There are a number of reasons why dog owners may switch to a raw dog food diet – allergies, itchiness, upset tummies and ear problems to name a few! If you want to introduce raw food to your dog, here’s how to go about it.
- Go cold turkey! Feed them their usual kibble or tinned food in the evening, then switch to raw dog food the following morning.
- Gently does it. When first transitioning to a raw food diet, it’s best to start with something gentle for the first few days, for example, chicken.
- But, don’t start slow! We don’t recommend a phased approach when introducing raw dog food. Lots of people ask if it’s better to ease dogs in by mixing it with dry food. There is no benefit to mixing, you would simply be diluting the benefits of the raw dog food.
- Keep going when the going gets tough. If you have a stubborn dog try not to give in and offer them their old food. Providing they are healthy, keep offering the new raw food. Even the most stubborn dog won’t go hungry! For dogs who resist, try crumbling up their favourite treats on top to get the taste buds going.
- Fridge or freezer? Raw dog food should be stored in the freezer. Take it out of the freezer and pop it into the fridge to defrost the day before. If you’re short on time, you can set the tub in tepid water to speed up the process. Any not used should be kept in the fridge and used within three days.
One of the most common questions is how much raw dog food should you feed your dog. You’re meant to feed 2-3 percent of your dog’s weight daily – we suggest splitting this across two meals. You know your dog best, so feed them within that range based on their activity levels and metabolism. For example, if your dog is 10kg it would eat 200-300g of raw dog food, this works out as 100-150g per meal.