How to switch from fresh meat to kibble?

A healthy diet is incredibly important for your dog. Many people therefore wonder what constitutes the best nutrition. Should we choose to feed our dog kibble, or opt for fresh meat instead? Or a combination of the two? And how can we switch from fresh meat to kibble without our four-legged friend suffering from digestive problems? In this article, we’ll cover various aspects of dog nutrition. These include the transition to a new diet, the combination of kibble and meat, and the benefits and risks of various types of food.

What should you do if you want to switch from fresh meat to kibble?

To give your dog time to adjust, we need to take this in small steps. Start by giving a combination of the two. Mix some kibble with the fresh meat. You can adjust these proportions slightly each time so that your dog also has time to adapt. Bear in mind that ideally, you should complete the transition within ten days. Each day, gradually add more kibble instead of fresh meat. This helps support your dog’s digestion. A top tip: soak the kibble in water; this gives it a softer texture, similar to that of meat, which will make the transition easier.

There’s a real reason to go slow here. In adult dogs, an abrupt overnight diet change has been shown to spike gut levels of E. coli and Clostridium perfringens while beneficial genera like Lactobacillus drop, along with a temporary rise in inflammation markers and wetter stools [1]. A gradual switch gives the gut microbiota time to adapt instead of getting knocked off balance all at once.

How do you switch from fresh meat to kibble?

In this process, there is actually one rule that is very important. For the first three days, feed 75% fresh meat and 25% kibble. For the next four days, feed a 50/50 ratio. And for the final three days, feed 25% fresh meat and 75% kibble. This way, you will have made a perfect transition to kibble in ten days.

Can you combine kibble and fresh meat?

You can combine kibble and fresh meat. Do bear in mind, however, that meat consists mainly of proteins and fats, whilst kibble is primarily carbohydrates and fibre. These nutrients complement each other well, but it is important that you do this correctly.

They have different digestion times. Fresh meat is digested more quickly than kibble. Fresh meat takes between four and six hours to digest, whereas kibble takes eight to twelve hours. This can cause some dogs to experience flatulence or diarrhoea.

It is best to combine kibble and fresh meat by not serving them in the same meal. For example, you could give fresh meat in the morning and kibble in the evening, or vice versa. This gives the stomach time to adjust. You can also opt for the 50/50 method. Some dogs can certainly tolerate both in a single meal, though this will vary depending on the breed. We recommend introducing this gradually so you can see how your dog reacts.

Ensure the nutrients are balanced; consult your veterinarian or a nutritionist if you have any doubts.

What is best for dogs? Fresh meat or kibble?

The most important thing for your dog’s nutrition is that it contains sufficient protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.

The risks of fresh meat for dogs.

Fresh meat contains many parasites and bacteria. This can be dangerous for both the dog and the owner. A Dutch study testing 35 commercial raw meat-based diets found E. coli O157:H7 in 23% of products, ESBL-producing E. coli in 80%, and Salmonella in over half, plus parasites including Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis in some samples [2]. Of the worms your dog can contract, there are also eggs; these worm eggs are not only found in their faeces. They are also present in your dog’s coat.

There is a risk that small pieces of bone may remain in fresh meat, which can damage the stomach and intestines or cause blockages.

What are good kibbles for your dog?

For most dog owners, finding good nutrition is a difficult task. It can be even harder if you don’t know what to look for to find the best option for your dog. There are seven key elements you should look out for to find good kibble for your dog:

• Animal proteins
• Fibre
• Minerals
• Vitamins
• Water
• Easily digestible carbohydrates
• Unsaturated fats

What are the benefits of feeding kibble?

If you’ve found good-quality kibble, it will normally contain all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions for your dog. Another benefit is that if you feed your dog only kibble, there is less risk of dental problems. Kibble can also be stored for much longer than fresh meat. Kibble is also cheaper than fresh meat, more hygienic and easy to take with you. Kibble made with insect protein is a hypoallergenic option worth considering too: in a recent feeding trial, dogs fed diets built around black soldier fly larvae meal digested protein and fat just as well as, or slightly better than, dogs on a standard poultry-meal diet, with no negative effect on stool quality [3].

Can dogs survive on kibble alone without fresh meat?

Absolutely. Dogs usually have no problem at all eating just kibble. Of course, every dog is different, and preferences may vary. Make sure you choose kibble with the right nutritional properties, so your dog gets all the necessary nutrients for an active and healthy life.

If you still have doubts about feeding only dry food, remember that fresh meat wasn’t always practical for dogs in the past. Those dogs largely lived on kibble alone, and millions of dogs still do. Dogs are living longer than ever today, thanks to a mix of better veterinary care and, for many owners, a consistent complete dry food.

Do make sure you choose kibble that takes a number of factors into account, such as your dog’s breed, age, size, health and activity level. So be sure to choose a high-quality dog food for your dog, and even better, one that contains all the essential nutrients your dog needs.

How much kibble should you feed your dog each day?

They say you should give your dog around 10 to 20 grams of kibble per kilogram of body weight. A very active dog will always need slightly more nutrition than a less active dog. Active dogs will need 20 grams of dog food per kilogram, whilst less active dogs will need between 10 and 15 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Best time to feed a dog kibble or fresh meat?

Make sure there are between six and eight hours between meals. So don’t give all the nutrition in the morning or evening; spread it out a bit. Don’t feed your dog before going for a walk; leave about thirty minutes between a meal and exercise. Ideally, feed them only after exercise.

Conclusion: How do I make the switch from fresh meat to kibble?

Kibble and fresh meat each have their pros and cons. Kibble is more hygienic, cheaper and complete. Fresh meat is more natural but carries some risks. A dog can thrive on kibble. A switch from fresh meat to kibble should be done gradually, but is certainly worth considering.