Transitioning your pet to a raw diet
So you’re ready to give your dog a biologically-appropriate diet of raw, fresh food - congratulations! Transitioning from dry dog food to raw is not a scary process. Here is a guide to get you and your pet started.
Handling raw ingredients
I was hung up on handling raw meat twice a day before starting the process with my dogs. How can my kitchen possibly stay clean and sanitary? Here are ways I coped:
Have a dedicated, lower part of the fridge for your raw food
Thaw or store your food on a baking tray to keep any spillage from spreading
Have a dedicated knife and cutting board for preparing raw meals
Have dedicated storage containers for raw pet food (like these meal prep ones from Amazon)
Clean and sanitize any surface that comes in contact with the food right away (their bowls, the counter, sometimes a part of the floor, etc.)
As you can see, dedicated spaces and utensils are key to my peace of mind!
Slowly add in raw
Just like transitioning to a new dry food, add in raw ingredients little by little to your pet’s existing food to allow them to gradually adjust. The transition can happen over five to seven days until their bowl is 100% raw! Make sure to calculate the correct amount of food for your dog using our easy calculator tool. Then use a food scale to measure it out. The portion size may look less than their kibble meals, but with how nutritionally dense raw is, we promise it’s enough.
Important Note: Puppies need A LOT of food because they’re growing so rapidly. Make sure to keep increasing their intake over the first 12 months of life to keep up. They also need more calcium (bone content) than most pre-made brands consist of. Do your research and add in raw meaty bones and other ingredients as needed. Here is a great guide from Perfectly Rawsome on some of the finer details for properly feeding puppies raw.
Don’t add too many extras to start
The glorious part of raw feeding is discovering all of the healthy human food you can throw in your dog’s bowl (blueberries, yogurt, veggies, eggs, plain pumpkin and more!). To not overwhelm their systems, start with your basic pre-made, balanced raw mix or your DIY raw with the necessities. Additions are then easier once you figure out how they respond to the main course and if that needs adjustments first (different protein, more/less bone, more/less organ). If you’re planning to DIY, I highly recommend checking out Keep the Tail Wagging’s blog for tips and best practices.
Whole raw meaty bones
Another fear I had when starting the raw process was feeding raw meaty bones. Before I dig in, never, ever, ever feed cooked bones. They can splinter and seriously harm your dog. Raw bones on the other hand, are vital to a healthy, raw-fed dog. Think of them as nature’s toothbrush, keeping your dog’s teeth in tip-top shape. They also provide calcium! So, how do you introduce them to your pup?
Your dog’s instincts kick in pretty easily. Trust that they know what to do! Also feed the correct-sized bone for your dog’s size. For smaller breeds, try chicken and duck feet. Medium and large breeds, try turkey and duck necks. Always monitor them while eating bones, but know that most dogs will eat them with ease. Even our fast eater, Penny, will take the time to fully chew her bones.
The gross stuff
As with any food transition, your pet’s digestion will go through some adjustments. They may experience loose stools. This is normal. Keep tabs on their poop during the transition. If it doesn’t improve in the first couple of weeks, you may need to try a different protein. When starting to feed raw, keep it to one protein at a time for a while to monitor how their stomach reacts. The good news is that your dog will have significantly smaller poops because they will no longer be filled with random corn, wheat, soy, or starches.
If your dog vomits with the new food, pay attention to how fast they eat or what they do right before or after eating. If they vomit after eating at a good pace and not running around like crazy before and after, check with your holistic vet (one that has experience and supports raw-fed pets). Again, it might be the type of protein or an ingredient in the specific pre-made you’re trying.
Every dog owner will deal with loose stool or constipation at some point, and the BEST cure I’ve found is Olewo Dehydrated Carrots. They are a miracle and get your pup feeling better fast!
Picky eaters
We are lucky that both of our dogs are not very picky eaters. Many dogs can be picky for various reasons, though. Here are some tips on acclimating them to raw easier:
Find the protein they love: Albright’s comes in four different proteins (pork, turkey, chicken, and beef). I find dogs to love anything with beef, so that might be a good starter protein. From there, mix it up as much as you’d like. We often feed one protein in the morning and a different one at night.
Thaw it to the right temperature: Let the mixes thaw for a good 12-24 hours in the fridge before feeding. If it’s too frozen, some dogs may not love it. Please DON’T cook it, though. Raw mixes are made to be fed raw and many of the nutritional benefits are ruined by cooking them.
Mix in something: To get your dog intrigued, you could mix in something like kefir, plain greek yogurt, or even a little peanut butter. Make sure it’s plenty mixed so they have to eat the full meal!
Be more stubborn than them: My personal opinion is to sometimes wait them out. Dogs won’t starve themselves, and if you’ve tried different proteins, temperatures, and yummy additions, keep offering the food at their normal times until they eat!
Try a different brand: My dogs have adjusted well and love Albright’s, but I will never recommend it if it’s truly something that doesn’t agree with your dog over time. Different raw mixes are available that have slightly different variations that may work better for your dog.
We are here to help!
We never claim to be experts and have a resource page full of them, but as raw feeders ourselves, we are happy to answer your questions. Fill out our contact us form or send us an email at betterpawsraw@gmail.com.
