Switching brands of pellets

[MamaSheepdog]

I have decided to try Mannapro's ShoBlend (sic) instead of Purina's product. When switching dog and cat food I always do so gradually. We just opened a 50lb bag yesterday, so I want to start switching them over ASAP. How do you guys go about it?

 

[akane]

I switch pellets cold and have never had a problem. I just start dumping the new stuff on top of the old stuff in bin feeders and the chicken feeders we use for the colony. The ones that are restricted on pellets and empty their food dish daily end up eating one food one day and another food the next. I think the large amount of hay mine eat helps prevent a lot of digestive tract upsets that other breeders feeding only pellets run in to. When I get in new young rabbits I do feed them just oatmeal and hay for awhile before slowly adding in pellets. When I get adults I don't usually do that unless they've already experienced a switch in feed recently.

I often switch my dogs and cats from one food to another with no adjustment either but they get a large variety of foods and my akita has been demanding kibble changes every few bags since she was a puppy.

 

[ottersatin]

I guess that everyone has their own way of doing things.
If it works for you that is fine.
I try to stay with whatever brand I am feeding.
I change brands ONLY if there is good reason. Illness
brought on by feed or feed is no longer carried by your
provider. When I come home with a new batch of feed I
always remove what is left in the feed barrel.
I fill my barrels and the older feed goes ontop so
it will be fed first at the next feeding.
Feed loses it's nutritional value within three months
so I don't want old feed remaining in the bottom of the barrel.
Old feed can/may also become contaminated as it gets older.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[Bramble Hedge]

Yeah I am the same as akane, I just start using whatever feed I have just bought, having said that I dont really change brands often only if I can't get my prefered brand at the time. Even when I purchase new stock I start feeding them the same reigme as all the others from the outset, I haven't had a problem with any upset, some breeders I know will feed their buns only on hay for a few days to a week before introducing the new pellets cold.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I don't switch, I am happy with my LoneStar Commercial pellets, but I have heard others say to mix it with the old food over a couple of days.

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

If you are changing the protein levels or fibre/fat levels at all then switch gradually. If you are just going from one 17% to another 17% then it may not matter.

 

[Bramble Hedge]

I only feed comercial rabbit pellets and export quality grass hay, I dont like to mix extra (Charf, grain etc. )into the pellets as some do as the rabbits seem to pick and choose then and they waste more. Oh I do feed greens as well.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Thanks, everybody. I feed hay also, and have started feeding vegis and sunflower heads/stems. Since I have the option, I'll go ahead and mix the pellets just to be safe. OtterSatin, I always rotate feed as you do, using oldest first. This rule applies to food in our own pantry and freezer as well.

It is nice to know that in a pinch I would be pretty safe with a direct switch of pellet brands. Akane, the tip about feeding oatmeal and hay for a few days is a good one.

Also, contrary to common wisdom, switching dog and cat food frequently can actually be a good thing as it offers a wider variety of nutrients and also can prevent the development of allergies to a certain ingredient since allergies develop after long exposure. Our dogs always get our leftovers mixed in with their kibble to provide variety. They do not beg at the table, but once everyone has finished eating if we sit there too long, my JRT will come and put his paws on my lap, telling me to get on with it and fill their bowls!

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

The reason dogs and cats get sick from sudden food changes is because the bacteria in the gut becomes attuned to that food only. It is also why people don't usually get sick from a varied diet...we eat so many different things, the bacteria in our gut is diverse and capable of handling the curveballs we might toss down at it. If a dog or cat has a reasonably varied diet, they won't get sick from sudden changes. Plus some humans can get sick from sudden changes, too! I never used to eat certain foods...until recently. I was ill for a couple of days. Now I can eat everything in sight (and have had to let out the belt a little as a result) without difficulty!

Moral of the story: some variation is good, diet-wise.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Kyle, the bacterial flora makes sense- in a closed system you would expect populations that reflect the available nutrients, and a sudden switch probably causes blooms and die offs of the different types. Very interesting... I'd never made that connection before.

 

[Secuono]

I always suddenly change feed, dog, cat, fish, chicken, rabbit, duck, guinea pig and any other animal. Never had an issue.
I had to switch from Manapro regular to the grower/preggo feed. I didn't want to pay $3 more, but they didn't order more....
I only buy one 50lbs bag at a time, don't need more, can't store more.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Mamasheepdog: It is one reason I let my dogs eat a little of almost everything I eat. If it isn't toxic or directly harmful to them, a snack of something unique helps them keep a nice variety of bacteria in the gut...which is just one of many useful excuses I have for letting Bingerton mooch snacks, lol! But his health is a lot better now than when I got him...and before, if he so much as ate one off-brand cookie he'd get sick, now he plows through leftover snacks with an iron stomach!