Rotational Feeding: Why it’s beneficial for your dog

What is Rotational Feeding and how does it work?

Many Dog Lovers use a method of feeding known as Rotational Feeding. Rotating between recipes prevents your dog from getting tired of eating the same thing day in and day out, while offering them a great variety of proteins and fats. Rotational feeding can be as simple as changing your dog’s food every other bag or changing it meal to meal. How often, how quickly and how drastically to switch a dog’s food depends on their stomach’s sensitivity to change and types of proteins, as well as a Dog Lover’s lifestyle. There are many different reasons to adopt a rotational feeding program, ranging from adding interest to meal times or adding nutritional variety.

Benefits of Rotational Feeding for dogs

Mimics Natural Diet
In the wild, dogs consume a diverse range of proteins, such as fish, poultry and red meat, based on availability. A rotational feeding approach replicates this variety, aligning with their natural physiology and providing a diet that better meets their evolutionary nutritional needs.

ORIJEN dog foods are packed with WholePrey ingredients like succulent meat, poultry or fish, nutrient-rich organs and bone to reflect the natural diet, eliminating the need for long lists of synthetic ingredients.

Helps Reduce the Risk of Sensitivities or Allergies
Exposing your dog to a variety of proteins early and regularly can lower the likelihood of developing allergies to specific ingredients. A rotational diet that includes poultry, red meat, and fish helps to strengthen your dog’s gastrointestinal system, reducing the chances of food sensitivities in the future.

Prevents Flavour Fatigue
Feeding your dog the same food and flavour every day for extended periods can lead to flavour fatigue, reducing their enthusiasm for meals. By varying their diet with different recipes and ingredients, you can keep mealtimes engaging and enjoyable for your pet.

HOW TO START ROTATIONAL FEEDING FOR YOUR DOG

If you are switching to ORIJEN for the first time, ensure to follow a full transition before starting rotational feeding.

The first time you introduce a new food for rotation, mix the food 50/50 just to make sure your pet transitions well to the new ORIJEN food. However, if your dog is more diet-sensitive, do a full transition when introducing a new ORIJEN food.

Once you know the new food is suiting your dog well, you can begin rotational feeding. You can rotate recipes daily, weekly, monthly, or even by the bag. The easiest method for most dogs and owners is to rotate by the bag. Start with one recipe and when the bag is finished, transition to another recipe. For some dogs rotational feeding works well interchanging between two recipes while others may alternate between three or four. Whichever method you choose we recommend any open bags of kibble are consumed within 6–8 weeks to maintain peak freshness.

Many dogs have large appetites and will eat everything you feed them so be sure to follow the feeding guide on the bag to avoid overfeeding.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOODS FOR ROTATIONAL FEEDING

Selecting the right foods for rotational feeding is essential to ensure your pet enjoys a balanced and nutritious diet. Opt for a high-quality complete pet food that allows you to offer a diet diverse in animal proteins. For example, one may be fish such as ORIJEN Six Fish, the other could be poultry based such as ORIJEN Original. Look for foods that use fresh or raw, biologically appropriate ingredients to support your pet’s overall health.

ORIJEN offers a variety of protein-rich, nutrient-dense recipes. All ORIJEN dog foods are biologically appropriate and are loaded with 85* quality animal ingredients. Fresh or raw meat**, poultry, fish, and nutrient-rich organs are always the first FIVE ingredients.

Rotational feeding works best when the chosen recipes align with your dog’s individual needs, so always prioritise foods that suit their age, size, and activity level. Always start with proteins you know they tolerate well and gradually introduce new options to expand their diet safely. If your dog has a history of dietary sensitivities or allergies we recommend consulting with your vet before introducing a new recipe for rotation.

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WITH ROTATIONAL FEEDING

While rotational feeding can greatly benefit your pet, there are a few common pitfalls to avoid.

• Switching foods too quickly, leading to digestive upset.
• Rotational feeding is not recommended for puppies. This is because a puppy’s digestive system is not yet fully matured and switching diets frequently is likely to lead to an upset stomach.
• Choose diets that are equal in terms of meat ingredients and quality. ORIJEN is perfect for this as all of the recipes have 85% quality animal ingredients balanced with fruits, vegetables and botanicals.
• Introducing new proteins too quickly for dogs with dietary sensitivities. Allow your dog’s digestive system to adapt to the new proteins and rotate at a pace that suits them.
• Rotational feeding is not for every dog. For example, some dogs with existing allergies or that do not tolerate change well. Speak to your vet if you are unsure if rotational feeding will benefit them.

Always ensure you monitor your dog’s response to new recipes and note any adverse reactions. Your dogs stools and appetite can be good indicators of how well they are tolerating a new food.  By taking a gradual and thoughtful approach, you can maximise the benefits of rotational feeding to help your dog thrive.

*Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.
**Our fresh ingredients use refrigeration as the sole method of preservation and our raw ingredients are frozen at the peak of freshness to preserve nutrients.