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Ch-Ch-Changes
Stool
"The proof is in the poop!" Stool tends to be one of the first chnages people notice when feeding a raw diet. Most of the nutrients in a raw diet are absorbed, thus, the stool becomes smaller, firmer, and has less of an odor. This stool tends to crumble in a few days and if you accidentally step in it, much less, if any, gets stuck to your shoe compared to a kibble fed dog's stool.
When first starting a raw diet, you may see other changes before getting to the above stool characteristics. With feeding a raw diet, you are giving the body many beneficial nutrients that the body is going to use in detoxing and healing. A dog may go more often than ususal OR not have a bowel movement at all for the first day or so. This is okay. You may see soft, malformed, tarry, or strangely colored stool at first. This is okay as well. The body is doing it's job and purging any "junk" out. As time goes on, you should see stool changing more and more to small, firm, and almost odorless.
"The proof is in the poop!" Stool tends to be one of the first chnages people notice when feeding a raw diet. Most of the nutrients in a raw diet are absorbed, thus, the stool becomes smaller, firmer, and has less of an odor. This stool tends to crumble in a few days and if you accidentally step in it, much less, if any, gets stuck to your shoe compared to a kibble fed dog's stool.
When first starting a raw diet, you may see other changes before getting to the above stool characteristics. With feeding a raw diet, you are giving the body many beneficial nutrients that the body is going to use in detoxing and healing. A dog may go more often than ususal OR not have a bowel movement at all for the first day or so. This is okay. You may see soft, malformed, tarry, or strangely colored stool at first. This is okay as well. The body is doing it's job and purging any "junk" out. As time goes on, you should see stool changing more and more to small, firm, and almost odorless.
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Skin/Coat
Another more obvious change is the skin and coat. Raw fed dogs and cats tend to have much sleeker, shiny, and healthy looking coats. Skin also clears nicely, if they previously had any issues, say with dry skin, flaking, itchy skin, etc.
Another more obvious change is the skin and coat. Raw fed dogs and cats tend to have much sleeker, shiny, and healthy looking coats. Skin also clears nicely, if they previously had any issues, say with dry skin, flaking, itchy skin, etc.
Leaner Bodies
Something that I can point out in any picture of my Italian greyhound, Bella, is whether that was a time that she was on kibble or if that was when she was on raw. Also interesting to note is, my Italian greyhound has been a steady 12lbs from her adult size on kibble through switching and being on raw now for 6 years. Many other dog owners notice this. The body doesn't process kibble as well and kibble also depletes the body of important enzymes and probiotics. Even if their body looks health on kibble, usually it will look even more so on raw.
Something that I can point out in any picture of my Italian greyhound, Bella, is whether that was a time that she was on kibble or if that was when she was on raw. Also interesting to note is, my Italian greyhound has been a steady 12lbs from her adult size on kibble through switching and being on raw now for 6 years. Many other dog owners notice this. The body doesn't process kibble as well and kibble also depletes the body of important enzymes and probiotics. Even if their body looks health on kibble, usually it will look even more so on raw.
Eyes
Many dog and cat owners notice their pet's eyes look brighter and clearer. There's much less discharge ("goopies" and "crusties" as I commonly hear them refered to) draining out, if any. Dogs that previosly had tear stains, typically don't have them anymore on raw or the staining is greatly minimized.
Many dog and cat owners notice their pet's eyes look brighter and clearer. There's much less discharge ("goopies" and "crusties" as I commonly hear them refered to) draining out, if any. Dogs that previosly had tear stains, typically don't have them anymore on raw or the staining is greatly minimized.
Look at those pearly whites on raw!
Teeth
Raw meaty bones are practically nature's toothbrush. The gnawing and crushing your dog does causes an abrasive cleaning action on the teeth and gums, naturally cleaning them. I introduced raw meaty bones to a 4 year old kibble fed dog friend of ours and after about 5 meals, his tarter decreased by about 50%. His owner was amazed. The time frame may be different for your dog or cat, but watch their teeth as see how clean they start to become. Of course, if you don't or unable to feed raw meaty bones due to missing molars, you won't see this benefit.
Raw meaty bones are practically nature's toothbrush. The gnawing and crushing your dog does causes an abrasive cleaning action on the teeth and gums, naturally cleaning them. I introduced raw meaty bones to a 4 year old kibble fed dog friend of ours and after about 5 meals, his tarter decreased by about 50%. His owner was amazed. The time frame may be different for your dog or cat, but watch their teeth as see how clean they start to become. Of course, if you don't or unable to feed raw meaty bones due to missing molars, you won't see this benefit.
Odor
Dogs who are on raw diets tend to be odorless or close to it. Think about it - would odor be something advantageous to an animal who is classified as a "predator?" No way! Their prey would know exactly when they were stalking them just by their smell. Many dogs who eat kibble have an odor because they are consuming ingredients that feed bacteria and yeast, which have an odor, typically musky, corn-chip, gym sock, or popcorn like smell.
Dogs who are on raw diets tend to be odorless or close to it. Think about it - would odor be something advantageous to an animal who is classified as a "predator?" No way! Their prey would know exactly when they were stalking them just by their smell. Many dogs who eat kibble have an odor because they are consuming ingredients that feed bacteria and yeast, which have an odor, typically musky, corn-chip, gym sock, or popcorn like smell.
Water
Raw food contains high moisture content. It is typically about 80% water. Kibble has zero moisture - far from the natural diet of our pet carnivores. It is common to see less consumption from the water bowl on raw due to the high amount of moisture it contains. Your dog or cat is now getting much more water in their food.
If you feel that your dog still is not consuming enough water, or if they have very concentrated urine, you can try switching their water to a pet drinking fountain which will usually entice them to drink more. You can also add bone broth or water to their raw food bowl.
With being able to observe all these positive changes on the outside, imagine how "happy" your pet's inside is too! If you are not noticing these changes and you're still in the first few months of feeding raw, give it time. If you've been feeding raw for a while and not seeing these changes, maybe it is time to assess what you're feeding (Are you including plant matter? Are your treats also species appropriate? Are you using harsh cleaning products or air freshener plug ins? Etc.) and see if there is something you need to change. You may not see all of these changes, maybe only a few, but almost always the stool changes.
Raw food contains high moisture content. It is typically about 80% water. Kibble has zero moisture - far from the natural diet of our pet carnivores. It is common to see less consumption from the water bowl on raw due to the high amount of moisture it contains. Your dog or cat is now getting much more water in their food.
If you feel that your dog still is not consuming enough water, or if they have very concentrated urine, you can try switching their water to a pet drinking fountain which will usually entice them to drink more. You can also add bone broth or water to their raw food bowl.
With being able to observe all these positive changes on the outside, imagine how "happy" your pet's inside is too! If you are not noticing these changes and you're still in the first few months of feeding raw, give it time. If you've been feeding raw for a while and not seeing these changes, maybe it is time to assess what you're feeding (Are you including plant matter? Are your treats also species appropriate? Are you using harsh cleaning products or air freshener plug ins? Etc.) and see if there is something you need to change. You may not see all of these changes, maybe only a few, but almost always the stool changes.
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