Some dogs are harder then others to switch to a raw food diet. Well really some cats are harder then others but there are a few dogs who take a little longer to switch over. Don't stop trying because they will not eat it the first day. Remember that it's beneficial to them to get them to switch and they will have a healthier and happier life with you.
My puppy just got weaned over to raw and didn't even hesitate. His bowel movements are fine and he's feeling really good about himself and looking good too!
Here are some ideas that will help you help your dog adjust to this new and healthier diet.
Here are 7 tips from Maggie Rhines' “Going Rawr! Dog Lover's Compendium” to help you encourage your pick eater onto raw food:
1. Adjust your feeding schedule.
Some dogs are more open to trying new food when they are on a set feeding schedule. Other than being used to being fed and eating at a certain time, you are also certain that they are hungry by the time you give them food.
Another way to improve your dog’s reception of raw food is to schedule his feeding after a vigorous routine activity – say after his morning walk or a jog around the block. A good run will help him work up an appetite.
2. Watch and know how much food your dog is getting.
If your problem is getting your dog to finish his serving of food, you may want to re-examine how much food you are actually giving him. It may be too much for him to consume. Every dog is different and while there are recommended pounds of food to give per pound of dog it does not always mean that exactly the number pounds that will satisfy them.
But if your dog decided to walk around then come back for a bite you need to hurry up the eating process. One way to help your dog finish his food and finish it quickly is to set a certain amount of time for him to eat. Say you only give him 10 minutes to finish his food. After that, take away his food bowl. That way, he’ll be encouraged to eat his food and to finish it quickly.
Another reason why you want to do this is because with a raw food diet, you don’t want to leave food lying around for a long period of time. This will allow bacteria to grow on your dog’s food, which could cause stomach upset when your dog consumes the contaminated food.
3. Take it easy on the 'good boy' treats
Sometimes a treat here and a treat there that doesn't seem like much can add up to too much food for your pet. Does he get a few nibbles of something when he comes to you while you are preparing his food? What about when the family sits down for dinner, does he get a bite as well?
Treats are meant to be rewards for good behavior and should not be something you routinely give your pet every time. That will turn treats into snacks, which will only ruin your dog’s appetite during meal time. So if your dog seems full during meal times, check if unscheduled snacking could be to blame.
4. Variety is the spice of life
When feeding your dog raw food you get to use variety instead of the same old kibble day after day. This makes them wonder what's going to be in their food today and if you thought the excitement for every meal was huge before...
Planning a varied meal doesn’t have to be complicated. You can rotate his meals every 3 days. Serve different kinds of meat or different kinds of fruits and vegetables to keep him excited during meal times. Add a blueberry here and a raspberry there and their taste buds will be excited every time.
5. Make it fun
Just like with little kids, sometimes dogs need a little stimulation to encourage them to try and to eat new food. You can experiment with various activities and different kinds of toys that dispense food. Although some dogs can go coo coo over this. Or you can take his food (for example, raw meaty bones) and dangle it a bit in front of him. That could work to get his attention to try the new food.
6. He may not be feeling well.
When you’ve tried different methods and your dog is still not eating, it could be a sign that your dog is not feeling well. If his lack of appetite is accompanied by a general lack of interest in any activity, you would do well to have him checked by a vet.
7. Do the slow switch method
Some dogs just need more time to adjust to raw food diet especially after being so used to a different type of food for a long time. To facilitate his adjustment, you might want to consider doing the slow switch method. What you do is you mix his old diet with the new diet, gradually increasing the proportion of the new diet, until such time when you are feeding him just raw food. This will allow him to acquire a taste for raw food at a less stressful pace.
Introducing the raw food diet to your dog isn’t always as easy as just giving him raw meaty bones to munch on. There are a lot of things to consider, especially if your dog is the sensitive/picky eater type.
A good resource to check out though would be Maggie Rhines’ “Going Rawr! Dog Lover's Compendium”. If you have a dog or a puppy that you want to raise on a raw food diet, her expert tips and guidance will go a long way in helping you make the transition as easy and as pleasant as possible for both you and your pet!
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