There are a lot of different opinions on a raw dog food diet, but many people switch due to the limited nutritional value of processed dog food.
Follow this short feeding guide for raw dog food to keep you on track, and be sure to source high-quality raw food from reputable retailers such as Bella & Duke’s and their raw dog food range.
A raw food diet offers many nutritional benefits if applied correctly, but that isn’t always necessarily easy. There are a few different raw diets to consider that range in the types of meat and vegetables used. Read on to find out more.
Hesitant About The Switch Over?
Being sceptical about switching to a raw diet is completely normal; it is a valid concern. You will likely have trouble over the possibility of choking on bones or what foods are safe to eat. Change is scary, but the transition can be smooth sailing with the right preparation and research.
You have to overcome the fear of switching over. Otherwise, you will return to that processed diet you so dread. Take it from the experts, seek as much advice as possible, and follow extensive guides like this and you can benefit from all the nutritional benefits for your dog.
Remember, once upon a time; dogs naturally thrived off a raw food diet.
Start Slow
When introducing a raw food diet, you must implement it in increments, and applying it all at once can lead to them turning their noses up at it or digestion problems. Start by feeding your dog around half the recommended amount for what you give them. Then slowly, over time, start increasing that portion size daily.
An important thing to remember is that all dogs are different, and portion size varies from dog to dog, so don’t necessarily go for something immediately found online.
Understanding what you’re putting into your dog’s body is important and makes this diet so effective.
Start With Mixing
To gradually introduce your dog to raw food, you can start by mixing and matching your old commercial dog food with raw meat – but not together at the same time.
Start by introducing an easy-to-digest meat-like mince in the morning, followed by their usual commercial food later at night. There is a chance their digestive system won’t be able to handle both foods at once, so it’s best to separate them and give them time to adjust.
After a few days, you should be ready to start incorporating more foods and be ready to go 100% raw. Once you’re at this stage, you can start moving on to the next steps.
Adding New Foods
Now comes the exciting part, introducing new foods! Once your dog has become accustomed to whatever food you’ve initially introduced, it’s time to start incorporating protein sources. Going for a mix in the morning is recommended, using bits and pieces from multiple types of meat like chicken and beef.
Then, in the evening, go for a single piece of protein, for example, 100% beef. By introducing meats incrementally, you can discover what food your dog gets on well with – don’t be concerned if they don’t.
Just like us, dogs will have preferences for certain types of food!
Include Bones
Introducing bones is usually the most worrying part, but your dog should be ready to start enjoying the bones at this stage. A chicken carcass is a great starting point; instead of throwing it out when you have used most of the meat, you could get some use out of it. It is a strong mixture of nutritional benefits like meat, bone, and fat and doubles as a great natural tooth cleaner for dogs.
Raw meaty bones are great for teeth and gum health and also help provide nutritional help for cleansing your dog’s digestive tract. Never feed your dog cooked bones, as they are much more prone to splinting and causing injury or digestion problems.
A good way to check if they are dealing with the bones well is a not-so-pleasant look after they have done the toilet. If there are still pieces of bone in their poo, they aren’t ready yet. Just go back to the meat options and introduce it again at a later date.
You’ve Completed the Raw Dog Food Diet!
By now, your dog should be well accustomed to the raw dog food diet and be ready to take on other types of food. After a longer period of time, you can start making use of stronger bones like lamb ribs which tend to take a stronger digestive system to break down.
Always remember to take your time with new foods, implement them slowly, and do your research. It is better to be safe than sorry.
In Summary
That’s all there is to it when implementing a raw dog food diet. Of course, there are other strategies and techniques out there, but this covers the base of it.
Always consult with your veterinarian and a pet nutritionist before making drastic changes to your dog’s diet, as they will look to provide you with the best possible advice.