Transition to a raw diet (2023)

Door Holistic en Organix Pet Shoppe

Starting a new change in your dog's diet is exciting and stressful. Not knowing if you are ready or if you have all the information you need. Let me assure you that it is not as difficult as it seems. It's also not as expensive as you might think. By doing your homework, you can have a manageable budget and a happy, healthy dog.

This article is about my experiences eating raw; the detox transition and the now.

First, sit down with a pen and paper and calculate how much you spend each month on dog food, vet bills, medication, and anything else related to caring for your dog.

Now add up the dog food per month that you spend now. Add bills from your vet, including vaccinations for the year. Include any medications you give your dog. This includes prescription medications, heartworm preventatives, flea and tick medications, etc.

When you're ready to make a change, the first thing you need to do is make a decision; Are you going to fast your dog for 24 hours and then jump right into the raw diet or are you going to slowly switch? I know you may hear that it's better to do it one way or the other. I honestly think you should do what works best for you. Always remember that when there is a change in the diet, there will also be a change in the poop. Poop plays an important role here in knowing what's going on. so learnread the poop

Find a small freezer (used or new) to store raw foods. Especially if you have several and/or large dogs, you need extra space.

Once you've decided how and when you're going to start, get ready. First you need some supplements. You may hear many raw eaters say that dogs do not need additional supplements when fed a raw diet. That would be wrong. When a wolf eats its prey in the wild, it collects the necessary nutrients. A wild rabbit will be, so to speak, fresh meat that has not been mixed with antibiotics, medication, and God knows what else has been added. A cow raised for the slaughterhouse is raised in very subhuman conditions. Yes, that's what we humans eat. Therefore, shopping is NOT the best option to get clean meat. Only if your pet's food has run out at home or if you can't get any better raw food, supermarket food is acceptable.

Now for the supplements, I have made a list of what you need. These supplements can be adjusted along the way. But for now it's onebig listto start and provide daily meals. Another decision to make here is what type of raw material you will feed. Whole game (whole carcass with skin and all) raw meat chunks (cuts of meat appropriate to the size of your dog) or raw ground. The last two would be as described in the BARF diet. This article is not about commercial raw or dehydrated pet food. It is about gathering ingredients for a raw diet prepared at home. You have raw, freeze-dried/dehydrated that you can buy in baggies or chubs at the store. You add water or cut a slice to feed. It does contain some (synthetic) vitamins, but I can tell you that you STILL need to add supplements, so why not know exactly what you are putting in your dog's food? Also, they are super expensive.
You spend more on supplements up front to accumulate what you need. Commercial feeds are also much more expensive.

(This article is not about whole prey diets) Read about whole prey dietshere..

You can now start on the probiotics and digestive enzymes before starting the new diet. I would also addmariadistelpowder as your dog adjusts to the new diet. If you have a puppy or dog with allergies or a weakened immune system, addbeastalso in the daily diet.

Use just one protein to start…chicken is the preferred protein. Feed a light diet of bone-in chicken breast or similar for a few weeks. After a few weeks, you can add organ meat. The bone hardens the poop, the meat of the viscera softens.

10% Very
10% agency
80% Carne
Liver: 1 oz per 10 lbs. once (or twice) per week included in the 10% organ meats
If the math confuses you, to simplify it a bit, shop athare today.They list the amount of bone, orange, and muscle meat in each protein. It really makes it simple.

Feeding hours:
For puppies and adults from 6 months - divided into 2 meals a day, although one is also acceptable.
For 4-6 months of age - divided into 3 meals a day
For children under 4 months - divided into 4 meals or more per day

We have to balance the food. Therefore rotate at least 4 proteins.

You will be feeding meat around 2% of your dog's body weight.

The values ​​vary and can always be adjusted up or down. It is up to you to monitor your weight and adjust it if necessary. Some dogs will pretend to be hungry. Just increase the meat content a bit. You can also add cooked or raw (pressed or chopped) vegetables. Raw vegetable pieces are not digested, so you will need to help the dog by squeezing them into juice or cutting them into small, fine pieces. Raw is better because they get more nutrients. Buy organic when humanly possible. Organic food prices are falling, especially vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are high in pesticides, so it's best to buy them organic or you may run into problems with them. So buy organic if possible. This goes for EVERYTHING, including eggs and herbs/supplements. Organic/grass-fed eggs aren't cheap...so you can feed them 1-2 times a week (boiled, poached, scrambled). Always buy organic when you can. I have found some good prices, even with organic supplements. And when adding supplements to the diet, don't throw out the entire list of supplements at once, and don't expect digestive problems. Add supplements little by little. A few in a week, and if all goes well next week a few more. Do this until everyone comes in. Start with even smaller amounts.

Here's the breakdown by food amounts:

1.5% - Overweight
2.0% - Average activity (little time outdoors/2 or fewer walks per day)
2.5%: above average activity (several hours of activity per day)
3.0% - Average activity with weight gain goals
3.5%: high activity or weight gain goals (working dogs)
4%+ - Kittens, puppies and pets or pregnant animals

There's also a food calculator here to help you do the math.
Some of the other information on this site is very detailed and can be confusing. Stay away from this for now for all newbies until you can figure it out.

*Meat is rich in phosphorus, bones are rich in calcium.

If you choose to cook the vegetables that's fine, just make sure they get their supplements for the day. Cooked vegetables do not need to be juiced. Serve whole.

Do not feed fruit seeds, grapes, raisins, onions, or chocolate. Know what is safe for food and what is not. Be careful with xylitol in peanut butter and other human foods.

I recommend vegetables (preferably raw) to get as many nutrients as possible. A small amount (tablespoon) can be added to any diet. If you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing vegetables, you can add organic vegetable powder. It's packed with nutrients and easy to add to ground raw foods. Also a good mineral supplement is humic/fulvic acid. The menu is big. Find out what works for you and your schedule. Some people have enough time to cook a full meal, others work full time and the last thing they want is to be in the kitchen all night. Simply put, add the greens and supplement powder and it will help keep you balanced. You can always prepare meals on the weekend and freeze them for the whole week.

As for raw bones...they're great for brushing your teeth. A raw beef bone (rib) 2-3 times a week will keep your teeth reasonably clean. From time to time you may need a dental cleaning. Just keep an eye on the teeth and molars.brush where possible. Daily is recommended. Some dogs have more dental problems than others...certain breeds like chihuahuas, dachshunds, etc.

Do not feed cooked bonesnot precisely.Boiled bones are dangerous. Stay away from weight-bearing bones as well. They can break teeth. Chicken necks are tender and easy to chew and digest. Feed only around the neck once or twice a week maximum. Always supervise your dog if he has a chew bone.

Cleanup is easy. Clean as you would after cooking your meat. You are dealing with raw chicken, hamburger, pork, etc. After that, you clean up, right? The same goes for raw food diets for dogs. As for the feeding of the pig, there is a great debate about whether to feed the pig or not. Pork is fine to feed, but make sure it has been frozen for 3 weeks before feeding it to your dog. The same goes for wild game you have killed in the wild. Also raw fish. I (and myself) do not recommend feeding raw fish, but if you do, freeze it for 3 weeks before feeding.

This information and much more is in my book on how to feed a homemade diet. This will help you a lot.

During the transition, don't give up hope if your dog isn't behaving as well as you think he should. Sometimes it can take your dog a few months to get used to a different diet. But in time they will get the hang of it. It is always the pet owner who gives up sooner than he should. Give it time. If something doesn't work, try something else. Add some shredded cooked chicken on top of the raw or chicken broth. For freshly fed raw diets, try browning the meat before feeding. This can also help with your dog's transition.

What you need to do is look for a co-op in your area or buy from a local or online source. Head over to the Farmers Market for great deals. I buy fromHAAS HOY. Shipping cost is low as it is shipped on ice and delivered to my door, so no heavy loading and unloading of meat. To find out how much shipping costs sendfor you, go to the website, create a food platter order (choose meat/organ/bone combinations). Create a $175 or £30 worth of food order and proceed to checkout to see what the delivery costs will be. I have 5 dogs of my own, so I buy the 2lb and 5lb puppies, although the 5lb puppies are slightly better priced. (I give about 2 pounds a day. I keep what's left in the fridge for the next day.) I guess around $30-$40 for shipping. That is a reasonable price.

​Depending on the size of your dog or how many mouths you have to feed, how much it will cost you per month. With five dogs, their total combined weight is 275 pounds. I gave him premium canned dog food and it cost me a fortune. Raw cost me less than half the price and I am completely confident where my meat comes from. Bully sticks are also cheaper.

​A note about bullying. Some say they are bad and some say they are good. Let me explain this to you. I recently read where a holistic vet told his followers not to feed bullies sticks because of the bacteria. My mouth dropped open and I laughed. Real? Okay, you have bacteria in raw meat, you have bacteria in pet food and canned food. In fact, most of the contaminated food is commercial pet food. Just ALWAYS remember when you face itELKtype of food, human food, pet food, raw food, pest sticks, treats and the like, always wash your hands with soap and water after handling. And so. It's that easy. Also watch out for the bully sticks. They can break the teeth, although it is not common.

I domaidenrecommend cereals in diets. They cause a lot of serious problems, especially in larger dogs. Therefore, do not feed grains or rich carbohydrates like white potatoes.

You're probably wondering why I like to add vegetables, when you may have heard that raw diets don't require them. I consider dogs to be carnivorous...but if you can throw in some veggies to add natural nutrients then I highly recommend them as they need to be broken down due to their short digestive tracts. And to back up my recommendations, these reviews come from some of the best holistic vets out there.

Next, let's take a look at your water. If you don't have a water filter, buy one. It's a thousand times better to have one for everyone in the house. I can't say this enough. It is essential in health. A fluorine/chlorine free multi-stage filter. You can get a cheap one.check it here. I have one in mine myselfrefrigerator for my water dispenser(not the one that comes with the fridge inside) and one in minecounter (under the counter)as well as my bathroom. A whole house filter is ideal, but expensive.

Reduce vaccinations. Do not give on the day of surgery or if your dog is sick. Do not give combos. Just a single dose and wait 30 days if you do another one. After taking puppy photos, you can do it.titlesin the future. Rabies is required by law, so look for a vet that offers a three-year vaccination. ask theThimerosal free vaccine.Not all vets carry this. Call ahead, call ahead. It depends if you live in the country or in the city.what you might needgive the other vaccines. but the title is

so you don't subject your dog to more disease-causing vaccines.

For vaccine reactions (to reduce or eliminate symptoms):

To useyours(preferably 200c) for shots a few days before and a few days after up to two weeks in general. You can use this for weeks afterward for dogs that may have mild reactions. If your dog has severe reactions to vaccines, never get vaccinated again. For all other vaccines, order a half dose of vaccine. Angry that you can't do that. Your 10-pound dog should receive the same dose as a 100-pound dog.

To uselisten to us(preferably 200c if found, check amazon or other sites) for rabies vaccine for several days before and after for up to 2-4 weeks.

​Flea and tick products, including topicals, arepoisonous and deadly. They make many natural products that work well.See them here.

As for heartworm preventatives, there are also natural herbs and others for that. I live in Texas, in the heart of Heartland, and I do not give these medications. I'm wearingsodium freemyself.See natural heartworm products here. (scroll to bottom of page). FYI, there is no product on this planet that PREVENTS heartworms. No. So why give toxic chemicals to your dogs? Instead, use something natural. And test them for heartworms every 6 to 12 months.

Many pet owners who have switched to homemade diets have noticed drastic changes in their pets, including:

• Clearer, healthier skin
• Fresh breath/cleaner teeth
• improved digestion
• Improves with allergy symptoms.
• Problems with the anal glands solved
• Less spills
• greater resistance
• Firmer and smaller stools.
• A general increase in overall health

This is a basic guide to raw diets. It's simple and cheaper than any premium pet food. Your veterinary bills will also be reduced. You will need to have some annual blood tests. Always check the thyroid gland and look for heartworms. Not even Heartgard or something like that is 100%. I always check for these things, along with any deficiencies that may occur with the supplements, although hair analysis is the best way to detect deficiencies. Thiamine, Magnesium and Manganese are a great addition to the diet and also help the joints (sorrows always need them). If you want extensive allergy testing, vitamins and the like, there are a number of specialists who offer this. Doctor Dobias offers hair tests for minerals and toxins and Dr. Dodds offers blood tests for thyroid and food sensitivities.

Proof:

food sensitivities

thyroid test

Test for minerals and toxins.

While your dog is transitioning, you may notice excess fur, dry skin, watery eyes, some mucus in the poop, or dry white poop a day later. The white is the bone content in the diet. You can reduce calcium if you give it. Keep the recommended bones. White poop is a sign that your dog is getting enough calcium and you can reduce his calcium intake if necessary. You see the poop getting smaller and smaller. The smell will be less. Your dog may not be drinking as much water as usual. Raw diets are full of water, so your dog doesn't need as much water as thecardboard food.Also during the transition you can see that your dog presents alterations in the skin. If mild, apply coconut oil to the dog's skin and/or half filtered water and half apple cider vinegar. You want to use raw, unfiltered ACV (mother).Look here.Coconut oilit is a great addition to any diet. You can use it internally and externally. Internally, do not overdo it. Start with a smaller amount... 1/4-1/2 teaspoon and build up. It depends on the size of your dog.

1/4 teaspoon per 10 lbs.
​
COLLOIDALSilver works well too.
​
The situation will resolve itself over time (usually a week or two, but in some cases up to a few months) as the new cells must replace the old ones to complete the detoxification process.​​

Tips:

Pets prone to digestive problems or vomiting immediately after a meal will benefit from using a fast food bowl. Also, these dogs will definitely need to start double doses of digestive enzymes and probiotics weeks before they transition. Also try ground beef so they don't swallow and get food stuck in their throats.

If your pet experiences loose stools (loose stools are not diarrhea), constipation, or vomiting outside of meals, slow down the transition process and add 100% pumpkin (canned is fine) to the food. Use 1-2 tablespoons per cup of food. Pumpkin is unique in that it helps with loose stools, constipation, and abdominal pain.slippery elmit is also excellent for digestive disorders.

For starters, pets with food allergies/intolerances will find a protein in exotic foods. Rabbit or goat is a good choice to start with. Exotics are more expensive, so look for deals.

If you have a dog with joint problems, go toCanineArthritisAndJoint.comfor helping your dog. I also recommendadjustalong with water therapy for chronic problems.

Transition picky eaters and senior dogs to a raw diet

These dogs may turn up their noses at the smell and texture of their new food. Don't worry, this is common (especially in smaller dogs) and usually easy to fix by following these steps:

• Eliminate treats during the transition.
• Fast your dog the night before transitioning

Dogs that have been on steroids, antibiotics, or other medications for a long time may go through longer periods of detoxification. Always consult your vet if you think your dog is experiencing serious problems related to the change in diet.

Holistic Door at Organix Pet Shoppe ©

​