09/23/2018
ROTATION MATTERS
No matter what type of diet you feed ----processed, home-cooked, raw, commercial or DIY, learn about rotating your protein sources.
Why do most fresh feeders rotate at least a handful of different protein sources?
Not all meat provides the same nutrition. Rotation can help towards providing a diet that is more balanced over all, especially when you make sure to include ruminant and poultry options.
Some meats are also more or less inflammatory. If you stick to chicken, it is very pro-inflammatory. But, if you can work some grass-fed beef into the rotation that will mitigate it vs feeding a strictly poultry-based diet.
We'd all love to be able to feed the best of the very best, but the reality of it is that rotating to include both affordable types of protein and cuts of meat, along with better, more costly options, can make it possible for many, like me, to feed fresh diets who may not otherwise be able to afford to do so.
But won't my dog get sick if I switch it up too much?
That really will depend on the individual dog and your successful transition to a multiple protein diet. Always feed the individual dog, the one sitting before the bowl. My dogs have guts of steel and can eat a wide variety of foods in one meal. Dogs prone to transitional GI upsets should switch less frequently and go slow, removing small amounts of the protein currently being fed, replacing it with small amounts of the new protein, and building up over a week or two until the full transition has been made.
When you first introduce a new protein, it is wise not to mix it up with other untried protein sources for a couple of weeks. This will allow you to assess how your dog tolerates the new protein in the diet.
When it comes to frequency of rotation that can depend on the individual dog too, but also on the feeders preferences, resources, lifestyle and such. Some will do a quarterly switch over whereas others will mix up proteins even in the same bowl (once they are sure the dog is tolerant of all the proteins being used). Others fall everywhere in between switching daily, weekly, biweekly ---you get the idea. Personally, quarterly seems a little too infrequent for my own liking.
It is wise too not to go overboard. In the name of rotation, some feeders add everything they can get their hands on into the bowl over time. However, if in future, there is a need to be able to easily, reliably and affordably source a protein that is novel to the dog, you need to keep some ruminant and poultry options on reserve.
Rotation can also keep your dog from getting bored with their diet and eating less than the dog should be eating to meet nutritional needs, or entirely going off of what is being fed. Feeding for health is a dynamic process, not a stagnant one.
Even if you think you don't need to rotate because you feed a commercially balanced pet food, consider that some experts believe that feeding the same protein for prolonged periods can contribute towards the development of allergies/ intolerances / sensitivities (pick your word) to a protein. Many of the most common reasons for visiting vets are symptoms (itchy skin, hot spots, upset stomachs, diarrhea) of food intolerance ---it's an all too common issue in Dogdom today with the most common food allergens also being some of the most common ingredients in pet food.
If you feed a commercial diet, it can be also be wise not to just rotate proteins, but also to rotate between a few different brands, buffering your dog from anything untoward happening with a particular brand, formulation, or its supply chain.
Some progressive commercial pet food manufacturers also advice rotating between different types of foods; instead of just feeding kibble, work some canned and raw options into rotation as well. Some home-preppers focus on variety, not just in ingredients, but also on variety when it comes to different ways the ingredients can be prepared for the meal.
For us ----no matter what type of diet you feed, we think that the concept of rotation is an important one to consider and put into action.
Links for more on rotational feeding:
Steve Brown (Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet) on Rotation:
https://www.darwinspet.com/why-rotate-dog-food/
Dr Karen Becker on Food Allergies (& rotation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7weEkUuhhk
Dr Jean Dodds On Rotation:
https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/53858347318/pet-food-transitioning #.W6Kum34nZBc
Dog Food Allergy Myths and Facts | Protein Allergies:
http://www.pattonavenuepet.com/dog-food-allergy-myths-and-facts-protein-allergies/
Common Pet Food Allergies: How a Rotational Diet Can Help:
https://www.petnet.io/blog/common-pet-food-allergies-how-a-rotational-diet-help
5 Benefits of Rotating Proteins in a Raw Food Diet for Dogs:
https://keepthetailwagging.com/5-benefits-of-rotating-proteins-in-a-raw-food-diet-for-dogs/
Rotational Feeding: Why It’s Essential for Your Pet’s Health:
https://www.natureslogic.com/2017/08/24/rotational-feeding-why-its-essential-for-your-pets-health/
----Renee
