Blonde By Nature

A continuation from post: The Dog Likes It Raw: The Discovery.

I was skeptical when Rob (the co-owner of In The Raw) told me that someday my little Wolf would be able to eat dehydrated liver treats. The last time we attempted that it was an extremely long couple of days. So, I educated myself, I read books, holistic articles, veterinary websites, testimonials, talked to people who were on the raw, asked tons of questions – I was completely insatiable on the topic. The only people who doubted the decision was some of my relatives, my vet at the time and vet-natured articles. Most arguments against are in fact myths e.g. we don’t know the long term affects of the diet. Ummm, how about 17,000 years of evolution and survival? I understand their doubt, as it is a very unusual concept for the modern canine (which is sad that we are that far removed from the natural), but in my heart of hearts I knew it was right and I was willing to try anything to cure my poor pup.

Everyone starts the raw differently, but I really wanted to it right, didn’t want to shock his poor skinny body. It is a drastic change for them and you will be providing blast of very powerful nutrients and proteins that they’ve never had before. The older your dog, the longer it should take to transition (and trust me, no dog is too old for the raw). Our transition for Wolf was a very slow – roughly 4 weeks – as he was under nourished, dehydrated and had a sensitive stomach. I was nervous, but was willing to try anything.

Step One: Prepare the Pooch
This step is often unknown but is important none-the-less. For a minimum of 2 weeks supplement Labrador-Marley with probiotics and a digestive enzyme. You can provide probiotics this 2 ways:

1. An acidophilus supplement capsule sprinkled on the food
2. Organic, unpasturized yogurt (medium to large dog needs ½ cup a day)

I selected the supplement since majority of canines can’t tolerate milk or dairy.

Step Two: The Food
There are 3 ways to make the transition.

1. Slowly add tablespoons of raw ground-up meat in with the kibble, this is best if you have a picky-Nicky. Add 1 tablespoon every day but if you see stomach upset, back off a bit and stay at that amount until you see improvement
2. Make a hard switch by fasting Marley for 24 hour, provide fresh filtered water or salt-free broth. Then for first meal provide easily digestible ground chicken and a veggie/fruit combo. Be warned: this method is the hardest on their system and likely to cause stomach upset
3. If Marley has a weakened immune system or health issues (you can get this tested by your vet), you can add another step in the middle of over the course of 2 weeks serve a regular cooked diet (e.g. rice and lamb). After a full switch, slowly transition to the raw as mentioned in #1

During the switch, stick to the same type of meat (chicken is best, then lamb, fish and tripe are the next best in that order) and do not change until the transition is complete. Also along with the meat you will need to add veggies and fruit.

Step Three: The Measurements
Tip: If you do not have a food scale, go and buy one.

For every 25 lbs, feed Marley 1 cup of food (1/2 lb or 225 gr). This will require adjusting depending on age, activity and the breed. The ratio that In The Raw recommends is 40-75% meat and 25-60% ground vegetable and fruit. Each animal is different and the numbers may need adjusting as time goes on. Pay attention to how Marley eats (food left means you’re over-feeding, still licking bowl means you’re not feeding enough). One meal a day is preferable for most dogs, unless you have a senior or giant breed dog 2 meals are preferable.

Step Four: Detoxification
Once you have made the transition you may see Marley itching more than usual, her eyes may be running, her ears waxy, her poop comes out in “sausage-like casings” or loose and mucousy, she farts and she has a body odor. This is all normal and part of the process – Marley is pushing out all the poisons in her system from her previous diet however some lucky dogs don’t experience this at all or have minor symptoms. For us, this was where we learned a valuable lesson about canines…

They are sensitive creatures and as such they require you to pay attention. By that I mean inspect Marley every day, look for subtle changes and note absent indicators so when they appear you know it is a new symptom. I actually kept a journal (and still do) to note changes and feedings.

Note: This transition is for dogs only and is slightly different than a cats transition

Stay tuned for the next article that will contain my favorite raw information sources and a discussion around nutritional supplementation.

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