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Transitioning to a Raw Diet for Adult Dogs
This guide is for typical adult dogs and is not intended for puppies. Puppies require a fully balanced diet from day one and should not follow this transition structure. Information on feeding puppies can be found in the navigation menu.
You’re going to transition your dog to a raw diet by using controlled, single-ingredient sequencing. Within that method, you’ll choose one of two long-term structures: feeding edible bone, or feeding boneless with a calcium supplement.
The goal of a transition is to stabilize the digestive system on raw food so your dog can comfortably move into a fully balanced adult diet. The goal of this transition is not to create a complete diet, that comes after.
How This Transition Works
Most healthy adult dogs do not need a slow kibble-to-raw mix.
For this transition, dinner is the last kibble meal. Raw food begins the following morning.
This approach reduces variables, keeps feedback clear, & avoids stacking very different moisture & macronutrient profiles in the same bowl during the adjustment phase. A clean dinner-to-breakfast switch allows the digestive system to adapt without unnecessary overlap.
Some dogs switch in a few days. Others need a full week. Some need a second week. Stool quality & comfort decide the pace.
How Much to Feed During Transition
During the transition phase, you will use a temporary ratio anchor to keep portions simple while your dog’s digestive system adjusts.
A practical starting range for most typical adult dogs is:
• 2% to 2.5% of total body weight per day
Once your dog is transitioned to a raw diet, you’ll make adjustments to your math based on the feeding method you decide to use long-term.
How to calculate it for pounds
• Take your dog’s weight in pounds
• Multiply by 0.02 for the lower end, or 0.025 for the higher end
Example: a 50-pound dog
• 50 × 0.02 = 1.0 pound of food per day
• 50 × 0.025 = 1.25 pounds of food per day
Divide that total daily amount into the number of meals you feed per day.
How to calculate it for kilograms
• Take your dog’s weight in kilograms
• Multiply by 0.02 for the lower end, or 0.025 for the higher end
Example: a 22-kilogram dog
• 22 × 0.02 = 0.44 kilograms of food per day
• 22 × 0.025 = 0.55 kilograms of food per day
Divide that total daily amount into the number of meals you feed per day.
Once your dog is stable on raw, you will move beyond this ratio anchor & into a fully balanced adult feeding plan.
DIY Raw Transition: Single Ingredient Sequencing
It’s important to keep the process simple when transitioning a dog to a raw diet. You will introduce foods one at a time so you can see exactly what your dog tolerates. This is the method I prefer for most adult dogs, especially those with a suspected or known sensitivity history.
You will choose one of two long-term structures:
• Bone-inclusive, where edible bones are used
• Boneless, where a properly dosed calcium supplement is used long term
The early steps of the transition are the same. The structure splits once calcium delivery is established.
Selecting the First Proteins
I prefer starting with turkey for typical adult dogs. It is generally well tolerated & provides enough protein & fat to support a stable transition.
Strong base proteins for the first few weeks include:
• Turkey
• Beef
• Duck
• Pork
Very low-fat proteins such as rabbit, quail, & pheasant are not good starting proteins for typical adult dogs. They are too lean, too low in calories, & do not support stable transition. These can be used later in rotation once your dog is stable & calories are intentionally structured.
Chicken should be introduced only after your dog has at least three established proteins they tolerate well, one of which should be a red meat. Chicken should not be introduced during week one, as it is a problematic protein for many dogs.
Calcium, Early Bone, & Boneless Choices
The first few days of raw meals use boneless meat plus a calcium source.
Once your dog is tolerating boneless raw meals with calcium powder, you will either:
• Transition from calcium powder to edible bone
• Continue using calcium powder long term and remain boneless
Commonly used, reliable calcium options for the early days of transition & long term boneless path:
• Pet’s Friend Eggshellent Calcium
Key points for calcium during transition:
Use a calcium powder for early boneless meals until edible bone is reliably tolerated, if you are a bone feeder
Do not add calcium powder to meals that already contain an appropriate amount of edible bone.
The goal is to provide appropriate calcium support during the first meals without overloading the dog or stacking multiple new variables at once. Calcium powder is safe on day one because vitamin D from the last kibble meal is still circulating, supporting early calcium use.
If you use seaweed calcium, it contains iodine and so you do not want to give an additional iodine product during this time, such as kelp.
Organ Introduction During Transition
Organs are introduced during the later part of the transition week to help the digestive system adapt to nutrient-dense foods. They are not added for balance at this stage. They are added for tolerance.
There are two organ categories used in raw feeding:
• Liver
• Second secreting organs (such as kidney, spleen, pancreas, brain, or thymus)
These are not interchangeable and should not be treated the same. All of these provide varying nutrients.
Why organs are added later:
Organs are extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Introducing them too early or in large amounts can overwhelm digestion and cause loose stool, nausea, or food aversion.
For that reason, organs are added only after the dog is tolerating:
• Raw muscle meat
• Calcium delivery (bone or calcium powder)
Liver is always introduced first. A second secreting organ is added later, in a smaller amount as you will see reflected in the math during the seven day plan below.
How organs are handled during the transition:
During the transition week, organ amounts are intentionally small & conservative. The goal is exposure + tolerance, not hitting final percentages.
Liver is introduced in very small amounts & held steady before increasing. Second secreting organs are introduced even more slowly.
If stool loosens after organ introduction, you want to reduce the amount. Do not remove organs entirely unless stool doesn’t stabilize. Be sure you are weighing them correctly for your dog.
Protein sourcing for organs:
Organs do not need to match the starter protein during transition. In many cases, beef liver & beef kidney are well tolerated & easy to source, even when starting with turkey or duck muscle meat.
Avoid introducing multiple new organ types at the same time.
Key transition reminders for organs:
• Liver is introduced before any other secreting organ
• Second secreting organs are added only after liver is tolerated
• Amounts during transition are intentionally below long-term feeding levels
Gut Support During Transition
I recommend using:
A cleanly formulated canine probiotic product, such as:
• Nutramax Proviable Probiotics
• Four Leaf Rover Protect
• Nusentia Probiotics
Give gut support about 30 minutes prior to the first meal of the day.
Seven Day DIY Transition Plan
The plan below is designed for a healthy typical adult dog. Adjust pacing if your dog has known sensitivities or medical history. Some dogs may need to repeat parts of the week before expanding proteins.
Amounts below are based on your dog’s total daily food amount, calculated earlier. Divide daily amounts evenly between meals unless noted.
Click each tab below to view that day’s plan.
Morning
Boneless Turkey: 100% of the meal
Calcium powder: Feed according to product label for the full daily amount
Evening
Boneless Turkey: 100% of the meal
Calcium powder: Remaining daily dose if split, or full dose if given once daily
Morning
Boneless Turkey: 100% of the meal
Calcium powder: Per product instructions
Evening
Boneless Turkey: 100% of the meal
Calcium powder: Per product instructions
(Days one and two intentionally remain identical.)
Bone-inclusive path only. Boneless feeders continue calcium powder & skip bone.
Bone is introduced in the morning so stool & comfort can be monitored.
Morning
Boneless Turkey: ~85–90% of the meal
Duck Foot or Duck Neck: ~10–15% of the meal
Evening
Boneless Turkey: 100% of the meal
No Calcium Powder & No Bone
Once bone is introduced, calcium powder is discontinued.
This day is used to assess stool and adjust bone amount if needed.
Morning
Raw Meaty Duck Bone: ~10–15% of the meal
Boneless Duck or Turkey: ~85–90% of the meal
Evening
Boneless Duck or Turkey: 100% of the meal
If stool is firm or chalky, slightly reduce the bone portion at the next bone meal, not the muscle meat.
Liver is introduced in a very small, controlled amount.
Morning
Raw Meaty Duck Bone: ~10–15% of the meal
Boneless Duck or Turkey: ~82–87% of the meal
Beef Liver: ~2–3% of the meal
Evening
Boneless Duck or Turkey: 100% of the meal
Liver should be finely chopped or minced.
Only proceed with introducing a second secreting organ if liver was tolerated without loose stool.
Morning
Raw Meaty Duck Bone: ~10–15% of the meal
Boneless Beef (90% lean or leaner): ~80–85% of the meal
Beef Liver: ~2–3% of the meal
Second Secreting Organ: ~1–2% of the meal
Kidney, Spleen, or Pancreas from only animals already fed so far in the transition.
Evening
Boneless Beef: 100% of the meal
The second secreting organ remains smaller than liver during transition.
Morning
Raw Meaty Duck Bone: ~10–15% of the meal
Boneless Beef: ~80–85% of the meal
Beef Liver: ~2–3% of the meal
Second Secreting Organ: ~1–2% of the meal
Evening
Repeat the same structure as the morning meal
Fiber for Stool Support
Fiber is a functional tool that supports stool quality, gut resilience, appetite regulation, & microbial balance.
Do not add fiber before you know if your dog is tolerating the base transition structure.
Soluble vs. Insoluble, Why it Matters:
Soluble fiber dissolves in water & forms a gel-like effect that can slow digestion, regulate absorption, and provide fermentable material for beneficial gut bacteria. This is the kind of fiber you feed when your dog needs stool support without adding bulk.
Examples: Pumpkin, psyllium, small amounts of fruit such as apple or pear.
Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It adds bulk to stool & supports motility. It can be useful when stool needs structure, but it is less fermentable.
Examples: Leafy greens, carrot skins, cruciferous vegetables.
Sugar and Starch:
• Added sugar provides empty calories & disrupts the gut.
• Starch is poorly tolerated by many dogs & is not used as a foundation in raw feeding. For stool support, choose low-starch fiber sources, not starch-heavy ingredients.
When to Use Fiber and What to Do:
Your dog’s stool quality is how you determine what kind of fiber to feed.
Hard, dry, crumbly stool: This often suggests too much bone or too little functional moisture support. First, reduce bone if it is excessive. Be sure you’re weighing your ingredients and not eyeballing them. If bone intake is appropriate & stool is still overly firm, add a small amount of soluble fiber.
Start with pumpkin:
• Small dogs: 1 teaspoon once daily
• Medium dogs: 1 tablespoon once daily
• Large dogs: 1 to 2 tablespoons once daily
Loose stool that still holds shape: This can be ingredient adjustment, fat level, or mild gut instability. If your dog is otherwise comfortable & you are not seeing intolerance signs, you can use a small amount of psyllium to tighten stool.
Start with psyllium (Tiny Amounts):
• Small dogs: a pinch
• Medium dogs: 1/8 teaspoon
• Large dogs: 1/4 teaspoon
Always add psyllium with moisture and increase slowly if needed. Too much can overcorrect and cause bulky stool.
Watery diarrhea: This is not a “add more fiber” moment. This signals maldigestion, irritation, intolerance, or imbalance. Stabilize the diet first, then use fiber only once the cause is addressed.
Fiber is layered in as support. It isn’t counted into a meal’s core balance, and it doesn’t replace the nutrient work that begins after transition.
From Transition to a Complete Adult Diet
By the end of the seven-day transition, your dog should be tolerating:
• Raw muscle meat
• Calcium delivery, either through edible bone or a calcium supplement
• Liver
• A second secreting organ
At this point, your dog is no longer transitioning to raw. The digestive system has adapted to raw food itself. That phase is complete.
Once tolerance is established, the focus shifts away from digestion and toward intentional diet formulation/meal planning.
You are no longer troubleshooting stool or comfort, so you want to build a complete adult diet.
A raw diet built only from meat, bone, and organs will fall short in several essential nutrients, even with thoughtful protein rotation. This is not a flaw in raw feeding. It is simply the limitation of prey-model-style structure when used on its own.
After the transition phase, the following nutrients require deliberate inclusion through whole foods and, when appropriate, food-based supplements:
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA)
Essential for immune regulation, neurologic health, skin integrity, & inflammation balance.
Best supplied through:
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Salmon
Vitamin D3
Supports calcium metabolism, skeletal integrity, immune signaling, & endocrine function.
Best supplied through:
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Salmon
Vitamin E
Required to protect dietary fats from oxidative damage, especially as omega-3 intake increases.
Best supplied through:
• Natural d-alpha-tocopherol (sunflower-derived or mixed tocopherols)
Avoid synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol.
Iodine
Essential for thyroid hormone production & metabolic regulation.
Best supplied through:
• Kelp (carefully dosed)
• Oysters
• Mussels
Zinc
Critical for immune function, skin and coat integrity, enzyme activity, & hormone signaling.
Best supplied through:
• Oysters
• Beef
• Pork
• Duck
Manganese
Required for connective tissue integrity, joint health, carbohydrate metabolism, & antioxidant defense.
Best supplied through:
• Blue or black-lipped mussels
Moving From Transition to Long-Term Balance
This is the stage where protein variety increases, fat levels are adjusted for the individual dog, & meals shift away from transition simplicity & toward long-term balance.
The next step is learning how to fully balance a raw diet so your dog’s meals meet their nutritional needs consistently over time.
If you prefer a done-for-you approach, you can purchase a balanced meal plan customized for your adult dog here.
If you want to formulate independently, you can purchase an end-user license for The Canine Recipe Formulator by emailing
support@caninedietformulation.com