By Dog Type
Raw Dog Food and Gut Health for Dogs Edmonton
Jan 20, 2025
Raw feeding and gut health explained. Here is how raw dog food relates to digestion, what to expect during the transition, and when to speak with your vet.
Gut health is one of the reasons many dog owners explore raw feeding. Here is an honest look at how raw food relates to a dog's digestive system.
Dogs have relatively short digestive tracts compared to humans, and a more acidic stomach environment. This means they process food differently, and are generally well-suited to digesting raw meat and bone. Commercial kibble, by contrast, contains carbohydrates and other processed ingredients that dogs are less naturally equipped to break down efficiently.
Raw food is closer to what dogs would eat in their natural state. It does not contain the fillers, artificial preservatives, or high levels of carbohydrates found in many commercial pet foods. For some dogs, the transition to a simpler, less processed diet results in changes in stool consistency, quantity, and frequency.
Raw-fed dogs typically produce smaller, firmer stools than kibble-fed dogs, which many owners notice within a few weeks of switching. This is generally attributed to the higher digestibility of the food and the absence of indigestible fillers.
It is normal for dogs to experience some digestive adjustment when transitioning to raw food. Loose stools for a few days to a couple of weeks during the transition are common and typically resolve as the dog adapts. Switching gradually rather than all at once helps minimise this — see our raw dog food transition timeline for a week-by-week guide. Also review our post on common raw dog food feeding mistakes to avoid the pitfalls that make gut adjustment worse.
If your dog experiences prolonged digestive upset, blood in the stool, or significant changes in appetite during or after transitioning to raw, those are symptoms worth discussing with your veterinarian. Digestive changes during a diet transition are expected, but they should be mild and temporary.
Many raw feeders include green tripe in their dog's diet as a regular part of the rotation. Green tripe is the unprocessed stomach lining of a grazing animal and contains naturally occurring digestive enzymes. Several Hound and Bone blends include green tripe as part of their formula. See our post on raw dog food with green tripe for more detail. Browse our range and get delivery across Edmonton and surrounding communities.
This article is for general information only and is not veterinary advice. Every dog is different — consult your veterinarian before making changes to your dog’s diet. Individual results may vary.