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Transitioning Canine Patients to Ollie Fresh Food

Catherine Carchedi, MS, DVM

Lindsay Cassibry, MPH, DVM

OVERVIEW

As veterinary professionals, we are increasingly encountering pet owners seeking fresh, minimally processed diets for their dogs. This shift reflects growing consumer awareness of nutrition and health, supported by emerging data on the benefits of fresh food. Ollie provides veterinary-formulated, gently cooked meals using human-grade ingredients and customized feeding plans. Transitioning patients from conventional diets to Ollie should be approached with clinical insight to support digestive health, improve long-term outcomes, and enhance client satisfaction.

CLINICAL RATIONALE FOR GRADUALE TRANSITION

Canine gastrointestinal systems adapt over time to dietary changes. Rapid diet changes, especially from dry or canned commercial diets to fresh, nutrient-dense formulations, can disrupt the gut microbiota and mucosal health, resulting in adverse effects such as:

  • Acute gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea)

  • Refusal to eat due to unfamiliar palatability or texture

  • Food hypersensitivity manifestations

Gradual transitions allow:

  • Adaptation of digestive enzymes and gut microbiota

  • Behavioral acceptance of new sensory properties

  • Physiological adjustment to altered macronutrient and moisture content

VETERINARY-RECOMMENDED TRANSITION SCHEDULE

Based on clinical experience and evidence-informed practices, a 7–10 day protocol is suggested:

  • Days 1–2: 25% Ollie + 75% current diet

  • Days 3–4: 50% Ollie + 50% current diet

  • Days 5–6: 75% Ollie + 25% current diet

  • Day 7+: 100% Ollie

Adjustments to this schedule may be necessary based on the individual’s:

  • Age (puppies/seniors may require longer periods)

  • Health status (e.g., IBD, pancreatitis, or food sensitivities)

  • Previous diet composition (highly processed to fresh may require more gradual introduction)

CLINICAL TIPS FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION

  1. Encourage consistency: Advise clients to avoid abrupt feeding changes or introducing new treats.

  2. Monitor fecal quality: Use stool scoring to track transition success or recommend clients submit an Ollie Digestion Screening.

  3. Recommend pre- or probiotics if needed: Especially for sensitive or senior dogs.

  4. Provide follow-up support: Schedule check-ins during the transition to monitor weight, appetite, and stool quality.

HEALTH SCREENINGS

To support veterinarians and pet parents during diet transitions, Ollie offers app-based health screenings designed to track clinical indicators and provide actionable insights. These digital tools help establish a baseline, monitor progress, and identify early signs of intolerance or improvement during the transition period.

Key features include:

  • Transition Screening – Tracks how smoothly a dog adapts to Ollie which assesses stool quality including consistency, mucous, and blood

  • Digestion Screening – Provides structured monitoring of stool consistency after transitioning, allowing clients to log changes and receive real-time feedback.

  • Weight Screening – Enables regular weight entries, growth tracking, and alerts for significant deviations from ideal weight.

By leveraging Ollie’s app-based screenings, veterinary professionals can:

  • Receive more consistent, structured data from clients between visits.

  • Personalize transition schedules based on patient responses.

Objectively demonstrate improvements in digestion, weight management, and overall wellness to pet parents.

NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

All Ollie recipes are complete and balanced, meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance or growth, depending on the formulation. Veterinary professionals can confidently recommend Ollie for:

  • Healthy adult dogs seeking optimized nutrition

  • Puppies needing precise growth support (with appropriate formulations)

  • Clients interested in long-term preventive wellness through diet

Dogs with specific clinical conditions should be evaluated case-by-case. Collaboration with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist may be warranted when managing patients with comorbidities or complex dietary needs.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

  • Loose Stool or GI Upset: Slow the transition; evaluate for underlying GI pathology if persistent.

  • Client Overfeeding: Educate on caloric density of Ollie meals and use BCS to guide portioning.

CONCLUSIONS

The transition to Ollie fresh food can provide tangible benefits for canine patients, including improved digestion, energy, and coat health. As trusted advisors, veterinary professionals are essential in supporting safe, evidence-based diet changes. By guiding pet parents through the transition process and monitoring outcomes, we help optimize both compliance and clinical results.