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How to switch your dog from kibble to raw withoiut upsetting their stomach

How to Switch Your Dog from Kibble to Raw Food Without Upsetting Their Stomach

Posted by

09/06/2026 On 21/05/2026

Switching your dog to raw food is one of the most common things dog owners want to do but feel unsure about. The hesitation usually comes down to one worry: what if their stomach can’t handle it?

It is a fair concern. Dogs that have eaten kibble their whole lives have a digestive system that is used to a very different kind of food. Move too fast and you can end up with loose stools and a stressed-out dog. Move at the right pace and most dogs transition without any real drama.

This guide walks you through exactly how to do it, what to expect, and what to do if things do not go quite to plan.

First, one rule worth knowing

Do not mix kibble and raw in the same meal. This is the most common mistake and the one most likely to cause digestive upset.

Kibble and raw food digest at very different rates. Kibble sits in the stomach for several hours while raw food passes through much more quickly. When you put them together, the raw food is held up by the slower-digesting kibble in a warm, moist environment. That is where problems start.

The transition below keeps them separate. You feed kibble at one meal and raw at another, or you move through a gradual process of replacing kibble meals entirely. Either approach works. Mixing them in the same bowl does not.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, a history of pancreatitis, or a diagnosed digestive condition, speak to your vet and get in touch with me before starting. The transition may need to be slower and more carefully managed.

The 14-day transition plan

This schedule works for most healthy adult dogs. Go slower if your dog has a sensitive stomach, is elderly, or shows any signs of digestive upset along the way.

Period	Morning meal	Evening meal	What to expect
Days 1 to 3	Full kibble portion	25% raw, 75% kibble (separate bowls)	Stools may be slightly softer. Normal.
Days 4 to 6	Full kibble portion	50% raw, 50% kibble (separate bowls)	Digestion settling. Energy may pick up.
Days 7 to 10	Full kibble portion	100% raw	First fully raw meal. Watch stool quality.
Days 11 to 14	100% raw	100% raw	Fully transitioned. Stools should firm up.

If at any point your dog’s stools become very loose or watery, slow down. Go back to the previous step and hold it for two to three more days before moving forward again. There is no rush.

What is normal during the transition

Your dog’s digestive system is adjusting to a completely different type of food. Some changes are normal and expected. Others are worth paying attention to.

Normal and expected:

Slightly softer stools in the first week, particularly after raw meals
Your dog being more interested in food than usual
Stools becoming smaller and less frequent as raw food is digested more efficiently
A mild detox period in some dogs: occasional loose stools or a light discharge from the eyes or ears in the first two weeks. This settles.

Worth slowing down for:

Watery stools lasting more than two days
Your dog refusing to eat two or more meals in a row
Vomiting more than once or twice in the first few days
Signs of lethargy or discomfort

If any of the above persist beyond three or four days, slow the transition right down and consider booking a consultation. In most cases it is a pacing issue rather than a sign that raw food is wrong for your dog.

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Which protein to start with

Start with a single protein source. Chicken or turkey are the most digestible options for dogs new to raw and the easiest to source in Spain. They are mild on the stomach and unlikely to cause a strong reaction.

Once your dog is settled on raw after two to four weeks, you can begin introducing a second protein. Rotating proteins over time is good for nutritional variety, but introducing too many things at once in the early stages makes it harder to identify what is causing any issues if something does go wrong.

Avoid starting with richer proteins like duck, rabbit, or game. These are excellent once the digestive system has adapted, but they are harder on a stomach that is new to raw.

Fussy dogs and reluctant eaters

Some dogs, particularly those that have eaten kibble their whole lives, do not immediately recognise raw meat as food. Kibble is engineered to be very palatable, and the smell of raw food can seem underwhelming to a dog that has never eaten it before.

A few things that help:

Serve the raw food at room temperature rather than straight from the fridge. Cold food has less smell and less appeal.
Lightly sear the outside of the meat in a dry pan for the first few meals. This releases the smell without cooking the inside. Reduce this gradually over a week until you are serving it fully raw.
Try mixing a small amount of warm water or low-sodium bone broth over the raw food to increase the aroma.
Do not leave uneaten raw food out for more than 20 to 30 minutes. Remove it, refrigerate it, and offer it again at the next mealtime. A little hunger helps.

Kizzy’s note: In my experience, most reluctant eaters come around within three to five days once they realise this is what is on offer. Hold your nerve. Offering kibble as a fallback teaches them that holding out works.

What about puppies and senior dogs?

The same principles apply, but both groups need a slower and more carefully watched transition.

Puppies have faster metabolisms and more sensitive digestive systems in the early months. They also have specific nutritional requirements around calcium and phosphorus that matter more than in adults. If you have a puppy under six months, please book a consultation before starting.

Senior dogs can absolutely thrive on raw food, but their digestive systems tend to be less adaptable to change. A slower 21-day transition rather than 14 days is sensible, and it is worth checking for any underlying health conditions with your vet first.

A note on hygiene

Raw meat requires the same hygiene practices at home that you would use when handling raw chicken or beef for your own meals. That means:

Wash hands before and after handling raw food
Use a separate chopping board and bowl for your dog’s food
Wash your dog’s food bowl with hot water and washing-up liquid after every meal
Defrost raw food in the fridge, not on the counter
Do not leave raw food out at room temperature for more than 30 minutes

These are straightforward habits that become automatic quickly. None of them are difficult, and they make raw feeding genuinely safe to do at home.

Ready to make the switch?

If you want to start your dog on raw food and want a plan built specifically for them rather than a generic schedule, the free 30-minute consultation is the right place to start. In that call I look at your dog’s age, weight, current diet, and any health considerations, and I give you a tailored transition plan rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Most dogs transition successfully and their owners wonder why they did not do it sooner. The key is going at the right pace for your individual dog.

Book a free 30-minute consultation with Kizzy