Choosing Dog Food
Dog Food Transition: 7-Day Schedule and What to Watch
How to switch dog food gradually: a 7-day mixing chart, calorie-based portions, what to watch during the switch, and when to slow down or call your veterinarian.
Free tool — no sign-up
Enter weight, age and body shape: 30 seconds and you get the daily portion.
Switch to a new dog food gradually, usually over at least a week, by mixing a little more of the new food into the old food each day. This gives the digestive system time to adjust, and if a problem appears, you can see at which step it started.
This guide covers how to make the switch. If you are still deciding what to feed a dog with digestive trouble, see our guide to feeding a dog with a sensitive stomach and how to choose food for a sensitive stomach.
7-day dog food transition chart
The percentages apply to the whole daily allowance. Split the daily amount between meals as you did before.
- Day 1Old food: 90%, New food: 10%
- Day 2Old food: 75%, New food: 25%
- Days 3–4Old food: 50%, New food: 50%
- Day 5Old food: 25%, New food: 75%
- Day 6Old food: 10%, New food: 90%
- Day 7 onwardOld food: 0%, New food: 100%
Treat this as a starting schedule. If stool gets looser at one step, you do not have to keep to the days: stay at the last ratio your dog handled well for another day or two.
Mix by calories when the foods differ
100 g of two foods can supply different amounts of energy, and so can a cup. If you mix half and half by weight or volume, your dog may get more or less energy than intended during the switch.
Example for a dog with a daily allowance of 1,000 kcal:
| | Old food: 350 kcal / 100 g | New food: 400 kcal / 100 g | |---|---|---| | Full daily amount | about 286 g | 250 g | | On 50/50 days (500 kcal from each) | about 143 g | 125 g |
This is a worked example, not a recommended daily amount. Calorie content is on the label or the manufacturer's website (kcal/kg or kcal per cup). To estimate daily energy needs, use our dog food calculator; the method is explained in our guide to calculating a dog's daily calorie needs.
How to switch dog food step by step
- Record the starting point. Which food, how much and how often your dog eats, which treats they get, and what their stool looks like now.
- Weigh portions on a kitchen scale. A cup or a handful means a different amount of each food.
- Change nothing else during the switch. With a new treat, chew or supplement in the mix, you will not know what your dog reacted to.
- Move to the next step only when the last one went well. Check stool, appetite and general behavior before each change.
- Count treats in the daily allowance. Treats and other extras that are not complete foods should generally stay at or below 10% of daily calories.
What to watch during the transition
One or two lines of notes a day is enough. Describe stool on the same scale every time (for example formed, softer, mushy, watery).
| What to watch | Usually fine | Slow down or ask for advice |
|---|---|---|
| Stool | Formed, or briefly a little softer | Mushy for several days, watery, bloody or black |
| How often they poop | About as usual | Much more often, urgent |
| Vomiting | None | Repeated, or can't keep water down |
| Appetite | Eats, perhaps more slowly at first | Refuses food for a full day |
| Gas, gut noises | Mild and short-lived | Marked bloating that seems painful |
| Behavior | Active, acting normally | Lethargic or seems to be in pain |
Skin signs such as itching do not develop from a food within a few days. They take weeks to assess, so don't draw conclusions from them in the first days of a switch.
When to slow down and when to call a vet
Slow down if stool is a little softer or there is more gas, but your dog is eating, drinking and behaving normally. Go back to the last ratio that worked, then continue in smaller steps.
Call your veterinarian if your dog vomits repeatedly, has watery or bloody diarrhea, is lethargic, seems to be in pain, or stops eating and drinking. Don't wait with a puppy, a senior dog or a dog with a chronic illness. For the first steps with diarrhea, see what to feed a dog with diarrhea.
When the plan is different
- Dogs with a sensitive stomach: a 10–14 day switch, or longer, is often more comfortable. Some dogs need several weeks.
- A diet prescribed by your veterinarian: for an elimination trial or a diet for a medical condition, follow your veterinarian's instructions, because other factors matter there.
- The old food has run out: if you can, buy a small bag of it for the transition. If that is not possible, watch your dog more closely for the first few days.
- Puppies: keep feeding a food suitable for growth during the switch. For timing the move to adult food, see when to switch from puppy food to adult food.
- Wet to dry, or dry to wet: switch gradually in the same way. Wet food has a much lower energy density, so the same calories need many more grams.
If every food change causes problems
If your dog has digestive signs with several foods even when you switch slowly, the pace is probably not the issue. Fat content, fiber, a reaction to an ingredient or a digestive disease may be involved. Talk to your veterinarian about a workup before trying yet another food.
For the difference between the two, see food intolerance vs. food allergy in dogs.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should a dog food transition take?
For most dogs, a gradual switch over at least 7 days. For dogs with a sensitive stomach, 10–14 days or longer can be appropriate.
Is soft stool normal when switching dog food?
Mild, short-lived softening can happen. If your dog is otherwise well, stay at the last ratio that worked. For watery or bloody diarrhea, repeated vomiting or lethargy, contact your veterinarian.
Do I need to transition when switching flavors of the same brand?
Yes. A different recipe or flavor can differ in ingredients, fat and fiber, so treat it like any other food change.
Can I keep mixing the old and new food long term?
Yes, if both are complete and balanced and you base the daily amount on their combined calories.
What if my dog won't eat the new food?
Don't increase the portion or fill the gap with treats. Stay at a ratio your dog accepts. If your dog eats nothing for a full day, ask your veterinarian for advice.
Free tool — no sign-up
Enter weight, age and body shape: 30 seconds and you get the daily portion.
References
- 1.WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee — WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines. World Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2021. https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/ (accessed: 2026-09-10)
- 2.FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) — Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. FEDIAF, 2024. https://europeanpetfood.org/self-regulation/nutritional-guidelines/ (accessed: 2026-09-10)
- 3.Unterer S, Strohmeyer K, Kruse BD, Sauter-Louis C, Hartmann K — Treatment of aseptic dogs with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid: a prospective blinded study. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 25(5):973–979, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00765.x (accessed: 2026-09-10)
- 4.Linder DE (Tufts Cummings School, Petfoodology) — How do I switch my pet's food?. , 2019. https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2019/11/24/how-do-i-switch-my-pets-food/ (accessed: 2026-09-10)
This is general information and does not replace a veterinary diagnosis.
This guide was compiled based on the expert input of Reka Fazekas-Birizdo canine nutritionist.
Certified Canine Nutritionist