Transition / Starting Raw

🥩 Transitioning Your Dog to Raw Feeding

Before starting your raw feeding journey, please read this guide—it covers the most commonly asked questions and ensures a smooth transition for your dog.

✔️ A straight switch works for over 97% of dogs, so this is the recommended method.

✔️ Suitable for dogs of all ages, from 8 weeks to 14+ years—the benefits of a species-appropriate diet are immense!

🩺 Health Considerations Before Transitioning

✅ If your dog hasn’t had a recent health check, it’s recommended to see a vet before switching diets.

✅ For dogs with existing health conditions, consult a pro-raw or holistic vet or a 1-on-1 nutritionist to ensure there’s no impact on their condition.

✅ If your dog is on medication, it’s essential to get a vet’s approval before implementing dietary changes or supplements.

💡 HUA Dalmatians require a different transition plan due to genetics—for guidance, join Raw Fed Dalmatians on Facebook or read our blog here.

🛠️ Equipment Needed for Raw Feeding

✔️ Digital kitchen scales (including spare batteries)

✔️ Defrosting board (helps safely speed up defrosting—perfect for forgetful moments!)

✔️ Freezer storage – Ensure it’s energy-efficient & large enough for raw food rotation

🏪 Recommended Raw Food Brands

💰 Budget-Friendly Option:

✔️ Durham Animal Feeds (454g blocks or 500g trays; single protein only—e.g., Chicken meat, bone, offal)

🚫 Tripe-Free Brands (Best for sensitive dogs)

✔️ 4PAWSRAW 80/10/10

✔️ Dougies 80/10/10

✔️ Cotswold Butchers Block Range

✔️ Naked Dog Pure Range

✔️ Prodog Raw Pure Range

✅ Tripe-Containing (Higher quality)

✔️ Henley Raw Just Range (Ox (beef) & Lamb contain 30% tripe)

💡 Tripe can trigger itching, yeast issues, or stool instability for some dogs. If symptoms occur, feed tripe-free options for at least 12 weeks.

✔️ Henley Raw offers a huge range of 33 recipes, catering to all dogs, whether tripe-free or tripe-inclusive.

🐕 Handling Protein Allergies & Sensitivities

✅ Most dogs with dry/wet food allergies tolerate raw well, so restriction is rarely needed.

✅ Confirmed chicken allergy? Start with Cotswold Butchers Block Turkey.

✅ Blood test shows allergies to all listed proteins? Seek guidance from a holistic vet, as true protein allergies in dogs are extremely rare.

✅ Suspected food intolerances (without a blood test)? Follow our standard transition process—raw food is unlikely to cause reactions.

📌 Budget-friendly raw brands often use beef/lamb offal (Birmingham Raw) or chicken bone (Prime), making management of true protein allergies more challenging.

🍼 If Your Dog Was Previously Fed Raw

Some dogs arrive from breeders or previous owners already on a raw diet. However, not all prior raw feeding practices were nutritionally balanced.

💡 To ensure a smooth gut reset, start with 3 days of boneless chicken or turkey (whichever protein you’re transitioning with).

✔️ This helps strengthen gut health and allows you to assess your dog’s needs as they grow.

🥩 Step-by-Step Protein Transition Plan

✅ Week 1: Chicken OR Turkey (80/10/10)

✅ Week 2: Beef OR Duck (80/10/10)

✅ Week 3: Lamb OR Pork (80/10/10)

💡 Each week offers two protein options to accommodate rare intolerances—but choose only one protein per week, not both.

🦴 Managing Bone Content in Raw Diets

💡 Some poultry minces contain up to 15% bone instead of 10%—this is usually fine, but adjust as needed:

✔️ If constipation or white/crumbly stools occur, mix in boneless mince to dilute bone content.

✔️ Monitor stools (aka "poo patrol") to ensure easy passage without straining—refer to our blog here for more stool guidance.

⚠️ Raw brands can occasionally contain large bone fragments—always check with a fork or spork before feeding!

📌 Key Tips for a Successful Transition

✔️ Check food labels – Ensure they are 80/10/10 and single protein (e.g., Chicken meat, chicken bone, chicken offal).

✔️ Keep boneless minces on hand – Helps adjust bone content if needed (e.g., Chicken 80/10/10 + Chicken 100% meat for dilution).

By following this structured approach, you’ll be setting your dog up for a healthy, balanced raw diet.

🥩 Step-by-Step Guide to Transitioning Your Dog to Raw Feeding

Transitioning to raw is simple and effective—over 97% of dogs adapt seamlessly! Follow this structured process to ensure a smooth switch for your pet.

🔢 Step 1: Calculate Feeding Amounts

✅ Weigh your dog

✅ Use the Feeding Allowance Calculator to determine daily portions

✅ Use the Fish Calculator for oily fish requirements

✅ Use the Transition Breakdown Calculator to calculate how much to buy, including extra packets for Week 2 & 3

🌱 Step 2: Choose Supplements for the First 3 Weeks

✔️ Pick one gut support supplement

✔️ Pick one general health supplement

💡 After 3 weeks:

🔹 Gut support can be kept for occasional use when needed

🔹 General health support can be continued until it runs out or replaced with other supplements or fresh foods

🦠 Gut Health Supplements:

✔️ Dorwest Herbs Tree Barks

✔️ Proflax Tummy Tastic

✔️ River & Wren Botanical Digestive Blend

✔️ Optional for sensitive stomachs: Colostrum (Prodog or Aniforte)

💪 General Health Supplements:

✔️ Dorwest Herbs Easy Greens (Cooling & supportive for itchy skin)

✔️ Dorwest Herbs Keepers Mix (Balanced herbal blend for overall health)

✔️ Proflax Flax Range Oil (Puppy formula for <1 year OR Immunity & Vitality for others)

✔️ River & Wren Botanical Everyday Blend

💡 Prefer other options? Explore our supplements list—but the best transition success stories often involve using the options above!

🏪 Step 3: Find a Supplier

✔️ Check our Supplier Map for local options

✔️ Nationwide suppliers (UK-based)

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🍽️ Step 4: Begin the Transition

🚀 Start after your dog’s last non-raw meal (at night), then begin this process the next morning.

🦴 Week 1: Introduction to Raw

🐾 Feed: Chicken OR Turkey (Single protein, 80/10/10 ratio)

🐾 Use Gut Support Supplements: Dorwest Tree Barks, Proflax Tummy Tastic, OR River & Wren Digestive Blend

🐾 Use General Health Supplements: Dorwest Easy Greens, Keepers Mix, Proflax Flax Oil OR River & Wren Everyday Blend

🐾 Bone Broth: Alexander’s Natural OR Karnlea (or make your own with our Bone Broth Blog)

🐾 Proflax Flax Oil: Feed separately in one meal if possible

🐾 Include: 2-3 servings of oily fish & egg (either with meals or as treats)

⚠️ Common Transition Symptoms:

✅ Yellow/white foamy vomit? Normal! Offer a small snack between meals (e.g., JR Pet Products or Drool Pate).

✅ Food regurgitation? Use a slow feeder or lick mat.

✅ Loose stools? Should settle soon—if urgent diarrhoea, seek advice from our Facebook group and if its more than 3 instances, a vet

✅ Hard, white, or crumbly stools? Add boneless meat (can be store-bought!).

🥩 Week 2: Introducing Beef

🐾 Day 1: ¼ Beef (80/10/10), ¾ Chicken or Turkey

🐾 Day 2: ½ Beef, ½ Chicken or Turkey

🐾 Day 3: ¾ Beef, ¼ Chicken or Turkey

🐾 Day 4-7: 100% Beef (80/10/10)

✔️ Continue using supplements and extras from Week 1.

🐑 Week 3: Introducing Lamb

🐾 Repeat the process used in Week 2, but with Lamb instead of Beef.

💡 At the end of Week 3:

✔️ Stop using gut support supplements unless stools still need firming

✔️ Keep gut support on hand for future occasional use

🎉 Congratulations! Your dog is fully transitioned to raw feeding!

🔹 Additional Considerations for Specific Breeds

🐾 Blue, Fawn, Merle, or Lilac Dogs:

💡 Help defend against Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) using:

✔️ Dorwest Keepers Mix OR Kelp Seaweed OR Easy Greens OR River & Wren Seaweed Topper

💡 Use these supplements 2-3 days a week (Do NOT overlap ingredients between them!).

🚨 CDA is a genetic condition—these supplements won’t cure it, but they can help manage symptoms. If CDA is suspected, consult a vet for diagnosis, as symptoms can mimic other conditions.

🍖 What’s Next? Expanding the Diet!

✅ Introduce Raw Meaty Bones (Follow our Bones Guide to ensure size-appropriate selections.)

✅ Explore different brands & complete meals (Check our Raw Brands Guide for pros & cons!)

✅ Slowly introduce new proteins following the same transition method used for Beef & Lamb.

✅ Aim for 5+ proteins per week, including:🐕 Red Meat🐕 White Meat🐕 Game Meat

✅ Start adding vegetables & fruits (Check our Feeding Guide for ideas!)

✅ Consider new supplements (Use our Supplements List as inspiration, but choose what works best for your dog & budget!)

✅ Explore feeding day-old chicks or ducklings as enrichment options.

💰 Look for supplier deals on transition brands!

✅ Final Thoughts

By following this step-by-step transition plan, your dog will thrive on a raw diet with balanced nutrition and optimal health.

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