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Tips for transitioning from dry food to AltuDog:
We always recommend starting with the turkey or chicken and rice recipe, as it is milder and easier to digest, and using the same variety for several weeks, especially if the dog’s digestive system is sensitive.
1. Transition gradually over 1 week: 50% of the previous food and 50% of AltuDog, but served separately, never mixed in the same meal. For example, you can give your dog a portion of AltuDog in the morning and a portion of their previous food at night.
2. Hydrate AltuDog with carrot purée: cook half a kilo of carrots in a litre of water for an hour. Once cooked, blend it. Use this carrot purée to hydrate the portion of AltuDog instead of hot water. The beta-glucans of the carrots strengthen the intestinal cells.
---> Natural carrot soup
3. Add a bit of natural yoghurt with bifidus, kefir, brewer’s yeast, a probiotic supplement or green tripe to the AltuDog meal: this well help to restore the intestinal flora more quickly.
4. Although the diet should be as varied as possible, we recommend you feed your pet the same variety for approximately one month. This will give your dog’s digestive system enough time to adapt before adding other varieties.
During the first week, it’s completely normal for your dog to have more liquid faeces and even vomit. Don’t lose hope! It’s a sign that the intestinal tract is getting used to the new ‘good’ bacteria. Bear in mind that each dog’s digestive system is different, some might need a longer transition process and, as such, you should follow these tips for several weeks.
How much should I give my dog?
To calculate the portion your dog should eat per day you must check the corresponding box depending on its current age and weight. For puppies, you’ll need to calculate its daily portion as it grows and, if it’s already an adult, you should check the “Adults” row and the corresponding column according to its weight. The grams indicated in the box obtained must be multiplied by the current weight of the dog to obtain the recommended daily portion. We recommend dividing the portion into three meals per day for puppies, and two meals per day for adult dogs.
Bear in mind that the AltuDog food portion you have to give your dog may vary depending on metabolism and level of activity. Keep an eye on its weight to know whether you will need to increase or reduce its daily portion.
You can calculate the recommended daily amount your dog should have according to its current weight and age by following this link:
---> AltuDog portion calculator
We recommend dividing this amount into two or more meals.
Do I need to hydrate it with water? Hot or cold?
As it is a dehydrated food, to optimise its digestibility you should hydrate it with hot water (tap water is fine) and leave it to stand for 10 to 15 minutes. This way, the ingredients regain their hydration, enhancing their smell and taste and making them even more appetising. Adding very hot water will speed up the hydration process, but be sure to check that it isn’t too hot before giving it to your furry friend.
You should always add water corresponding to half the volume of the product.
How long should I wait for it to hydrate?
You should wait approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the food to hydrate, but depending on whether you add warm or very hot water this process could be faster or slower.
How do I know when it’s fully hydrated? (Appearance)
The product does not “swell up” – instead, the rice, fruits and vegetables gain in volume and all ingredients, including the meat, are softened by the hydration process. The pieces of meat maintain a harder consistency, ensuring that they are not too mushy and that they can be chewed by the dog.
Can I give it to my dog without hydrating it?
We don’t recommend giving AltuDog without hydration as digestibility will not be the same, but if for any reason you do not have access to water, you can give it to them without hydrating it.
What are the benefits of giving your pet fresh hydrated food?
It’s very important that dogs eat food with moisture. Fresh food contains between 70-80% moisture. Eating dry food can eventually lead to chronic dehydration and kidney problems.
One of the first things you notice about an animal that starts eating fresh food like AltuDog is that it practically stops drinking water, as it gets it naturally from its food.
How long does a bag of AltuDog last?
It depends on the size and activity level of your pet. You can consult the table of values on our website. As an example, for a dog weighing approximately 24 kg and with a medium to moderate activity level, 6 kg of AltuDog dehydrated product would last one month.
Can I store it once it has been hydrated and give it to them later?
You can prepare several servings of AltuDog and give them to your furry friend over several days. The product will retain all its properties if you keep it in the fridge, but we recommend preparing it fresh for each meal, as it will be much more appetising.
What is the difference between AltuDog Adult and AltuDog Puppy, and which one is best for my dog?
The ingredients are the same in both of the AltuDog ranges; the only difference is the proportions of each ingredient.
In the Puppy range, the proportions of meat, fat and calcium are higher as this range is designed for puppies or pregnant dogs.
Can I combine AltuDog with homemade or other natural foods?
Dogs, just like us, get tired of eating the same food, no matter how much they like it. Moreover, it’s healthy to eat a variety of food. Therefore, we recommend that you introduce new ingredients whenever possible. For instance, you can hydrate the product with different liquids, sometimes with warm water and other times with meat, fish, or vegetable broths that contain no added salt.
On the other hand, you have many options when it comes to new ingredients to introduce (meat, fish, fruit, cooked vegetables, raw bones, yoghurt, etc.).
If you have any questions you can consult our veterinary nutrition expert by sending an email to vet@altudog.com
Can I mix Altudog with dry food in the same bowl?
As it is a natural food with ingredients suitable for human consumption, Altudug is digested in a different way from dry foods, so they should NEVER be mixed together. They can have them in different meals – for example, feeding them with dry food in the morning and AltuDog in the evening.
My dog won’t stop licking their bowl, are they hungry?
Many customers ask us this question and from our own experience with our dogs, they lick the bowl even when they have finished their meal because they love it! If you are giving your furry friend the recommended daily portion, this is sufficient. However, we recommend you keep an eye on your dog’s weight to see if you need to increase or decrease their daily portion.
How should I store AltuDog food and how long does the bag keep once opened?
All bags are packaged in modified atmosphere (non-vacuum) and have a shelf life of up to 6 months when unopened. Once opened, store it in the fridge and it will keep all its properties for approximately 25 days. We recommend storing the opened product in a tupperware box or in a zip lock bag.
As it is not a dry food, does it help remove tartar?
Tartar is the result of a diet rich in carbohydrates, such as grain-based dry diets (which is the usual formula for dry food) Tartar is a build-up of bacteria that develops and grows thanks to carbohydrate-rich foods such as dry food. The gums become diseased and bacteria grows, giving the dog bad breath.
A natural diet based on meat as the main ingredient creates a more acidic balance in the mouth environment, which is the best prevention. As such, AltuDog, which is made with a high percentage of meat, creates an environment that is not conducive to the development of tartar.
The belief that dry food is better for avoiding tartar is totally false as the vast majority of dogs are fed with dry food. As such, if this claim were true, we wouldn’t encounter the gum, tartar and plaque problems that are so common in veterinary clinics today.
Some ingredients contained in AltuDog are classified as ‘prohibited’ for dogs by some brands or items. Why are they included in the recipe?
There are no prohibited foods. The answer is in the dose.
In the delicate and controversial topic of nutrition regarding toxic dog food, the big multinational food companies have created false myths to deceive people and ensure that dogs only eat dry food and never eat homemade food as it can damage their health … It’s like our doctor telling us to live off energy bars instead of having a varied diet.
Put simply, “everything in moderation”: the key is in the dose.
The risk for the dog depends on the dose of each food ingested: just like for humans, certain foods in the correct dose are beneficial to our health, while in high doses they are toxic or bad for our body.
Where is AltuDog produced?
AltuDog is produced in our own facilities located in the town of Vizmalo, Burgos, and all its ingredients come from Spain. The meat, in particular, comes from our own farm, so we control the breeding and feeding process of the oxen from start to finish, to ensure traceability.
AltuDog is produced in our own dehydration plant. The first difference is that the fruit and vegetables are peeled, chopped, washed and dehydrated separately at low temperature to preserve their properties. They’re the same as the ones you find in the greengrocers, they’re not fruit and vegetable by-products or waste.
The meat is also dehydrated at cold temperatures in small cubes, using pieces that are fit for human consumption, rather than scraps or trimmings. You can see for yourself by looking at the pieces of lean meat that make up AltuDog.