Changing Your Senior Dog’s Food: Keep a Clear Record
When your veterinary team recommends changing food, ask for a written transition plan and keep a record of what is actually fed. The useful details are the exact old and new foods, the amount of each and how your dog responds. “Half and half” is not enough if different people interpret it differently.
Agree on the schedule and the units
The Purina Institute describes gradual transitions over about seven days, sometimes longer for dogs susceptible to stomach upset. That is general manufacturer guidance, not a schedule that suits every senior dog. Follow your vet’s instructions, particularly for prescribed diets or an unwell dog.
Ask whether the proportions are to be measured by weight, volume or another specified method. Foods can differ in calorie density, so an equal scoop does not necessarily provide equal calories. Confirm the total daily amount as well as the mix.
Keep both packages identifiable
Record the full product names and photograph the labels. “Chicken food” may describe several formulas from the same brand. Keep lot and expiry details available, and store each food according to its instructions.
Before starting, check that you have enough of the old food for the agreed transition. If supplies run short, ask your veterinary team what to do rather than changing the schedule without telling them.
Use one line per meal
Record date, time, old-food amount, new-food amount, amount eaten and observations. Note other edible extras and any prescribed changes. If a meal was only partly eaten, write that plainly rather than recording the entire offered portion as consumed.
Keep the record where every feeder can use it. A shared note can work, but designate one current plan so an outdated screenshot does not become the instructions for tomorrow.
Ask what should trigger a call
Before the transition, agree on which appetite or digestive changes require advice and how quickly to contact the clinic. Do not treat persistent vomiting, diarrhea or a dog who seems unwell as a routine stage to push through.
Send a concise update if there is a problem: when it began, the current mix, what was eaten and any other changes. Avoid adding several new foods or supplements at the same time in an attempt to solve it without guidance; that makes the record harder to interpret.
If you are considering Well for Days Daily Digestion, discuss its timing separately with your vet. Adding a new supplement during a food change should be a deliberate decision, not an automatic response to symptoms.
Related guides
- How to Keep a Food and Stool Diary for Your Dog
- 7 Questions for Your Vet Before Adding a Dog Supplement
Sources and further reading
Well for Days · Practical guidance for life with an older dog. For health or mobility changes, seek advice from your veterinary team.