Written by Ashleigh, Natural Animal Nutritionist
If you are transitioning your dog from a commercial dry or wet food to a raw diet, the transition needs to be done fairly slowly. Raw food contains a different pH level than what would already be present in the gut, if your dog has been on a commercial food diet. The gut will need an adjustment period to get used to this new change. Some dogs will transition faster than others and some slower, so we recommend you take each day as it comes. If your pet has been on a commercial diet, it has most probably been containing a high amount of carbohydrates, which gives the gut a very different pH level.
If at any point you think your dog has an upset tummy, go back to the previous step. Majority of dogs transition so smoothly, however some can take months. That’s why I always like to feed the dog in front of me as this is not text book. If you’re feeling that you need to go slower then please do. There is no rush. Your dog’s poop will be a great indicator on how they are doing. If your dog generally has a sensitive tummy, then I would suggest a slower transition just doing each step for a few days longer than suggested.
THINGS YOU MAY NOTICE
Once you’ve transitioned fully, you may notice your dog is drinking a little less than usual. This is simply because they are obtaining moisture from their food which is a big change from dry food, if they were on a purely dried food diet before hand. However, try to keep an eye out that they haven’t completely stopped drinking, and if it seems like they are not drinking sufficiently you can add some water to their food. One of the best things about a fully raw fed dog is their poop! You will notice your dog poops less! This is because their body is working properly now and they are utilising the nutrients and the food is so nutritious there isn’t as much waste! The odour of the poop will reduce as well, along with the size.
Frankie Loves