This is particularly important for cats as they aren’t terribly good about drinking as much water as they should to help maintain a healthy urinary tract. In fact, you may want to put bowls of water in all of your cats’ favorite spots to make it easier and more convenient for them to access it. (We all know about lazy cats, right?!)
Finally, if your dog or cat needs a bit of help with transitioning to the new food, there are a couple of tricks to try. Because they are attracted by smell, try warming the food slightly as this brings out the aroma. Or, try mixing some warm water with the kibble; give it a stir and you’ve created a yummy kibble and gravy mixture. Or, add a small dollop of the same healthy organic or natural canned formula to the dry kibble and give it a stir. You can even warm this mixture to really bring out the aroma.
Avoid adding table scraps or other “people” food; our dog and cat foods are carefully developed with our PhD Animal Nutritionist to be complete and balanced. Adding people food upsets the balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and increases the calorie count.
One last note, if your dog or cat is on a prescription diet of any sort, always consult your veterinarian before making any dietary change.
If you need extra help with making the transition, give our customer service team a call at 1-800-875-7518 or e-mail them at pawmade@castorpolluxpet.com. They’re wonderful about walking pet parents through the process, kibble by kibble, wag by wag, purr by purr!
