HOW TO SWITCH TO A RAW DIET?
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Dogs don't talk, so they can't tell us when they're sick, have a stomachache, are nauseous, or have digestive problems. We only notice these disorders when they've already taken over our furry friend. We believe that no dog owner wants to make their pet feel sick, which is why it's especially important to change your dog's eating habits carefully and responsibly.
Different foods - different stomach acid pH levels
Naturally, dogs fed dry food have a more alkaline (higher pH) stomach acid. Dry food is thermally processed several times and is easily broken down in the system. And so the entire digestive tract adapts to dry food, so the pH of the stomach acid increases, and the digestive enzymes simply disappear.
However, alkaline stomach acid is not enough when feeding your pet raw meat, raw vegetables, and seeds. The lower pH level (around pH 2) and certain digestive enzymes are crucial for the body to digest the food.
It is understandable that it may take longer to change the diet for dogs that have been fed dry food for a longer period of time. This is why we do not recommend mixing raw food with dry food, as this puts a strain on the digestive tract to adapt to the constantly changing diet.
Methods for switching diets
There are two most commonly recommended ways to change your pet's diet.
The first is the starvation diet.
The pet does not eat anything for 24 hours: no treats, no bones, etc. Provide only fresh drinking water. After 24 hours, offer new RAW food to your dog.
The transition to a dry diet can be applied to adult dogs and healthy dogs. We do not recommend it for seniors or dogs with serious health problems, young puppies, and dogs that have been eating only dry food for a very long time.
Second, the most popular way to transition to a raw diet is to gradually change your pet's diet. With this method, the diet is changed over a little over a week:
On the first day, the daily portion consists of regular food and a small amount of new food.
For 2-3 days, the daily portion consists of 75% regular food and 25% new food.
For 4-5 days, the daily portion consists of 50% regular food and 50% new food.
At 6-7 days, the daily portion consists of 25% regular food and 75% new food.
And from day 8, the entire portion consists only of new food.
A friend for a smooth transition - natural probiotics and apple cider vinegar
Use probiotics to help your dog adapt to the new diet. We strongly recommend choosing natural probiotics instead of synthetic ones. They will not irritate the body and will not cause unpleasant reactions. The Pet Kartel Bulgaria team recommends choosing kefir, natural yogurt or sauerkraut. They will help restore the intestinal microflora and stimulate the development of necessary enzymes.
Also, using apple cider vinegar during the transition period can make the whole process easier. Apple cider vinegar lowers the pH level of the digestive tract and helps the body begin to digest new foods more easily.
Possible side effects during the transition period
Don't worry if your puppy has loose stools or vomits during the first few days. The body is stressed by the change in diet and, unable to digest new substances, the digestive system recognizes the new food as antibodies and tries to eliminate it from the system. Therefore, such signs are completely natural during the transition period. They stop when the diet consists only of the new food.
Different foods - different stomach acid pH levels
Naturally, dogs fed dry food have a more alkaline (higher pH) stomach acid. Dry food is thermally processed several times and is easily broken down in the system. And so the entire digestive tract adapts to dry food, so the pH of the stomach acid increases, and the digestive enzymes simply disappear.
However, alkaline stomach acid is not enough when feeding your pet raw meat, raw vegetables, and seeds. The lower pH level (around pH 2) and certain digestive enzymes are crucial for the body to digest the food.
It is understandable that it may take longer to change the diet for dogs that have been fed dry food for a longer period of time. This is why we do not recommend mixing raw food with dry food, as this puts a strain on the digestive tract to adapt to the constantly changing diet.
Methods for switching diets
There are two most commonly recommended ways to change your pet's diet.
The first is the starvation diet.
The pet does not eat anything for 24 hours: no treats, no bones, etc. Provide only fresh drinking water. After 24 hours, offer new RAW food to your dog.
The transition to a dry diet can be applied to adult dogs and healthy dogs. We do not recommend it for seniors or dogs with serious health problems, young puppies, and dogs that have been eating only dry food for a very long time.
Second, the most popular way to transition to a raw diet is to gradually change your pet's diet. With this method, the diet is changed over a little over a week:
On the first day, the daily portion consists of regular food and a small amount of new food.
For 2-3 days, the daily portion consists of 75% regular food and 25% new food.
For 4-5 days, the daily portion consists of 50% regular food and 50% new food.
At 6-7 days, the daily portion consists of 25% regular food and 75% new food.
And from day 8, the entire portion consists only of new food.
A friend for a smooth transition - natural probiotics and apple cider vinegar
Use probiotics to help your dog adapt to the new diet. We strongly recommend choosing natural probiotics instead of synthetic ones. They will not irritate the body and will not cause unpleasant reactions. The Pet Kartel Bulgaria team recommends choosing kefir, natural yogurt or sauerkraut. They will help restore the intestinal microflora and stimulate the development of necessary enzymes.
Also, using apple cider vinegar during the transition period can make the whole process easier. Apple cider vinegar lowers the pH level of the digestive tract and helps the body begin to digest new foods more easily.
Possible side effects during the transition period
Don't worry if your puppy has loose stools or vomits during the first few days. The body is stressed by the change in diet and, unable to digest new substances, the digestive system recognizes the new food as antibodies and tries to eliminate it from the system. Therefore, such signs are completely natural during the transition period. They stop when the diet consists only of the new food.