Dog & Cat Food Transition Schedule
Photo: Kenneth Surillo / Pexels
Build a safe day-by-day schedule for switching pet foods.
Switching pet food too quickly is one of the top causes of vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs and cats. The fix is gradual transition — mixing increasing amounts of new food with the old food over 7–10 days. This calculator generates a personalised day-by-day schedule with the exact gram amounts of old and new food.
How this calculator works
The schedule starts at 80–90% old food and ends at 100% new food, replacing roughly 10–15% per day. If your pet shows soft stools, vomiting or refusing food, hold the current ratio for an extra day before progressing.
For pets with very sensitive stomachs or known food allergies, choose the 14-day option and consider adding a probiotic during the switch.
Frequently asked questions
What if my pet refuses the new food?
Mix a little warm water or a teaspoon of the wet version into the new food, or hold at the current ratio for an extra day. Cats are especially neophobic — slow transitions of 14+ days often work better.
Can I skip transition for the same brand?
Different recipes within the same brand can still differ in protein source and fat. A short 5-day transition is still safer than a sudden switch.
My pet has loose stools on day 3 — what do I do?
Drop back to the previous day's ratio for 2 days, then resume. If diarrhoea persists more than 48 hours, stop the new food and call your vet.
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