Feeding Guide and Making the Switch
So, you've decided to change to Bug Bakes. Welcome, we are so glad you are here. We can't wait to help save the planet together, and give your dog high quality dog food.
N.B. During the sign up process and using the FEDIAF published daily calorie requirements, we calculated and provided an approximate daily feeding guide. However, factors such as breed, age and activity level must be taken into account. Monitor your dog’s weight and adjust feeding amounts as necessary. If unsure, consult your vet for guidance.
How to Transition to New Dog Food
It is very important to have a transition schedule when moving to Bug Bakes. You should never just switch straight over to the new diet, or you have a high chance of seeing some bad side effects (wind, poop problems or even sickness)
Using one week as a general standard, endeavour to feed your dog as follows:
- Days 1-2: Mix in 25% of the new food with 75% of the old food.
- Days 3-4: Mix in 50% of both the new food and 50% of the old food.
- Days 5-6: Mix in 75% of the new food with 25% of the old food.
- Days 7+: Give 100% of the new food and monitor the results.
After each milestone, monitor your dogs poop to decide if it's ready to go to the next step.
REMEMBER: Some dogs just need more time. Just because your dog is having some troubles does not automatically mean Bug Bakes 'doesn't agree with your dog'.
Imagine if you had been fed one type of diet for your whole life and then in one go you moved to 100% high quality, high nutrients... Even humans would have a shock here.
An important tip to remember is that many dogs will prefer the new food to the old food, especially if you’re switching from a standard kibble (which is notoriously not very nutrient rich vs Bug Bakes), so mix in the old and new food as much as possible so that they aren’t only eating one or the other.
If your dog’s stool begins to appear much firmer or much more liquidy than normal, it’s a sign that you should delay the next step until it appears healthy again.
A Poopy Evaluation
One of the best ways to verify that your dog’s intestinal system is tolerating the new diet is to inspect his stool. Just like for us humans, where our fecal matter can show signs of food intolerance or diarrhoea, dogs also should be having consistently firm poop whilst adapting to their new diet.
During the transition to the new diet, check your dog’s stool every day and ensure that it is firm. If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, this Fecal Scoring Chart can help you evaluate dog poop. Scores between 2-3 are what you should be looking for. Generally this means you’re looking for a log-shaped stool which leaves residue on the ground. Too stiff or too watery are signs that your dog is not tolerating the transition well, so slow down if you’re finding problems in their poop.
Will My Dog Tolerate a New Diet?
There’s no guarantee that your dog will adapt to his new diet, and there may be other considerations such as allergies or intolerances. Speak to your veterinarian if you have any doubts about choosing a proper diet for your dog.
Generally, most dogs will have no problems at all switching from kibble to alternative diets, such as cold-pressed dog food. The reason is pretty simple: cold-pressed is the best approximation of a raw diet, which dogs naturally love.
Insect-based diets are full of essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that dogs simply love, so most dogs that have tried Bug Bakes speak (bark) quite highly of it as seen in our testimonials.