Transitioning tips: from kibble to Little Hunter
For thousands of years, dogs have been eating raw to meet their nutritional needs. However, many pet owners are just now beginning to understand the many health benefits associated with raw diets.
Ready to make the healthy switch? We've got a few tips to make that transition seamless!
Go slowly
There are two main reasons to transition your dog slowly.
1. Gastrointestinal reasons. A dog’s system can be sensitive to diet changes, and not all dogs transition at the same rate – some may require a longer transition period, especially those with a sensitive stomach.
2. Flavor and palate. While most dogs immediately take to the savory flavors of an animal-based raw diet (it’s their natural preference), others may be resistant. Why? They've developed a sweet tooth from all the added flavorings, sugar, and additives used in kibble to make it sweet and enticing (think steak vs Cocoa Puffs).
To address these issues, it’s important to transition your dog to raw food slowly, over a 10-14 day period. Start with a mixture of 75% old food and 25% raw food. Then, increase the amount of raw food by 25% every few days as you see how your dog takes to it. If your pup is picking around the food or has runny-looking stools/an upset tummy, they may need a few more days to get used to it. Just hold the mix steady for an extra day or two.
Once your pup has adapted to the old food/raw food mixture, you can continue gradually increasing the amount of raw food until you reach 100%.
From kibble to Little Hunter freeze-dried raw
As an alternative to traditional raw diets, Little Hunter offers a convenient freeze-dried formula that contains the same quality ingredients that make up a raw diet.
Freeze-drying keeps all the nutrients intact, ensuring your pup gets maximum health benefits. Furthermore, dogs tend to love the flavor and enjoy freeze-dried raw food more than kibble – even picky eaters!
To transition from kibble to Little Hunter, simply replace a quarter of the kibble with our raw food. After a few days of feeding this way, replace half of the kibble with Little Hunter. Wait a few more days, and then replace all the kibble with Little Hunter.
You can use our tasty freeze-dried formula as a topper on kibble for a nutrition boost! Many new to Little Hunter start this way before fully transitioning to our freeze-dried raw recipes.
Keep an eye out
It's important to keep an eye on your pup's digestion as you introduce any new food. Monitor their stool to ensure it remains solid and healthy, and make sure they are eating the food without hesitation. If you find your pup is having any issues transitioning, we recommend speaking with your vet.
For more help, check out our blog!