Can dogs eat mixed diets?

 

Yes, dogs can eat mixed diets and it may even be healthy for them. However, if your dog is eating a balanced, complete meal, it is not compulsory to change their diet very often. You can do simple changes like adding or taking away certain ingredients from their bowl, such as a rotational addition of different kinds of proteins, such as chicken, lamb, fish, paneer, turkey, etc. You can try out something like a BLEP all dog food trial pack, and try out different kinds of meat. Do not force-feed them new diets every few weeks. This could stress out their system. Putting your dog on a mixed diet is a long-term activity, with each diet needing a diet adoption period that could last 9–10 days or more. Be patient through these transition periods. 

Why does this matter?

  • Protein forms a major chunk of their food, or at least, it should. But many dogs also experience sensitivities to various proteins; chicken is actually a common allergen among dogs. Therefore, acclimatising them to different proteins may actually help.

  • Sudden changes in diet can cause problems with their gut and result in vomiting, diarrhea, etc. 

What do vets generally agree on?

Whatever diet they may be on, it should be well-balanced with all the nutrients that a dog needs: high-quality protein, essential healthy fats, fibre for good bowel movement, various micro and macro-nutrients and moisture. This balance is crucial for a complete meal. Plus, some consistency in diet also helps. Sudden and continuous changes in their diet may cause more harm than good. Feeding a mixed diet is only good when you’ve spent the time helping them adapt to different kinds of food first.

When to be careful?

If their stomach is upset during the transition period, switch back to their regular meal or a bland diet till their system has become normal again. Do not keep feeding the new food, as their body may be reacting to an ingredient in the food or the change was too sudden. After the stomach has stabilised, try gradually switching the meal again. If problems persist, there may be some reaction occurring so do not try to feed that food again. You can check out BLEP’s Feeding Guidelines to see the right steps to take when changing your dog’s diet.


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