The Benefits Of A Raw Diet From Durham Animal Feeds…

We’ve outlined below the benefits of a raw diet, now you might be asking where do I start? Transitioning your dog to a raw diet isn’t an exact science. But there are 2 common methods which people follow…

Cold Turkey

The cold turkey approach is to switch the diet suddenly. We believe that puppies and younger dogs are best suited to the cold turkey approach. This is due to them not having the long term effects of a processed diet. As a result they are likely to adjust must faster than adult dogs.

Gradual Change

Gradually changing involves slowly decreasing the processed food and introducing raw food over a period of 7-14 days. This allows your dog to have a longer period to adjust to the new raw diet. And it can also help to reduce an upset stomach. We believe that older dogs or dogs with sensitive digestive systems are best suited to this approach.

Things to remember..

Irrespective of the approach that you choose, there is always the chance of causing an upset stomach and diarrhoea during the first few days. This occurs as your dog adjusts from a highly processed diet consisting of mainly carbohydrates, to a raw diet consisting of high protein. As a result, it can take time for the gut to to re-stabilise.

If you have any questions on how to approach your transition to a raw diet for your pup, please feel free to email us.

Raw Diet for Puppies…

Weaning puppies should start around 3-4 weeks old. After each meal, the puppy should given access to the mother’s milk to help aid digestion. To wean your puppy onto raw food, we recommend:

Day 1 – 1 meal of chicken and bone. Finely minced with a fork to remove visible bits of bone.

Day 2 – 2 meals of chicken and bone. Finely minced with a fork to remove visible bits of bone.

Day 3 – 3 meals of chicken and bone. Finely minced with a fork to remove visible bits of bone.

Day 4 – 4 meals of chicken and bone. Finely minced with a fork to remove visible bits of bone.

Our chicken mince is a great starting place for weaning puppies.

If you would like further information on our guide for weaning puppies onto a raw diet, please email us.

HEALTHIER TEETH & GUMS

A natural diet improves your dog’s oral health due to raw food and meaty bones promoting chewing, thereby reducing plaque and bacteria which cause bad breath.

HEALTHIER SKIN & COAT

Unnecessary added chemical and anti-oxidants can lead to skin allergies and fur problems, changing to a natural diet can lead to improved skin and a shinier coat, also making them less prone to itching and scratching.

BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEM

With a raw diet your dog will get the natural nutrients, vitamins and minerals to build a stronger resistance to ill health and disease.

IMPROVED DIGESTION

Feeding a raw diet based on natural ingredients rather than chemical substitutes reduces the risk of irritable bowels, producing smaller stools and yes reduced odours!!

INCREASED ENERGY & VITALITY

With a raw diet you are in more control of the building block ingredients such as glucosamine and other minerals. Therefore reducing the risk of arthritis and other joint issues before they age.