Can dogs eat the same food long term?

 

Yes, technically speaking dogs can have the same food-long term, however the food must be a complete and balanced meal. It should have an adequate amount of high-quality protein, essential healthy fats, the required amount of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and moisture. To prevent boredom-related lack of appetite, food rejection, or sensitivities, giving your dog multiple protein options on a rotational basis may be a good idea.

Why does this matter?

  • If a meal is not balanced properly but given long-term, it could cause deficiencies that could lead to various health issues. This is especially true of vitamins and minerals, a variety of which is required by dogs.

  • Some amount of variety is required by dogs so that they don’t get bored and start eating less than they are required to. This is another way that malnutrition or various nutritional deficiencies may sneak in. 

What do vets generally agree on?

If you feed your dog a high-quality dog food that is balanced well, it is alright to feed them the same meal long-term in most cases. However, there are two concerns. The first is that your dog may get bored and start eating less and less. Overfeeding is terrible for your dog, but so is underfeeding. It can lead to a number of deficiencies that can seriously impact their life. The second problem is, sometimes dogs get sensitive or allergic to food over time, even if they didn’t show any reaction to it in the beginning. Therefore, a rotational diet, especially changing the protein source once in a while, is recommended by many experts. 

When to be careful?

Every life stage needs different amounts and different varieties of nutrients. Therefore, a balanced meal for adults may not work as well for a pregnant/lactating dog. In such cases, adding different items to their regular food as well as a rotational diet may be appropriate. However, when changing your dog’s diet, make sure you do it gradually. A sudden diet change may cause digestive problems. Follow a 9–10 days diet adoption period if you’re making a big change in diet. For example, if you change your dog’s diet from ultra-processed food to BLEP fresh dog food, we recommend that you follow BLEP’s Feeding Guidelines. 

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