Slow down if stools soften, appetite drops, or your pet seems unwell; contact your vet if symptoms persist.如大便變軟、食慾下降或寵物不適，請放慢轉糧；症狀持續請聯絡獸醫。
Even a good food can be a difficult change when it arrives all at once. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends a slow transition for healthy pets—at least three days, and longer when a pet has disease or a sensitive history. A seven-day plan is a simple starting point for many healthy dogs and cats, but it should flex around the individual.
The seven-day idea
Mix the current and new foods rather than serving two completely separate meals. Begin with a small amount of new food, increase it in stages, and finish only when your pet is comfortable. The diagram above shows one common pattern: 25%, 50%, 75%, then 100% new food.
| Days | New food | Current food | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 25% | 75% | Appetite and stool quality |
| 3–4 | 50% | 50% | Comfort with the new texture |
| 5–6 | 75% | 25% | Energy and digestion |
| 7 | 100% | 0% | Continue monitoring body condition |
Keep the numbers honest
Different foods can have very different calorie densities. A scoop that looks the same may not provide the same energy. Use the new food’s feeding guidance as a starting point, measure the daily amount, and keep treats consistent while you observe appetite, stools, energy, and body condition.
When to slow down
- If stools become softer, hold the current mix for another day or return to the previous comfortable step.
- If your pet refuses food, vomits, has diarrhoea, seems painful, or becomes unusually quiet, stop treating this as a normal transition and contact your veterinary team.
- Pets with a diagnosed condition, a history of food intolerance, or a therapeutic diet may need a veterinary transition plan.
Petwell note: “Gradual” is the principle. Seven days is a useful visual plan, not a promise that every pet will follow the same calendar.
