Transitioning to new food and won't eat the old food

[Jen and Piper]

I'm transitioning my 12 wk goldendoodle from the food the breeder started her on (which she never seemed too interested in) to TOTW Mountain Sierra and she loves it.  BUT she's not eating the old food mixed in the bowl with the new food.  I can't tell for sure what's going on since the kibbles are identical, but she devours the bowl at first and then appears to pick thru it and leave quite a bit in the bowl.  I've experimented and put out just the TOWT and she's eaten it.  SO, since she's now rejecting the old food, how do I properly transition?  I'm only on day 3 of the very unscientific mix.  Her poops are much softer but not diarrhea.  Do I just keep trying to feed her the whole food as well? How concerned should I be about diarrhea if I transition too quickly?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This one is easy. Just go cold turkey to the new food. You may have a few days of very messy poops, but that should clear up fairly quickly, assuming you've had her more than two weeks and her poop has been fine up til now. Adding some plain canned pumpkin and or plain fat-free yogurt should help with any digestive upsets.

[Jen and Piper]

Thank you, Karen.  I was hoping you'd tell me what to do!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Cubbie is the same way and we can sometimes trick him by giving him only the old food first and then once he eats that, we put the new food in his bowl.  That way we can do the transition but prevent him from picking out and eating the new food only.  Cubbie has a super sensitive stomach so I tend to try and take things slow (it doesn't always work though).

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Karen - also isn't it easier on the digestion if the main protein source in both foods is the same? (ie. chicken to chicken) 

 

I am probing because Luna seems a bit less interested in her food lately, and so we are thinking of alternating between the Blue Buffalo chicken & brown rice and lamb & brown rice, but may opt to just look for a new brand if we are going to be in for a rough digestive transition every month or so.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Depends on the age of the dog and the dog's digestive issues, if any.

Many of us with adult dogs who do not have digestive issues rotate protein sources; many food lines now are designed to do this. There benefits are that there is less chance of a dog developing an allergy to any one protein source, you are providing nutritional variety, and the dog doesn't get bored eating the same thing day in and day out. But for younger puppies or dogs who have any kind of digestive issues, I would not recommend changing protein sources frequently.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

She's 1 year old, and has had only some minor issues (loose stools on occasion, eating lots of eating of grass/weeds.. although she never throws up after eating vegetation, we think she might be part cow). 

 

I think I'll try the lamb formula and see if it perks up her taste buds.

 

Thanks!