Have you recently decided to switch your doggo to a nutritional Raw Diet?
You may find that the transition has resulted in your dog being a little fussy. His normal offering of dry kibble or other processed food is what he is used to; so the smell and texture of this new meal may be a bit puzzling for him.
We have found that the majority of our customers aren’t troubled by the change and take to it straight away; whereas others may need a bit of encouragement.
A gradual transition over a period of up to 10 days could go a long way towards getting your friend to accept the healthy raw meals, and should also help to cause as little disruption to their digestive system as possible.
Here are a few tips to help you along the way:
On Day 1 start by fasting your pet to get them excited for their next meal. This also allows for their bodies to cleanse itself toxins.
On Day 2, start with replacing about 10% of their normal meal with a raw meal (the complete balanced meal range). Offer the raw in the morning and the kibble in the evening. Please do not mix the meals together in one bowl as they digest at different rates and could cause a sore tummy.
On Day 3 to 10, on each of these days increase your dog’s raw diet by 10% and decrease their old diet by 10%.
By Day 11 your dog should be completely on their raw diet
If your furry friend is still being a bit fussy then there are a few things that may help you along the way:
Some dogs don’t like the taste of their raw food in a stainless steel bowl, so we suggest replacing his feeding bowl with a ceramic one or a BPA free one
Feed the raw food at room temperature, do this by taking the raw food out the fridge about 30 minutes before feeding so it doesn’t have the fridge ”chill” on it
Add a little Milk Kefir or Bone Broth to the meal, this may encourage him to lick the food and result in him eating the raw food.
Don’t hover over your dog at meal time; place it down then walk away, giving him time to try the new food at his own pace. If you get stressed that he is not eating he will pick up on your feelings and will probably be less likely to eat.
Some reassurance:
Your friend will never let himself starve. He will eventually cave in and eat what is served.
Missing a meal or two will not do any harm; the occasional fast, as with us humans, will do him good. Although this should never be the case for puppies, they definitely need their regular meals.
Our doggos self-regulate and it is possible that they are just not hungry when their meal is served.
Keep in-between snacks to a minimum as well.
Once your friend is completely on his raw diet it is possible that he may appear to be a little hungry after he has eaten his dinner, this is likely because of the lower levels of carbs being consumed, and in particular if the switch has been made too quickly. This will pass; offering him a few pooch appropriate raw vegetables (like carrots, blueberries or pieces of apple) in between meal times could satisfy him.
The health benefits of a well-balanced Raw Diet are endless, so as challenging as the transition can sometimes be please try and persevere. Your smart friend may think he can train you and that you will cave into dishing up that old bowl of kibble; don’t, by sticking with it he will thank you in the long run.
If you would like any further tips on how to get your dog onto Raw please contact us.
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