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Transition to Raw Food
June 1, 2010
Transition is the most essential element of a healthy and safe change from dry kibble or canned wet food to a raw diet. We recommend making this transition slowly. Allow a minimum of one week for your pet's digestive system to properly adjust from a highly processed diet to a new diet of human-grade raw foods.
For days 1-3, begin by mixing Primal Formulas, Mixes or Grinds into your pet's current food at a ratio that your pet will tolerate; you can start with as little as 1/4 Primal to 3/4 of your pet's current food. Your pet may show some adversity to the temperature of the raw food when served directly from the refrigerator. To warm Primal raw foods, place the feeding portion into a zip-seal, water-tight bag and temper in a bowl of warm water. Do not use water that is too hot, as this will potentially cook the food and reduce the enzymatic properties, as well as deplete the nutrient values of the raw foods.
If your pet accepts the raw food during days 1-3, feed your pet raw foods only for the morning meal and their current food for the evening meal for days 4-7. When your pet has transitioned successfully (consuming raw foods readily, healthy, firm stool), you can begin feeding raw foods for both meals.
Many pets will transition quickly and consume the raw food with vigor. To determine how your pet's system is accepting the new diet, monitor your pet's stool. On a raw diet, your pet's stool size will be greatly reduced. Stools will become small, firm and void of any offensive odor. If your pet's stool is soft or loose as a result of the transition, introduce the raw food more slowly.
Pets that have digestive issues and/or gastrointestinal disorders should be transitioned more slowly. We recommend the addition of a digestive enzyme to aid with the transition for pets with severe digestive and/or gastrointestinal upset.
139 Upton St Grafton, Ma 01519
www.gibsonkennels.com
Phone - 508-839-1757
Fax 508-839-1736
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