When you’re ready to switch your dog to a raw food diet, you’ll need to know the right way to ensure your dog stays healthy and happy. At Acabonac Pet, we’ve developed a few steps, and some tips, to keep in mind for every owner making the switch.
Keep in mind all this applies to the Acabonac Pet brand. This is how we’ve had success in switching dogs from dry food and other raw dog foods to our brand (which is made from 100% grass-fed beef from our Long Island farm).
Handling Raw Dog Food
We ship Acabonac Pet brand to you frozen - you’ll want to keep it that way until you're ready to use it. You can defrost our patties in the packaging provided by placing it in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours before use. You can keep them refrigerated for two to three days, just make sure they are cold to the touch when served.
Do not try to heat the patties up by putting them in the microwave (we mention that because many people ask about it!).
How Much Raw Dog Food Per Day?
We’ve provided a simple chart that lets you know how much to feed your dog based on their weight. Remember to measure the portions while the food is frozen. Keep water nearby so your dog can get a good drink after they eat. For adult dogs, spread their daily total of food over two meals. For puppies, you should try three to four meals per day.
Transition Slowly
You don’t want to just switch out your kibble for Acabonac Pet in one day. If your dog currently eats dry dog food, mix it with Acabonac Pet brand for the first 15 to 21 days, slowly increasing the amount of raw food and reducing the kibble. If they currently eat another kind of raw dog food, that time frame is about 7 to 10 days.
Tips For Raw Dog Food Beginners
Now that you know how to feed your dog, there are some tips you need to keep in mind. For the most part, they address changes your dog will likely go through as they make the switch to raw dog food. Stay calm if you notice any of the following.
- There’s going to be less poop. Yes, this is a very good thing.
- Your dog may get a bit of diarrhea. This is their body detoxifying from the stuff they were eating in dry dog food. They may shed more and temporarily develop runny eyes for this same reason
- Their coat will get shinier. This is one of the many advantages of feeding your dog RAWF brand dog food
- Older dogs take time. It’s common sense, but worth mentioning, that older dogs who have eaten the same thing for many years may take a bit longer to transition to raw dog food
The biggest tip of all is to have patience. Raw dog food leads to many benefits, but first your dog must get rid of the toxins from what they’ve previously been eating. Stay consistent and you (and your dog) will be very happy with the results.