Transitioning your dog to a raw feeding diet can be a beneficial choice for their overall health and well-being. Raw feeding, also known as a raw diet or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), involves feeding your dog uncooked, natural ingredients such as raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables. This blog post will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to successfully transition your dog to a raw feeding diet.
Why Consider a Raw Feeding Diet?
Raw feeding offers several potential benefits for your dog. It can improve their digestion, promote healthier skin and coat, increase energy levels, and support a stronger immune system. Additionally, many dog owners report that their dogs experience fewer allergies and intolerances when on a raw diet.
Step 1: Research
Before making any changes to your dog's diet, it's crucial to do thorough research and consult with someone who is knowledgeable about raw feeding. They can provide guidance specific to your dog's breed, age, and health condition.
Step 2: Gradual Transition
Start by introducing small amounts of raw food into your dog's current diet. Begin with a ratio of 75% current food and 25% raw food. Gradually increase the proportion of raw food over a period of 7-10 days until your dog is fully transitioned to a raw feeding diet. Don't feed raw food and kibble together as they are digested at different rates and can sometimes cause stomach upset. E.g, feed their morning meal as kibble and evening meal as raw/vice versa. Starting off with plain tripe over this period can be beneficial to gut health.
Step 3: Variety is Key
Offer a variety of proteins such as chicken, beef, lamb, and fish to ensure your dog receives a balanced diet. There are many different options to choose from when it comes to proteins, including standard proteins (chicken, beef, lamb) exotic proteins (wild boar, horse, ostrich) and game (rabbit, pheasant, guinea fowl) along with different fish choices too. Include organ meats like liver and kidney, as well as raw meaty bones, which provide essential nutrients and help maintain dental health. If you don't want to DIY your dogs raw meals you can easily buy complete mixes that have muscle meat, bone and offal already included in the correct ratios, this is the most popular choice for raw feeders. DIY would not be recommended whilst you are first starting out on your raw feeding journey, until you get the hang of things and understand the ratios needed! You can find more information on our feeding guide blog post.
Include eggs 2-3 x per week (raw or cooked, ideally with the shell included) and make sure they are getting some oily fish such as sprats or a complete oily fish mix
Step 4: Monitor Your Dog's Health
Observe your dog closely during the transition period and beyond. Look for any signs of digestive upset, such as diarrhea or vomiting. If you notice any issues, consult with your veterinarian to make necessary adjustments to the diet. Sometimes whilst transitioning, you may find your dog "hunger pukes" more often. This is because their body is getting used to not having kibble and other slower digesting foods sat in their tummy. The "hunger pukes" (typically yellow, foamy bile) usually happen over night. To try and combat this, try giving a small amount of food, some meaty chunks or a few sprats, etc, just before bedtime.
Step 5: Proper Food Handling and Hygiene
Raw food can carry bacteria, so it's essential to handle it safely. Keep raw food separate from cooked food, wash your hands thoroughly after handling, and clean all utensils and surfaces that come into contact with raw food. Just as you would if preparing raw meat for yourself!
Step 6: Supplement if Necessary
While a raw feeding diet can provide most of the necessary nutrients, some dogs may require additional supplementation, such as omega-3 fatty acids or joint support, based on your dog's individual needs. There are many different supplements online.
Step 7: Regular Monitoring and Adjustments
Once your dog has transitioned to a raw feeding diet, it's important to monitor their weight, energy levels, and overall health. Keep an eye on their body condition.
Transitioning your dog to a raw feeding diet requires careful planning and research. By following this comprehensive guide, you can provide your dog with a nutritionally balanced and biologically appropriate diet that can contribute to their overall health and well-being.
