The Raw Pet Food Diet Part 2: I Bought the Food--Now What?

 Part one of this article answered the question, “What is a Raw Pet Food Diet?”.  Read on to learn more about what to do once you have the new food supply home.

Step by Step 

When switching any food, do it gradually; especially if your pet is older or has any health issues.  Over the course of several days you can feed one meal a day of your current food, and make the second meal of the day raw food.   You can also try mixing the two, although kibble (especially kibble that is not grain free) is digested totally different then raw and could cause stomach upset if fed together. 

Size Matters: Right Portions

Many of the brands will give you a feeding guide (by weight and sometimes age as well) on the packaging so you know how much your pet should eat.  A good rule of thumb with raw mixtures is to give about half a cup a day for every 10 lbs your pet weighs. Raw food only keeps in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days, so you will just be defrosting a few meals at any given time.  Now you see why all these companies offer the food in patties, nuggets and other convenient amounts!

Safe and Simple

All frozen raw foods must be defrosted in the refrigerator for about 24 hours before they are ready to be fed, so there is a little planning involved.  You don’t want to ever microwave these foods. Ideally you will feed raw food in stainless steel bowls, which are easy to clean thoroughly and don’t harbor bacteria.  Be sure to wash the bowls (and your hands) with hot soapy water after each feeding, and wipe down counter tops and other surfaces carefully as well.

Super Duper Benefits!

You will notice over time that your pet will have smaller, firmer stools that have less odor then before.  Other typical benefits include better breath, a shinier coat and decreased production of yeast, which means any issues with ear infections and itchy skin should improve dramatically.

Intrigued But Not Ready Yet? -   Feeding the raw diet is not a practical choice for everyone, but there are things you can do to supplement the quality kibble you are already giving your dog.  A variety of foods rotated and given in small amounts as “toppers” will make your pup’s meal times more interesting and nutritious. 

Foods to try:  Plain fat free yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, almonds, banana, blueberries, apple, sweet potato, kale, pumpkin, carrot, broccoli, zucchini, parsley, tripe, sardines.

Foods to avoid: Onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, any meat with cooked bones (also do not give fatty meat or gravy).

Interested in Learning More? – Come to the FREE RAW FOOD DEMO  by Primal Pet Foods on Saturday, July 16 from 10- noon.