Transitioning My Dogs Back to Kibble in 10 Easy Steps

It’s interesting when life throws you a curve ball.  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 three years and promoting for two years.

Let me explain.

DepositPhoto/Thamkc

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 three 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.

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.

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.

Transitioning Back to Kibble

For the past two years, I publish a series in April about raw feeding; last year, I turned the series into a book called Raw Feeding from A to Z.  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!

Transitioning My Dogs to Kibble in 10 Easy Steps

1. Get in car
2. Drive to pet store
3. Walk up and down aisle
4. Choose an expensive kibble with wolves on the package – species appropriate, right?
5. Pay for kibble
6. Get back in car
7. Drive home
8. Open bag
9. Pour in dog dishes
10. 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.
• “Was it too much work for you? Are you no longer interested in doing what you can to help your ‘dogs live forever?’ Good luck managing your dogs’ intestinal issues with sh$% kibble.” ~ Katrina O. (this is my BFF!)
• “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, 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 options for all dog lovers.

April’s Raw Food Challenge

This year, I will be sharing 20 days (Monday through Friday) of blog posts that are about what I’m feeding my dogs, which will include:

• what I’m feeding my dogs
• where I source the proteins
• why I chose the proteins
• the supplements that I add to our dogs’ meals, and why

If you haven’t done so already, please order your copy of my ebook Raw Feeding from A to Z andsubscribe to my weekly newsletter to be the first to get a free copy of my Quick Start Guide to Raw Feeding.

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!

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