How Do I Know If My Dog Is Doing Well on Their New Food?
You’ve made the switch, measured out the portions and successfully navigated the gradual transition. But how do you know whether your dog is actually getting on well with their new food?
The good news is that you don’t need to analyse every mouthful or inspect every poo with a magnifying glass.
Instead, look at the bigger picture: their digestion, appetite, energy, weight and general wellbeing.
Here are some of the signs that your dog is settling happily into their new food — and a few things worth keeping an eye on.
1. Their poo is looking normal
We may as well start with the glamorous bit.
Your dog’s stools are one of the easiest ways to see how their digestive system is coping with a change of diet.
Ideally, once they have settled onto their new food, their stools should be:
- Well formed
- Easy to pick up
- Fairly consistent from day to day
- Passed at roughly their normal frequency
A sudden change of food can sometimes cause softer stools because your dog's digestive system has not had time to adjust, which is why we recommend introducing a new food gradually.
If you've only just started transitioning, a small temporary change doesn't necessarily mean the food doesn't suit your dog. Slow the transition down if necessary and give their digestive system time to catch up.
Persistent diarrhoea, blood in the stool, repeated vomiting or a dog that seems unwell is different, in those situations, speak to your vet.
2. They're eating happily
Another good sign is wonderfully simple: they want to eat it.
Your dog doesn't have to perform an excited dance every time the food cupboard opens, but you ideally want them to approach meals normally and eat a reasonable amount.
Some dogs are naturally much more enthusiastic about food than others, so compare your dog with their own usual behaviour rather than somebody else's Labrador.
And remember that begging for another helping doesn't necessarily mean they aren't getting enough.
Some dogs are extremely good at convincing us they haven't eaten for approximately three weeks, even when breakfast was 20 minutes ago.
The feeding recommendation on your dog's food is a better starting point than their acting ability.
3. Their energy levels seem normal
A suitable diet should support your dog's normal everyday activity.
That doesn't mean changing food will suddenly turn your dog into an athlete. What you're looking for is consistency.
- Are they still keen for their walks?
- Interested in playing?
- Behaving normally around the house?
- Sleeping and resting as they usually would?
If your dog's energy and behaviour seem much the same as usual, that's generally reassuring.
A noticeable or persistent drop in energy, particularly alongside vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite or another change in behaviour, is something to discuss with your vet.
4. They're maintaining a healthy weight and shape
The number of grams printed on a feeding guide is a starting point, not a magic number that will be perfect for every dog.
Two dogs of the same weight can have very different needs depending on their age, activity, neuter status, body condition and lifestyle.
So once your dog has settled onto their new food, keep an eye on their body condition as well as their bowl.
For most dogs at a healthy weight, you should generally be able to:
- Feel their ribs without having to press hard
- See a waist behind the ribs when looking from above
- See their tummy tuck upwards behind the ribcage when viewed from the side
Different breeds naturally have different body shapes, so don't compare your Greyhound with your neighbour's Labrador.
If your dog is gradually gaining or losing weight, review their portion and use our Dewkes Dog Food Calculator to check your starting amount.
Small adjustments are usually better than dramatically changing the amount overnight.
5. Their appetite is fairly consistent
Once the excitement of something new has worn off, you should ideally see a reasonably predictable eating pattern.
Your dog might occasionally leave a little food, eat more slowly on a hot day or seem hungrier after an unusually active day. That's not necessarily a problem.
What matters more is a significant change from normal.
If a dog who normally loves their dinner suddenly stops eating, or their appetite changes dramatically and stays that way, don't simply assume they're being fussy.
Changes in appetite can have many causes that have nothing to do with the food itself.
What about their skin and coat?
People sometimes expect a change of food to produce an instant glossy coat or completely transform a dog's skin within a few days.
It isn't quite that simple.
Skin and coat condition can be influenced by nutrition, but also by age, breed, grooming, parasites, allergies, environmental factors and health conditions.
So rather than expecting an overnight transformation, keep an eye on the overall picture over time.
If your dog develops persistent itching, hair loss, sore skin or another noticeable change, speak to your vet rather than repeatedly switching foods in an attempt to solve it yourself.
How long should I give a new dog food?
Firstly, give your dog time to transition.
For most dogs, we recommend gradually replacing their previous food with the new food over around 7–10 days, rather than changing everything in the bowl overnight.
Once they're eating the new food completely, don't feel you need to judge it on the basis of one meal or one slightly unusual poo.
Look for patterns.
A dog who is:
- Eating normally
- Producing consistently healthy stools
- Maintaining a sensible weight
- Enjoying their usual activity
- Generally behaving like themselves
is giving you much more useful information than any single meal.
What if my dog's poo changes when I switch food?
Softer stools can sometimes happen when food is changed too quickly.
If your dog is otherwise completely well and you're still transitioning, it may help to slow things down and stay at the current ratio for a little longer before increasing the new food.
Avoid making several changes at once too.
Introducing a new food, three new treats, a chew and half of Sunday's roast dinner at the same time makes it rather difficult to work out what your dog's digestive system is responding to.
Keeping things relatively consistent during the transition gives you a much clearer picture.
Don't forget the treats
This is an easy one to overlook.
Your dog's main food may be carefully measured, but treats, chews, table scraps and training rewards all add to their daily intake.
If your dog is gaining weight despite following the feeding guide, take a look at everything they're eating rather than automatically reducing their meals.
One easy trick is to use some of their normal kibble allowance for training, games, snuffle mats or food puzzles.
That way they still get the fun without accidentally receiving an extra meal's worth of food throughout the day.
When should I speak to my vet?
Most dogs transition onto a new food without any major problems, particularly when the change is made gradually.
However, contact your vet if you're concerned about your dog, particularly if you notice things such as:
- Persistent or severe diarrhoea
- Repeated vomiting
- Blood in vomit or stools
- Refusing food
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Signs of abdominal pain
- Unexpected weight loss
- Significant changes in drinking or urination
- Symptoms that aren't improving
Puppies, elderly dogs and dogs with existing medical conditions may need veterinary advice sooner.
And if something simply doesn't seem right, it's always reasonable to ask your vet.
The easiest test: are they thriving on it?
Ultimately, there isn't one single sign that tells you whether a food is right for your dog.
Look at the whole dog.
If they're enjoying their meals, their digestion is settled, they're maintaining a healthy body condition, they have their normal energy and they generally seem happy and well, those are all encouraging signs that their new routine is working for them.
And remember: feeding amounts aren't set in stone.
Your dog's needs will change throughout their life, so keep checking their weight and body condition and adjust gradually when necessary.
Just switched to Dewkes?
If you've recently moved your dog onto Dewkes, our Dog Food Feeding Calculator can help you estimate their daily portion based on the recipe you've chosen.
And if you're still making the change, read our guide to How to Introduce a New Dog Food Without Upsetting Your Dog's Stomach for a simple step-by-step transition plan.
