New To Raw? Ready To Start?
Here's Your Guide To Safely Transition Your Pet
Method 1: Slow Transition For Adult Dogs
This method is best for those wanting to feed a fully DIY raw diet from home. Intended for healthy adult (over 12months) dogs only.
WEEK #1
WEEK #1
- Start with a bland white meat. I suggest & prefer turkey. Chicken (my least favorite, if you must use chicken try to get pastured) or domestic rabbit are other options.
- Feed only the meat and bone from this single protein for the full week.
- Or meat and a calcium substitute such as eggshell powder , calcium carbonate or human grade bone meal.
- Feed slightly higher of bone percentage, usually 15% is a good place to start. *Choosing appropriate size bone for your pet. ie: small dogs need feet, necks, wings, while a large dog can eat leg quarters, ribs and backs.
- If at the end of week 1 your dog has no digestive issues, no loose stool then move to week #2
WEEK #2
- Add a red meat protein ie: beef, goat, pork, lamb, alpaca ect..
- You will need to do this slowly, so day one you replace approx.15% of the initial protein with the new red meat, day 2 a little more & so on until at the end of the week the dog is eating and tolerating at least half the meal in red meat.
- If at the end of the week the stool is good you can then move to the next step.
WEEK #3
- Begin to add organ meats.
- Start small, adding only a small amount of daily organ portion at first.
- Work up to the full recommended amount of organ.
- Once your dogs full amount of recommended organ is being fed with no issue you can now move on.
WEEK #4 +
- At this point you have now successfully fed your dog white & red meat, bone and organ.
- You now need to make sure you are feeding a good variety, minimum of 3-4 proteins, the more variety the better.
- You need to make sure you are balancing your dogs meals, it can be each meal, each day, or over the week, just be sure you have a set plan and you know your dog is getting everything he needs.
- You need to be using a variety of cuts from the proteins you are using.
- You can now learn how to add extras to the diet, eggs, fish, supplemental foods to make sure your dog is getting all the nutrients it needs.
*** If at any point during transition your dog experiences stomach upset:
Try Slippery Elm. This is a safe & natural herbal remedy that will soothe the digestive tract.
Dose: 1/4 tsp Per 10lbs body weight
Our recommendation:
Try Slippery Elm. This is a safe & natural herbal remedy that will soothe the digestive tract.
Dose: 1/4 tsp Per 10lbs body weight
Our recommendation:
Method 2: Balanced Recipe Transition:
This method involves using a complete & balanced commercial raw food or a complete & balanced homemade recipe. Intended for adult dogs.
- Choose a raw complete & balanced pre-made raw food (something that states it complies with AAFCO to be complete) Or have a complete recipe.
- Begin by replacing about 20% - 25% of your dogs current food with the raw food. Do this for 3-5 days.
- Then move to 50% of the raw food with your dogs current food.
- Then 75% of the raw food with the current food.
- Finally move to all raw food and none of the previous food.
- Move at your dogs pace. If digestive upset is present slow the transition.