Dog Raw Food Diet for Beginners

Is raw food good for dogs? 💖 How much raw dog food do I feed my dog? 💖 If your dog struggles with allergies, weight issues, digestive problems, or any other common conditions that affect dogs, feeding raw dog food might be just the answer you are looking for.

For years, many dog owners have turned to raw dog food diets as a solution pet food, and the results have been amazing. Feeding your dog as nature intended means that they will get nutrients from sources that their bodies are designed to digest, leading to improved overall health for dogs.

If you are looking for honest answers to your burning #rawdogfood questions, then this guide is for you. You will be able to understand why everyone is so obsessed with raw feeding and be able to confidently decide if feeding the best raw dog food is right for your pet.

↪️↪️What is a Raw Food Diet for Dogs ?

How many raw food options to feed the dog? Can you feed your dog high-quality best raw meat? Is raw food diets for dogs better for dogs than traditional dog foods like kibble or canned? What is the best raw dog food in Canada? All these questions will be answered, but first, you need to understand what raw dog food is.

A raw dog diet is a meal of uncooked food habitually consumed by a dog. The raw diet generally consists of raw meat from beef, poultry, pork, and fish, as well as dog-safe uncooked vegetables and fruits.

Raw dog diets usually consist of the following ingredients:

• Bone meat
• Muscle meat
• Whole or ground bones
• Organ meat (kidney & livers)
• Fish
• Raw eggs
• Raw vegetables (broccoli, carrots, spinach, peas, green beans, celery, etc.)
• Fruits (apples, bananas, blueberries, watermelons, etc.) 

Raw Dog Diets are sometimes described as BARF (previously Bones and Raw Food, but now Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). This term was coined by the Australian vet Ian Billinghurst.

In 1993, Billinghurst’s book, “Give Your Dog a Bone” suggested that feeding your dog raw meat was natural and healthier than feeding the pet with cooked food or dry kibble.

↪️↪️Is Raw Food Better for Dogs ?

Trust raw diets to reliably and effectively improve your dog’s health.

Do you wonder if raw foods should be fed to your dog? Is feeding your dog raw food good?

Diabetes, cancer, food allergies and obesity in dogs are all more prevalent than ever. Your pet’s diet could have an impact on this. These life-threatening illnesses are on the rise, so we have to do more research to find natural ways to treat and prevent them.

Raw food for dogs can have positive effects on their overall health. But before you start, make sure to learn about the benefits of raw food for #dogs.

Here are 6 reasons you should trust raw dog food diets to reliably and effectively improve your dog's health:

1️⃣ Reduce The Junk

It is becoming harder and more difficult to avoid junk food, processed foods, high-sugar ingredients and other chemicals found in mass-produced foods, particularly #petfood . Specialty pet food has been gaining popularity due to a growing need to return to nature and cut down on the junk.

Raw feeding allows you to take control over your dog’s nutrition. You can eliminate the mysterious ingredients and replace them with easily digestible #nutrients made from real food.

2️⃣ Fad Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Fake

You can easily get caught up in the latest fads. Vegan, keto and long-term battle with grains are just some of the many diets that circulate the wild world of pet food. Some of these fads are popular, but each individual’s health and diet will determine the benefits.

You need to recognize that every dog is unique when it comes to their health. Your pet might need a diet that is compatible with your beliefs and lifestyle. Dogs have unique dietary requirements that are not met by a balanced and complete raw food diet.

It is essential to provide food for our dogs that they can thrive. It is known as a “biologically suitable diet.”

3️⃣ Carnivores Get Scavenged By Dogs

Dogs are technically omnivores. This means they can survive on meat or plants. However, the history of their bodies and behaviour tell us something different. Dogs are considered scavenging carnivores.

Scavenging carnivores are able to adapt to what is around them, unlike an obligate carnivore, which must eat meat in order to live. They eat whatever is around them and roam the countryside looking for food. If they are required to, dogs can live on plants and little animal protein. However, they thrive when they have access to meat.

It is possible to avoid common diseases such as diabetes and obesity by sticking closer to the carnivorous roots.

4️⃣ You Dog Eating Like a Carnivore

You need to understand how dogs digest food in order to better comprehend the advantages of giving them the highest quality raw diet.

Your dog’s stomach is where digestion begins. Dogs are better able to chew plant material than animals. Two factors are responsible for this: The lack of enzymes found in dogs’ saliva, and the shape of their teeth.

5️⃣ It Is Possible To Go Meat-Free, But Not Always Recommended

Although it may sound contradictory, the truth is that this fact can be found in the article. You can feed your dog a vegan or vegetarian diet. Vegetarian diets can be difficult to maintain and could cause your dog to lose important nutrients over time.

Although we are accustomed to trusting labels that state complete and balanced on pet food, many people forget that each dog is unique and that there is no one size fits all. To ensure that your dog gets the right nutrition, you need to see beyond pretty packaging and attention-grabbing words.

Plant-based nutrition should be natural and provide all necessary nutrients to maintain good health. It can be challenging because meat provides the greatest source of essential nutrients like omega fatty acid and amino acids.

6️⃣ It’s Alive!

We aren’t suggesting that you feed your dog prey. The best raw food for dogs is made from meat that has natural bacteria and enzymes. Foods like kibble and other processed food don’t contain helpful bacteria or enzymes to aid digestion.

These are known as dead foods. These foods are known as dead food. They are less nutritious and less readily recognised by pets’ bodies because they lack the natural nutrients.

Extrusion and canning are done at high temperatures. Heat can kill beneficial bacteria, enzymes and alter some ingredients at a molecular scale.

↪️↪️Cost of Raw Feeding for Dogs

This raw dog food diet is typically more expensive than a processed kibble diet. If you're looking into adopting this feeding method and struggling with the cost, there are several ways to save money on fresh food. 

For a start, source your meats and organs through local butchers, grocery stores, and do some hunting and fishing. Create or join a group of raw feeders who can come together to place orders in bulk at a discounted price. Invest in a freezer and wrap all purchases tightly to avoid freezer burn. All fresh raw food will last a few months if stored properly. 

"PER POUND COST IS TYPICALLY $2 TO $3 FOR MEAT"

When buying meat for the dogs, I try to stick to cuts that are $2 to $3 per pound. This is generally doable for cuts like chicken legs, chicken breast, pork tenderloin, pork butt, and some of the “off” cuts like liver, feet, gizzards, etc. Ideally, I like to be closer to $2 per pound, but that’s not always possible. Beef is rarely less than $3 a pound. However, I can sometimes find chicken or pork for $1 to $1.50 per pound, so it balances out. I will occasionally spend more to increase the variety in my dogs’ diets.

If you feed a premade raw diet, your cost per pound will be higher. At a minimum, premades are about $4 per pound. They can certainly be more.

↪️↪️10 Big Benefits of Raw Dog Food !!

Now that you see the biological argument for raw, it's time to address some of the benefits that you will notice after switching your raw dog. These benefits can help to solve some common health problems that you are dealing with in your raw dog and some that you may not have known they had.

↪️↪️4 Challenges of Feeding Your Dog Raw

Raw food diets look like the perfect diet choice on paper, but there are some inconveniences attached to feeding a raw dog food diet. Here are some common factors that can scare dog owners away from feeding raw.

✔️Safety Concerns

There is a lot of fear and confusion around the safety of feeding your pet raw meat. Safe food handling practices are required for raw feeding. Feeding your dog raw food diet is not without some risks.

✔️Sticker Shock

Probably the most apparent barrier for dog owners that are hesitant about raw pet food is the price tag. When you are used to seeing the price of kibble diets from the grocery store, the raw dog food section at your local pet store might seem shocking.

Of course, we need to break down the feeding guidelines and weigh the benefits before we let the feeding cost scare us too much.Yes, raw dog food is more expensive than most cooked commercial diets, but the long-term benefits and savings may help soften the price.

Improved overall health, as a result of raw feedings, will significantly reduce vet visits - other than routine check-ups - and can reduce the risk of serious health conditions later in life.I know it’s hard to justify a jump in the cost of pet care, but paying a little extra for raw dog food every month may also help you cut costs on other items that you use to care for your pet.

Some supplements, waste management supplies, and grooming supplies may not be needed as often or at all after switching.This sticker shock is a turn-off for potential raw dog food feeders, but for many, the long-term benefits of feeding raw do outweigh the short-term cost.

✔️Meal Prep is Time-Consuming

Another drawback to choosing raw feed for your dog is the preparation. Unlike kibble which can be simply scooped, served, and forgotten, raw feedings take a little more work.

You need to be prepared to plan your dog’s meal suggestions by portioning them and defrosting the right amount of food from a single meal to up to 2-3 days worth of meals.

✔️Your Vet May Not Approve

While the raw dog food fad isn't exactly new, its growing popularity has garnered some disapproval from some veterinarians. You may find that your vet isn't exactly supportive of your dog's new diet, but that doesn't necessarily mean the diet is bad.

The veterinary community is mixed in their support of the best raw dog food diets, with some vets being vehemently opposed, some in full support, and others who may not advocate for raw, but have taken the time to learn how to raw feed your dog food safely and are able to provide support to clients who have chosen this diet for their pets.

Why are vets against raw dog food diets? There are many reasons that vets may not approve of raw dog food, but the most common concern is whether the diets are actually complete and balanced. Many commercial raw diets are complete and balanced, but not all of them, so if your vet expresses concern over your raw pet food, it's a good idea to hear them out. 

A lack of regulation, especially in Canada, means that there are both commercial raw dog food diets that aren't nutritionally balanced for all breeds and life stages and a lot of homemade natural raw dog food recipes on the internet that are lacking vital nutrients. If you don't know what your dog needs, or what their food provides, then you could end up doing more harm than good. 

Even if your vet does not advocate for feeding, it's still a good idea to keep them informed of your pet's diet history and discuss the nutritional needs of your pet. The choice of what you feed your dog is up to you, but your vet is still a valuable tool in making sure your dog's diet is well-balanced for its unique needs.

↪️↪️How to Choose the Best Raw Diet for Your Dog ?

🔊Be Prepared for Food Prep. Feeding raw is not as quick and easy as filling a bowl with kibble. You need to make sure you’re handling raw meat safely, washing your hands thoroughly after prepping or serving their food. Treat their food as carefully as you would treat meat for your family.

There’s an idea out there that raw food is more likely to carry salmonella or e.coli, but so can kibble! If your dog decides to give you some kisses right after eating, whether it was kibble or raw food, make sure to wash that saliva off as soon as possible!

🔊Store raw food properly. Plastic containers are prone to cracking and scratches where bacteria can live. Glass, ceramic, or metal dishes for serving and storing are safer.

Only defrost enough for 1-2 days of feeding at a time. Do not thaw dog food on the counter. Thaw it in the fridge to lower bacteria risks.

🔊Clean and sanitize everything. If you were cooking for your family, you’d probably carefully sanitize all the utensils, prep dishes, and surfaces in your kitchen after handling any raw meat. The same goes for your dog’s raw food. Sanitize counters, cutting boards, storage containers, and dog dishes after every meal.

You’ll probably want to have a few sets of dog dishes on hand. This way, you can toss one set in the dishwasher on a sanitize cycle and still have more for the next day’s meals.

↪️↪️Types of Raw Dog Food

🥩 Dehydrated Raw Dog Food

Raw dog food can be dehydrated, one of the oldest methods used to preserve food naturally. Basically, it is done by removing the water or moisture from the raw ingredients in a low-heat drying method. Such a process maintains the original nutritional value of ingredients intact and reduces the possible growth of any microorganisms that are dangerous to dogs.

Below are some of the benefits of raw dehydrated dog food.

Nutrition

Dehydrated raw food becomes more nutritious and tastier. With that, it can be a fantastic choice for dogs with gastrointestinal sensitivities. The dehydration method aids the digestive process to begin, making it easier on the digestive tract of a dog.

Shelf-Life

A box of dehydrated food may often indicate that it’s ten pounds worth of meals. But the ten-pound bag can almost quadruple once you start using it. You’d be surprised that it can last for months, depending on your dog’s size. But in many cases, you’ll feed your dog less food when you’re giving them dehydrated raw food.

Convenience

This type of raw food diet is easy to prepare. In many cases, you only have to add warm water and let it sit for three to four minutes to rehydrate the food before feeding it to your dog. It’s also convenient to carry and store since it doesn’t require any freezing or special care before you’re ready to use it.

🥩 Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

This freeze-dried raw dog food also undergoes a water or moisture removal process to preserve the ingredients. But unlike the dehydrated raw food, warm air is not used to remove moisture in freeze-dried raw food. Instead, it is done by freezing the raw ingredient, then lowering the pressure to allow the frozen water in the food to evaporate without thawing or cooking.

The following are among the benefits that you can get from a free-dried raw diet.

Nutrition

The key advantage of free-dried food is that the nutrients are more intact than the dehydrated pack because it doesn’t use any heat. Essential nutrients like enzymes, fats, and probiotics retain their quality better. The natural taste of the food is also more preserved because it is used without extensive processing.

Shelf-Life

A freeze-dried raw diet is often good for at least a year, although some may last up to five. You must check the sell-by date on the package. But in most cases, you’ll have to use it within a month once you open the package and let air in.

Convenience

Free-dried dog food is extremely shelf-stable. You can just keep it on the shelf at room temperature, making it easier to store. Because it’s also portable and lightweight, a free-dried diet is great for camping or backpacking with your dog.

🥩 Frozen Raw Dog Food

Raw dog food can also be frozen. It is just like storing your food in the freezer. Although serving instructions may vary by brand and specific diet, preparation often involves thawing and the frozen food ingredients and possibly rehydrating it. Make sure to check out the feeding instructions and proper storage on the package of the specific food you’re purchasing.

Highlighted below are some of the benefits of feeding your dog a frozen raw diet.

Nutrition

A frozen raw diet comes closer to the natural diet of your dog’s wild ancestors. Because freezing also helps to maintain the food’s full nutritional value, it’s also a healthy option for your dog. But of the meats used in frozen dog food, chicken has the most complete amino acid profile. If your dog is allergic to chicken, look for other meat choices.

Shelf-Life

The shelf-life of an unused bag of frozen raw is typically up to one year in the freezer. But don’t forget to check out the package and not exceed the printed expiration date. Nevertheless, raw dog food can stay as long as one year in the freezer, depending on the specific type of food ingredient.

Convenience

Keeping raw dog food frozen is the easiest way to prevent food contamination. But of course, you’ll need room to store it in the freezer and thaw it before serving it to your dog. In terms of convenience, it may not be an excellent option when you’re into camping or traveling.

↪️↪️How to Meal Raw Dog Food ？

Now you know the advantages of feeding raw and how to choose the right type of diet, but just what are you getting yourself into? Choosing the food and feeding the food are two different things.

I'm not going to lie; feeding your dog a raw diet isn't as simple as throwing kibble into a bowl and walking away. Raw dog food diets require you to be more involved in your dog's meal prep and eating habits. It's an investment of both money and time, but if you want the best for your dog, some sacrifices need to be made.

There are a few extra steps involved in feeding raw. Build a consistent routine to help simplify the daily and weekly process of feeding raw dog food. You'll see that raw dog food preparation isn't as complicated as it sounds.

These helpful tips and best practices can ensure that you are feeding appropriately and that your dog will thrive on its new raw diet.

↪️↪️How Much Raw Dog Food To Feed Dog？

As a general rule, dogs should eat approximately 2-5% of their body weight in raw daily food. This will vary depending on the dog’s energy and activity levels.

• If your pet is overweight and needs to lose a few extra kilos, feed them closer to 2% of their body weight and give them more exercise.
• For the average activity level, 3% per day is generally fine.
• If your pet is underweight, or has high activity levels, closer to 4% should be fed.
• Very highly active dogs, like working dogs will need up to 5% of body weight per day.

Here’s a simple calculator tool to give you a basic guideline of how much freeze dried raw dog food to feed:

↪️↪️Here’s a simple calculator website tool to give you a basic guideline of how much freeze dried raw dog food to feed:

⚜️ https://www.rawdogfoodcalculator.com

↪️↪️Can Puppies Eat Raw Dog Food?

Just like babies, puppies grow rapidly during the first few months of their lives, and a proper diet provides the necessary nutrients to meet their needs. This developmental stage needs to be well fueled for a healthy pup. In this article, we will talk about the benefits of a puppy being fed an AAFCO-approved, commercially-prepared raw pet food.

🍒Why Raw Feed Puppies?

Feeding your puppy on a commercial raw diet comes with an impressive list of benefits.

• Puppies grow slower and develop stronger bone structure and muscle.The body takes time to develop naturally into providing a better or more powerful stance as the puppy grows.
• Natural foods are known to have highly digestible protein and essential oils ,which is one of the main contributors of your puppies’ growth, body mass, and building as well as brain development.
• Puppies derived from parents that are on a raw diet have stronger immune systems comrade to those on processed food. The stronger body can fight diseases and infections more effectively lowering puppy mortality at this stage.
• Processed foods contribute to poor healthy microbe formation in the intestinal tract. Raw foods, on the other hand, are packed with healthy bacteria for a healthy gut that will produce less waste and low odor in stools.
• Puppies used to raw food to develop rich fur or coats that are shiny and well colored. The eyes, nose, ears, and mouth are also richly pigmented and brightly colored.
• A raw diet will also affect a puppy’s behavioral pattern. Raw fed puppies have more natural energy, with a moderate temperament making them easier to train and work with when it comes to obedience.

🍒What Does a Puppy Need for Healthy Growth?

Small breed puppies may need up to 10% of their weight per day in food, especially if they are active. Large breed puppies may need 4-8% of their weight per day. Every dog has a different metabolism, and suggestions for how much to feed are based on averages. Your dog is unique and may require less or more than suggested to maintain an ideal body condition.

↪️↪️Can a Dog Be Allergic to Raw Dog Food?

Many pet parents are turning to raw dog food as a solution to dog food allergies and poor digestion, but is it the perfect solution? Switching your dog to a limited ingredient and minimally processed diet can help to eliminate allergens and improve digestion, but that doesn't mean that dogs can't be allergic to something in their new raw dog. 

True food allergies are not as common as you might think; they do exist. If your dog is allergic to an animal protein, even if the meat is raw, could still result in an allergic reaction. Make sure you choose a type of raw diet that avoids ingredients that you suspect are contributing to allergies and skin issues.

The most common cause of skin reactions that are commonly mistaken for allergies is poor digestion. Switching to a raw diet can help, but rebalancing gut flora and improving digestion takes time, so don't expect immediate results. 

↪️↪️ How Do You Make Raw Dog Food At Home?

When it comes to preparing raw meals, you must start from the beginning. Protein, fat, carbs, and vitamins are all included in most dog foods. It's up to you to figure out how to reintroduce that well-balanced raw dog food diet at home.

While it may appear complicated at first, there is a formula that makes meal planning considerably simpler. While it does not guarantee optimal nutrient concentrations within the diet, it does help in mimicking an ancestral wild diet. 

Many dog owners all around the globe utilize the 5:1:1 recipe. The ratio of components in the recipe is healthy. Five parts bone-in meat, one part fresh organ meat, and one part fresh vegetables should make up your dog's diet.

Here’s a general way to prepare a raw meal for your dog:

• First, take any minced or diced meat of your choice.
• Secondly, choose a meat organ of your choice and mix it with the minced meat.
• Then, grate fresh veggies into it.
• Make sure the measurements are about that 23% meat and 13% vegetable.
• Then mix these ingredients and add fish oil to make your dog’s meal more nutritious.

↪️↪️ What Ingredients Are In A Raw Diet?

The type of ingredients you include in your dog’s raw #meals depends on your dog’s preferences. For example, some dogs may not like to eat fish, while others would prefer beef.

Because it's tough to precisely balance every meal, strive for nutritional balance throughout multiple meals or days.

This is accomplished by providing your dog with an array of diverse ingredients.

Here are the most common #ingredients included in raw dog foods:

• Lean ground meat and heart (eg. beef heart)
• Raw meat organs( eg: beef liver)
• Vegetables 
• Fish oil
• Supplements of your choice

On another note, these supplements can be added to your dog’s meals if it’s not getting the nutrients it needs from its diet or if it needs a dietary boost for better health.

There’s a lot of good supplements for a raw diet that can be added to your dog’s meal. Therefore, always ask your veterinarian for advice before feeding your dog any vitamins or supplements.

↪️↪️ 10 Safety Tips on Raw Feeding Rules for Dogs

I’ll summarize what I’ve learned from feeding dozens of dogs and puppies a raw diet over the last twenty years. I want to make it as easy as possible for you to get started. But be sure to read all ten of the rules right to the end.

While they’re easy to follow, each one is important and will make sure your dog’s raw diet is balanced and safe.

Rule # 1: The Raw Dog Food Diet Must Have Calcium: Dogs, and especially puppies, need a solid source of minerals. Especially calcium and phosphorus. Your dog wouldn’t survive without them.

Rule #2: Organs Are the Multi-Vitamins: The number two mistake raw feeders make with a raw dog food diet … I’ll talk about the #1 mistake soon… is not feeding enough organs. Organs are the nutrient-rich parts of the animal. Without them, your dog could be missing some important vitamins. You’ll want to feed anywhere from 10% to 30% organ meats. But this depends on how much you can get. If you can only find liver, just feed 10% organs.

Rule #3: Muscle Meat Is the Foundation: Once you get your meaty bones and organs in place, the rest of your dog’s diet should be nice lean meats. That means half to a third of his total food, depending on how much organ meat you can get your hands on. These are the protein-rich component of your dog’s diet. He needs proteins to build strong tissues. And it supports the hormones and enzymes he needs to survive and thrive.

Rule #4: Watch The Fat: Fat is healthy for your dog. It helps with nerve and immune function and is critical for skin health. But fat carries a downside… fat contains twice the number of calories as protein. And it contains very few vitamins and minerals. Remember I said I’d mention the #1 mistake when it comes to raw diets? It’s feeding too much fat. If your dog’s diet is too high in fat, I guarantee he won’t be getting enough vitamins and minerals. The calories from fat will add up before he gets enough vitamins and minerals. And you might start to see some long-term health issues if the fat is too high. The main reason why so many raw feeders give their dogs too much fat … is because cheaper meats contain a lot of fat. But if you watch for sales, you can get low-fat meats at a good price.

Rule #5: Don’t Get Hung Up On Fruit and Veg: Should you add fruits and vegetables to your dog’s raw diet? The short answer is it’s up to you. If you stick to the first four rules … your dog will get a nicely balanced raw diet with enough vitamins and minerals to do well. But why end there? Fruits and vegetables carry some unique benefits your dog can’t get from animal products. And in the wild, your dog’s ancestors ate a reasonable amount of grasses and berries. And I like to think that they ate them for a reason. Because animals are very good at sourcing out the foods their bodies need. 

Rule #6: Keep It Starch-Free: Starchy foods like grains, peas and potatoes aren’t suitable for your dog … or for you for that matter. Dogs do have the ability to digest some grain content. And can include a small amount of grains in training treats … but try as much as possible to limit their use. Starchy foods cause your dog to continually produce a hormone called insulin. This causes him to store a lot of his food as fat, so if your dog is on the chubby side, avoiding grains will help. This can also lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. But the biggest reason to ditch the starch is that it only adds calories to your dog’s diet.

Rule #7: Variety Counts: Just like us, dogs need a variety of wholesome foods to provide them with a wide range of nutrients. Not to mention the fact that it’s boring to eat the same foods every day! Feed a wide variety of different foods, including different sources of meat. Don’t forget to feed some of the “weird and icky things”. Such as chicken, duck or turkey feet, beef trachea, tails, lung, testicles and pizzles. Beef trachea and poultry feet are loaded with natural chondroitin and glucosamine. Which help to build healthy joints and they’re reasonably priced. Adding the icky parts is a win-win.

Rule #8: Balance Over Time: One common concern with raw feeding is that it’s not “complete and balanced.” This isn’t true for two reasons. First, nobody knows what complete and balanced is, so it’s difficult to make this claim. Second, balance can occur over time … every meal doesn’t need to be completely balanced. As long as your dog’s nutritional needs are met over the course of a few days or weeks, you’re good.

Rule #9: Feed Fish Once a Week: Although a lot of raw feeders do, I never give my dogs fish oil. It can easily turn rancid (even high quality oil) and cause inflammation in your dog. It’s not environmentally friendly and it’s a heated, processed product. I feed my dogs to avoid the unhealthy consequences of heating and processing. And I don’t want to undo all that hard work and extra expense by slathering fish oil all over my dogs’ meals.

Rule # 10: Relax: If you follow rules 1 through 9, you’ll be feeding your dog a fresh, whole food diet that’s safe and balanced. It really is that easy to feed raw. The only step left is to start doing it! 

↪️↪️ How Do You Feed Your Dog Raw Food While Traveling?

Traveling with raw food may seem like a challenge, but it can be done successfully with these tips & tricks! Traveling with raw food can be done in a variety of ways. Depending on where and how long you are traveling can affect how you feed raw.

Options for feeding raw dog food during travel include:

1. Packing a cooler with ice and frozen raw food

2. Packing freeze-dried raw food (doesn’t need refrigeration)

3. Buying raw food once you reach your destination

4. Fasting your dog for 24 to 36 hours (for short trips)

Packing freeze-dried or dehydrated raw food makes the most sense for our longer road trips (12+ hours in the car), and we like to do a lot of camping.

However, one issue with changing your dog’s food to freeze-dried is they might get an upset stomach if they’re not used to it.

If your dog is sensitive and not used to change, you might want to slowly introduce the new food a few weeks before your trip.

↪️↪️ How to Transition Your Dog to Raw Food ?

So you’re thinking about switching your dog to a fresh, raw diet but don’t know where to start? Let us show you how easy and simple it can be.

How do I introduce raw food to my dog?

We always recommend a slow introduction to our food over 2 weeks. This is to minimise any potential for stomach upsets which can happen if a change in diet is sudden. A slow introduction can also help with dogs that aren’t particularly fond of change or if the change in diet is a big difference. Imagine going from eating processed fast foods all your life then being presented a meal with fresh, unprocessed, uncooked ingredients… it may take a bit of getting used to in the beginning. So keep a close eye on them while they are eating their meals, and monitor their stools during the transitioning period.

Here is what you should do over the next two weeks broken down into percentages:

Day 1-3: 20% New 80% Old

Day 4-6: 40% New 60% Old

Day 7-9: 60% New 40% Old

Day 10-12: 80% New 20% Old

Day 12+: 100% New Diet

This is just a guide, don’t stress about percentages too much. Your dog definitely won’t be pulling you up if you serve them 22% and 78%. Just work towards slowly swapping your dog’s food over 2 weeks.

↪️↪️ You Are Raw Ready 🐶🐶🐶

With the right knowledge, choosing a raw diet should feel much less daunting. The results will help you provide the best life for your dog so that it can continue to bring joy to your home.

No matter how average or unique your dog's dietary needs are, there is a raw dog food option to help your pet thrive. 

Give raw a chance. Your dog will thank you, and with the money, you’ll save on vet bills, and so will your wallet. Best of all, your dog will live its absolute best and healthiest life. Don't take it from us! Try it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.