Raw Food Calculator
To ensure you’re providing the right balance of nutrients, use our Raw Pet Food Feeding Calculator.
Transitioning To Raw
Gradual Transitioning Schedule
Every pet will transition a little differently, and it can take up to six weeks until your pet is eating an exclusively raw diet. Start by replacing a small portion of their usual diet with raw food and see how that goes. Then, keep adding a little more raw food to each meal as you slowly decrease the amount of their previous food. The process can take a few days to six weeks for dogs. You can adjust the transition speed depending on how your pet is responding.
*Recommended for most pets
Ideal for:
- Sensitive pets: For pets with a history of digestive sensitivity, a gradual transition may prevent digestive upset like gas, diarrhea, or vomiting.
- Senior pets: Older pets may have more delicate digestive systems, and a gradual change can be gentler.
- Long-time-kibble-feed pets: For pets that have been eating dry, highly processed food for a long time, especially if lacking variety, their systems may have an adjustment period when introduced to the drastically different, nutritionally dense raw food diet.
Feeding Calculator
Tips for Transitioning Your Dog To Raw Feeding
If you are transitioning your dog for the first time, here are some tips and tricks to help eliminate tummy upset or convince a picky eater.
Try Protein Bites
Protein Bites are our air-dried, fermented treats like our Biltong bites, Droëwors bites and Liver Bites for dogs. They are packed with all natural neutrience to support gut health.
Try Warming it up
Your dog may prefer the food at room temperature or slightly warmed. After thawing the frozen food in an air-tight container overnight, leave the thawed food on the counter for 30-60 minutes or add a little hot water to warm it up. This will bring out the aroma and increase palatability.
Don’t Leave Food Out All the Time
Serving food at dedicated mealtimes allows dog to get hungry enough to be willing to branch out and try new food.
Make Mealtime Engaging
Turn feeding time into a positive experience by asking your dog to perform a task to “earn” his meal or hiding air-dried food around the house. There are several fun ways to feed outside of the standard bowl.
Treat-First Approach
Use the raw food as a treat to test the waters with your pet. Increase the amount of raw treats and continue to monitor the pet for several days, and if stools remain consistent, you can start feeding all raw. Remember to adjust for the extra calories so you aren’t accidentally overfeeding.
Stay Positive
A human’s attitude helps! Stay positive and encourage your pet so they know the new food is a good thing. Transitioning to a raw diet may take time, and it’s normal for pets to be cautious at first. Be patient, persistent, and willing to adapt based on your pet’s preferences and comfort level.
What to Expect After Transitioning to Raw Pet Food
After transitioning to a new diet, your pet may experience a adjustment period, and below are an few temporary symptoms owners may notice:
- Mild Digestive Upset: Some pets, especially those not used to diet changes, may experience temporary symptoms including gas and loose stools, as their digestive system adapts to the fresh food.
- Increased Hunger: raw diets are more nutrient-dense compared to processed foods. While your pet may seem hungrier due to the lack of fillers they’ve been used to, they will adjust and increased hunger will become less noticeable within a week or so.
- Water Intake: the higher moisture content in raw food may cause them to drink less because they get more moisture from their food.
If you encounter persistent issues or have any questions, we are here to help!