In the case of a sensitive dog, special attention should be paid to the food changeover phase. Especially with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract, the change should be made slowly to avoid stress and further irritation of the digestive tract.
A food changeover over a period of about 4-7 days is recommended.
First, a small portion of the previous food is replaced by the new food. The proportion of the new food is increased daily until it is given exclusively. However, after the feed changeover, several days to weeks may pass before an improvement in the symptoms of feed allergies or intolerances occurs.
An improvement of gastrointestinal problems usually occurs after a few days. In the case of skin and coat problems, the reaction may take several weeks, since the growth of hair or skin renewal also takes much longer. However, a worsening of symptoms should not be observed. In case of doubt, the attending family veterinarian should be consulted.
For food-sensitive or allergic dogs, many treats are out of the question, as they are usually not adapted to the special feeding situations of allergic dogs. Therefore, the giving of reward snacks should be strictly controlled.
Dogs generally require much less variety in their diet than humans. It is crucial that the complete food given contains all the important nutrients, vitamins and minerals and is composed of high-quality raw materials.
Therefore, the normal feed can also be used as a treat without any problems, which also makes it much easier to keep track of the daily feed quantity. Of course, the amount of food that the dog needs for its daily supply depends on many factors. In addition to age, weight or sporting activity, many other influences also play a role.