Your four-legger will benefit most by making the switch to any new food slowly– raw included. With each meal, you’ll add more of their new food, gradually transitioning over 5-7 days.
To start, mix a few nuggets in with your pet’s current food. Then slowly increase the portion of freeze-dried food and decrease the other food– 25% to 75% new to old, then 50-50, 75-25 till you’ve made the switch completely. Simple as that.
For the most refined palettes or sensitive stomachs, slow and steady does it.
It may take over a 2-3 week period, starting with just one crumbled nugget at the bottom of the bowl. You can also add warm water or broth, soak, and then sprinkle a few crunchies on top (this is a whiskered workmate’s favorite).
It may take some time for cats, but vets like Dr. Lisa Pierson have worked with and successfully transitioned some of the most difficult carb-aholic kitties over the course of months. The key is not giving in or giving up because the benefits of real, whole foods are well worth the effort.