Can your pet benefit from a rotational diet?

Can you imagine having to eat the same meal day in and day out?  Yeah, we can't either!  So why is it that some pet owners feed the exact same diet to their dogs and cats?  Some will say it's because their pet loves their food.  Others have said they don't want their pet to have upset stomach.  

Rotational diet is about adding variety to your pet's diet.  Whether it be switching animal proteins from the same brand of food, or trying a whole new food line, here are some reasons why you may want to slowly begin to rotate your pet's food:

• Deters picky eaters.  The more diversity a pet has in their diets, the less they are to becoming picky eaters.

• Reduces risk of food allergies and intolerance.  Some experts believe a majority of dogs and cats are not born with allergies to foods.  Constant exposure to the same ingredients may cause animals to develop food intolerance and food allergies.  When rotation feeding, formulas and ingredients are continually changing, not allowing enough time to develop adverse reactions.

• Adding variety of nutrients.  No one food is perfect.  Some foods may have an abundance of specific nutrients, while others may be deficient in others.  By rotating foods, your dog or cat will get plenty of different nutrients, nourishing their bodies and making up for the excess or deficiencies another food may have.

• Transition the new food slowly.  Some animals will take a week.  Others will take a month and so on.  Do not rush this process.
• Pumpkin, Goat's Milk, Probiotics, and Digestive Enzyme supplements can all help maintain a healthy gut while going through the transition process.
• Keep track of what you're feeding your pet will help immensely, especially if they have difficulty processing the new food.

Of course, some dogs and cats simply can not rotate their diet due to medical issues. Therefore, we always recommend consulting with your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before changing up your pet's diet.

Below is a video providing additional information on food allergies and rotational diets from Doctor Karen Becker.  Dr. Becker is a proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian who strives in healing animals through holistic approaches.