The big clean-up: why your dog needs some time to get used to Forever Food
You've just switched to Forever Food and suddenly you notice strange things about your dog. Thinner stools, more hair on the floor, earwax or tear stains. Your first thought is probably: "Oh no, my dog can't handle the new food!"
Before you revert to the old food: breathe in, breathe out. What you're seeing is what we call the big clean-up. And this is actually a sign that the food is doing its job well.
Why is this happening?
Dogs that have eaten ultra-processed food for a long time have gut flora that is accustomed to grains, by-products, and additives. Food with few nutrients, and especially fillers. Now that you're switching to real, minimally processed food, the gut flora has to adapt significantly. The body performs a major clean-up, mainly through stools, skin, ears, and eyes. These complaints are very normal and actually a good sign.
What does each complaint mean?
Soft or mucousy stools
The intestines shed old bacteria and build a new, healthy intestinal wall. The mucus and softer stools mean the digestive system is cleaning itself out.
Shedding
Your dog is shedding its old, dull coat. This is temporary. Underneath, the soft, shiny coat that comes with good nutrition is growing.
Earwax and eye boogers
The skin, ears, and eyes are your dog's largest excretory organs. The body expels waste products through these areas.
Drinking less
Unlike dry food, you give Forever Food mixed with water. Your dog is now eating its water, so it will drink less from its water bowl. Completely normal.
When should you intervene?
The big clean-up is a mild process. Your dog should still be happy, energetic, and alert. If your dog is extremely sluggish, feverish, refuses to eat, or has severe diarrhea and vomiting for days? Then something deeper might be going on. In that case, switch back to the previous food for a while and contact us.
How can you help your dog through it?
The big clean-up can last from a few days to two weeks. These are the three rules to properly support your dog:
Rule 1: Do not revert to the old food. This will halt the recovery process halfway and further upset the stomach.
Rule 2: Gradually increase Forever Food over 7 days. This allows the body to adjust slowly.
Rule 3: Remember why you're doing it. The step from food to nutrition is a marathon, not a sprint.
This clean-up is tough, but it's the gateway to a dog with an ironclad immune system, healthy stools, and a beautiful coat. Do you have questions along the way? We are always here for you via bark@bluezonepets.com.
