We’ve been intrigued with all the talk about the raw food diet for dogs. We wanted to get a first-hand account of a pet parent who feeds their dog this diet. And the first person we thought of was Kimberly Gauthier. A blogger and insightful pet parent, we’ve been following her journey as she switched her dogs’ over to the raw diet. Here are her advice and tips if you’re thinking of making the switch.
That’s a pretty shocking title for a dog mom who spends her blog earnings on premade raw dog food for three dogs. I launched a second blog specifically to write about what I’m learning about the raw food diet for dogs. So why aren’t I telling you that you need to switch your dog to raw dog food RIGHT NOW?
I belong to a couple of raw food groups; I joined for the support and learning opportunities. But I’ve been on the receiving end of harsh judgments and I’ve seen others experience this as well. I appreciate the passion, but that tactic doesn’t work with me.
I think the raw food diet is the best option for our dogs and I realize that (1) not all dogs can handle a raw diet and (2) not all families can afford a raw diet. Pressuring someone doesn’t help change their mind or circumstances.
Always remember that although you may reach out to others for their wisdom or opinion, your dog’s nutrition is your choice and your business.
If you’ve heard about raw food for dogs, then you probably heard about these pros and I will confirm that they are all true! This is what we saw immediately with our three dogs…
Every dog is different, but I’ve heard others who have seen the same changes in their dogs and more.
Before you run to the grocery store (like I did) and buy a cart full of raw meat (I only bought some), do your homework. You should take the time to determine…
- trouble processing organ meat
trouble processing organ meat
We started in late April 2013 by feeding our dogs raw in the morning and kibble in the evening. I took a little flack for this, because some feel that if you’re going to do raw, then you should go all the way. I chose to seek counsel from the brand we chose (Darwin’s Natural Pets) and they explained how we could do this successfully.
Raw food takes about 5-6 hours to digest. Kibble takes up to 10 hours to digest. Keep in mind that these are just estimates that I’ve learned in my research. The reason why we don’t mix raw with kibble, is because the slower digestion of the kibble keeps the raw food in our dog’s digestive track longer and it can make them sick. Something my boyfriend learned firsthand when he mixed them. Rodrigo showed him the error of this method all over our sofa.
We fed our dogs the partial raw diet until June, when they were fully switched to raw. The transition was smooth (with the exception of the sofa incident).
If handling raw meat isn’t for you, you can try dehydrated and freeze-dried options or you can cook for your dog. I think it’s more important that we do our homework and make an educated choice that will work for us and our dogs, because in the end, it’s your business and it’s your dog. I believe that sharing and support help to make us better dog parents.
Raw Dog Food Reviews
Kimberly Gauthier is the blogger behind Keep the Tail Wagging and Raw Dog Food Reviews. She shares dog care tips from her perspective and experience as a dog mom to three dogs. Kimberly lives in the Pacific Northwest with her boyfriend, three dogs, and two cats. When she’s not blogging or hosting a radio program (to premiere September 2013), Kimberly loves reading, movies, and hanging out with friends.
