3 Treats or 6? Understanding Your Pet’s Activ Feeding Guide
One of the most common questions we get is simple:
Should my pet have 3 treats or 6?
The answer depends on where your pet is at.
At Activ Pet Health, we use two simple terms to make this easier: Maintenance Feeding and Increased Support Feeding.
Maintenance Feeding is the normal daily amount for ongoing support. Increased Support Feeding is for short periods when your pet may need additional nutritional support.
The key message is simple:
Extra support when they need it. Maintenance support when they are doing well.
What Is Maintenance Feeding?
Maintenance Feeding means 3 treats per day.
This is the normal daily amount for ongoing use.
Once your pet is doing well, continue with the Maintenance Feeding amount to provide consistent daily nutritional and microbiome support.
For Activ Daily ULTIMATE and Activ Daily Optimum for Cats, this means daily support for gut health, digestion, skin and coat health, immune health and everyday wellbeing.
For Activ Stress and Activ Stress for Cats, this means daily support for calm behaviour, stress resilience and the gut-brain connection.
For Activ Joints, this means daily support for joint function, mobility, cartilage health and healthy inflammatory balance.
What Is Increased Support Feeding?
Increased Support Feeding means 6 treats per day.
This is for periods when your pet may benefit from additional nutritional support.
It is not where we recommend starting, it is not something every pet needs all the time.
It is simply a short-term increase that may be useful during certain periods, before returning to the normal Maintenance Feeding amount once your pet is doing well again.
Always Start with Maintenance Feeding First
If your pet is new to Activ, start with the normal Maintenance Feeding amount first.
That means starting at 3 treats per day and allowing approximately one week for your pet to adjust before considering any increase.
This matters because Activ products contain high levels of CFUs, which means high levels of beneficial bacteria. That is a good thing, but some pets, especially those with sensitive digestive systems, may need a little time to adjust.
Do not rush the process.
Start with Maintenance Feeding. Keep it consistent. Watch how your pet responds.
What If My Pet Gets Loose Stools?
Some pets with sensitive tummies may develop loose stools when first starting a new supplement. If that happens, it does not automatically mean the product is not suitable.
It also does not mean your pet suddenly “needs” probiotics more than another pet. It may simply mean their digestive system needs a more gradual introduction because Activ products provide a high CFU level.
If your pet develops loose stools when first starting, reduce the amount by approximately half for the first week. Then gradually build back up to the normal Maintenance Feeding amount. A simple sensitive tummy approach looks like this:
- Start at Maintenance Feeding
- If stools become loose, reduce to approximately half
- Continue gently for about one week
- Gradually increase back to Maintenance Feeding
- Only increase further if additional support is needed
When Should You Increase from 3 Treats to 6?
Only consider increasing once your pet has tolerated the Maintenance Feeding amount well for approximately one week. From there, you may move to Increased Support Feeding when your pet needs additional nutritional support.
Examples may include:
- Periods of digestive sensitivity
- Times of stress or routine change
- After travel, boarding or major environmental change
- Periods where skin, coat or stool quality needs extra support
- Higher joint or movement demands for dogs using Activ Joints
- Times when your pet is not quite back to their normal baseline
The wording here matters.
Increased Support Feeding is not a treatment for disease. It is a short-term increase in nutritional support.
How Long Should You Stay on Increased Support Feeding?
Increased Support Feeding is generally intended for short periods.
A practical way to think about it is this:
Use 6 treats per day while your pet needs additional support, then return to 3 treats per day once they are doing well again.
For some pets, that may only be a brief period around a known stress trigger or change in routine. For others, it may be a little longer while you support gut, skin, mobility or overall wellbeing.
If you are unsure, keep it simple: do not stay increased indefinitely without a reason. Use the extra support when needed, then return to Maintenance Feeding.
When Should You Reduce Back to Maintenance?
Once your pet is doing well, reduce back to the normal Maintenance Feeding amount.
That means returning to 3 treats per day for ongoing daily support. This is where consistency matters most.
Activ products are designed to fit into your pet’s daily health routine, not only be used when something looks off. Maintenance Feeding keeps that daily support simple.
Why Consistency Matters
Better health starts from the inside out. That is the foundation of Activ Pet Health.
For gut-focused products, consistency helps support the microbiome over time.
For stress-focused products, consistency helps support calm behaviour, stress resilience and the gut-brain connection.
For joint-focused products, consistency helps support mobility, cartilage health and joint comfort as part of a daily routine.
One good day is encouraging. One missed day is not the end of the world. But stopping and starting constantly makes it harder to judge results properly.
Where Tri-Biotics Fit In
Activ Pet Health is not just another pet supplement brand. Our key point of difference is our Tri-Biotic approach, combining prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to support more of the full microbiome chain.
Probiotics help introduce beneficial bacteria, but probiotics alone are only one part of the puzzle.
Tri-Biotics combine:
- Prebiotics to help feed beneficial bacteria
- Probiotics to help introduce beneficial bacteria
- Postbiotics to help support the gut environment and immune response
That is why we do not recommend rushing the process. The microbiome responds best to steady, consistent support.
New to Activ? Follow This Simple Guide
If you are new to Activ, keep the first week simple.
-
Start
Begin with the normal Maintenance Feeding amount. -
Allow 1 week
Give your pet approximately one week to adjust. -
Maintain or increase
If your pet is doing well, continue with Maintenance Feeding. If they need additional support, move to Increased Support Feeding for a short period. -
Return to Maintenance
Once your pet is doing well, return to the normal Maintenance Feeding amount for ongoing daily support.
For sensitive pets, the guide is slightly different:
- Start with Maintenance Feeding
- Reduce to approximately half if loose stools develop
- Introduce gradually for about one week
- Build back to Maintenance Feeding
- Only increase if additional support is needed
When to Speak with a Vet
Speak with your vet if your pet has persistent, severe, worsening or concerning symptoms.
That includes ongoing diarrhoea, repeated vomiting, blood in the stool, appetite changes, weight loss, severe itching, sudden behaviour changes, pain, limping, lethargy or anything that does not feel right.
Supplements can support everyday health and wellbeing, but they are not a replacement for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Final Takeaway
The Activ Feeding Guide is simple.
Start with 3 treats per day.
Give your pet approximately one week to adjust.
If they are doing well, stay consistent.
If they need additional support, increase to 6 treats per day for a short period.
Once they are doing well again, return to 3 treats per day for ongoing maintenance support. And if your pet has a sensitive tummy, slow it down. Reduce the amount, introduce gradually and let their digestive system adjust.
Extra support when they need it. Maintenance support when they are doing well.
Choose science-led daily support for your dog or cat. Explore the Activ Pet Health range today.
Activ Pet Health products are nutritional supplements and are not intended to replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Individual results vary. Pets with ongoing digestive issues, severe symptoms, pain, behaviour changes or existing medical conditions should be assessed by a veterinarian.
FAQs
How many Activ treats should my pet have per day?
Most pets should start with Maintenance Feeding, which is 3 treats per day. Increased Support Feeding is 6 treats per day and is used for short periods when additional nutritional support is needed.
Should I start my pet on 6 treats straight away?
No. Start with the Maintenance Feeding amount first and allow approximately one week for your pet to adjust before considering an increase.
What is Maintenance Feeding?
Maintenance Feeding means the normal daily amount: 3 treats per day. It is designed for everyday, ongoing support once your pet is doing well.
What is Increased Support Feeding?
Increased Support Feeding means 6 treats per day. It is designed for short periods when your pet may benefit from additional nutritional support before returning to Maintenance Feeding.
What should I do if my pet gets loose stools?
If loose stools occur when first starting Activ, reduce the amount by approximately half for the first week and introduce the product more gradually. Then build back to Maintenance Feeding once your pet has adjusted.
Why does Activ recommend gradual introduction for sensitive pets?
Activ products contain high levels of CFUs, or beneficial bacteria. Some pets, especially those with sensitive digestive systems, may need time to adjust to that level of microbiome support.
When should I speak to a vet?
Speak to your vet if symptoms are persistent, severe, worsening or concerning, including ongoing diarrhoea, vomiting, blood in the stool, appetite changes, pain, lethargy or sudden behaviour changes.
