How to Help a Dog Adjust to a Prescription Dog Food

Prescription dog foods are available for a variety of canine health conditions such as allergies, diabetes, colitis, obesity or bladder stones and are often blander than some adult dog foods. Sometimes a dog has difficulty adjusting to prescription food. If your dog rejects his new diet, you may still be able to convince him to accept the prescription dog food using a few tactics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Prescription dry dog food
• Prescription canned dog food

1. 
    
   A veterinarian examines a dog who may need a prescription diet.

   Follow your veterinarian's instructions about the prescription diet. Feed your dog the correct amount of food for his weight and health condition. If your dog is on a weight maintenance prescription, it is important to only feed him the recommended amount of food. Reduce the dog's food quantity to the prescribed amount gradually so that the dog's appetite adapts to the new amount of food.

2. Introduce the prescription diet by slowly mixing the new food with the former dog food for five days unless the veterinarian advises otherwise. Each day, add more of the new food and less of the original diet until your dog eats the prescription diet exclusively.

3. Feed multiple small meals instead of one large one. Divide the dog’s daily food portion over three small meals to gradually introduce the new diet and encourage the dog’s appetite.

4. Mix dry and canned prescription dog foods. Canned food often smells more appetizing to a dog than dry food. Factor in the dog’s total calorie intake when you mix wet and dry food so that you do not overfeed him.

5. Do not give your dog food outside of his prescribed diet. Other food may interact with the prescription or make it less effective. The prescription diets are scientifically developed to manage specific canine health conditions and provide complete nutrition.

6. Request an alternative prescription diet if your dog refuses to eat the new food after many attempts to help him adjust. Your veterinarian can help you find a prescription food that your dog will like.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage your dog to eat when you introduce the prescription food by hand feeding him dry kibbles.
• Add three drops of water to dry food to soften kibbles and make it easier for a senior dog to eat a new prescription diet.
• Feed small amounts of canned prescription dog food to your dog as a treat in between dry food meals. This will help her meet her daily calorie intake and substitute restricted treats.
• Weight loss prescription diets may increase the amount and frequency of bowel movements because of high fiber content. This is normal if the dog has regular firm stools. However, if your dog suffers diarrhea, contact your veterinarian.
• Ask the veterinarian if you can add an herbal seasoning to the prescription food. Hills Pet Nutrition often recommends adding oregano to flavor dog food.
• Never give table scraps to a dog on a prescription diet. Food processed for people may contain preservatives and other ingredients that can make a dog on a restrictive diet sick.

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