RAW FOOD DIET FOR DOGS: HOW TO SWITCH YOUR DOG’S FOOD
What are the benefits of raw feeding dogs?
The transition period: how to change dog food
As you might expect, there are lots of reported benefits to raw feeding dogs – but the ones we hear most from our Natures Menu families are:
- Shiny coats
- Fresh breath
- Healthy skin
- Balanced energy levels
- Firm, pick-up-able poo
You can read lots more stories from dogs (and their parents) who’ve made the switch to raw feeding and seen the benefits, over on our Nature’s Mates page.
And if you decide a raw diet is right for your dog, we recommend looking for brands that are transparent in their ingredients, picking products free from additives and artificial flavours or colours. A good quality raw dog food should be specially made for pets, and produced by manufacturers registered with UK Pet Food or DEFRA, so check brands’ websites to see which organisations they’re members of.The transition period: how to change dog food
Switching to a raw dog food diet is surprisingly straightforward. We recommend doing it over a seven-day period to give them a little bit of time to get used to their new dinners.
Each day, just swap one of your dog’s two usual meals for raw food, and keep the other one the same. For example, serve them up their regular breakfast and switch to raw at dinnertime. By day eight they’ll be ready to go raw for both meals. Simple.
If you feed your dog three or more times a day, start by replacing one of these meals with raw food. Do this for the first two days, keeping all other meals the same as before. A second meal can then be switched to raw during days 3 to 4. This gradual approach can then be continued, changing 1 additional meal every 2 days until all the meals your dog is enjoying are raw ones.
Raw feeding dogs can be a safe, natural choice, but if you’ve got any concerns or your dog doesn’t seem to be taking to their new food, it’s always best to talk things through with your vet.
How to serve up the right raw food for your dog
How much of a raw food diet your dog needs depends on a whole range of things, including their age, breed, size and lifestyle. To get started, take a look at our handy tips on how much to serve. You can also chat to your vet for more personal advice on your own dog’s nutrition.
If you’d like to make your dog’s meals from scratch, make sure to add a high proportion of quality meat from manufacturers registered with DEFRA and UK Pet Food. Balance it with suitable fruits and vegetables to give them a varied range of vitamins and minerals. We also recommend adding a good quality multi-vitamin supplement to make sure you’ve got everything covered.
But that’s not the only way to give your dog a great raw food diet. Ready-made options like our raw nuggets are super convenient and give them a complete, balanced, nutrient-rich meal every time.
To sum it all up…
If you’d like to give your dog a healthy, natural diet, raw dog food is a great way to go. Pet parents report a whole range of benefits in their dogs, including balanced energy levels, fresh breath, shiny coats and firm, pick-up-able poos.
If you’re considering switching to raw feeding and you’d like some more advice, our fully trained advisors are always happy to help. Don’t forget to go for a gradual switch over seven days – and if you’d like more tips on making the transition, we’ve got plenty of practical help right here .