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Nettie’s - Things to Expect When you Start Feeding a Raw Dog Food Diet

If you are new to raw feeding or thinking of changing to raw, then this is the article for you.

If you are new to feeding a raw dog food diet or thinking of changing to raw, then this is the article for you. We take a look at what you can expect when starting out feeding raw, including the changes/improvements you can expect from your dog.

Whether you have only been feeding your pet dry food/kibble for a few days, or a longer period, perhaps even years in many cases, you will need to introduce them to raw gradually over a few days. It is best to start with a simple protein I.e. 100% Chicken Mince Raw Dog Food.

The ideal time line is three days and you would start by swapping the first meal of the day for raw to give them a taste. This will help introduce them to new textures, flavours and temperatures.

(We suggest swapping the first meal of the day as it gives time for the raw food to be digested before the next meal. Raw takes approximately 4hrs to digest whereas kibble takes approximately 12 hrs.)

Then give them two thirds of the day’s meal as raw dog food on day two.

Then on the third day replace the entire day’s food allowance with raw dog food and continue this for the remainder of the week.

Keep an eye out on your pet during this period to ensure there are no adverse effects and check their stools throughout.

Some dogs can be reluctant but that can depend how long they have been on dry food. However, once they try it, they soon take to it quickly.

Some of the first things you’ll notice are the stools will change over the first few days. There will be less poo than before. I.e. the dog is absorbing more of the food so less is passing out. Also, there will be residue from the kibble which will take a few days to pass through their digestive system.

You will notice their poo becoming less smelly. This will also take a few days as the dog detoxes from the additives and cereals found in dry food. Your pet will also be less gassy.

We recommend adding some herbage to ensure you are including the micro nutrients that your

pet will need. We suggest the Dorwest Keeprs Mix which has the full range of nutrients required. You can add certain leftovers from your own meals such as leafy salads and vegetables, although the bigger harder pieces will need to be chopped up or grated because generally they eat it whole and it doesn’t get absorbed as easily.

Natural Dog Treats to Try in the Early Stages

Many owners like to give their dogs or cats a treat. Maybe it’s daily, or every other day but some of our suggested treats are:


  • Hairy Rabbit Ears – They deliver a satisfying crunch and are an easy chew for both small and larger dogs. They also have hair which is great for filtering out parasites from their digestive systems which are then passed out in their poo.

  • Dried Meat Pieces – These are also great as a rewarding treat and are an easy chew for both small and larger dogs alike.

  • Pizzles – These come in a variety of sizes which you can tailor to size or strength of your dog. Both satisfying and healthy.

We have a vast range of natural dog treats for you to explore. Have a good look around our treats section and find what works best for your pet.

Feeding a Raw Dog Food Diet in Phase Two

Now that you’ve been raw feeding for over a week, it’s time to introduce some different proteins to their diet. Perhaps try a Chicken & Beef mix, or a Chicken & Lamb mince. Just keep an eye on them and their stools to ensure their digestive system is coping with the change in food types.

If at any point a food source doesn’t sit well with your pet, just revert back to the last meal they had that worked well and try a different protein source. 

To give you some idea of improvements to expect in week two here are what we experienced over the years:

You’ll start to notice the coat gets softer and smoother.

You’ll also notice in most cases that their temperament improves. They tend to calm down more than before. They can be more focused and the interest levels improve.

In some cases those suffering arthritis can be improved over the days and weeks of introducing raw. Raw supports the animal better than commercial food.

When you change to feeding raw you are no longer fighting the animal’s system which can reduce inflammation in joints and muscles.

Raw feeding is a holistic approach that improves the microbiome of your pet. Once the gut health improves, everything else follows.

Not only do they poo less they also drink less and wee less. The urine will be more concentrated but that’s fine and to be expected.

Feeding a Raw Dog Food Diet in Phase Three

Now is the time to introduce them to some form of the softer whole bone based meal, as well as mince mixes. Our chicken carcasses are great for this and the bones in carcasses aren’t too hard to chew and crush.

Feeding the whole carcass gives your pet everything they need for a healthy outlook. It also challenges them to chew and tear the meal as they work their way through the carcass.

When you introduce your dog to bone based meals try and balance it out with a mince based meal in the evening. This is to ensure their digestive system has time to cope with the new food types.

Over a bit more time you’ll notice their teeth will improve as their plaque softens and the bones or tripe sticks will scrape that remaining plaque off. You’ll notice fewer odours and improved doggy breath.

For pets who suffered from yeast infections you will notice a reduction in issues. This includes ear infections and much more besides.

You will by now have noticed your dog smells less ‘doggy’ and more like they would have naturally. The toxins that have built up from dry food should have passed out of their system and their poo will now be smaller and less smelly.

To ensure your dog has the best of the best we advise customers to add the Neptune’s Yard Skin and Coat Mix. It’s made from seaweed which is well known to be a super food.

Neptune’s Yard uses fermented seaweed which acts as a pre-biotic. Pre-biotics act by helping the pro-biotic bacteria in the gut which aid healthy digestion. It basically helps your pet to get more of the nutrients out of the food it’s eating.

Just a small amount per day will make such a difference to the long term health and life of your pet.

Keep giving them a variety of proteins to ensure they get the nutrients they need to live a happy and healthy life.

Feeding a Raw Dog Food Diet in Phase Four

Now that you’re in the 4th phase your pet should be completely happy with raw feeding. It is a good time to start trying out more varieties of meats. Perhaps try them with a 100% Pheasant, or even Lamb Hearts.

You can also start trying the harder bones such as lamb ribs or chicken drum sticks. Always check the stools, again this is to ensure they are digesting it properly. If there are large chunks of bone in the stools then it’s probably best to revert back to softer bone meals and reintroducing the harder bones a bit further into the journey.

By now your dog should be far healthier and probably happier than they were on dry food/kibbles.

One of the key things you will notice is that you should experience far less visits to the vet. Their teeth will be naturally cleaner, less infections, stronger immune systems, the list goes on.

The thing most people say that make the change from kibble to raw is… “We wish we had done it sooner!”

As with everything we do here at Nurturing by Nature, if you have any questions about any aspect of raw feeding, or pet health, then please get in touch and we will always do our very best to get you the help you need.

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