One of the most common misconceptions that animal guardians have in regards to feeding their animal companions resolves around feeding the same type of food to their pets everyday. While many clients and veterinarians think that consistent feeding with the same food on a daily basis is best, studies actually show that a variable diet is best for long-term health. In fact, feeding your pet a varied diet rather than a restricted diet consisting of the same food everyday is one of the best ways to avoid the development of food hypersensitivities and allergies. Just think about it, people do not eat the same thing every day, and neither do dogs or cats in the wild, so why should our pets?
However, some pets may experience digestive issues when changing diets. Pets with “leaky guts” (a bacterial imbalance in the belly causing gas, bloating, and diarrhea) are much more prone to chronic immune reactions, not only in the digestive tract, but in other organ systems of the body, such as the lungs, joints, and even brain. Therefore, if an animal guardian tells me that their pet develops diarrhea, vomiting, or digestive upset after changing diets, then I know that I must work harder as a holistic oriented veterinarian to improve the digestive tract health of their pet to support rotation feeding. In cases like this, additional digestive support such as adding probiotics and/or digestive enzymes can be quite helpful. Products such as Fortiflora, Fast Balance G.I. and NaturVet Digestive Enzymes with Prebiotics & Probiotics are amongst my favorites to reach for in clinical practice to keep the digestive tract healthy, especially when rotation feeding is being used.