Getting Started on a Raw Diet

Are you looking for the best raw food diet for dogs? At Mersey Raw, we provide high-quality, single-protein raw minces – all of which are made in-house. We’ve seen the benefits of feeding raw first-hand, and we want you to experience them too! Kickstart the journey to feeding your dog a raw diet today by following our raw dog food feeding guide below.

The Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs

Wondering if dogs should eat raw food? The answer is yes – and the benefits speak for themselves!

Improved Digestion: Raw food is full of natural enzymes and nutrients that make digestion easier and reduce stomach issues.

Increased Energy: Raw diets are packed with protein, healthy fats, and natural acids, giving your dog steady, lasting energy without the crashes from fillers and excess carbs.

Firmer Stool: Better digestion means firmer, less smelly stool, and a raw diet removes the cereals and fillers that often cause tummy trouble.

Weight Management: With more protein and fewer unnecessary carbs, dogs feel fuller for longer, build lean muscle, and maintain a healthy weight.

Cleaner Teeth: Chewing raw meat and bones helps keep teeth naturally clean – with less risk of sugars and carbs found in kibble affecting dental health.

Healthier Skin & Coat: Omega-3s and essential nutrients in raw food support softer coats and healthier skin, reducing recurring issues.

Improved Joint Health: A raw diet helps keep joints strong and mobile at every stage of life, supporting your dog’s long-term wellbeing.

Discover the difference a raw diet can make – your dog will thank you!

Raw Dog Food Ingredients

Raw dog food nutrition is all about balance, and it comes from three main ingredients:

• Meat (80%): The main source of protein, made from high-quality muscle meat to fuel your dog’s health and growth.
• Offal (10%): Organ meats like liver, kidney, and heart deliver essential vitamins and minerals for all-round wellbeing.
• Bone (10%): Ground bone supplies natural calcium and phosphorus to support strong teeth and healthy joints.

We offer both complete and boneless minces, so you can choose what works best for your dog’s needs and preferences.

Assess any Allergies

It's often found that allergies in dogs eating dry food won't present themselves when switching to a raw diet. However, if your dog has had an allergy confirmed via blood test, you should contact a pro-raw or holistic vet before choosing what proteins to feed. When raw feed is introduced, look out for toilet troubles or white stools. If this does occur, it's likely down to them having too much bone in their meals. But not to worry – this is why we offer boneless mince as part of our collection.

Choose Your Proteins

Once you’ve weighed your pooch, considered allergies, and used our calculator to learn their daily feeding recommendation, you can choose the proteins to feed your dog for the next three weeks.

Week	Option 1	Option 2
1	Chicken	Turkey
2	Pork	Duck
3	Beef	Venison

Although there are two protein options, only one should be fed per week.

Follow a 3-Week Routine

Over the next three weeks, we recommend a simple, gradual transition to help your dog safely switch to a raw food diet.

Week 1

Feed your dog their daily allowance of chicken or turkey mince. Don’t be alarmed if they produce a little yellow vomit—this is normal during the adjustment period and should settle as their digestive system adapts.

Week 2

Introduce pork or duck as the sole protein (do not mix both). Follow this 4-day transition plan:

Day	Feeding Instructions
Day 1	¼ pork or duck + ¾ of the week 1 protein
Day 2	½ pork or duck + ½ of the week 1 protein
Day 3	¾ pork or duck + ¼ of the week 1 protein
Days 4–7	100% pork or duck

Week 3

Repeat the same gradual process as Week 2, but this time using beef or venison alongside your original week 1 protein (chicken or turkey).

Congratulations!

Your dog has now successfully transitioned to a raw diet! For best results, we also recommend introducing a gut supplement during the first few weeks. Feeding your dog a species-appropriate raw diet offers a wide range of health benefits. Here are just a few:

If you have any questions about starting your furry friend on a raw food diet, please contact us here. We look forward to helping you and your dog thrive!