We’ll start with setting up mealtimes, and walk you through how to introduce your canine companion to raw with three different raw dog food switching methods to choose from, so you can switch your dog to raw dog food without a hitch.
How you feed your dog is as important as what you feed your dog. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
How to prepare your raw dog food
Your dog’s food will arrive frozen and should be stored in your freezer to ensure freshness.
Our food should be defrosted before you feed your dog. To do this, take the tubs you need for your dog’s next meal and defrost them on the bottom shelf of your fridge for around 24 hours.
If you need to defrost less than a tub at a time, start defrosting it in the fridge until it is just soft enough to cut, portioning it while still partially frozen before refreezing the rest – remember that it will keep in the fridge for four days, once defrosted.
If you’ve forgotten to defrost a meal, you can place an unopened tub of your dog’s food into a bowl of cool water, which will defrost it in around an hour.
If it is still cold, you can mash in a little hot water or bone broth when serving.
You should never defrost in the microwave, as the bone content will become difficult to digest, which may create a blockage risk.
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Get Your Personalised PlanWhen can I introduce raw dog food to my dog?
It’s never too early, or too late, to introduce raw dog food to your dog – dogs of any age, puppies, adults and seniors, can switch to raw dog food. We’ve got lots more information about raw feeding in our beginners guide.
If you have a dog with a diagnosed health condition, such as diabetes, pancreatitis or kidney disease among others, it’s best to seek veterinary advice before making the switch. Speak to your own vet, and you can also contact us to request a call from our vet team, who will help you to select an appropriate diet from our range and put together a plan for switching your dog safely.
Once you’ve decided to switch to raw food, you might want to feed a final evening meal of whatever you’re currently feeding and then start the switching process the following morning – new day, new diet!
How can I make the switch to raw dog food?
There are several methods that can be used to switch to raw dog food – and there’s no one right, or wrong way to do it. We’ll take you through the three most popular and successful methods. Switching to raw doesn’t need to be complicated and keeping it simple is the best way to ensure success.
The straight swap
This is the simplest method to switch your dog over to raw dog food and 99% of dogs switch seamlessly to Bella+Duke, so we suggest keeping things simple with a straight swap.
Serve up a last meal of your dog’s previous food in the evening, and start with the new diet the following day. Check how much raw food to feed your dog here.
The gradual transition
Some dogs will cope better with the change to raw when it’s introduced gradually, for example those who are wary of change and need some encouragement to try new things, and those prone to a bit of a sensitive tummy.
If you want to make the change more slowly, you can use a phased approach, working your way up from ¼ raw to an all-raw meal over four days. Feel free to go at your dog’s pace with this, some dogs may complete the transition sooner and others might need a bit longer.
If your dog is particularly apprehensive about their new food or is an anxious dog in general, then a gradual transition may be more suited for them. It will give them the time to get used to the new flavours and textures while still eating something that feels familiar.
The gentle introduction
This method is suitable for any dog, but is really aimed at dogs with very sensitive stomachs, and those who have a lot of gut issues.
Start by first putting your dog onto a bland cooked diet, with a straight swap to that from their current food. Use things like lightly scrambled egg (without milk), lightly cooked chicken breast, white fish fillet or turkey mince mixed with a little mashed sweet potato or pureed pumpkin. Bone broth is a great addition to help support their gut health.
After between 4 and 7 days on this diet, you can begin introducing the raw food gradually, using the gradual transition method detailed above.
Tips for success
There are a few things you can do to help make the switch as easily as possible:
- Serve food slightly warm: Many dogs will find slightly warm food more appetising, and will adjust more easily when the food is a bit warmer, as opposed to straight from the fridge. Mix in a splash of hot water or bone broth to take the chill off, or pop the food into a freezer bag or a small bowl and then into a bowl of hot water for a few minutes
- Introduce one meal at a time: This is particularly important if you think your dog may have food intolerances and will help you to determine if there are any meals that don’t suit them. You might want to keep a food diary with a note of any symptoms, if they occur. After the initial run through, you can mix up the meals however you like
- Start with blander meals: If this is your dog’s first time eating raw food, and especially if they have a sensitive tummy, you may want to start with our blander meals – the white fish, chicken and turkey meals. Save our richer meals – beef, lamb and duck, for later when your dog has had a bit of time to adjust to raw food
- Avoid ingredients you’re aware your dog is intolerant to: If your dog has any known food intolerances, check the ingredients of each meal carefully before ordering
- Set up mealtimes for success: Feed your dog at quiet times, when there aren’t so many distractions and in a place that they feel safe. You’ll find more tips, if you need them, for setting up mealtimes here – particularly useful if you have a dog who is prone to being picky or fussy about their food!
What to expect when switching to raw dog food
99% of dogs make the switch to Bella+Duke raw dog food easily and without any issues.
In most cases, you’ll see positive changes fairly soon.
Better poo
This is often the first change that people notice, sometimes within 48 hours! You should quickly see your dog producing smaller, firmer and less smelly poo. Some dogs also poo less frequently than before.
Drinking less
This one concerns some people, but is nothing to worry about. Because raw food has high moisture levels, and very low salt levels, raw fed dogs do tend to drink a lot less. If you feel your dog isn’t getting enough hydration you can add a little water to their meals – but in our experience, providing fresh water is available, they’ll drink when they need it.
Shinier Coat
This one takes a little longer but within a few months you should start to notice that your dog’s coat is softer and shinier, and they may even shed less too!
There are many more benefits to a raw food diet and the longer your dog is on a raw diet, the more benefits you’ll see!
As with any change of food, though, some dogs might experience some issues.
Your dog seems hungry?
Some dogs will go through a stage of being hungry when they first start on raw (in the same way that we can feel hungry when we first start a healthy diet, even though we’re eating enough) This is part of adjusting to the new food and to using protein and healthy fats rather than carbohydrates for energy. (1) It normally settles within a matter of weeks and, during that time, you can adjust the amount you’re feeding them if you think you need to. Just keep an eye on their body shape and condition to ensure they’re not gaining weight.
Keep in mind too that recommended amounts are only a guideline.
Your dog seems tired, or lethargic?
Some people notice that their dog seems a bit lethargic in the early days, this is perfectly normal, and is simply your dog adjusting to their new food and to using healthy fat and protein for energy instead of the carbohydrates that they are used to. Within a few weeks you should see their energy levels improve.
Your dog is sick after eating?
Some dogs experience what is known as ‘transitional sickness’. Again, this is quite normal as they adjust (if you can bear to, it’s ok to let them eat it again – many dogs at this stage seem to like to ‘pre-digest’ the food a bit) You can help by serving the meals slightly warm – add a splash of hot water or bone broth or pop the food into a small bowl or freezer bag and then into a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.
Some dogs may also bring up yellow bile (especially early in the morning), the so called ‘hunger-pukes’ Again this is them adjusting to different digestion times and is easily solved by giving them a bedtime snack, some healthy treats, scrambled egg or a little of their food kept back for bedtime.
Your dog seems constipated?
Occasionally a dog may experience some constipation when they first switch to raw, as they adjust to a diet that’s lower in fibre and to having bone in their diet. You can help by adding some water to their meals, and a little mashed sweet potato or pureed pumpkin will also be helpful.
Is raw dog food safe?
Properly prepared raw dog food is safe and healthy for your dog.
When you buy from a reputable supplier, like Bella+Duke, you can be reassured that the food has been tested for harmful bacteria before being sent to you, and has been carefully formulated to ensure that all of your pets nutritional needs are met.
What are the benefits of raw dog food?
There are a number of benefits of raw dog food, ranging from the firmer poos and shinier coat that we’ve already mentioned, to healthier teeth and gums, balanced energy levels and more diverse gut microbiome, contributing to a stronger immune system.
You can explore why raw dog food has these benefits in our comprehensive guide.
(2) Raw food contains high quality protein that’s easily digested, so that your dog gains maximum benefits from it. It also contains vitamins and minerals in the most natural form for us, and our pets, to eat, this means they’re easily used by your dog. And it contains natural enzymes which aid with digestion – these enzymes are destroyed by cooking and, unlike many other nutrients destroyed by cooking, are never replaced in other food types.
Wondering why you should choose raw food over dry food? Our kibble vs raw dog food guide answers your questions.
Looking for a healthy diet for your dog?
Explore Our Raw Dog FoodReferences
- The significance of carbohydrates in Canine Nutrition https://nmbu.brage.unit.no/nmbu-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3148388/no.nmbu%3awiseflow%3a7098065%3a59125631.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- Raw Feeding in Dogs and Cats https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/coan.2018.0068
FAQs
How long does it take a dog to adjust to raw dog food?
This depends on the individual dog. Some dogs will adjust in a matter of days while others might take longer. Most dogs will have adjusted to their new diet within a couple of weeks.
What is the 80-10-10 rule for raw dog food?
This is more of a guideline than a rule and refers to the ratio of muscle meat (80%), secreting organs (10%) and bone (10%) that are the starting point for a balanced raw diet.
Are dogs calmer on raw food?
This will depend on the individual dog. Many of our customers report that their ‘hyper’ dog is calmer and more focused once they switch to raw, while others report that their previous ‘lazy’ dog has better energy levels.
Do dogs detox on a raw diet?
The word ‘detox’ is a bit of a misnomer, but you may see some symptoms when your dog first starts on raw food that are often attributed to ‘detox’ Your dog may initially lose some retained water weight, and you may notice that they’re a bit more lethargic than usual. This is normal and will settle down as they adjust. If you have a dog who is prone to itchy skin, you may see their symptoms flare up before they get better.
How many times a day do you feed raw dog food?
This is really up to you, and what you feel best suits your individual dog. Some people feed their dog just once a day while others feed them twice, or even three times a day.
Larger dogs often prefer to eat just once a day, while very small dogs will likely need more frequent meals.
However many times you feel you might like to feed raw food in a day, it’s best to stick with the feeding schedule that your dog is used to in the beginning- you can adapt it later, once they’ve adjusted, if you wish.
Do dogs smell better on a raw diet?
There haven’t been any studies done on this, but anecdotally many of our customers tell us that their dog smells better and ‘cleaner’ or ‘fresher’ since starting on a raw diet.
Why does my dog seem hungrier on a raw diet?
Some dogs will feel hungry to begin with as they get used to their new food and to using the healthy fats and proteins for energy, rather than the carbohydrates that they’re used to.
Be aware that recommended amounts are just a guideline that you should adjust to suit your individual dog – some need more and others need less – so feel free to play about with the amount if you think you need to.
