Switching your dog to raw is simpler than it looks
If you have been thinking about moving your dog to raw food, the transition is the part that trips most people up before they even start. The good news: most dogs make the switch without any drama at all. The trick is to ease their gut over from kibble across about ten days so their digestion has time to catch up to real food. Here is exactly how to do it, and what to expect along the way.
Before you start, it helps to know how much to feed. Our free feeding calculator sizes your dog's daily portion in a few seconds, so you are working from a real number instead of a guess.
The 10-day switch, day by day
Feed raw and your dog's current food as separate meals, morning and night, rather than mixing them in one bowl. Then shift the ratio a little every few days:
- Days 1 to 2: 75% current food, 25% raw. A small first taste. Feed the meal a touch smaller than usual and keep fresh water down.
- Days 3 to 4: 50% current food, 50% raw. An even split. Stools may soften for a day or two, which is simply the gut recalibrating.
- Days 5 to 7: 25% current food, 75% raw. Raw is the main event now, and most dogs are eating with real enthusiasm by this point!
- Days 8 to 10: 100% raw. Fully switched. Settle on one recipe your dog loves, then start rotating proteins from there.
Got an iron-gut dog? You can switch cold
Plenty of healthy adult dogs move to raw in a single meal with no trouble at all. If your dog has a hardy stomach, you can skip one meal to let them build an appetite, then serve raw straight. Keep an eye on their stool over the next few days and you are off to the races.
What is normal in the first week
A few changes are common and nothing to worry about:
- Softer stool for a few days. The gut is adjusting to the moisture and fat in real food after dry kibble. It usually firms up within a week, and smaller, firmer stools are one of the first wins people notice.
- Different water intake. Raw food carries far more moisture than kibble, so many dogs drink less at the bowl. Always leave fresh water out anyway.
- Real excitement at mealtime. Do not be surprised if your dog suddenly acts like dinner is the best part of the day!
A few pointers that make it smooth
- Start with a single protein and get it steady before you add variety.
- Thaw a day's food in the fridge, never on the counter.
- Keep raw and kibble as separate meals during the switch rather than combined in one bowl.
- If stool stays loose, a firm chew like a smoked beef bone can help settle things.
Once you are fully switched
This is the fun part. Rotating proteins across the month gives your dog a broader range of nutrients and keeps picky eaters interested. Our combo boxes are built for exactly this, and if you want to browse everything in one place, start with the full collection. Every grind is made in small batches with fresh ground bone and six organs, the way we would feed our own dogs.
Not sure how much to order? Run your dog through the feeding calculator first. It tells you the daily portion, the monthly haul, and how long a 30 lb box will keep your freezer stocked.
This guide is educational and is not veterinary advice. Every dog is different, so check with your veterinarian before changing your dog's diet, especially for puppies, seniors, pregnant or nursing dogs, or any dog with a health condition.