So, you’ve heard of the benefits of raw feeding for dogs and want to give it a go? Perhaps you’ve been researching dog nutrition or have heard from family and friends the wonders a raw diet can work, but you’re a bit apprehensive about switching. This guide offers easy-to-follow advice on making the switch and troubleshooting potential issues that may arise, so you can feed your dog with confidence!
Straight Switch
We recommend doing a straight switch to a raw diet, this yields the best results for the vast majority of dogs and is also much simpler for owners – going cold turkey as it were! Doing a slow switch will delay and dilute the benefits of switching to a raw diet, so is only recommended when a dog does not respond well to the straight switch.
An optional 24 hour fast before switching the diet ensures the dog is hungry and the stomach is at peak acidity prior to eating the raw. Or you can simply feeding their old food in the evening, and offer a full bowl of raw the following morning.
Slow Switch
In older pets, or those with digestive issues, a more gradual transition may be better. There are a couple of options, depending on how slow you wish to progress:
- Meal of raw in the mornings, and a meal of their current food in the evening (or vice versa) for 5-7 days. Allow 10-12 hours between the meals to ensure the stomach is fully emptied before eating again.
- Mixing the current and raw food together, gradually altering the proportions. This is what is suggested when switching brands of kibble. There is opposing opinions around mixing raw food with processed food. The enzymes activated during digestion of meat and bone work better at a lower (more acidic) pH, which meat stimulates. Whereas a diet higher in cereals stimulates less of this acid secretion, increasing the stomach pH – thus, mixing the two could cause gut upset in some dogs. However, this aside, most dogs seem to be able to tolerate both food types during the transition.
Proportions when mixing foods:
Day 1-2 = 80% current food & 20% raw food
Day 3-4 = 60% current food & 40% raw food
Day 5-6 = 40% current food & 60% raw food
Day 7-8 = 20% current food & 80% raw food
From Day 9 = 100% raw food
My Dog is Refusing Their Food
Whilst most dogs will wolf down their fresh, tasty raw food straight away, you have the fussy few which will take a bit more patience. If a dog has never been offered fresh meat before, it can be confusing for them.
Lightly heating the food can inspire curiosity, as aromas are released. You should not cook raw food due to the minced bone inside it, however you can warm it a little by adding some warm water or sealing it in a container and letting it sit in hot water for a couple of minutes before serving. We suggest heating the food in a freezer bag or sealed tub, so you don’t lose any of those nutritious juices! We do not recommend heating food in the microwave.
Be persistent, and do not give in to fussy dogs. Some dogs will find the satisfaction from the increased attention surrounding feeding time more enticing than the food itself, and they will soon learn that they can train you! Dogs evolved to have an extendable stomach to accommodate larger meals at infrequent intervals, thus, healthy dogs can go days without eating to no ill effect. In short, don’t worry if they turn their nose up at food for a few days!
Keeping the diet varied can inspire appetite. Offer different proteins, as well as different formats of raw. Our core 80/20 range comes in both a chunky mince or an easy-to-serve sausage format.
My Dog Has An Upset Stomach
Runny Stools
Loose poops in the few days following a diet transition is not uncommon, as the dog’s digestive system is cleverly adapting to their new, species appropriate diet. On the other hand, raw fed dogs typically produce less poop due to the high digestibility of their food, so the switch will be well worth it in the long term! Prebiotics and probiotics can be added during the transition to support the gut microbiome.
In dogs with gut issues, adding bone broth offers a myriad of benefits. It is packed with glycine and proline which are soothing and healing to the intestinal mucosa, making it a natural anti-inflammatory. It provides electrolytes and hydration for dogs recovering from a bout of illness and also increases food palatability.
Vomiting After Eating
Vomiting immediately after eating is actually regurgitation and is a reflex to protect dogs against unknown foodstuffs. If a dog is particularly used to a processed diet, they may regurgitate food if they have insufficient enzymes to digest their new food format – in this case a gradual switch may be the better choice. Of course, if your dog is consistently vomiting and showing other signs of being unwell, we suggest consulting with a vet.
Some dogs may struggle with fatty meats such as lamb initially, so starting on a leaner meat, such as chicken or tripe, may be gentler during the transition.
Recommended Staring Point
We often find ourselves recommending the 80/20 beef and tripe meal as a starting point during the transition to raw. It is our lowest fat meal and is gentler on the stomach during the transition. Tripe is also a natural probiotic; its benefits are all laid out here.
Getting Started – Our short and snappy guide to switching.
Have a fussy cat you’re looking to switch? Our advice differs when it comes to switching cats over to raw. See our Switching Cats To Raw Guide here.
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Lucy James | BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science
Looking to enhance your pet’s diet? Take a look at Cotswold RAW’s range of raw dog food and cat food, including raw meaty bones, dried treats, and puppy food.