Tips to Switch Your Senior Dog to a Raw Diet
There is no one rule for transitioning your dog to a raw food diet; you can switch a dog’s diet at any age and a number of different ways. With this range of choice comes the freedom to pick the best method for you, your dog and your lifestyle.
We know it can be daunting to introduce your pet to something new, but here is some guidance and some simple options to choose from for your senior dog.
Raw Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
Why Should It Be a Gradual Switch?
The transition from commercial dog food to raw dog food should be an extended period of time for senior dogs. If they have been fed the same brand for their entire lives, they will be more sensitive to dietary changes.
More often than not, senior dogs have been eating kibble for years so this will affect their digestive systems, making it more difficult to have a short change-over period. Therefore, a gradual transition will be better suited to them as it will help them:
- Adjust their digestive enzyme release so it is no longer suppressed
- Improve their gut bacteria and diversity, and alter the pH levels to be more acidic
- Maintain healthy digestion and metabolism leading to a stronger immune system
The length of the transition period completely depends on your dog’s preferences. It could take a week, 4 weeks or even a few months, you just have to monitor them and take it at a pace that they’re comfortable with.
Switching Tips for Your Senior Dog
Use the Raw Food as a Treat First
Make sure you monitor your dog’s stool throughout this transition:
- First, use the new raw food as a treat; every time your dog obeys you or performs a trick, give them a small amount of raw food as a reward.
- Then, after a few days, on top of rewards, start to give them more treats throughout the day and reduce their normal meal size.
- If the stool is normal, replace one whole meal of old food with the new food.
- If the stool remains normal, do this for several more days and eventually stop the old food. Feed the new food permanently.
Once your dog recognises the raw food as a treat, they will most probably love the fact that they are getting it as a whole entire meal!
Combine the Raw with the Old Food
By offering both old and new types of dog food, this will help transition your dog. Here are some ratios that you could follow:
- Day 1: feed 1/8th of the new food, 7/8th of the old food
- Day 2: feed 1/4th of the new food, 3/4th of the old food
- Day 3: feed 1/2 of the new food, 1/2 of the old food
- Day 4: feed 3/4th of the new food, 1/4th of the old food
- Day 5: feed 7/8th of the new food, 1/8th of the old food
- Day 6: feed 100% of the new food
Whether you choose to start at 1/8 or 1/4 first, it all depends on your dog’s stomach – and no one knows that better than you. Tailor the different amounts of food and shorten or extend the transition time to suit you and your dog the best.
Additional Tips for During the Transition
- Slowly stop giving your dog their normal dry, grain-based treats and switch to raw so their appetite for raw increases.
- Always make sure that they have access to fresh water.
- Be confident and positive as this attitude will reflect onto your dog.
All Dogs Are Different
At the end of the day, every dog is different so there is no one way to switch your senior dog’s diet. Always keep an eye on any differing health signs and if you ever feel concerned, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Do what you feel is best and see the benefits for yourself; make sure you come to Kiezebrink for all of your raw dog food diet needs!
