Are you thinking of starting a raw diet for your puppy? 

Mushy stools, gas and digestion problems are some of the problems that you can expect in the first week or so of this diet. But how can you prevent these problems?

The following tips will help your puppy make the transition to a raw food diet.

1. Slowly Add Raw Food to Your Puppy’s Diet

Do not go from a complete kibble diet to a 100% raw diet in a day. That can cause diarrhea since your puppy’s digestive system is not yet adjusted to all the fibre in raw food. To help your puppy adjust to a raw food diet, start with small changes and build up over a period of time. This will help to minimise gas and bloating while your puppy adjusts to the diet.

2. Add Probiotics and Prebiotics to Food

Probiotics and prebiotics are essential for any diet, including a raw diet. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that help support the immune system and assist with efficient digestion. Choose a probiotic supplement that can be added to the raw food. Adding these supplements to the food will also make it easier for your puppy to digest raw food.

Prebiotics are fibres that feed the healthy bacteria in your puppy’s gut. You can find prebiotics in supplement form or by adding them to raw food. For example, adding ground flaxseed to the food or using rice bran as a base for the raw food will work.

3. Feed With Care

If you have a breed of dog that is known to have chewing problems, such as a pit bull, it is not a good idea to feed raw bones, at least not without supervision. If your puppy chews off a small piece of rawhide, for example, take him to the vet for x-rays to ensure that the piece will pass. You do not want to cause intestinal or stomach blockage.

4. Watch Your Puppy While Eating

Be sure that you watch your puppy while he eats. Raw food is not the best for dogs that are not used to it. Your puppy may gulp down the food without chewing it or nibble slowly because he is not used to raw food. This can cause an upset tummy.

5. Watch Out For Digestive Problems

While some puppies adjust to raw diets easily, others will have some problems initially. These can include vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, or because their stomachs are not used to the higher fibre content of raw food. Make sure to adjust the diet, so your puppy gets the right amount of fibre.

6. Avoid Improper Raw Food Diets

Do not feed your puppy meat from an animal that is not fit for human consumption. If you are setting up a raw diet, choose meats that are well-trimmed and from healthy animals. Do not use meats from diseased animals or meats from animals that are known to have high levels of salmonella, such as raw chicken.

7. Give Plenty of Water

Since your puppy will be eating more fibre than he is used to, be sure that he drinks plenty of water. Monitor water intake to make sure that your puppy is drinking enough. The water will flush his system and help him to digest the fibre.

Conclusion

Puppy owners who want to start a raw food diet for their puppies should follow these steps. It will help reduce the number of tummy issues your puppy may have during the transition period. Make sure that you choose high-quality raw food and add probiotics and prebiotics to the diet to help your puppy digest the food properly.

Frankie Loves Barkery provides raw dog food in Perth that can help make a transition to a raw diet easier. We use premium ingredients and make the food fresh, healthy and safe. Let us help you give your puppy the best start in life. Browse through our products today!