Transitioning Your Pet to a Rotational Feeding Schedule

This post is sponsored and written by me on behalf of Petcurean through a campaign managed by their PR. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to our pets, we find that as pet parents, we want to ensure that our fur babies are happy and healthy. We do this by providing our pets with exercise, playing with them, and having the foods and treats they enjoy on hand. The thing is, just like humans, pets enjoy changing things up, especially when it comes to the foods they enjoy. Where by rotating the recipes they enjoy, we can give them the variety they will be sure to appreciate. So when the experts from Petcurean offered helpful information on transitioning pets to a rotational feeding schedule, I was not only pleased to have the information on hand for my own reference, but also excited to share the information with our readers as well. You can read this information below:

Similar to how humans appreciate variety in their daily meals, pets, especially picky eaters, can enjoy an assortment of foods through rotational feeding. Giving them a different food on a weekly or monthly basis is a great option for mixing things up, so your pet doesn’t get bored. A rotational feeding diet can include a mix of recipes and different types of food like dry, canned or freeze-dried. Some people believe that feeding foods with different nutritional makeup will give your pet a more rounded diet. In addition, feeding a wet food in rotation can help with hydration.

When transitioning your pet to a rotational feeding schedule, a gradual change from one diet to the next is always recommended. However, rotating foods that have a similar ‘base’ recipe, but only features different meat proteins may be a little less stressful on your pet’s digestive system. With Petcurean’s GO!, GATHER, and NOW FRESH lines, you can do rotational feeding of the different types of food within each product line, without having to account for a transition period.  For example:

• Alternating between the three NOW FRESH Small Breed recipes will provide picky small dogs with more flavor variety.

• If your pet has sensitivities, make sure that you stick to similar recipe bases, like GO! Sensitivity + Shine Limited Ingredient Diet recipes for cat. Alternating between the duck, pollock, and freshwater trout and salmon recipe may help prevent any sensitivities during the rotation.

If you’re interested in having your pet try a rotational diet, consult with your veterinarian first. He or she may be able to offer some advice on the best direction to go and how to start. Some pets may not respond well to rotational feeding if they have a sensitive tummy and is prone to digestive upset.