How To Switch Your Dog (or Cat) To A Raw Food Diet For Dogs

Thinking about putting your dog on a raw food diet?

As a dog owner, you want the best for your furry friend, and that includes providing them with a healthy and nutritious diet. With the rise of raw food diets for dogs, you may be considering making the switch. But before you do, it’s essential to understand what a raw food diet entails and whether it’s right for your dog.

Understanding Raw Food Diets

What is a Raw Food Diet for Dogs?

A raw food diet for dogs is a type of diet that consists of uncooked and unprocessed foods, such as raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables. The idea behind this diet is to mimic the natural diet of wild canines, who eat prey whole, including the bones, organs, and flesh. Raw diets claim can provide numerous health benefits for dogs, including improved digestion, reduced allergies, and increased energy.

Thinking about putting your dog on a raw food diet?

Here’s everything pet owners need to know about making a healthy switch to a raw dog food diet.

Your dog requires a variety of different foods to maintain a healthy balanced diet. During the transition period to a raw diet, we recommend feeding the same protein for the first 5 – 7 days.

Once your dog has completed the first week on the new raw dog food diet successfully, you may begin to add additional proteins to the diet one at a time.

There are two general approaches to switching dogs to raw food diets—rapid and slow.

With healthy young dogs, the rapid method is typically the simplest and most successful. However, for older pets that have been eating commercial pet food all their life or dogs with gastrointestinal problems, a slower transition to a raw food dog diet is recommended.

• 1. Rapid Switch
• 2. Slow Switch
• Transition for Cats
• Here are some tips for easing the transition for you and your feline
• What to Expect After Switching
• Detoxification

1. Rapid Switch

Most puppies, young and healthy dogs can switch to raw diets overnight using the “rapid” switch method. This is an immediate switch to raw pet food. In other words, even if you were feeding your pet kibble or canned food today, you can start the raw dog food diet tomorrow with the new raw diet. As mentioned above, we recommend choosing a single protein for the first week.

2. Slow Switch

The most successful slow transition method to a raw food diet is to begin switching your dog gradually over a 7-day period. Pet Parents may find that their dog needs anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks or beyond to make the full transition to raw pet food, depending on the dog’s age, weight, condition, and activity level.

To make the switch gradually over the course of a week begin by adding the below amounts of the new raw diet to the existing diet:

Day 1 – 2 – 25% Raw

Day 3 – 4 – 50% Raw

Day 5 – 6 – 75% Raw

Day 7 – 100% Raw

For dogs with sensitive stomachs, we recommend stretching this process out over the course of two weeks. As you decrease the amount of dry food and increase the amount of raw food each day, if you notice loose stools, cut back on the amount of raw meat being fed and increase the raw dog food at a slower rate. You should see stools that are small and firm, once you complete the transition, as a direct result of better nutrient absorption from a raw meat diet.

Rotational Feeding is Key!

Dogs benefit significantly from a diverse diet of raw foods, which is why we recommend rotational feeding across a variety of protein sources.

By providing a variety of protein sources in raw diets, you are ensuring your dog receives essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. By incorporating different proteins such as chicken, beef, turkey, pork, lamb, fish, and more, many pet parents can minimize the risk of nutrient deficiencies in dogs while keeping the meals exciting. Additionally, including raw fish like sardines or herring can offer a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin and coat and avoiding nutritional imbalances.

How much raw food should a dog eat?

Nutritional Supplements For Raw Food Diets.

Although raw diets for dogs naturally supply numerous essential nutrients, it may occasionally be necessary to include supplements to address any deficiencies and health concerns in many raw diets. A regular addition in raw food diets is fish oil, which is abundant in omega-3 fatty acids that promote the health of joints, the heart, and the brain.

You might also want to introduce a raw food supplement that contains vital vitamins and minerals, particularly if you are not able to provide complete meals due to sensitivities or allergy concerns. Supplements such as kelp powder or green-lipped mussels can enhance your dog’s nutritional profile by providing iodine and compounds that support joint health.

We recommend including pre and probiotics as part of raw diets. Probiotics are an essential part of a healthy supplement regimen. Adding probiotics to your dog’s diet helps to strengthen the immune system, improve digestion and nutrient absorption, support skin and coat health, breath, urinary issues, inflammation, and beyond.

Do dogs on a raw diet live longer?

Transitioning your dog to raw foods can lead to significant improvements in their energy levels, coat health, and overall vitality, but dog owners should monitor their pets closely during this period. Each dog is unique, and a raw diet that benefits one dog may not be suitable for another. Look for any signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea or vomiting.

Furthermore, keep track of your dog’s body weight, energy levels, and the condition of their coat. If you see rapid weight fluctuations or a decline in coat quality or energy, it may be necessary to modify portion sizes or vary the protein sources in their raw diet.

The shorter answer is, yes. There are numerous benefits for dogs on a raw pet food diet including smooth coats, healthy body tone, and healthy immunity. Dogs who eat a raw diet should live more comfortably with less illnesses.

Benefits Of Raw Food Diets For Dogs

Transitioning your dog to a raw food diet can provide numerous health advantages. Many pet parents see improvements in their dog’s digestive health, resulting in reduced gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Including raw meaty bones in your dog’s diet can provide essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for bone health and overall well-being.

Moreover, dogs eating a raw food diet frequently exhibit shinier fur, improved skin condition, and cleaner teeth, attributed to the lack of artificial additives and fillers commonly present in commercial pet foods. The natural enzymes present in raw meat contribute to bolstering your dog’s immune system, which may lead to a decrease in infections and allergic reactions.

Additionally, the elevated moisture levels in raw food assist in maintaining your dog’s hydration, thereby promoting kidney function and overall well-being.

Preparing for the Switch

Assessing Your Dog’s Needs

Before switching your dog to a raw food diet, it’s crucial to assess their individual needs. Consider factors such as their age, breed, size, health conditions, and activity level. For example, puppies require a diet rich in protein and calcium to support their growth and development, while older dogs may require a diet that is easier to digest.

It’s also essential to consult with a veterinarian to determine the best diet for your dog. They can help you identify any potential health risks and recommend a balanced and nutritionally complete raw food diet.

Additionally, consider the following factors when preparing for the switch:

• Nutritional balance: Ensure that the raw food diet is balanced and complete, providing all the necessary nutrients for your dog’s optimal health.
• Food safety: Handle raw meat and other ingredients safely to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
• Cost: Raw food diets can be more expensive than traditional commercial dog food, so consider the cost and whether it fits within your budget.
• Time commitment: Preparing a raw food diet requires time and effort, so consider whether you have the time and resources to commit to this type of diet.

By understanding the basics of raw food diets and assessing your dog’s individual needs, you can make an informed decision about whether a raw food diet is right for your furry friend.

Raw Dog Food For Senior Dogs

For older adult dogs that have been fed commercial foods most of their lives by a pet parent, adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to their new raw dog food diet can help ease the transition to their new diet.

Cats are creatures of habit and will often resist changes made in their routine and pet foods.

When transitioning your adult cat’s food diet from kibble to raw, you should anticipate some reluctance on the part of your cat in moving from your cat’s current food to accepting their new diet.

Schedule For Raw Food Diet Transitions

Establish a schedule of set mealtimes with the raw diet. During each mealtime, you should leave raw pet food out for 30 minutes only. Cover any leftover raw food and refrigerate for later use.

• Present your cat with a small portion of the raw food at the next meal time. If your cat is fond of the new raw diet, then pet owners are on their way to move away from their food… otherwise, continue to the next step of the raw diet.
• For cats that continue to be hesitant about the new raw food diet after a few days, you can try sprinkling a bit of kibble on top of a small amount of raw food. Another option is to try switching them to a canned wet food. Once the switch to canned food is made, you can start adding small amounts of raw food to the canned food and increase the portions of raw food as your cat becomes more accepting of the raw food diet.
• Cats more than dogs will be especially sensitive to temperature. If you need to warm up their raw food slightly DO NOT cook or microwave. Instead place the food in a bowl or bag and place in warm water.

Make The Raw Food Diet Easier

1. The whole process of switching to a raw food diet may take as much or as little time as dictated by the cat—be patient and flexible.
2. The favorite raw food meat choice for transitioning cats is chicken or turkey.
3. Serve the raw food samples at room temperature.
4. Thaw smaller portions during the transition to avoid waste.
5. Cats prefer their food diet to be as fresh as possible, so discard any raw food that hasn’t been eaten after a couple of days.

Expectations For A Raw Food diet

• After switching your dog or cat to a raw food diet, you may notice a decrease in water consumption because the raw food contains a large amount of moisture that can easily be utilized. Continue making fresh water available at all times.
• Pet owners will likely notice changes in the stool of their dog or cat almost immediately after starting the raw food diet. Stools may be softer than usual through the transition period. Once the transition is complete, you may also notice that your animals’ stools are smaller and possibly less frequent. It should be noted that when feeding bones such as chicken backs and necks or whole Cornish hen the stool can be a very firm consistency.

Detoxification

Detoxification is a natural process in which the body releases toxins through the exterior of the body. Some dogs and cats may go through a period of detoxification, where their system clears the toxins accumulated from their former diet. During this period they may experience some loose or mucous stool, runny eyes, and excretions through their ears.

In some cases, they may shed some of their coat—to make room for a healthier new one; all of these are positive signs that the body is ridding itself of toxins. Each detox period should last for a few days, after which your dog or cat should look and feel much better. If symptoms persist for more than a few days, please contact your vet and have them checked over for other medical problems.

Final Thoughts On The Raw Diet

Shifting your dog or cat to a raw food diet can promote better health; however, it is crucial to undertake this process with patience and diligence. After you have effectively tried different types of dog raw food in your pet’s meals, sustain a well-rounded raw food diet that guarantees they receive all essential nutrients.

Switching to a raw food diet is a commitment to your pet’s long-term health and well-being. By following the right steps and ensuring that your dog’s raw food diet is balanced with a variety of meats, organs, and bones, you’ll be providing them with the nutrition they need to thrive.

Making the switch to a raw food  diet may take time, but the rewards—such as a happier, healthier pet with increased vitality—make it all worthwhile.