First, as with any dietary change, switching to raw is likely to lead to a change in your dog's stools. They may become looser and runnier but this is entirely normal and usually passes within a few days. In the long-term, dogs on a raw diet produce smaller, firmer and less odourful stools.
Your dog's diarrhea could be caused bacteria found in raw or improperly cooked meats, meat left sitting out for awhile or in decaying vegetables. Studies show dogs can pick up a bacterial infection if kenneled with another dog that has it.
Many things can cause diarrhea, but the most common causes include: Dietary indiscretion — Dogs aren't the most discriminating eaters, and when they eat too much or ingest garbage or spoiled meat (e.g., meat from a carcass they find), this can result in diarrhea.
First things first, raw pet food can actually make your dog poop less! This is because your pet is now ingesting food that is being digested and properly utilized by the body, resulting in less waste. Plus, another of the benefits of feeding raw is your dog's poop may be less smelly.
Raw fed dog poop can be anywhere from white, to grey, to tan, to brown to blackish even. As long as the dog has control over his bowel movement, doesn't have liquidy stools over a long period and there is no blood in the stool, everything in normal.
With a Raw fed dog, we would expect an 80-pound dog to poop once, sometimes twice a day especially if they've had a bone because you always see a higher volume of poop when there is bone involved and you would get a much smaller poop and less frequently.
Feeding a diet consisting primarily of raw meat may not provide the complete and balanced nutrition your dog needs. This is particularly true for puppies, whose dietary needs are complex as they grow and develop. The same goes for senior dogs, who may have weakened immune systems and more sensitive digestive systems.
Although research is still in its infancy, there is promising evidence that a raw diet can drastically improve canine cognitive and mental health, leading to improved behavior and an overall higher quality of life. In this blog post from Raw K9, we answer the question of whether a raw meat diet means a happier dog.
Raw fed dogs produce stools that are much smaller, and pellet-like. Often only passing stools once a day, sometimes skipping a day. This is totally normal. As long your dog is happy and comfortable, this is fine.
Allergies are a common cause of diarrhea in dogs. Dogs can develop food allergies to any type of food, but some of the most common allergens include beef, dairy, chicken and soy. If your dog is allergic to one of these foods, he or she may experience diarrhea as a result. They may also vomit or scratch more than usual.
Meat, Bone, & Fibrous Foods Only
Eliminate organs and other unnecessary additional ingredients when diarrhea occurs. Adjust meals to only include lean muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and fiber-based vegetables to firm the stool consistency. This should only be implemented temporarily for adult dogs.
Runny poop can be a result of stress, medication, eating new food or food that's intended for humans. It can also be a sign of infection or an underlying condition. There are also many things that can cause dog diarrhoea: A stressful event like adopting a new dog, the arrival of a new family member, moving home etc.
Raw food, especially meat, contains bacteria, parasites and other pathogens that would normally be killed during the cooking process. So feeding raw food brings extra risks, not just to your pet's health but also to other people in your household.
Raw dog food diet disadvantages
Some home diets have been found to contain high numbers of pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria may cause minor or major health upsets ranging from mild stomach sensitivity to fatalities in rare, serious cases.
Most veterinarians advise against giving dogs raw diets for the same reason humans don't eat raw meat — there are health risks when it comes to the bacteria found in raw food.
The bioavailability of raw dog food (1) makes it more nutritionally dense than kibble, allowing dogs to absorb everything that they need in the ways that they would naturally eat if left to choose.
The dogs eating raw dog food tend to develop stronger bones and muscles. There are also cases where eating dog food has lead to gastrointestinal inflammation and infections. As these meals can be made at home, it is easy to keep track of what your dog is eating. It is very time-consuming to prepare the meals at home.
How often should dogs eat raw meat? If you're wondering how often you should feed your dog raw meat, we recommend feeding pups 2 - 4 times per day and older dogs 1 - 2 times per day, as part of a fully balanced meal. Feeding your canine twice a day may assist with begging tendencies.
Eating raw lamb can make your dog sick because it can be harder for some dogs to digest, causing gastrointestinal illness. Raw meat might also be contaminated with harmful bacteria like E. Coli, which will make your dog sick if ingested.
Raw Meat Proteins for Dogs
According to Dr. Laurie Coger, DVM, CVCP, dogs “thrive on chicken, turkey, and beef,” which make them ideal options for raw food diets. But choosing the best protein for your dog may be dictated by your dog's overall health. “Beef and pork are the lowest in sodium.
Healthy raw-fed dog poop should vary between chocolate brown to ashy beige.
The researchers found that dogs eating human-grade fresh whole food produced 2.0 to 2.9 times (up to 66%) less feces than dogs eating dry pet food.
Raw diets contain more moisture, so your dog won't need as much water to stay hydrated and digest it properly. Other thirst factors include illness, lactation, age, and medications.