The case for an unhurried swap

Dogs’ gut bacteria adapt to whatever they’ve been eating. Drop a brand-new recipe in front of them overnight and you’re likely to see loose stools, a bit of gas, or a few skipped meals while their digestive crew catches up. A gradual transition gives them — and you — a much smoother ride.

• Fewer emergency potty breaks. The gut adjusts in step with the food, not all at once.
• Cleaner, easier pickups. Firm stools are the universal sign things are going well.
• Avoided vet visits. Most “new-food” tummy upsets are entirely preventable with a gentler ramp.
• More energy, better playtime. Stable digestion means stable energy — and a dog who’s ready to go.

The simple 10-day transition

This is the schedule we recommend for the majority of healthy adult dogs. If your pup has a sensitive stomach, stretch it to two or three weeks — there’s no rush.

Phase	Current food	Dash Slow-Cooked	Mix at a glance
Days 1–3 Start small	75%	25%
Days 4–6 Half it	50%	50%
Days 7–9 Almost there	25%	75%
Day 10 You did it	0%	100%
Day 11+ The new normal	—	100%

Thaw it right, serve it safely

Slow-Cooked Nutrition ships frozen with dry ice. Move it to the freezer the moment it arrives and thaw one pack at a time so you’re always feeding from a fresh batch.

• Overnight in the fridge is the only thaw method we recommend. Plan a pack ahead.
• Use within 7 days of fully thawing — treat it like a freshly cooked meal.
• Never refreeze a pack that has fully thawed.
• Don’t microwave or hot-water thaw. Uneven temperatures invite bacteria.

Around day 4, take a quick look

You’re halfway in. This is the natural moment to see how your dog is settling. A handful of mild signs are completely normal — here’s what’s expected, and what isn’t.

What you might see	Normal?	What to do
Mild gas	Yes	Hold the current ratio for an extra day before stepping up.
Slightly softer stools	Yes	Add a spoonful of plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) at meals.
Skipping one meal	Yes	Offer the same bowl again at the next mealtime — don’t add toppers yet.
Persistent diarrhoea > 48 hrs	No	Pause the transition and reach out to your vet.
Vomiting more than once	No	Stop the new food and call your vet.
Lethargy or refusal > 24 hrs	No	Pause and email support@dashdogfood.com.

Bumps in the road, solved

Even the smoothest transitions hit the odd snag. Here are the two things we hear about most — and the fix our nutrition team recommends each time.

What to expect once you’re settled

The transition itself is just ten days — but the changes you’ll notice unfold over the months that follow. Here’s the rough timeline most members tell us about.

Timeline	What you might notice
Week 1	Adjustment period. Stools may be slightly softer at first — firmer by the end of the week.
Week 2–4	Stool quality settles. Most pups are eating confidently and stool size often shrinks — a sign more of the food is being digested, not passed.
Month 2	Coat and skin changes start to show. Less scratching, more shine, and a softer feel under the hand.
Month 3+	Fresher breath, steadier energy through the day, and improved muscle tone in active dogs.