How do I make the switch from kibble to raw food?

I would recommend BEFORE you take the plunge that you have done adequate research, have your reference materials close at hand and you have purchased your ingredients to get going. It may help to keep a log or diary of meals at first, so you can go back and see what meals your dog likes or dislikes, which ingredients cause gas or diarrhea, etc. If you have a mentor, make sure you have his or her email address handy in case you have questions.

I would also recommend having your dog given a thorough physical by your health care professional before you switch. Some folks run a blood profile. I don’t think it’s necessary in most cases but it doesn’t hurt. Be aware that if your vet is not PRO raw, he or she may try to derail you. I would suggest that you find a raw friendly vet before making the switch, if it’s at all possible.

There are two ways to switch with the first being cold turkey. This method seems to work best for healthy adult dogs. You can fast them for a day or so if you wish before you switch, but the way I would recommend is to throw away your kibble, and start feeding raw. It’s that simple! Keep everything very simple for the first few weeks, I would suggest chicken necks/backs ONLY for the first 3 or 4 days. Make sure the dog is digesting everything properly (no diarrhea or vomiting) before you add another type of food to the meals. Hold off on all supplements for several weeks. I would also wait several weeks before adding richer foods like liver, eggs or canned mackerel.

The second method is the gradual switch. Basically you add a bit of raw food to the dog’s meals each day, in increasing amounts while decreasing the kibble. This may work for some dogs, but in my experience (and I have been feeding a raw diet since 1994) it takes longer for the dog to adjust and there are more frequent bouts of loose stools. I would recommend cold turkey for most adult dogs and some puppies.

If you decide you will be feeding veggies, wait until the dog is eating a variety of RMBS and different meats before you add them to the diet. We use them occasionally and I personally don’t think they are necessary but some dogs seem to do well with the additional fiber. Remember, veggies need to be thoroughly cooked or pulped in order for dogs to digest them at all.