As a responsible pet owner, one of the most important parts of caring for your dog is keeping an eye on his or her health. When it comes to the health of your pet, few things are more important than monitoring the diet of your dog. Instead of just buying the same old kibble day in and day out, why not try rotating protein sources? Unlike a conventional feeding plan, which is the same food for every meal, a rotating plan allows you to switch up what your do eats on a regular basis. This means that he or she receives proteins from different sources - essential for good health.

Since there’s no such thing as ‘perfect dog food’, protein rotation is a great alternative. Each dog food - no matter how expensive or recommended it is - lacks something that other foods contain. You can't feed the same food and expect your dog to get all of the nutrients from one brand. With this kind of diet alteration, you may use a variety of different brands. While this does require a bit more work as far as scheduling and can be a bit more expensive, ultimately this can keep your dog healthier. If you're considering rotating your pet's protein diet, here are some tips to get you started.

1) Don’t mix two or more foods together

Protein rotation doesn’t mean that you have to mix different foods into one serving. When it comes to protein alteration, you should only feed your dog with one food, then try giving them another type of food during the next meal.

2) Consult a vet

Before you alter your pet’s diet, make sure you consult your vet first. Talk to your vet and ask them to help you come up with a schedule or diet plan that works best for your pet. Your vet can offer recommendations as to what foods are best for your dog. Vets have experience and knowledge that you can use to ensure you provide your best with nothing less than the best.

3) Seal Dog Food properly

Make sure your pet’s food is sealed properly to keep it fresh. After all, who wants to eat stale food? Look for a container that has seals tightly, and if you are going to use a plastic bin, make sure that it is thoroughly cleaned and dried. Remove the residual oils or fats that can become rancid or may contaminate new and fresh foods.

4) Study your pet’s diet rotation

Some dogs might have a sensitive stomach and altering their protein diet can cause issues with digestion. In this case, it is highly advisable for you to follow the basic rule for protein rotation: add 25% of new food to your dog's old food and work your way up to 100%. This method is usually done over seven to ten days. Make sure to consult your vet before moving forward.

5) Observe how your dog reacts to the food they eat

If your dog shows signs of gastrointestinal problems, ear inflammation, excessive skin rash, hives, or obsessive licking or scratching after eating, then your pet might be allergic to the food they eat. If these symptoms appear, make sure to contact your vet immediately about changing your dog's food.

If you want to keep your dog healthy, the above tips are just a few of the important things that you need to take into consideration for providing your pet with the best nutrition.

5 Tips For Rotating Your Dog’s Protein Source

2) Consult a vet