Raw Dog Food: What You Should Expect When You Make the Change

Stool - Changes to Expect

When you change your dog to a raw, fresh food diet, right away you will see a very big difference in your dog's stool with regard to its odor and to its size. Dogs that are fed a fresh food or raw dog food diet will have stools that are firmer and smaller, as more nutrition from the food is being absorbed in their bodies.

It is important to note that because the stools will be harder, some dogs will appear to strain. A lot of people don't realize that this is a beneficial size effect, as straining will help the dog to naturally express its anal glands, which in turn reduces risk of infection.

At times you will occasionally see some consistency variations in the stool. This is to be expected with any food change, however if your dog has diarrhea and not just soft stools for a long period of time, you should speak with your vet.

During the transition between kibble and raw food you might also see a sort of film formed around the stool. This is normal as well and is an outward sign that your dog's body is removing all the harmful toxins, a sign of the detoxification process.

Detoxification - What it Means

Many dogs, particularly older dogs that have been on the kibble diet for many years, will go through what is known as a "detoxification process" when they first start eating a fresh food or raw food diet.

It may seem a little scary at first because the dog's stool may have a mucus-like coating on it and your dog may experience symptoms such as runny eyes, dry skin or excess shedding. It is important to know that these symptoms are not signs of an illness, in fact, they are actually signs that your dog is getting "unsick" of all the toxins that have been building up in his body over the years.

In about a week or two - but sometimes as long as a couple of months - the symptoms and the situation will resolve itself as your dog's body replaces old toxin-laden cells with new cells throughout this process. In some cases you will be able to help your dog work through this period at a faster pace by offering plenty of filtered, fresh water and increasing his daily exercise.

It is also important to know that if your dog has been on any long-term prescriptions or has been taking antibiotics or steroids, the detoxification process will take longer. If you believe that your dog is showing signs of any severe or extremely prolonged problems that are connected to his change in diet, speak with your vet right away.

Health Issues - Tips

If your dog suffers from digestive disorders or a sensitive stomach, there are supplements that can be added to the diet before and during the change in diet. In most cases these supplements are given for 4-6 weeks during the beginning of the process.

Supplements that contain digestive enzymes will help your dog to digest foods easier and absorb nutrients faster. This is an important part of the process when you change from kibble to a raw, fresh diet as your dog's system will need some time to adjust to the enzymes that are required in order to digest the new raw foods.

Adding probiotics to your dog's diet - which are known as "good" bacteria - will help to neutralize the "bad bacteria" and balance your dog's system, promoting a healthier digestive tract and better overall digestion.

Prebiotics are supplements that provide food to help the "good bacteria" from the probiotics to thrive. Just a small dose each day will help those resident "good" bacteria have the energy needed to help your body.

An excellent source of probiotics for your dog, if he is able to tolerate dairy products without problem, include all-natural yogurt or kefir products. Many dogs that have problems tolerating cow dairy products will be able to tolerate goat dairy products much easier, which also offer a wider spectrum of good bacteria.

If your pet is prone to vomiting immediately after a meal or experiences various digestive upsets should be stopped from gulping their food down too quickly. One way to slow down their eating habits is to put a clean rock or other similar object in the middle of their food dish so they have to eat around it.

If your pet has symptoms such as constipation, runny/loose stools or is vomiting even at times when he hasn't just eaten food, you can help the transition process along by adding some canned or cooked pumpkin to their food. All you need is just 1-2 Tablespoons per cup of fresh food for each meal. Pumpkin is one of those miracle foods that can help with constipation and loose stools by regulating your dog's system.

Raw Dog Food: Transitioning Your Dog From Dry Food

Raw Food and Your Dog

Dog lovers know that no two dogs are the same, and because of this, there isn't a single answer when it comes to weaning your dog off of dry kibble and into a natural diet of raw dog food. You can still employ some basic techniques which can get you moving in the right direction, though.

1. Stay positive. Your pets can be extremely perceptive, and they'll know if you have any doubts about this transition to a raw food diet. If you are confident, your pets will feel more certain about this alteration of their usual diet.

2. If you have an older dog who has been eating the same food for a long time, it will take more time to establish this raw diet.

3. It's important to employ variety when introducing a meat-based, raw diet to your dog, but it's usually best to use only one kind of meat to begin your transitioning with - usually the type of meat which is already in your dog's kibble. By doing this, your dog's digestion will be made simpler.

4. Don't feed your dog prior to beginning this change. If your dog is hungry, it will be far more interested in what's in their bowl, and it will also provide some down time for their digestive system.

5. As this transition is happening, don't give your dog too many treats. This will prime your dog's appetite for its new food.

6. Give your dog lots of clean, filtered water to drink.

Raw Diets for Puppies

A puppy will usually be able to make this dietary transition in just a couple of days, as their digestive systems are able to process new foods with greater ease than older dogs might. To begin, switch out a quarter of your dog's food with Darwin's. As time goes on, increase the amount of Darwin's and decrease the amount of kibble, until all that's left is the new, raw diet.

Healthy, Young Dogs & the Raw Diet

Younger dogs will have a simpler, more rapid transition when compared to older dogs, or dogs who might be unhealthy. Transitioning within a week is generally possible, providing that your dog doesn't show symptoms of being sick, such as vomiting, constipation or loose stools. By making this transition slowly, your dog's digestive tract will have more flexibility to adjust to new foods.

1. Start out by switching out 1/8th of your dogs usual meal with raw food.

2. Once your dog has eaten three times, try switching out 1/4 of your dog's food.

3. Repeat this again after three meals, introducing a mixture which is half kibble and half raw food.

4. Finally, after three more meals, give your dog a completely raw meal. Ideally, your dog will not show any signs of distress. If your dog seems okay, you've successfully made the switch!

Old Dogs & Choosy Eaters

Dogs who have old habits might not accept the texture or scent of a raw diet. This is not uncommon, especially with smaller breeds of dogs. There are a few simple steps that you can take.

1. During the change, don't allow your dog to have treats.

2. Don't feed your dog prior to switching their food.

3. Raw meals can be lightly cooked in order to activate their flavors and smells. Be sure to only cook these slightly. A quick poach on the stove or a pass through your toaster oven should do the trick.

4. Present this meal in a way which will make your dog comfortable, such as a secluded spot in your home or kitchen.

5. By adding extra flavor to their meals, like egg yolks, cheese or garlic powder, most dogs will give in and try out their new food without much trouble!

The Nutritional Differences Between Domesticated Animals and Prey Animals in Raw Diet Plans

There is a world of difference between the wild animals that the relatives of our domesticated dogs and cats ate and the animals raised for food today for a raw food diet plan. Animals raised for food typically have more fat and less amounts of protein, antioxidants, and minerals.

How does all of this affect your pet?

If you want to feed your pet a diet similar to what they would have eaten in the wild, food that comes from animals raised for food, even minimally processed ones, will not contain the appropriate amounts of antioxidants, minerals, and protein and will also have too much fat. In order to correct these imbalances, it is crucial to supplement the diet with additional vitamins and to serve the less fatty part of the animal.

The more fat an animal has, the less protein it will contain.

If you study nature, you will probably never see an overweight prey animal. In today's world, however, animals that are raised for food are deliberately raised to be fat and are feed with the cheapest of grains. This is done purposely because the seller knows that he can get more money for an animal that weighs more. Those fortunate animals who are allowed a free range or a pastured existence are still fatter than animals who live in the wild. The calories that come from an animal raised for food are mainly derived from fat and not from protein.

There are also varying levels of fats found in these animals.

An animal found in the wild will have different amounts of fats such as polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated in its system as opposed to the same animal who has been domesticated. Because animals raised for food are less active and have a radically different diet from their wild counterparts, this leads to the differences in the fat levels. Saturated fat levels are higher in the meat of ruminant animals such as cows, lambs, or deer while their levels of polyunsaturated fats are low.

These meats also have a lower level of antioxidants and minerals.

Animals raised for food have less minerals in their meat than animals of the same type found in the wild. The cause of this is that animals bred for food are given a diet lacking the minerals found in the diet of prey animals. Even the meat of free range animals is shown to contain less minerals than that of its wild counterpart because they are typically fed a diet high in fat. Because animals that are raised for food are not fed diets with enough antioxidants, their meat is lacking in this area as well as these animals can not choose to eat what they want. Animals in the wild, however, do tend to naturally gravitate to those foods that have high levels of antioxidants as research has shown.

How Darwin's adjusted meals to account for these deficiencies.

One company, called Darwin's Natural Pet Food, made calculations in the diet in order to compensate for the deficiencies found in the meat of animals raised for food whether premium free range or average quality meats in comparison with the animals found in the wild. Every meal is supplemented to make up for the deficiencies by including additional vitamins and minerals such as Omega-3 and Omega 6 by doing such things as adding hemp seed oil to cow feed or flax seed oil to poultry feed.

Jamie is a pet health expert who strongly believes that the raw dog food diet is the healthiest and most responsible decision a pet owner can make for their pet. Learn more about transitioning your dog to raw dog food.

Getting an Older Dog to Start Eating Right

My fifteen-year old shepherd/rottweiler mix has begun exhibiting telltale signs of old age. Even though she was a very enthusiastic eater who lived on a raw food diet for over ten years, since then, her appetite has decreased significantly. This has made it harder to maintain her normal routine as far as taking her medications go, which is set aside from the nutritional aspect of her daily life.

I have learned some very invaluable lessons along the way:

Keeping Your Dog Fed:

#1. There is a fluctuating variance in my dog's appetite throughout the day, and the morning hours are when she avoids food. I don't allow myself to get all worked up over it if she won't eat her food in the mornings. Sheba is usually pretty hungry at dinner time on days like those.

#2. Avoid incorporating medication into your dog's food. Today, I make it a point to give my dog her medication and food separately instead of mixing them together like I used to. My dog's holistic medicine has been far more effective in the upkeep of her health, and the food's flavor isn't so bad, either. The last thing I'd want to do is ruin the way her food tastes or make her less interested in it since I am already worried about her appetite.

#3. Every now and then, you should refrain from the typical diet. There are instances in which my dog is more interested in having a "lighter" food regime instead of her normal raw meat diet; some of the foods I feed her on these occasions include chicken broth, brown rice or cottage cheese.

Medicine:

#1. I have been hiding my dog's medication in her cream cheese so that she is willing to eat it. My dog never realizes that she is swallowing a pill since it goes down the throat so smoothly. Peanut butter is another food I have used in a similar way.

#2. The bitter herbal powders are more difficult to administer, however. Mixing them into chicken broth and baking them into biscuits is not always a success. There are instances in which I have tried incorporating them into capsules, but there is a high amount required that would be impossible to fulfill.

#3. It was my veterinarian's professional recommendation that I take a turkey baster, dilute my herbs with water and then squeeze the mixture down my dog's throat. It sounds like it would be a difficult task to carry out since Sheba would probably fight back, but it might be necessary.

If anyone else who has experience with their own dog is able to provide a method that genuinely works, I would love to hear it. What are the techniques you utilize in order to get your dog to take his medicine and eat properly?

Jamie is a pet health expert who strongly believes that the raw dog food diet is the healthiest and most responsible decision a pet owner can make for their pet.