Seeing your dog suffer from diarrhoea can be a stressful and harrowing experience. While a number of factors can cause this, one such reason is changing your dog’s diet. You’ve probably heard of some dog owners switching their pet’s diet to a raw one. This particular switch can provide huge benefits for the health of your canine partner, but sometimes things just go bad before they get better. This is especially true if you don’t give your dog’s gut enough time to adjust, resulting in a messy diarrhoea episode.

If you’re thinking of making the switch to a raw diet or are already in the process of it, here’s a quick guide to avoid diarrhoea and make your pet’s transition more bearable.

Raw Food Diarrhoea: What You Should Know

The word diarrhoea is a term that describes the flow of loose and liquid stool through the rectum and out the anus. The process is entirely normal, but if it persists and is accompanied by other symptoms, things are likely to get complicated.

The most common reason why a dog will experience diarrhoea after a switch in the diet is the digestive system’s inability to produce enough protective enzymes to digest the new food properly. This is a normal occurrence in the body as it tries to cope with the new challenges. It’s nothing to worry about and is, in fact, a sign that your dog’s gut is working fine.

If the diarrhoea episode is short-lived, things will probably get better for the better. However, if the episode lasts for more than a day, you should be concerned. Take note that diarrhoea episodes that last for more than three days can be considered severe and should be treated by a veterinarian.

How to Transition Safely to a Raw Diet

The process of transitioning to a raw diet doesn’t have to be a stressful one. It’s possible to do it painlessly and avoid diarrhoea that might otherwise occur. Here’s what you can do to make the process easier.

1. Stick with the Recommended Amount of Protein

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your dog is getting the right amount of protein per day. If your dog’s body is getting enough protein, it will provide the necessary energy to keep the digestive process going without causing any problems. However, if it’s not getting enough protein, your dog’s digestive system will likely not be able to cope with the task at hand.

2. Consider a Slow Switch

The next step is to come up with a plan so that your dog has enough time to adjust to the new diet. You can start with a couple of tablespoons of raw food and then slowly increase the amount each day.

3. Offer More Raw Food as a Treat

As your dog gets used to the taste, you can give him more of the raw food as a special treat. For example, you can include a small amount of raw food in your dog’s meal rather than feeding solely kibble.

4. Make Sure Your Dog Consumes a Balanced Diet

It’s important that you keep a close eye on your dog’s diet, as he’ll need to get the right amount of vitamins and nutrients to transition to a raw diet. If you notice that your dog’s diet isn’t balanced, you can try some of the other supplements and additives that are available to help your furry friend.

5. Choose a Quality Raw Food

When you finally decide to make the switch to raw dog food, you’ll want to make sure that you’re buying a high-quality ingredient. The higher the quality of the food, the greater the chance that your dog will succeed in transitioning to a raw diet.

Conclusion

In a few weeks, your dog will be enjoying the benefits of a raw diet. It’s essential that you give your canine partner enough time in which to adjust to the new food. It’s best not to rush this process and just let your dog go through the motions and make them as comfortable as possible with these tips.

Giving your pet the care and nutrition they deserve are important, which is why our team at Frankie Loves Barkery believes in giving them quality raw food. We have partnered with Perth’s top pet nutritionists to create a super-healthy selection of raw dog food. Order now and get some of the best Raw Dog Food in Perth from our website today!