How to Start Feeding Raw -

Let your Pets Lead. The end.

Just kidding...but really, let me explain this.

One of the biggest misconceptions about raw feeding is that there is a single "right" way to do it.

There isn't.

It’s like asking Catholics and Orthodox to agree on the one true religion. I’ll stop the analogy there, because raw feeding—like religion and politics—tends to send people sliding down a slope of strong opinions and spectacular misunderstandings.

At Rawsome Pets, we believe feeding raw (or cooked, or semi whatever Aunt Carol permits at her dining room), is not about perfection, rigid ratios, or checked boxes. It is 100% about listening to the animal right in front of you, observing their responses, and building a diet plan that supports long-term health through variety, balance over short periods of time, and - stand by for this one...COMMON SENSE.

How to Start Raw Feeding...

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Diet

If there were a single perfect raw diet, it would have been discovered long before social

media turned feeding philosophies into teams and tribes. What we have now is something else entirely: paid promotion for the highest bidder masquerading as guidance. Most raw groups are sponsored, which means bias is baked in, nuance is unwelcome, and conversations quickly turn into full-on war zones fueled by brand loyalty rather than biology. Pets become collateral damage in a marketing contest — and that’s a game I refuse to play.

Biology doesn't care about sponsors...

Dogs, cats, all of us — we are not identical. Digestion, stress levels, genetics, medical history, environment, and emotional state all matter. Expecting one rigid protocol to work for everyone ignores how living systems actually function.

At Rawsome, we say this often and without apology:

The dog/cat/client leads.

The human observes.

The food adjusts.

That’s not laziness. That’s biology.

Where Do You Start? By Slowing Down!

One of the biggest mistakes people make when transitioning to raw is trying to do everything at once: new proteins, new supplements, new ratios, new rules — buying half the SKUs available on the internet and whatever the newest glitter-bombed local pet boutique is pushing (no offense to the glitter tribes — you know who you are).

The body doesn’t work that way.

If a dog has eaten kibble or canned food for years, their digestive system usually needs time to adapt. Usually. Yes, there are exceptions. My 12-year-old foster, Kika, said a firm goodbye to kibble and promptly turned into a feral-loving fluff queen, making up for lost time and patiently waiting for a forever home that fully embraces feathers, fur, and unapologetic prey drive.

Some dogs are like that.

Most are not.

For most dogs, enzymes shift. Gut bacteria change. Stomach acidity adjusts. None of this happens overnight — and none of it means something is “wrong.”

That’s not failure.

That’s physiology.

A reasonable place to start is simple: choose one protein your dog already tolerates, keep meals consistent, skip supplements initially, and observe stool, appetite, energy, skin, and overall comfort. That observation phase matters more than any checklist.

Remember reason and here is your place to start:

• Choose one protein your dog already tolerates

• Keep meals simple and consistent

• Skip supplements initially

• Observe stool, appetite, energy, skin, and overall comfort

Some dogs transition quickly. Others need weeks—or longer.

Both are normal.

The Transition Process Is Not a Countdown Clock

You’ll find charts online that tell you exactly what to feed on Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7.

Those charts assume pets are carbon-copy identical machines.

They aren’t.

Some pet thrive with an immediate switch. Others do better with alternating meals. Some need pauses. Some need temporary cooked food. Some need to step backward before they can move forward.

There is no universal timeline because digestion isn’t linear. Enzyme production, gut bacteria, stomach acidity, and stress response all adapt at different speeds.

There is no countdown.

There is only feedback.

If you’re watching the pet, the pet will tell you.

Variety Is Where Nutrition Actually Happens

No single food—raw, cooked, freeze-dried, or “complete”—contains everything.

No single food — raw, cooked, freeze-dried, or even so-called “complete” — contains everything.

That’s why we believe in variety over time, not perfection in every bowl.

Rotating through raw meals, fermented foods, prey-style grinds, whole prey, and balanced or complete options allows nutrients to layer naturally, filling gaps the way nature intended. Different foods bring different amino acids, fatty acids, micronutrients, enzymes, and bioactive compounds. No formula replicates that complexity in isolation.

Balance does not happen in one meal.

It happens across days, weeks, and months.

This approach supports gut diversity, broader micronutrient intake, and long-term resilience — without micromanaging every ounce or turning feeding into a math problem.

A Hard Truth that Most Raw Feeders Often Fail With...

This part makes people uncomfortable, but it needs to be said.

One of the most common issues we see in raw-fed dogs is over-supplementation.

The intention is good.

The outcome is often bad.

Whole foods already contain nutrients in bioavailable, balanced forms. When multiple powders, oils, tinctures, and additives are layered on “just in case,” the body can become overwhelmed rather than supported. Nutrient excess can disrupt absorption, stress detox pathways, and create imbalances that look like “mystery symptoms.”

More input does not automatically equal better health.

Our philosophy is simple: food comes first. Supplements should be purpose-driven, not fear-driven. “Just in case” is not a nutritional strategy.

Sometimes, the most supportive thing you can do is remove, not add.

One of the most common issues we see in raw-fed dogs is over-supplementation.

Our philosophy is simple:

• Food comes first

• Supplements should be purpose-driven, not fear-driven

• “Just in case” is not a nutritional strategy

Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is remove, not add.

Veterinary Care Belongs IN the Conversation—Not Outside of It

Many people know me as “crunchy” — fewer realize how firmly science sits at the center of everything I do. Both have always been true.

Feeding raw does not exist in opposition to veterinary medicine. Nutrition provides the foundation, but biology is complex, adaptive, and sometimes unpredictable. Food supports the body; it does not replace diagnostics, imaging, bloodwork, or clinical insight when something deeper is happening.

A simple human example explains this well. If you have a headache, most of us don’t immediately reach for a prescription medication. We start with water, rest, fresh air, maybe food, maybe magnesium — we support the body first and see how it responds. That’s not anti-medicine. That’s appropriate triage.

But if you break a bone, you don’t meditate it away. You might diffuse calming oils while you’re on the way, but you’re still going to the hospital to have that bone properly assessed and reset. Supportive tools and medical intervention aren’t mutually exclusive. They serve different purposes at different moments.

That same logic applies to animals.

Veterinarians are often expected to deliver immediate perfection while working with complex biology, incomplete histories, and bodies that do not respond on command. They’re asked to fix systems that took years to break, quickly, neatly, and without variability, while also being blamed when biology refuses to cooperate.

Nutritionists are increasingly held to the same unrealistic standard, expected to override biology on demand rather than work with it. When instant answers are demanded from professions that work with adaptive biology, burnout isn’t a failure, it’s an inevitable outcome.

Healing is not instant.

Biology is not a switch.

Nutrition, lifestyle, and veterinary care work best when they are integrated, not siloed. Food builds resilience. Supportive practices help regulation. Science and veterinary care step in when the body needs more than nourishment alone. Together, they respect biology instead of trying to override it.

Listening to the Body Is Not Avoiding Medical Care

Observation is not neglect. It’s how biology communicates. Changes in stool, appetite, energy, behavior, skin, coat, sleep, and mood are not random noise; they’re feedback. When we pay attention, we often catch imbalance early, before it escalates into something that requires aggressive intervention.

We encourage pet parents to watch patterns, not panic over single moments. To notice trends. To track responses. And to communicate those observations clearly with their nutrition & veterinary teams, because context matters just as much as diagnostics.

Food is not a cure for disease, but it is foundational support nourishing the systems that allow the body to regulate, repair, and respond if or when medical care is needed.  It supports regulation, resilience, and recovery. Medicine plays a critical role when the body needs targeted intervention. The mistake isn’t choosing one over the other, a mistake is ignoring what the body is telling you in the first place.

Food supports the body.

Medicine supports the body.

The best outcomes happen when both are used thoughtfully, collaboratively, and without ego — when listening comes first, and action follows with intention.

The Truth Most People Don’t Want to Hear...and Why You'll Be OK Anyway

Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned.

Not because someone failed.

Not because a veterinarian didn’t care.

Not because raw feeding “didn’t work.”

But because living systems are complex, animals are individuals, and healing doesn’t follow a straight line.

And here’s the part that matters most: that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start.

Raw feeding isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention, adjusting thoughtfully, and working with biology instead of against it. When you’re informed, supported, and willing to observe, most transitions go just fine and many go beautifully.

How We Help You Succeed (Not Guess)

Raw feeding doesn’t require perfection, but it does benefit from intention, context, and support.

That’s why we offer nutritional consults through a detailed intake form. This isn’t busywork or gatekeeping. It’s how we make sure recommendations are grounded in the actual animal in front of us — not assumptions, trends, or internet protocols.

Veterinary records are part of the conversation because they matter. Nutrition doesn’t replace veterinary care; it works alongside it, informed by the same data.

Just as important are your goals. Feeding raw isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s a tool that adapts based on where you’re starting and where you want to go.

What are you hoping to improve? Energy? Digestion? Skin? Longevity? Support during illness? Prevention? Maintenance? FOOD is a tool that adapts based on where you’re starting and where you want to go.

This is not about doing everything at once. It’s about choosing a starting point, observing the response, and adjusting thoughtfully over time, with guidance, not pressure.

You don’t need all the answers before you begin.

You just need a plan, a team, and a willingness to listen.

That’s where we come in.

One last piece of transparency matters here: the education and guidance we provide is part of the service we offer our clients. When that support is used, but purchases are intentionally directed elsewhere, it becomes clear that the time and care behind that guidance aren’t being valued. That’s not selfish — it’s simply a matter of fairness.

So Here’s the Bottom Line

If feeding raw resonates with you, don’t overthink it. You don’t need perfection. You don’t need to do everything at once. You just need a thoughtful starting point, good information, and a team that respects biology.

When you partner with Rawsome and your trusted veterinarian, you’re not navigating this alone. You’re supported with education, intention, and real-world experience - not hype, fear, or rigid rules.

If this approach aligns with you, we’d love to work together.

If it doesn’t, that’s okay too.

Either way, feed with intention, stay curious, and remember: real health is built over time — not overnight.

Based in Plainfield, Illinois, shipping coast to coast,

Rawsome Pets & More works with pet parents locally and nationwide navigate raw feeding with clarity, education, and biologically appropriate choices.

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