All felines and canines survive just fine by eating raw meat by hunting their prey. This doesn’t change just because they have been domesticated.
Still, transitioning may have some side effects when your pets have been on kibble since birth. But there’s no reason to worry, as this is just a normal immune system response. Within a few days, their body will adapt, and they can continue to enjoy a nutritious raw meal.
But if you’re still concerned, read on to learn everything you can expect and why it happens during the transition to a raw diet.
Common Symptoms in the First Few Days
When your pets switch to raw food, they may experience the following symptoms:
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Loose stool
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Gas
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Vomiting
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Excessive hunger
Such symptoms might last for seven to fourteen days. As a pet parent, this might seem concerning, and you might even want to stop using raw food altogether. But this is completely normal.
Let’s look at an explanation of each possible symptom and how to overcome it till the body fully adopts:
Loose Stool
Whenever your dog eats, the food gets broken down by enzymes, making it easier for the food to be digested. However, the enzymes that break down a carbohydrate-rich diet aren’t the same as those that break down a protein-rich diet.
So, when you make the switch to a raw diet, the pancreas needs time to adapt so that the right enzyme can break down the food. As a result, your pet passes loose stool.
Solution: While the body will adapt on its own after a few days have passed, you can try adding a digestive enzyme along with the first raw meal to make the transition smooth.
Gas
The enzymes and bacteria present in the stomach, also known as the gut flora, are pretty different for pets that have been fed dry food as opposed to those that eat raw food.
As the gut flora continues to adapt to the changes to ensure all raw meat, bone, and protein is broken down, your fur baby becomes gassy. In some cases, they even start feeling nauseous.
After the transition, your pet’s stomach pH will become more acidic, which helps break down raw foods. Once the pH changes, this problem will resolve on its own.
Solution: You can add pro and prebiotics to your pet’s food as a supplement to ensure the transition phase goes smoothly.
Vomiting
Since raw food is already filled with moisture, it does not require as much bile to break down the nutrients. On the other hand, dry food must be rehydrated before it can be further processed in the body.
The excessive bile in the stomach usually does this job. But when transitioning to a raw diet, your pet’s body doesn’t understand immediately how much bile to use to digest the food.
As a result, pets often vomit the excess bile. Typically, the vomit comes with white or yellow phlegm. But once the body gets used to the new diet, this will stop automatically.
Solution: Offering your pet a treat or a dry cookie can help settle their stomach if they are feeling nauseous. After the first few days, the vomiting should stop on its own.
Excessive Hunger
You might notice that your pet keeps asking for more food in the first few days of the transition. This is a common response as they are used to eating a carb-rich diet that expands the stomach almost two to three times more.
But when the body adapts to the raw food, the stomach goes back to its original size, and eventually, your pets will feel fuller after eating less, as a raw diet offers more nutrition in comparatively smaller portions.
Solution: Offer meals in portions. Feed the first portion (the larger one) at mealtime and give the second portion when they ask for more.
Find High-Quality Raw Food at Raw Paws Emporium
A raw diet has endless benefits for your pets. Find premium-grade raw food at Raw Paws Emporium. Visit our store at Unit 2, The Point, Swallowfield’s, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 1WL, or call 01707 952160 for more details.
