Transitioning to the BARF® World Diet

One of the most frequently asked questions we often hear when starting a raw meat diet is, “how do I transition from Kibble to BARF®?” Changing your pet’s diet can be overwhelming and can cause some stress for any pet parent. This is especially true if there is a health concern or ailment that we are trying to cure. In the end, making the transition to the BARF® Diet is 100% worth it! 

During the transition period, we recommend adding our E-BARF® Plus when switching from kibble to raw to help with digestive health.  Especially with dogs that are prone to digestive problems or any health concerns. Our E-BARF® Plus is a prebiotic and probiotic supplement that supports digestive health and overall immune health. Using our supplement during the first 90 days will provide an extra boost to help the transition run smoothly. 

There are two transition methods that we recommend, the slow and the rapid switch. Most of the time, we recommend that you do a rapid transition to BARF® with your pet where you fast for 12-24 hours and then start them on the BARF® Diet. We recommend the slow switch if your pet has a difficult time switching between different diets, is a senior, or has any health concerns. 

The slow switch takes place over a 12 day period, and by day 13 they will be fully transitioned over. Day one is a fasting day to get them prepared for the transition. With the slow switch it is recommended to increase the current food they are eating by 10% and increase BARF® by 10% everyday. Day one, their meal will be small, but this is to get them gradually used to the new diet and to ease them in. It is important to keep the food separate and to NOT mix the with kibble during meal time. At first, they will have smaller meals as they start to transition, but as the amount gradually increases they will adjust to the new diet. 

A concern that comes up with the rapid switch is fasting your fur baby. This is a valid concern, but fasting for a period of 12-24 hours is actually very beneficial. It allows any toxins to clear the body and helps prepare your fur baby to start fresh on a new diet. Fasting your dog for 12-24 hours will cause no harm and will only help promote their eating of their new diet. 

Next week we will discuss transitioning a new pup to a raw meat diet. Stay tuned!

www.barfworld.com | 866-282-2273