Changing your canine’s diet can seem overwhelming when transitioning from kibble/wet food to a raw diet, this article is to aid our clients in clarifying the transition process.

Most dogs are eager to make the switch and will gobble up the raw from day one (instinctual way for them to eat) , other dogs will be more apprehensive. It’s important to understand that to your dog the raw is nothing like the food they’ve had up until this point. The consistency, smell, and taste is very different and might cause them to be a bit sceptical at first. Please keep in mind that they are also very drawn towards the salty goodness that is in the kibbles, and it might be a bit hard for them to say goodbye. In saying all this, it is important to soldier on - the benefits of a raw diet will be worth it!

 

How to make the switch

 

Puppies

For puppies we recommend a Cold Turkey approach - meaning to switch completely from kibble/wet food to raw immediately.

This can seem extreme, but for young dogs it’s the best method. We recommend skipping one meal (either breakfast or dinner) to ensure your pup’s digestive system is empty and then presenting them with the amount stipulated on our feeding guide or speak to us beforehand to assist you in amounts should you be unsure. 

“Because kibble requires a different pH in the gut to digest, it will make your puppy more susceptible to the bacteria. He’s capable of handling this bacteria just fine on a raw diet. But once you add in artificial foods, the meat will sit in his digestive tract twice as long.” - Dogs Naturally Magazine

Adult Dogs 

For adult dogs, we prefer a Slow Transition, where you will slowly introduce the raw food over a period of 4-7  days.

Day 1: Offer 75% of their old food and 25% of their new raw food in the same bowl. 

However do not mix the foods together, keep them separate in the bowl. Or, alternatively, you can use two bowls, one for the kibble and one for the raw. The reason for this exercise is to see what your canine is choosing to eat, which will help us to determine how quickly he’ll adapt to the new diet. 

Day 2-3: 50% old food and 50% raw

Day 4-5: 25% old food and 75% raw

Day 6-7: 100% raw

During this period of the changeover, please inspect the droppings of your canine to see if the stool is loose or firm. Should you find that the stomach is producing more firm stools, you can speed up this process.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the changeover!

What to expect during the change

During the transition your dog’s body is going through changes and will finally be digesting in a way it hasn’t before - the way it actually should be.

Things to notice! 

• Changes in their stool. Unlike with their previous diet, the majority of their food is being digested and used by the body rather than just passed through, resulting in less waste dispersed from the body i.e. less droppings to pick up. Their stool will also most likely be darker, smaller, and have less of a smell to it - thank goodness! 

• Drinking less water.  This is actually a fantastic part of the raw diet - our raw diet is 80% moisture and therefore the dogs are being hydrated internally via the meat & vegetables included in the food (vegetables have 80-90%water content) the way nature intended. 

You will see that while out on walks or for working dogs on patrol, your dog will require far less water during their outing. A real perk for working dogs who might have limited down time between their duties!

Please note: It is still important to ensure your dog always has access to fresh, clean water. 

In the early days of the changeover one can expect their canines to have loose stools and flatulence even a mild vomit (bile) - this is not common but does sometimes happen. This is all expected and a regular part of the switch to raw should the dog have a more sensitive stomach (German Shepherds, Scottish Terriers, etc.)

Every dog is different and will adjust differently. Some may experience slight irregularities during the transition and others (most) will have absolutely no issues at all. No matter what category your dog falls into, we’re sure that he (and you!) will love the benefits of a raw diet.