Avoid Tunnel Vision About the Cause and Remain Calm When Starting a Raw Diet, Seeing Your Pet Vomit or Produce Loose Stools Is One of the Biggest Reasons Pet Parents Start to Worry Don’t panic. It’s doubtful the food is “a bad batch”. Unless you put it out on the counter to thaw, left it in the hot sun, or otherwise disregarded food safety handling guidelines It’s just their system adjusting to raw food, or it could be an adverse reaction to drugs, antibiotics, excessive supplementation, stress, eating deer or elk poop, unhealthy treats, dairy, or a whole host of other factors you may not have thought of.
Is it the Antibiotic or the Problem it’s Treating? In general, nausea is a frequent side effect of antibiotics… humans and animals alike…. usually feeding WITH a meal helps. Please be aware that these medications are lethal and that sometimes the dog’s vomiting isn’t caused by the antibiotic but rather by the condition they are treating, like pyometra.
1. If pets fever goes over 102. 5 call your vet. How to check: Use anal thermometer. 2. If pet becomes dehydrated. Pull the skin from behind the front leg by the ribs to check. Skin should bounce back. If the skin remains pinched, the person may become dehydrated. 3. If your pet has low blood pressure. How to check: press on gums right above the canines. Gums will turn white under pressure and turn pink again once you release it. If gums don’t return to pink, call your vet. 4. See your veterinarian right away if your pet starts to act lethargic or disordered. All kibble, including premium kibble, is high in carbohydrates, which causes dogs to lack the digestive enzymes necessary to break down protein. The enzymes need time to turn back on. This process typically takes between 4-7 days.
Here are 3 potential reasons for vomiting and/or diarrhea when switching to a raw diet, along with their respective treatments:
#1 Due to the high carbohydrate content of kibble, dogs that have been fed it for a long time may have less stomach acid. Kibble does not require as much acidity to be digested. Solution: Try feeding smaller amounts, more often, while they adjust. Additionally, buy our veterinary-grade digestive enzyme and add it to their food to support their digestive system and gut.
#2 Overeating and excitement about new foods Solution: spread out larger portions over more meals Hand-feed larger pieces of beef or bones so they can gnaw on them while you hold the other end until they become relaxed and realize this is their new food. A dog doesn’t necessarily need more food just because they want it. Responsible pet owners must consider how much their dog should weigh and then feed that amount.
#3 Too many supplements or additives thrown into the diet. More is not always better. Solution: Keep things straightforward and only use supplements when problems actually arise. For instance, if your dog has been eating only raw meat for at least three months and his coat is dull and dry, it’s likely that he needs omega-3 supplements, such as sardines or tripe, or a digestive enzyme to improve how well he uses fats and proteins. But be wary of emptying the kitchen sink after every meal unless your dog is exhibiting symptoms of a specific deficiency!
What are the reasons for diarrhea on a raw diet?
On a raw diet, a dog may experience diarrhea at two different times.
However, you should be aware that intermittent diarrhea may be an indication of toxicity, intestinal blockage, or a variety of other conditions. Check out the list of the most typical causes of diarrhea, and then take your dog to the doctor if you are certain that none of them apply to him.
1. Short transitioning period
As mentioned earlier, dogs on a raw diet may experience diarrhea while transitioning at first. You can’t just decide one day to stop giving your dog his old food and fill his bowl with raw meat.
Dogs digest kibble and canned food differently than raw meat, and if you dont provide a transitioning period your pup will have diarrhea. Your dogs stomach is gotten used to digesting fillers and starches from commercial diets and now needs time to adapt.
When switching your dog to raw food, do so gradually over the course of 10 to 14 days; in some circumstances, it may take longer. If after two weeks your puppy still isn’t fully adjusting to the raw diet, be patient and give him time.
It is best to start by introducing 25% of raw food with 75% of the old one for a couple of days and monitor your dogs stool. If everything seems normal, you can gradually increase the amount of raw dog food.
In the unlikely event that your dog gets diarrhea, reduce the amount of raw meat in their diet for a few days until their stools return to normal. Continue feeding your dog more meat after that until he has fully transitioned.
2. High-Fat Content
The best way to prevent diarrhea from too much fat is to give your dog the meat that he is most likely to find in the wild. Raw meats like beef, lamb, and duck are high in cholesterol and should only be consumed in moderation.
Raw chicken breasts and rabbit meat are low in fat and ought to make up the majority of your dog’s diet. A varied diet is important because not all pray parts are created equally and have the same nutritional values.
If your dog’s diarrhea is caused by the high fat content, you should reduce the amount of fatty meat until your dog’s stool returns to normal. You can still feed your dog fattier meats, just fewer times a week.
3. Bone-Meat Imbalance
Most parents who feed their children raw meat, bones, and organs struggle to strike the ideal balance, which can cause frequent diarrhea. Too many bones can cause constipation, while too many organs can cause diarrhea.
Follow the Frankenpray recommendations to make sure that your dog’s meals are balanced and complete to avoid both. It states that raw meat should make up 80% of the diet, along with raw bones, 5% liver, and 5% secreting organs.
In addition, bones contain a lot of calcium, while organs contain a lot of phosphorus, so these minerals should always be balanced. In large and giant breeds, an unbalanced calcium-phosphorus ratio can cause skeletal issues and abnormal growth.
Therefore, maintaining a proper bone-to-meat ratio will not only stop your dog’s frequent loose stools but will also keep his or her bones strong and healthy. So, try your best to abide by these recommendations and give your dog a nutritious diet.
4. Mixing Different Protein Sources
Variety is the key to a balanced raw diet, but not when it comes to combining various proteins in one meal. Similar to how some meats are fattyter than others and some are easier to digest
For instance, combining milk with raw eggs will result in diarrhea, and eating sardines and chitterlings will also upset your stomach and cause loose stools. Furthermore, since all enzymes are destroyed during the pasteurization process, pasteurized milk shouldn’t be given to dogs.
On the other hand, poultry like chicken and turkey is simple to digest, low in fat, and won’t result in diarrhea. You should limit yourself to these kinds of proteins for the duration of the transition period and the first few months on a raw diet.
Keep it simple and avoid combining too many protein sources, as doing so will probably result in diarrhea. Of course, once your puppy has fully adapted, you can occasionally try introducing new proteins to see how his stomach responds.
5. Enzymes – Probiotics Deficiency
Food is broken down by enzymes and probiotics, which also maintain a healthy digestive system. A dog may occasionally lack enzymes and probiotics during the transitional stage or later on.
Although raw food contains probiotics and enzymes that facilitate digestion, your dog may still require additional support. Using supplements to accomplish this is simple; just make sure they’re natural and safe for canines.
You can also speak with your veterinarian, who can provide suitable advice on what will be best for your dog. Additionally, since raw pancreases are high in enzymes and probiotics, you can consume them in greater quantities until the diarrhea issue is resolved.
6. Food Poisoning
When a dog is eating only raw foods, food poisoning occurs more frequently than you would like. And given that a dog is consuming raw meat, this is not at all surprising.
You should become familiar with the proper handling and preservation of the meat once you begin feeding your dog raw. The best course of action is to exercise extra caution and only purchase meat from butchers and supermarkets that you can trust.
Always wash your hands before and after handling meat to prevent the spread of E. coli or Salmonella. Coli. If you enjoy purchasing more meat at once, store it in the freezer rather than the refrigerator.
Additionally, ensure that your dog’s food is stored separately from all other food. In the event that some of the blood and juices leak, place a towel there or use a separate drawer entirely.
Avoid food poisoning by discarding any meat that seems off in any way, be it strange-smelling, different in color or texture, or otherwise. A dog will experience diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain if he consumes spoiled meat.
If you think your dog’s last raw meal was spoiled, take him to the vet to be examined because symptoms can be alarming. And going forward, take extra precautions when preparing and storing raw food for your dog.
Most Common Causes of Diarrhea on the Raw Meat Dog Food Diet
Consider making a small adjustment to your dog’s diet if he consumes raw meat dog food and still has diarrhea despite being in perfect health.
These are the most frequent causes of digestive upset in dogs.
How I Stop Diarrhea in Raw Fed Dogs
If one of my dogs experiences explosive diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts longer than 36 hours, I worry that something more serious could be circulating in their system.
FAQ
Why does my raw fed dog have diarrhea?
Most parents who feed their children raw meat, bones, and organs struggle to strike the ideal balance, which can cause frequent diarrhea. Too many bones can cause constipation, while too many organs can cause diarrhea.
What do you feed a raw fed dog with diarrhea?
If you can’t find these more exotic options, we’d recommend white fish and quinoa (buckwheat or amaranth are also good), or just green vegetables. Don’t starve your dog. Meat to veg should be fed at about 80:20 proportions. Feed the dog until it feels well, then continue for another couple of days to let things settle in.
How does raw food affect dog poop?
Dogs are better able to absorb the nutrients from a raw food diet. Dogs produce less waste overall and poop less frequently as a result. Compared to a kibble diet, your dog is able to survive longer on less food.
Can raw meat upset a dog’s stomach?
Salmonella, E coli, and other dangerous bacteria are likely to be present in raw meat. coli and more. Those dangerous bacteria are eliminated when meat is cooked to a safe temperature. Uncooked meat increases your dog’s risk of contracting a foodborne illness or other bacterial infection.