Transitioning to Raw Food

A question we often get asked at Nature Dog is “how do I switch my dog to a raw food diet?”

Some dogs will have no trouble transitioning as they may be the type of dog that eats anything, and it is easy to simply change their diet overnight. Other dogs can be more selective and therefore it may take a bit more persistence on your part to shift their palettes.

For those that may not take to the raw food straight away, you need to use their hunger as the incentive to change. When your dog is truly hungry, it is most likely to eat whatever you put in front of them, and the way to ensure they are hungry is to fast them for a day (or two days for some dogs)

The important thing to note here is fasting is not starving your dog. In fact, fasting your dog one day week can have health benefits, so fasting to switch to raw is a great method for those fussier eaters.

The following are some handy hints as to what to do when fasting your dog to change from a diet of commercial food to a raw food diet, courtesy of Ian Billinghurst (Give Your Dog A Bone 1993):

Firstly, check with your vet that there is no underlying condition that could be affected by fasting
Stop feeding your dog for 24-48 hours. Don’t worry, they will still love you!
After this time introduce the raw food in a small amount first, then gradually build up to its ideal portion size. Make use of our raw dog food calculator here.
Remember if they are truly hungry, they will eat almost anything
Only fast an adult dog

Another way to change a dog’s eating habit is to gradually change the food over. Remember that the food you have been feeding will likely have had flavour enhancers and salt added, to which your dog will have become addicted. The purpose of changing over gradually is to trick your dog into believing nothing has changed.

Find a protein you know dog likes or you think they might like. We suggest starting with a single protein. Click here for our range of single proteins.

Ensure your dog is hungry
Add a very small amount i.e. half a teaspoon to the food your dog would normally eat. You need to mix it in really well, so they do not detect it
Very gradually start to increase the amount of raw food to the old food very gradually
Persist. Don't give into those puppy dog eyes too quickly!

If your dog is older and has been on cooked food diet all its life, then start with partly raw and partly cooked food. The aim is to gradually get your dog used to the healthier, raw option. Abrupt changes in an old dog’s diet can mean total rejection or when eaten, diarrhea. Gradually reduce the amount of cooking until the food is being consumed in its raw state.

Remember persistence will pay off in the end. Achieving the switch will mean a happier and healthier dog.