Have you just switched your dog from a commercial food diet to a raw dog food diet? Have you noticed loose stools and vomiting in your dog? He could be going through a detoxification period.
Detoxification happens because your dog’s body is being cleansed from its previous diet. It’s a normal part of switching. How long it lasts can vary depending on how many toxins your dog has in his system. But typically it starts within 1 to 2 days of switching to a raw food diet and lasts a few days. In some dogs, detoxification has been known to last for a few weeks, although I would advise having your dog checked by a vet if vomiting and diarrhea persists for more than a week.
Signs of detoxification include:
- earwax build up
- foul odor
- vomiting
- loose stools
- itchy skin
- increased bowels
- bad breath
Did you know that you can choose to have your dog detoxified even before you start him on a raw dog food diet? Some pet owners do this because of the benefits associated with early detoxification.
One benefit is that your dog’s body is cleansed of toxins beforehand and so his body is ready to absorb the nutrients from the new, healthier diet that you’re going to be introducing to him. Another benefit is that since your dog is going to be hungry once he’s been detoxified, it’ll be easier for him (and you) to get used to the new diet. This is a great bonus, especially for owners with picky eaters.
If you plan to detoxify your pet before introducing him to a raw food diet, here’s what you do . . .
Over a period of 2 to 3 days, fast your dog or put him on a liquid diet.
You stop feeding him the old diet. And then, for the next couple of days, you only give him water. You may also give broth if you’re concerned about a lack of energy. This will allow your dog’s body to get rid of the toxins lying in there. After this fast, you are now ready to introduce him to a raw dog food diet that’s healthier and better for his body.
Whether you decide to detoxify your dog before you introduce him to the raw food diet or to let detoxification take place while he is being switched, the important thing is that his body is able to flush out the toxins. This will allow him to get the most of out his new diet, which in turn will help him become healthier in the long run.
If you’re looking to introduce a raw dog food diet to your adult dog or puppy, do your research and make informed decisions to get the most out of a raw food diet for your canine companion.
Find out exactly how you can do this with the help of Dr. Ian Billinghurst, author of one of the first books about feeding dogs a RAW diet called Give Your Dog a Bone (GYAB).
The book is still available in its simple format and while the illustrations and language at times leave a bit to be desired, the basic principles of feeding dogs with readily obtainable human foods as opposed to processed pet foods still makes a lot of sense.
