Can you feed dog 2 different brands of food
Mixing It Up: Is It Safe to Combine Different Dog Food Brands
Have you ever stood in the pet food aisle, overwhelmed by the endless choices, and wondered if your dog might enjoy a little variety in his bowl?
Or perhaps youve pondered whether mixing brands could be the secret sauce to balancing your fur babys diet.
You can mix dog food brands, but it should be done carefully. Ensure the mix offers balanced nutrition, is the same life stage, and doesnt cause overfeeding. Gradually transition to new brands to prevent digestive issues.
From the whys and hows to the dos and donts, were sniffing out the truth behind mixing dog food brands. Is it a culinary adventure or a recipe for trouble?
This article is like the canine version of a dinner party but with kibble and canned food instead of canaps and cocktails.
Lets unleash the facts!
Can You Mix Dog Food Brands?
Mixing dog food brands is a practice adopted for three reasons. It is generally harmless and is even recommended in some situations, but there is one type of dog food mixing that isnt advisable.
To elaborate on this, we must start with the three reasons people want to mix dog food brands:
- They are transitioning their dog to a new type of dog food
- They are trying to make food more palatable for their dog
- Theyre trying to adjust their dog food expenses
Transitioning Your Dog To A Different Brand
Mixing two different dog food brands is an acceptable practice when switching your dogs diet. Abrupt switches can be bad for your dogs health.
Moreover, your dog might not be as receptive to his new diet. Mixing dog food brands for transitioning purposes follows these stages:
- 90% brand A (primary food) + 10% brand B (new brand)
- 80% brand A + 20% brand B
- 70% brand A + 30% brand B
- 50% brand A + 50% brand B
- 20% brand A + 80% brand B
- 10% brand A + 90% brand B
This type of food mixing is temporary until your dog gets used to his new food. It is often the recommended method of making transitions in your dogs diet, especially if he starts to get bored with his food.
You can adjust the ratio and percentages of brands A and B in his food mixture.
The underlying principle is that the brand he is fond of must initially constitute most of the mix. You can reduce it gradually until it is practically non-existent.
Some dogs can transition to a different brand without any stomach problems quite quickly, whereas others may need a few weeks to transition over fully. Its best to take things slowly to avoid any stomach upset.
Togiveyourpetsdigestivesystemtimetoacclimatize,Iadvisegraduallyblendinganincreasingquantityofthenewfoodintotheolddietoveratleastoneweek.
Spreading out the switchover allows your dog to adjust and adapt to the new food.
Making Food More Palatable
The second reason is more specific to fussy eaters. If your dog doesnt like to eat dry dog food, you might want to mix in some wet food. If he doesnt like processed dog food, you might mix it with organic dog food.
The underlying principle, in this case, is that you disguise the taste of the food he isnt fond of with food that he likes. This is a perfectly acceptable solution if both brands are high quality.
Pro tip! If you have a picky-eating dog and are on the fence about mixing dog food brands, there are many things you can add to kibble. Head to this article to learn more: 15 Tasty Toppers to Mix with Dry Dog Food to Tempt Your Dog.
Pro tip! Sometimes, I also add water to dry dog food to mix things up and change the aroma and palatability of the food. This makes the food into a yummy gravy without additional expense.
Can You Mix Different Brands of Wet and Dry Food?
You can mix different wet and dry dog food brands as long as both brands offer healthy nutrition. You should not mix subpar dog food with high-quality dog food, regardless of whether it is dry or wet.
It is also not advisable to mix expired wet or dry dog food with an alternative.
Mixing dog food is not like mixing medicines. Thats why you dont have to overthink potential complications and reactions.
Remember, dog food brands know that dogs might be eating any number of things before or after consuming their food.
Thats why dog food is generally free of ingredients that might cause an adverse reaction when co-consumed with other food.
Mixing can make it easy to overlook some problems with one or the other brand. And that should not happen.
Before you mix two brands of dog food, you need to ensure that they:
- Are nutritious
- Are not past their use by dates
- Do not include anything that your dog is allergic to
If youre a regular reader of my blog, youll know that I often like to feed my German Shepherd cold-pressed dry food with a wet food topping.
Both types will be different brands of high-quality foods to ensure her canine nutritional needs are met.
Mixing For Budget
This type of dog food mixing is discouraged because subpar dog food is not nutritious when mixed with high-end dog food. It only brings down the nutritional density of good quality dog food.
It is particularly dangerous when, instead of mixing a cheap brand with an expensive one, dog owners mix expired food with fresh food. That makes the overall mix unhealthy.
How To Mix Dog Food Brands
In this section, I will cover the best practices of mixing dog food brands in chronological order so it forms a guide you can follow. These draw from my experience and my vets advice.
Find Different Brands That Reflect The Same Life Stage
Mixing dog food brands is easy once you acquire the right food. The first step is, therefore, the most crucial one. You must get two different dog food brands whose nutritional requirements reflect the same stage of development.
Dont buy senior dog food and mix it with puppy food. World of Dogz
Please note that same-stage dog food doesnt mean the same texture. You dont need to get dog food that has the same texture or similar aroma. It should just be nutritionally adjacent to the dog food that your dog is used to.
If youre getting just one new brand because you already have dog food at home, take down the following specifics of the brand you have at home and find another brand that matches them:
- Dog breed The food brands should belong to the same category. The three broad categories are big-dog, medium-sized-dog, or small-dog food. Dont mix Chihuahua dog food with German Shepherd food and vice-versa.
- Dog age The food brands should broadly match the same category. Dog food is divided into puppy food, adult dog food, senior dog food, or food suitable for all life stages. Dont mix puppy food with senior dog food and vice versa.
How to Mix Canned with Kibble
Mixing wet and dry dog food is a little more complex than adding water to kibble or mixing two servings of dry dog food. The complication comes from the different nutritional concentrations in canned and dry dog food. Here is how you can mix wet and dry dog food.
1. Use Food For The Same Dog Breed And Age
As covered earlier, it is crucial that big dogs eat food meant for big dogs and small dogs consume food formulated for small breeds. Both wet and dry options must be for the same breed type (large, medium, or small) and the same age range (puppy, adult, or senior).
2. Mix 1 Part Wet Dog Food With 3 Parts Dry Dog Food
Initially, the wet food should serve to moisten the dry food. It cannot overpower the crunchy dog food, or your dog might get suspicious and reject it.
Unlike water, wet dog food must go at the bottom of the dry food. This should not be confused with a topper, which is appetizing food that goes at the top of the bowl to get the dog to chew on his food.
3. Maintain or Increase the Wet Food Ratio
It is not mandatory to increase wet dog food beyond 25%. But if you want to increase your dogs wet food intake, you can decrease the dry food in the right proportion so your dog doesnt overeat.
Remember that a quarter cup of most dry dog food equals 3 ounces of wet dog food. And an average adult dog needs an ounce of wet dog food per pound of body weight.
Reading the serving suggestions and portion information on the package is also highly recommended. You must also factor in the number of meals you feed daily, body weight, metabolic rate, and exercise.
Biggest Dog Food Mixing Mistakes
Often, pet owners mix dog food experimentally. These experiments can be costly for pets. In this section, I point out a few mistakes you must avoid when mixing dog food brands.
- Do not mix expired dog food with fresh food This can lower the overall freshness of the mixed food and can even make it unhealthy.
- Do not mix dog food randomly Proportions matter, and different portions of wet and dry food are nutritionally equivalent. Random mixtures can starve your dog or contribute to his weight gain.
- Do not mix therapeutic food without consulting a vet Therapeutic food needs to be carefully mixed with other food if it is supposed to be mixed in the first place. To avoid diluting its effectiveness, you must consult a vet.
- Do not mix dog food meant for different ages/sizes Big dogs need big dog food, and small breeds need small breed food. The same applies to dog food formulated for different stages of a dogs life. Both food A and B in the mixture should be individually appropriate for your dog.
FAQs
Can I mix different flavors of the same brand?
Mixing different flavors of the same brand (e.g., chicken and beef) is usually fine, as the core ingredients and nutrition should be consistent between flavors. This can help prevent pickiness. Ensure any texture differences between flavors (e.g., kibble vs canned) arent too drastic.
What if my dog refuses to eat the new brand?
If your dog refuses to eat the new brand, dont force them. Mix a small amount of the new food with their usual food and slowly increase the ratio over a few weeks. Be patient during the transition. If they still refuse after a couple of weeks, it may be best to stick with their original brand.
My dog has allergies. Can mixing foods help identify triggers?
If your dog has food allergies or sensitivities, its best to avoid mixing foods, as this can make it difficult to pinpoint triggers. Speak to your vet about a strict elimination diet using hypoallergenic food from a single brand to properly diagnose allergies.
Final Thoughts
Mixing two different brands of dog foods is perfectly fine. In fact, mixing different textures and aromas can make food more interesting for your dog.
However, you should ensure that both food types being mixed are appropriate for your dog and have excellent nutritional value. Above all, make sure that your dog actually likes the food hes given.
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Can I Mix Different Brands of Dog Food? Is It Safe?
There are many reasons why dog owners to mix different brands of dog food gradual diet including; to aid gradual dietary change, add unique flavors to their food, vary the texture, or enhance the palatability.
Hence, mixing dog food brands is something that may come in handy at some point in their dogs life.
Generally, It is safe to mix different brands of dog food. However, it should be done carefully, slowly and only when the need arises. This will ensure that your dog is well-adjusted to the new food and that there is healthy combination of all the vital nutrients.
Its advisable to consult a veterinarian about specific dog food brands and the appropriate mixing ratio.
Opt for high-quality dog food brands suitable for your dogs size, health, and life stage.
If you just want your dog to have a taste of different varieties of food, its still best to just add bone broth, fruits, fresh veggies, goat milk, biscuit and other healthy treats. This will prevent nutritional excesses or inadequacy that can issue from combining different dog food brands.
Vets often recommended that you make a gradual transition when changing to a new dog food and that can only be achieved by mixing the two dog foods and increasing the amount of the new food bit by bit until the transition is completed.
Is it Bad To Feed Your Dog A Mix Of Different Brands Of Dog Food?
Feeding your dog a mixture of two or more dog food brands isnt necessarily a bad idea. Just make sure you take into account the quality of the dog foods, the nutrition contents, and your dogs size, age, and health condition.
Sometimes, your pooch could experience stomach upset but its just a matter of time till they adjust totally to the new food in the mixture.
If you notice any gastrointestinal issues, you can cut down on the size of the new food further slowing the transition, or switch back to their old food if you are worried about their health. Moreover, you can always talk to your dog-tor about any of such problems.
A common concern about mixing different brands or types of dog food is that you could eventually create a picky eater. However, this is not always the case but its not recommended to offer your dog different food varieties when you plan to switch back to their old food in the future.
If you have a dog breed known for pickiness, you dont necessarily need to mix different food brands. You make his food variety-rich by adding food boosters like broth, dairy products, meat, carrots, and more.
Is it Necessary To Mix Different Brands Of Dog Food?
Its not a necessity to serve your dog a mix of different brands of dog food except that you are in the process of switching to a new dog food or when carrying out rotational feeding.
Otherwise, just stick to a single brand or type of dog food to prevent nutritional imbalance, gastrointestinal upset, allergies, or undesired weight gain.
If your dog develops food-related problems when you are mixing more than two dog foods brands, itll be difficult to find the particular food causing the problem. But that wouldnt be the case if you maintain one dog food.
Each dog food is formulated with great precision to suit the nutritional needs of your dog according to AAFCO requirements, hence, If you dont have a solid reason to mix different brands of dog food, simply stick to one dog food.
With the mixed diet, your doggo can easily get excess of one or more nutrients and less of others. The vitamins, minerals, or fats in your dogs food can easily be in excess. Hence, your doggo will be better off with a single dog food.
In reality, mixing different dog food may just be an unnecessary hassle. It simply doesnt make much sense to take the mixing route when your dog can get all the essential nutrients they need from a single dog food.
Do Dogs Like Variety In Their Food?
While dogs can live on just dry food or wet food and do not need varieties in their food to live a healthy life, they become lovers of variety when raised in that manner. If you have been feeding your dog only dry food from the get-go, hes likely going to have fewer cravings for variety.
If you are sticking to only dry food or wet food, its a good idea to at least rotate between a few brands. One of the reasons why dogs suddenly develop GI issues when you switch their food is because theyve been eating the same food over and over. A little bit of variety from time to time can prepare your pooch for a diet change.
Dont make it a habit to always mix two different dog food brands. Mixing one or two dog food brands is considered beneficial when you are in the process of switching to a new brand.
You can also give them treats occasionally but this should not interfere with their feeding routine and should only make up less than 10% of their dietary intake.
How To Mix Different Brands Of Dog Food
While mixing two dog food brands is unnecessary most of the time, it doesnt mean its completely bad. In fact, mixing dog food brands may be incredibly beneficial to your doggo friend in the case of switching to a new food. Here are some important steps to take if youre planning to add any mix to your dog food.
- Seek advice from your vet before going ahead to mix your dog. Different brands of dog food are made up of special formulations and nutrient profiles appropriate for your dog according to his age, size, and health conditions. If all these are not taken into account, there could be nutritional excesses and deficiencies.
- Mixing two or more dog food brands manufactured for different life stages of dogs is detrimental to your canine friend. It could become even worse if you are adding low-quality dog food into your dogs diet.
- While dogs are creatures of habits and may stick to one type of food if thats only what you offer them. They still prefer variety in their food so consider mixing dog food brands with different shapes, textures, and flavors.
- Every dog owner should be aware that the dogs digestive system needs time to adjust to new food. You can start by gradually adding a little amount of the new food, then increasing the amount gradually until your dog has fully adjusted to the new food.
Also Read: Can Dogs Live Longer On Human Food? (What You Need To Know)
Is it a Good Idea To Change Dog Food Brand Often?
Its not recommended to change your dogs food brand often. Your doggo is better off with high-quality dog food throughout his life. However, if your dog suddenly becomes allergic to any ingredients in his food, then a change may be necessary after the allergy-provoking ingredient has been identified. Your vet can help you in that regard.
While rotational feeding may help your pooch easily adjust to new proteins, your dog may experience GI disturbances especially if they are new to this feeding method.
Millions of dogs have led healthy lives with the conventional feeding plan where they are fed the same food every day. Hence, if your dog is doing just fine eating the same food, theres absolutely no need to switch to a new dog food.
How To Make Your Dry Dog Food Taste and Smell Better
Keep It Fresh And Clean
Not only that dry dog food is a very convenient and cheap option, it not very difficult to store and preserve. Hence, it doesnt take much to keep your dogs kibble fresh. All thats needed is an airtight container for your dog food to remain fresh.
Also, ensure that your dogs feeding bowl is clean each time you serve him. This will not only ensure that your dog loves their food more but also prevent any chance of food contamination that can cause health problems in dogs.
Add Broth or Warm Water
If you have a finicky dog, this very easy and affordable approach to improving the smell and taste of your dogs food. Itll help to add new flavor to your dog food or enhancement of the foods original flavor.
This will also make it less of a hassle for dogs with dental problems to eat their kibble.
Add a quarter to a half cup of broth or clean water to your dogs dry food. You can allow it to either moisten their food or let the water absorb into the kibble before feeding them. It all depends on your dogs taste.
Exercise Your Dog Before Feeding
Engaging your dog in physical activities like walking, jogging, or playing fetch before each meal is a natural way to boost your dogs appetite. Theyll have more cravings for food since theyll need food to replace their lost energy.
Cut Down On Treats and Table Food
Its very important not to spoil your dog with too many treats and table food. Of course, your canine friend is not stupid. Hell definitely prefer those tasty junks to his kibble-based diet. Avoid feeding your dog those treats in between meals because they can easily associate eating their kibble with nibbling at treats. This can only make him pickier.
Do not share your food with your doggo or feed him table scraps and leftovers. Chances are that hell always choose them over his kibble. Make sure your dog has a feeding routine and take away their food once their mealtime is over. This will make them value their food more.
Add Other Food Boosters (Canned Food, Yogurt, Fruits, and Animal Products)
You can consider this option if the other methods listed above fail. Your pooch might find his food more appetizing if you add other tasty ingredients like chicken breast, white rice, goat milk, salmon, banana, turkey, and more. However, you have to be careful with the type of ingredients you add to your dog food because many human-safe ingredients are not dog-friendly.
If you notice any adverse reactions with any of the additional ingredients, make sure to do away with it.
Can I Mix Different Brands Of Wet And Dry Dog Food?
Mixing different brands of wet and dry dog food can help combine the nutrients and benefits of both foods, but its not without its downsides. Talk to your vet on whether to feed your dog either dry or wet food, or mixture of both.
A major problem with mixing different brands of dog food is the possibility of nutritional inadequacy. Each dog brand formulates its products to stick to a specific nutritional profile.
Hence, when there is a mixture between two brands, you may have an excess of some nutrients and deficiencies of others. However, in the best-case scenario, you can still get the best of both dog food.
Remember, adjusting to the mixture is gradual for your dog, and any abrupt food change can lead to stomach upset. You have to make sure that the ingredients in the dry food is compatible with those in the wet food and that the ratio of dry food to wet food is appropriate.
Can I Mix Different Brands Of Dry Dog Food?
With major dog food brands advertising dry dog as a convenient and cost-effective solution, it is the most popular form of dog food.
You can find different brands of dry dog food available in the market, and its so easy to get spoilt for choice and actually decide to have a mix of two or more brands.
Individually, dry dog food brands already does an excellent job, hence, its not important to mix different brands to obtain a balanced nutrition. Besides, you can potentially alter the nutritional profile of your dog food by so doing.
Just select one dry dog food brand and stick to it and your pooch will be just fine. You can add some food food boosters to your dogs kibble for better palatability but be careful not to turn your dog into a finicky friend and make sure to apply moderation in feeding your dog these items.
