When can you start giving your dog raw food?

The Optimal Time to Start Your Dog on a Raw Food Diet 

Raw food diets – consisting solely or mainly of raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables – is one of the most highly debated issues amongst pet owners. Lynn Menard is an Advanced Pet Nutritionist and owner of Everything Raw Doggie Café and she advocates the raw food diet for dogs as the best because it replicates the way dogs would eat in the wild. And you can start feeding your furry friend as soon as it’s been weaned from its mother. 

Starting Puppies on Raw Food 

The first question most puppy owners ask is: ‘When is it safe to start a raw food diet for my dog?’ The simple fact is that it’s never too early to start. Weaned puppies can get the raw food experience from the very start because nature’s recipe is the foundation for every animal’s development. Starting young with as close to a species-appropriate diet as possible provides the foundational environment and experience for a lifetime of better health, stronger bones, healthier skin and fewer digestive challenges. 

The separation should be gradual… the transition to raw food should begin slowly, with the simultaneous introduction of raw food and then slow withdrawal of the cooked food… While the dubious digestibility of raw food for humans is reason enough to opt for other options, the question of taste is also important… Trying raw food early on will also help to ensure that dogs develop a taste for it … these experiences will ensure that dogs won’t be picky eaters as they get older.  

Transitioning Adult Dogs to Raw Food 

But what if you have an adult dog who has been getting kibble? Is it too late to begin feeding raw to your dog? The good news is that it is never too late. Adult dogs, regardless of age, can begin a raw food diet and still reap all the benefits. There are two methods to transition your adult dog from kibble to raw. Check with the pet nutrition experts at Everything Raw for advice on how to introduce raw food into your dog’s diet. Lynn has personally seen, as well as being told by many other owners that their dogs’ energy improves, their coats look shinier and healthier and they have more of a ‘sparkle’ in their eyes on raw.  

Implementing a Balanced Raw Food Diet 

Whether you start feeding the raw diet as a puppy or later when they’re an adult, it is your responsibility to make sure a raw diet is followed as carefully as possible and the diet is balanced for your dog’s age, size and activity level. Historically, the food recommendations for raw feeding were the same as for dogs on cooked food – simply feeding a good variety of meats and bones, some organ meats and occasional fruit and vegetables once in a while, to create a variety of food sources and help provide a variety of nutrients.  

If you are considering feeding your dog raw food, you should consider consulting a pet nutritionist to help develop a balanced diet and monitor your dog’s health transitioning to a raw-food lifestyle. Let Everything Raw help you make a smooth and safe diet switch.