There are numerous reasons owners put their pets on a raw diet and most can be traced back to the fact that your pet is able to better digest raw. Both cats and dogs have digestive systems that have evolved to digest high protein and fat diets rather than the high carbohydrate content typically found in commercial pet food today. As a result, pets on raw diets typically see the following benefits:
Want to learn more about raw feeding, nutrition, and how we do things at Viva? Check out our blog!
Not all raw foods are the same and here at Viva, we believe that nutrition starts with our ingredients. We only sources from farms that never administer hormones & growth-promoting antibiotics—a huge step up from conventional factory farming. By not relying on chemicals, farmers focus on providing high quality food & a clean environment to raise healthy, happy animals. All of our farms are audited by 3rd parties for their handling practices to ensure that all animals are humanely raised and are able to express natural behaviors throughout their life.
Additionally, our nutritionists focus on utilizing whole food ingredients rather than synthetics to balance our recipes and we source organic or wild-caught wherever possible. Whole foods not only provide the specific vitamins & nutrients we’re looking for in a more natural form, but they also contain a variety of bioactive compounds that work together to support health in ways that synthesized vitamins & minerals can’t. On top of meeting the minimum requirements, we add a variety of superfoods to our recipes such as shiitake mushrooms, green mussels, wheatgrass and so much more. Our goal is to create recipes that we’re proud to feed our own pets and we’re excited to be a part of your fresh feeding journey.
When starting your pet on a new raw diet, we recommend starting out by replacing 25% of their kibble portion with raw. Increase the raw portion by 25% every other day until you’re at 100% on the seventh day. Some pets may need more or less time and a good sign is if they’re having consistent firm stools. Some pets, mostly younger (lucky!) ones, are able to completely switch over without a transition period, but we've found that taking it slow is what works for the majority.
It's not uncommon to have some loose stools during this initial transition period, be prepared to take them out more frequently. Slippery elm bark or pumpkin can be added to firm up the bowel movements. Keep in mind that their body is learning how to digest this new type of food. Stick with it and you will soon see results!
Always start with a single protein (chicken, turkey & rabbit are good choices for beginners) and only introduce new proteins once they’ve had no issues with their stool & digestion for a week. New proteins can be introduced in the same way—starting at 25% of their diet—and once you get the hang of it, aim for a rotation of 3-5 proteins.
One last note, raw fed pets will tend to drink less water since their food now has a much higher water content. This is perfectly normal.
Feeding amounts are based on your pet's weight, age, and activity level. Check out our calculator to determine your pet's customized feeding recommendations with Viva.
Overnight, your pet will develop superpowers and learn to fly. Only partially kidding here. Here's what some of our customers have reported after switching to Viva:
Many of these changes do take some time to materialize! Even if your pet previously had no issues, adding fresh food to their diet is still going to benefit their long term health and wellness.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQs for more info on raw feeding practices or contact us.
