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Transitioning Your Dog to a Raw Food Diet

When transitioning your dog to a raw food diet, there are two main methods to consider: the rapid switch and the gradual transition.

The rapid switch involves fasting your dog for 812 hours, then introducing the new raw food in the morning, whereas the gradual transition method involves gradually decreasing the amount of kibble and increasing the amount of raw over the next seven days. Patience and monitoring are key during the transition. Watch for digestive upset, including loose stools or mucous in the stool.

*If your dog has cancer or any other underlying condition, speaking with a holistic vet before implementing any diet change is critical to your dogs health and wellness*

Before Switching Your Dog to a Raw Diet

Before starting the transition, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to your dogs diet can help with any stomach upset that may arise during the switch. Its also important to understand that raw food is nutrient-dense and digests faster than kibble-based diets, which can lead your dog to feel more satisfied after eating.

By the 7th day, the adjustment period should reduce, and the dog should be fully transitioned to a raw diet. An example of a successful transition could involve a gradual increase in raw food portions, starting with small amounts mixed with the dogs regular diet and monitoring their reaction closely to ensure a smooth switch. If you notice your dogs body struggling with the transition, stretch the 7 days out further. Youre not in any hurry.

Long-Term Health Benefits of Feeding Dogs Raw Food

Feeding your dog raw food can improve their health and extend their longevity. According to The Forever Dog, in addition to cancer, dogs fed a raw diet are more likely to get all the itis conditions due to increased inflammation (gingivitis, esophagitis, gastritis, hepatitis, cystitis, etc).

The Forever Dog explained, The excessive starch in pet food causes on-going elevated blood sugar levels, which in and of itself creates a pro-inflammatory state.

That being said, here are a few of the benefits of switching your dog to raw food:

Eating Raw Foods Supports Digestion

A raw diet can significantly enhance a dogs digestive health. Raw foods are more easily digestible for dogs, leading to increased absorption of vital nutrients.

This improved digestion often results in smaller, firmer stools, which is an indicator of efficient nutrient absorption and a healthy digestive system.

Weight Management With Fewer Saturated Fats

Feeding your dog a raw diet can contribute to better weight control. This diet typically has fewer calories and carbohydrates than processed dog food, helping to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues.

A Raw Meal For Healthier Skin and Coat

The nutrients found in raw food, particularly essential fatty acids and high-quality proteins, are fundamental for maintaining healthy skin and a shiny, radiant coat. These nutrients nourish the skin and fur from the inside out, often resulting in a noticeable improvement in coat condition and reduced skin problems.

Transitioning Dog to a Raw Diet For Dental Health

Chewing raw, meaty bones (RMBs) can naturally help clean a dogs teeth by mechanically scraping off plaque and tartar buildup. Additionally, raw diets typically have a lower carbohydrate content, which is beneficial since carbohydrates can contribute to dental issues in dogs.

Increased Energy Levels When Switching From Kibble to Raw

Many dog owners report a noticeable increase in energy and vitality in their pets after switching to a raw diet. This can be attributed to the high-quality, easily digestible proteins and fats in raw food, which provide sustained energy throughout the day.

Boosted Immune System When Transitioning to a Raw Diet for Dogs

A raw diet can strengthen the immune system due to its rich content of natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. These nutrients are often more bioavailable in their raw form compared to cooked or processed foods.

Allergy Management Without Cooked Foods

For dogs with allergies or sensitivities, a raw diet can be beneficial. Raw diets are free from many common allergens found in commercial dog foods, such as grains, artificial preservatives, and colorings. This can lead to a reduction in allergic reactions and an overall improvement in health.

Safety Precautions and Concerns With Raw Diet Nutrition

Feeding your dog a raw food diet can come with certain safety precautions and concerns that need to be taken into consideration. One of the primary risks is the potential presence of harmful bacteria in raw meat, which can pose a health risk to your dog if not handled and stored properly.

Its important to ensure that the raw meat is sourced from a reputable supplier and to follow strict hygiene practices during meal preparation to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

Maintaining proper sanitation is also crucial when handling raw food for your dog. This includes thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces, utensils, and food bowls that come into contact with the raw food, as well as practicing good personal hygiene to prevent the spread of bacteria and pathogens. By taking these precautions, you can help safeguard your dogs health and well-being while on a raw food diet.

Work With Your Veterinarian When Eating a Raw Diet

Its important to keep your veterinarian informed throughout the transition process. Not all dogs thrive on a raw-food diet, and some may experience digestive issues or other health concerns during the adjustment period. Regular communication with your vet can provide valuable insights and guidance to ensure that your dogs nutritional needs are being met and that the transition to a raw food diet is progressing smoothly.

Your vet can also offer specific recommendations based on your dogs individual health status and dietary requirements, helping to address any potential concerns and optimize the success of the raw food diet.

Raw Food Recipes and Nutrition

When preparing a raw food diet for your dog, its essential to ensure that the diet is nutritionally balanced. This means including a variety of nutrient-rich foods such as muscle meat, organ meat, raw meaty bones, seafood, and veggies.

Muscle meat provides essential protein for muscle development, while organ meat is a rich source of vitamins and minerals crucial for your dogs overall health (organ meat should never be more than 3-5% of your dogs overall daily diet).

Raw, meaty bones not only satisfy your dogs instinct to chew but also supply calcium and other important nutrients necessary for bone health.

In addition to the main food components, incorporating supplements into your dogs raw food diet can help address any potential nutrient deficiencies. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, from small, oily fish oils can contribute to a healthy coat and skin, while probiotics and digestive enzymes can aid in digestion and overall gut health.

To provide a well-rounded diet, its recommended to rotate between at least three different types of meat, such as beef, chicken, and lamb. This variety ensures that your dog receives a broad spectrum of nutrients and helps prevent them from becoming sensitive or intolerant to a specific protein source.

By offering a diverse range of meats, you can mimic the varied diet that a dog would have in the wild, promoting overall health and vitality.

Addressing Concerns and Controversies

While the benefits of feeding your dog a raw food diet are well documented, there is a fair amount of controversy and differing opinions surrounding this feeding practice. Some veterinarians and pet professionals have expressed concerns about the safety and nutritional adequacy of a raw food diet for dogs. Its important to acknowledge these concerns and address them when considering transitioning your dog to a raw food diet.

For example, some veterinarians caution about the potential risks involved in feeding a raw-food diet to dogs, highlighting the possibility of harmful bacteria in raw meat and the need for proper sanitation.

This is a valid concern, as raw meat carries the risk of bacterial contamination, which could pose health risks to both dogs and their human companions (which is why it may not be recommended for dogs who already have a cancer diagnosis).

For further reading, we recommend:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3003575/

https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-019-1824-x

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/new-research-on-species-appropriate-diets/

www.theforeverdog.com/about

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How to Switch Your Dogs Food Gradually, Without Tummy Upsets

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How do you switch dog food without upsetting their stomach?

My dog, Pogs, is a sidewalk scavenger and, as a result, regularly gets diarrhea. Its one of lifes little jokes that a dog who eats anything (digestible or not) also has a sensitive tummy.

Indeed, for many dogs even a simple change of dog food results in soft poop or diarrhea. But as the saying goes, Forewarned is forearmed, so here are the ins and outs of successfully transitioning your dog from one food to another.

What NOT to Do

Lets say your dog normally eats Chicken Chow, but the store has a special on Sausage Snacks.

You decide to give your pup something different, so you fill the basket with a change of menu. After all, your dog must get pretty bored eating the same thing every day dont they?

Dont change out the food all out once. Your dog may be super-excited about the new taste, but as sure as dogs have wet noses, such a sudden change will lead to a stomach upset.

Instead, switch the dog food gradually during the course of a full week, which gives your pets digestive system enough time to adjust.

Keep reading for specific guidance on how best to do this.

How to Switch Dog Food Gradually

Theres no big secret to switching foods. This is simply a matter of gradual change to let the gut bacteria in your dogs digestive system adjust to the new diet.

Change from the dogs old food to new by slowly reducing the amount of old and making up the difference with the new.

There are 2 ways to do this and both should be done over at least 7 days:

Method 1: Mix It Up

Hide the new food amid the original food. This is a stealthy way to successfully transition fussy eaters to a new dog food.

Example Dog Food Transition Schedule

Timeline	Directions
Days 12	Replace 25% of old dog food with new.
Days 34	Replace half of old food with new.
Days 56	Replace 75% of old with new.
Day 7	Feed entirely new food.

Fussy eaters may benefit from an even slower transition change out their food over a full months time if needed.

Method 2: Side by Side

As an alternative option, instead of mixing new and old food in the same bowl, offer them separately in bowls sitting side by side.

Whats the reasoning behind this method? Well, theres an argument that goes: How would we like curry mixed in with spaghetti Bolognese? In other words, 2 different foods mixed together isnt necessarily a winning combination.

As the days go by, keep adding a bit more to the new food bowl and reduce the old stuff.

Again, this should take at least 7 days to switch completely, but longer is also fine.

A Few Words About Portion Control

Just as an example, take a look at the calories in these popular dry dog foods:

• Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food: 322 kcal per cup
• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food: 378 kcal per cup

Thats a 16% difference in the calorie content between 2 chicken and rice dog foods!

So, when you switch dog food, always reassess the portion size. If you were to simply keep feeding the same amount, youd risk overfeeding (or underfeeding), causing weight gain (or loss).

If the dogs waistline has widened, this is a good time to reduce the number of calories and put your dog on a diet. Your veterinarian or vet tech is an invaluable resource for those who arent sure if their pooch is pint-sized or outsized. Take the advice of a veterinary healthcare professional when in doubt.

Anticipating Stomach Upset

Changing dog food too quickly often results in an upset stomach.

But when does diarrhea stop being expected and start being something more worrying?

• If you see blood in the poop, at least call the vet clinic for advice. While a hint of blood may resolve itself, passing frank blood or large quantities of it can be a potentially serious sign and requires urgent veterinary assessment.
• Likewise, if the dog has watery, liquid diarrhea, they are at risk of becoming dehydrated. This is especially true if they are vomiting or not drinking in which case the diarrhea may not be due to a change of diet. Visit the vet.
• Most dogs with diarrhea caused by a change in diet are still bright, eating well and energetic. If the dog is dull, refusing to eat or lacks energy, the digestive issues may be more complex and they should see a vet.
• Also, simple diarrhea is often self-limiting and will settle after 2448 hours. If the diarrhea persists beyond this for several days, then it most likely needs help to firm up.

And, of course, always see the vet if youre worried. Trust your inner instincts!

Oops! Too Late I Already Made the Switch

If you are reading this because you switched dog foods and now your dog has diarrhea, heres what to do.

If the dog seems fine and doesnt need the vet (as outlined above), then withhold food for 1224 hours. This allows the gut to rest and regroup. During this time, make sure your pet has access to plenty of fresh drinking water.

When you feed them again, offer a bland diet that is easy to digest. Suggestions include:

• Protein: White meats such as chicken breast, turkey thigh, cod or other white fish, or cottage cheese
• Carbohydrate: Boiled white rice, pasta or potato (but no added dairy, such as milk or butter)

Offer 4 small portions spread over the day, rather than 12 big meals. Feed this until the dog produces stool that you can pick up. Once this occurs, you can go back to once or twice daily feeding and reintroduce the new food but gradually, as outlined above.

Doggy probiotics are also helpful. These are dietary supplements that contain the correct type of bacteria to assist a dogs digestion. My personal preference is for FortiFlora, which has saved the day many times after Pogss dietary indiscretions.

However, dont use human probiotics the bacteria are different. Plus, many human probiotics come in a dairy drink, and the lactose in these can be a cause of dodgy tummies in dogs.

Help! My Dog Doesnt Like the New Food

There are many reasons you might decide to switch your dogs food.

Sometimes a change of life stage (puppy to adult, or adult to senior) requires a change of food. Or you may wish to switch from a dry food to a fresh dog food. Or perhaps the dog has a medical condition requiring a special prescription food.

If your dog turns up their nose at the new ration, the following suggestions may help.

• Take it slow: A fussy eater may object not only to a new taste, but also to a new texture or smell. Transition them very slowly so they become accustomed to the different sensory experience of the new food.
• Warm the food up: This can work for wet or canned foods. Warming it gently can make it more appealing and release some of the tempting food smells to stimulate your dogs appetite. For dry food, you may wish to add a little gravy (be careful to select a low-salt variety and no onion gravy) or the water from some boiled fish.
• Give a fresh portion each meal: If the dog refuses the food, reduce the portion size, but offer fresh each meal. Also, pick the food bowl up between meals. This helps them realize that if they dont eat the food, it disappears until the next mealtime.
• Sprinkle a probiotic over the food: Again, FortiFlora is tasty stuff for dogs and will tempt some fussy eaters to tuck in.
• Dont make a fuss: Dont stand and watch, biting your nails, waiting for your pup to eat. Instead, leave the room. To do so removes the potential for your concern to accidentally reward the dog for not eating.

Follow these tips next time you need to change dog food and all should be well. But remember, see a veterinarian if your gut instinct (see what I did there?) says somethings wrong.

References

• Dressman, Jennifer B., BPharm, PhD. Comparison of Canine and Human Gastrointestinal Physiology. Pharmaceutical Research 3, no. 3 (1986): 123131. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/41512/11095_2004_Article_306447.pdf?sequence=1.
• Tremayne, Jessica. Prebiotics, Probiotics and Intestinal Health. Veterinary Practice News. Sept. 27, 2012. https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/prebiotics-probiotics-and-intestinal-health/.
• Stilwell, Natalie, DVM, PhD. Immune-Stimulating Properties of Probiotics. American Veterinarian. Oct. 5, 2018. https://www.americanveterinarian.com/journals/amvet/2018/october2018/immunestimulating-properties-of-probiotics.
• Tips & Methods for Switching Dog Foods. Hills Pet Nutrition. July 3, 2019. https://www.hillspet.co.uk/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/how-to-transition-my-dogs-food.
• The Right Way to Switch Dog Foods. American Kennel Club. July 8, 2019. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/right-way-switch-dog-foods/.

This pet health content was written by a veterinarian,

Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS

. This article was originally published in 2012 and is regularly updated. It was last reviewed for accuracy and updated July 10, 2023.

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See

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