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This blog post was originally published on April 1, 2016. It has been updated with new information and republished. Enjoy!
It's interesting when life throws you a curveball. Lately, I feel like I'm in a game of dodgeball and I'm not sure if I should dive left or right.
If you clicked on this post in confusion, then you're in good company. Many people are confused by my choice to transition from raw dog food, a diet that I've been feeding for eight years and promoting for seven years.
Let me explain.
Raw Dog Food is Fatal to Dogs
All of our dogs are alive and well and I want to keep them that way. I recently learned that raw dog food is fatal. I was speaking with a veterinarian who works for an insurance company and she shared that feeding raw was dangerous and listed the risks. I was stunned. I've been putting my dogs in danger for all of these years?
- the bacteria in raw dog food can lead to serious health complications, AND DEATH
- raw bones can splinter, leading to illness, emergency surgery, AND DEATH
- the ability to feed a balanced diet is difficult and complicated and not doing so can lead to malnutrition, AND DEATH
- raw meat has high levels of parasites that can lead to illness AND DEATH
Feeding Raw is Dangerous for Humans
Not only have I been putting my dogs' lives at risk; I've put my own life at risk as well. The veterinarian told me that being exposed to bacteria can be fatal to ME. I didn't know that I was supposed to wash my hands thoroughly EVERY time I handled raw meat.
Or one, or all, of my over-exuberant, happy dogs will lick me after mealtime, I'll swallow a mouthful of bacteria-laced dog drool, and then I'm toast. What a gross way to die.
During that same week, I saw this adorable video of puppies eating raw meat and scrolled down to see the comments and was stunned by what I learned…
- Feeding raw meat makes dogs go bloodthirsty and kill their owners.
- Feeding raw meat makes dogs aggressive and violent.
- Feeding raw meat makes dogs crave only raw; they won't eat anything else.
- It's impossible to balance a raw food diet – even if you have software created by a master formulator (Steve Brown) and sold by one of the most influential and knowledgeable veterinarians on the planet (Dr. Barbara Royal).
- Balancing over time is no longer a thing, by doing this, we're not honoring the guidelines AAFCO set forth for our dogs' nutritional health.
I'm stunned. As I type this, I'm blown away by my lack of research, education, and just plain common sense when I decided to switch my dogs from kibble to raw. Not only that, I've been telling pet parents for YEARS to feed raw!!!! I even promote my friend's raw feeding course and I created a raw feeder directory too. What was I thinking???
Transitioning Back to Kibble
A few years ago, I published my first book, A Novice's Guide to Raw Feeding for Dogs. A couple of years later, I published 100 Questions Pet Parents Ask About Raw Feeding.
I'm so ashamed.
This year, I will be sharing everything I'm doing to transition our dogs from raw dog food back to kibble, including:
- What brand our dogs are eating now!
- How I'm helping Rodrigo transition to kibble despite his digestive and food allergies!
- How I'm dealing with the haters and bullies who don't understand my choice!
- Why I'm not raising awareness of the dangers of raw feeding!
It's TIME to right my wrongs!!!
Transitioning My Dogs to Kibble in 10 Easy Steps
- Get in car
- Drive to pet store
- Walk up and down aisle
- Choose an expensive kibble with wolves on the package – species appropriate, right?
- Pay for kibble
- Get back in car
- Drive home
- Open bag
- Pour in dog dishes
- Put dishes on floor
Super easy, right?
Unsupportive Friends
My friends are being a pain about this, with comments like…
- “Please don't do it, it's not worth it!” ~ Dr. Karen B.
- “Even the very highest quality kibble contains ingredients that are proven to be detrimental to my dog's health. ~ Janet M.
- “Dogs fart more.” ~ Chris S.
- “Clean whole foods are better.” ~ Deniese L.
- “Tons of dog poop.” ~ Emily P.
- “What about Rodrigo's gut?” ~ Tina B.
- “Hear you're switching back to processed food, sorry to hear. P.S. you might want to look into investing in a large bottle of chlorella for the pups in the future.” ~ Rodney H.
You would think that they would understand. What if I faint some day? I don't want my dogs to eat my head!
And for those of you who aren't laughing your a$$es off right now at the idea of me switching my dogs from raw dog food back to a kibble diet – especially since Scout has CANCER – please look at your calendar.
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although I'm not a kibble hater, I hope to never be in a position where I have to switch our dogs back to a kibble diet. Rodrigo did so poorly on a processed diet and he's thriving on a diet of fresh food. So I will continue to work hard to raise awareness of the benefits of raw feeding so that this diet becomes an affordable and accessible option for all dog lovers.
- Order A Novice's Guide to Raw Feeding on Amazon.com in paperback or for Kindle.
- Order Keeping it Raw – 100 Questions About Raw Feeding, also on Amazon.
A Sorry-Not-Sorry Apology
For the people who find this post judgemental, please note that I'm not making fun of or judging people who feed their dogs dry dog food. I'm making fun of myself, it's a joke. April Fools Day!
Do I pinch you now?
Hahahahaha
You made my day with this comment. I’m the WORST liar ever and it tickles me that I pulled this off TWICE!!! LOL Thank you.
Omg! My emotions. I thought you sold out. 😥🤣🤣😂
Hahahahahahaha – next year, I need to reach out to you for April Fool’s because this is pure comic GOLD. Thank you, I loved every word.
I take issue with your ten steps,,,,especially the last one
It is so important to remove cats before placing food on the floor it could be dangerous if your dog attacks them when they are attracted to the superior aroma of the kibble.
It is a well known fact that the majority of kibble producers go to great lengths to smellify their product using advanced technology etc.
Who knows how long it will take a raw to kibble transitioned dog to lose his violent bloodthirsty tendencies
Also small children should be placed in a playpen or another room
Please let’s keep our kids and cats safe until our ‘transitioned’ dogs
Become fat and lethargic enuf so that the threat level decreases.
Thanks for the comment. I don’t think that you need to go back to kibble. If your dog isn’t showing signs of illness, it could be a transition and dogs are known to self fast (if you are concerned about illness, you can rule that out with a trip to the vet). I suggest offering food for breakfast and for dinner, if the dog doesn’t eat in 15 minutes, put it back in the fridge. One thing I do to temp my dogs to eat is pour warmed bone broth (super easy to make) over the raw food to add a yummy scent. Raw goat’s milk helps too.
Here is my recipe for bone broth: https://keepthetailwagging.com/bonebroth
This is complicated, so bare with me.
I recently adopted my old roommates dog (pit bull). He has been on a raw diet for since 3-3.5 years. I am very familiar with his diet as I lived with him for 1.5 years before I adopted him. I’ve had him for about 2 weeks and it’s been a struggle getting him to eat his raw food. He seems like he’s not interested in it at all. At first I thought it was an adjustment thing… maybe stress, nerves, getting settled into his new home, but now I’m not really sure what’s going on. I get all his food from Raw Feeding Miami… and it’s great quality. I also get him a variety of options, so he doesn’t grow bored. He’s primarily all beef (trying to get away from chicken and stick with more red meat). I’ve gotten to the point where I cut his food up and literally sit in front of him to make sure he eats. I threw some kibble that my friend left at my house and he gravitated towards that. I know it’s not good to mix because the foods are digested differently, but I wanted to see if he’d eat something. I just don’t know what to do. I feel like this is not normal… as most dogs would love his food. Should I switch back to kibble for a while and then make the transition back to raw later down the road? I just want to make sure he’s getting proper nutrition. His foods been going to waste as it’ll sit out for extended periods of time.
Hi, I’d recommend that they watch the movie Pet Fooled which is available on NetFlix.
We have our pups on raw and some of the new owners want to feed kibble whatbadvice should I give them for doing so? (Not trying to convince them not too anymore)
We don’t feed raw and even I was going to post a WTF! We are however considering is since there seems to be no end to our labs dry skin and itchiness. That was good.
I see. That’s how I started. I don’t think that there will be an issue with transitioning back to a partial raw diet; do what you makes you most comfortable. Best of luck.
I’m sorry Kimberly what meant to say was that feeding them kibble in the morning and raw in the evening!!
Hi Mauren, since you want to feed kibble in the morning and kibble in the evening, then you’ll be switching back to kibble. I guess you just stop feeding raw and start feeding kibble. The post you’re commenting on is an April Fool’s joke, I haven’t switched my dogs back to kibble; they still eat raw. However, if I were to switch them back, I would do it cold turkey.
Best of luck.
I’m currently feeding my dogs with a raw diet but it’s getting a little bit expensive, I would like to mix raw and kibble, like feeding them kibble in the morning and kibble in the evening. Would you recommend that? If so how can I introduce the kibble again?
Kimberly for a quick second, well maybe actually 1/2 a second I thought you had totally lost your mind. In the email I got I wondered why the hell would anyone want to transition back to kibble and why would Kim want to help them do this. Let me see what Kimberly’s talking about. Then I’m reading and reading and reading and think…..OMG! We’ve got to rescue Kimberly cause this is a clone of the Kim we all know and love and then I came to my senses. HAHA! Good one. Thank God it’s still you in there Kimberly. Thank the good Lord!
Ok, I fell for it. I was all ready to cancel my subscription. You totally got me. Lol! I do prey model raw, which means no plant material, but I love many things that you do and feel there is room for all types of raw feeding in this world. I have learned a lot from you in just the few months I have followed your blog. So don’t scare me like that again! ?
I admit…you got me. 😉
This made me laugh a lot! I had a feeling from the start that it was some kind of joke. Good to see some people still have humour these days. Keep up the amazing work 😀
BOL!!!! I was wondering for a few seconds what had gotten into you…until I remembered today’s date. Very nice!!!
LOL – now you know what to look for next year.
I thought long and hard on those steps. 🙂
It’s truly frightening – LOL
Thanks for sticking with me until the end!
I can immediately switch Seven (my 4.5 years old female Rottweiler) in the next meal without any transition steps, seriously.
I almost wanted to believe in your saying until the end of your post; now I won’t believe in whatever you say on this particular annual April 1st.
In response to “No, I’ll be sticking with raw feeding. This was my April Fool’s joke.”, I have thought about that no one should be believing in people’s saying on April 1st, except for your execution order to your broker to sell or buy shares on April 1st. On April 1st, people just talk, no actions, no penalties.
Nearly had a heart attack lol till I got to the end. Thanks for the laugh ^_^
MOL, MOL ! We’ve been following you long enough so we wouldn’t be fooled ! We love your 10 Easy Steps ! Happy April Fool’s day ! Purrs
That video! Little monsters! 🙂
Thanks! It was so fun to plan and write.
No, I’ll be sticking with raw feeding. This was my April Fool’s joke.
So are you really switching back to the commercial dry dog foods? Life is so confusing; I thought I have been following the good advices and feeding my 4.5 years old female Rottweiler dog starting three years ago. I’m now seriously considering switching back to the dry dog foods, that have been very convenient: 2-cup in the morning, 2-cup in the evening and we are done.
So good!