Transition to Raw Diet
When it comes to transitioning your furry friend to a raw diet, there are two options:
1. An immediate switch
2. A gradual switch
We’re going to go over the two options and discuss which method is best suited for your dog.
1. Immediate Switch
Immediately switching your dog to a raw diet is pretty straight-forward, but it might not be the best approach for all dogs. This method is best suited for puppies and young dogs, as some dogs might experience digestive issues, such as gas, diarrhea, mucous in stool, and vomiting bile. This can occur because of the sudden dietary change.
- Before making the immediate switch, fast your dog for a period of 12-24 hours.
- Start your dog off on poultry, such as chicken, or turkey. These meals will be easier to digest, which will result in a smoother transition
- Serve the first raw meal at room temperature. Serving raw food that is too cold could result in your dog having to vomit. Plus, warmer food means the food aromas will be enhanced.
- Offer 1/2 of the recommended serving, then wait 20 minutes before offering the remainder of the serving.
- Add a probiotic supplement to help with digestion
- We recommend adding some raw pumpkin to your dog’s meal - this will help with preventing diarrhea or constipation, as pumpkin is high in fibre.
2. Gradual Switch
For most dogs, the gradual switch usually takes 1-2 weeks, but for others, it can last for several months, as some dogs have very sensitive GI tracts.
Changing a dog’s diet may cause minor to severe GI upset, due to age, disease, or overexposure to chemicals and toxins found in kibble.
Remember that your dog has been eating grain-based foods for a long time, which can be difficult to digest and very different from raw foods.
Most dogs on kibble diets have poor gut bacteria and diversity, suppressed digestive enzymes, and weakened immune systems… so it may take some time to get their system up and running again!
If you gradually introduce a raw diet, it can help to minimize the risk of digestive issues. You’ll also have the opportunity to figure out what preferences your furry friend has and if they have any food intolerances.
The gradual switch is best suited for all dogs, senior dogs, and dogs with a sensitive stomach.
- Over a period of 5-10 days, gradually replace the kibble with the raw diet. Consider these ratios as a starting point:
- Day 1: 1/8th raw, 7/8th kibble
- Day 2: 1/4th raw, 3/4 kibble
- Day 3: 1/2 raw, 1/2 kibble
- Day 4: 3/4 raw, 1/4 kibble
- Day 5: 7/8th raw, 1/8th kibble
- Day 6: 100% raw
- Feel free to extend the transition to two weeks or longer if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
- Start your dog off on poultry, such as chicken, or turkey. These meals will be easier to digest, which will result in a smoother transition
- Serve the first raw meal at room temperature. Serving raw food that is too cold could result in your dog having to vomit. Plus, warmer food means the food aromas will be enhanced.
- Add a probiotic supplement to help with digestion
- We recommend adding some raw pumpkin to your dog’s meal - this will help with preventing diarrhea or constipation, as pumpkin is high in fibre.
