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How many days should I transition my dog to a new food formula?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Female | spayed | 5 years and 1 month old | 17 lbs

I'm transitioning my dog to a formula within the same brand. (Canidae) im transitioning from a grain free food to an all life stages food that has grains. She's usually been on grain free. How many days should I allow to transition? thanks!

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on August 19th, 2017

Hi there! You can transition her like you would normally with other diets. The key is going to be to do it slowly which is always true for dogs. What I typically recommend is to do it over 4 days as follows. Feed 25% of new diet and 75% of the old diet on day 1. Feed 50% of each on day 2. Feed 75% of new diet and 25% of the old diet on day 3. You can start feeding the new diet entirely assuming that the transition has been well-tolerated and has not resulted in any gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea, nausea (manifests as drooling, lip smacking and/or decreased appetite), vomiting or anorexia. This approach usually works very well. Good luck with Chloe! I bet she is super cute!
Vote Icon2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

    Veterinarian

    Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

    It doesn't matter that you are switching from grain free to a diet that contains grains. The transition can be the same. How quickly you transition depends on how the pet handles food changes, whether they have a sensitive stomach or not. To be safe to 1/4 new to 3/4 old for 3-5 days, then 1/2 and 1/2 for 3-5 days then 3/4 new to 1/4 old for 3-5 days then 100%.

    i hope this helps!

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Rather than using a 50/50 mixture for a diet transition, I would instead ideally recommend starting 75/25 old/new food for 2 days, 50/50 for another 2-3 days, then 25/75 old/new food for another 2 days. Chloe is more likely to experience gastrointestinal upset without the more gradual transition. That said, it is possible that she could be perfectly fine with a more consistent 50/50 transition over 7 days. If she does not normally have a sensitive GI tract, you can try a 50/50 mix for 7 days, but if she does develop signs of a GI upset (vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite), a more gradual transition will be necessary. I hope this helps clear up any confusion!
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Now that you have made the transition over to the new food I would stay with the new one for at least a week. If Chloe has profuse diarrhoea, starts to vomit or seems in pain or depressed it could be that something else entirely is going on. If this is the car pleas post again so we can help you or take her into the veterinarian if you are urgently concerned.
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