Switching to Whole Foods for Your Canine Companion

Switching to a real whole food diet can be done in two different ways - gradual transition (our personal preference) or a cold-turkey switch. Some dogs take effortlessly to raw while others need more time to adjust.

Gradual Transition

Some dogs and puppies particularly those with a sensitive stomach or which are older in age will benefit from a slower, gradual transition from kibble to a raw diet. Don't be fooled by the myth that dogs should not eat raw food and kibble together. Dogs are scavenging carnivores meaning that they are capable of eating multiple food types together. 

A slow transition from a processed high carbohydrate diet will help a dog's digestive system to adjust to the new diet smoothly. It will allow for the gastric acidity levels in your dog's stomach to drop down to the natural (preferred) PH levels from ankaline levels (high PH) caused by processed food (dry food/kibble, canned food).

The below is a standard guideline on how to transition slowly. However, it is important that you follow your own dog's pace through monitoring their stools. If stools are firm and solid, you can increase the amount of raw you are feeding. If not, it would be best to not increase until stool firmness is experienced.

  • Day 1 and 2: Feed 25% raw and 75% current food.
  • Day 3 and 4: Feed 50%raw and 50% current food.
  • Day 5 and 6: Feed 75%raw and 25% current food.
  • Day 7: 100% raw

 

Cold-Turkey Switch

The majority of dogs and puppies do well with a “cold-turkey” switch to a truly raw diet. When taking the cold-turkey switch approach for adult dogs, a one day fast is recommended. 

 

Which mix should you start with?

A bland diet of lean white raw meats is encouraged when beginning the raw feeding transition before moving to richer red meat blends. Bland meals are easier to digest and allow the dog to adjust to digesting raw foods. Hence we recommend starting with our chicken, turkey or rabbit meals. 

what to expect when you make the change

Imagine consuming only processed cereal all your life for every meal. If all of a sudden you eat a plate of fruits and vegetables, no matter how healthy this meal is, the change will still be a shock to your system since it isn't use to it. Likewise, when a dog transitions from kibble to a raw or a whole food diet, it may sometimes take some time for the body to adjust. The bacteria in kibble is different from that in a raw or whole foods and hence the microbiome may experience some short term symptoms when shifting out a carbohydrate highly processed diet to a low-carb healthier one.

 

Digestive changes – unusual stools/gas

Changes in stools will be experienced  when your dog shifts to a raw diet. A raw diet is easier digested than kibble and hence your dog's body will better absorb nutrients in their natural unprocessed form. This will lead to fewer, smaller, odorless and firmer stools.

It may however be possible for loose stools or diarrhea to occur during the early days of transition from kibble to a raw diet. This should not last longer than a few days. In such case, it is recommended to transition to a raw diet at a slower pace. Loose stools can also be resolved by adding to your dogs diet probiotics, prebiotics, or slippery elm. 

 

Drinking less water

When you switch to a raw diet, you will notice that your dog is drinking less water. Processed kibble is dry and dehydrated which required dogs to drink more water. Through a raw diet, dogs are able to get more of their water intake through their meals resulting in less drinking.

 

An excited appetite

A real food diet is often much more appealing to our furry friends than kibble. Therefore, you may notice that your dog is more enthusiastic about meals and is eating food faster, often wanting more. Whilst you may notice that your pet is more interested in meals, it is important not to overfeed - stick to the appropriate portion size for your companion to ensure ideal body weight. If you are experiencing issues with appetite please refer to our Picky Eaters page.