So you’ve started integrating fresh food into your dog’s diet, and you’re feeling really good about it. You’re adding in blueberries, steamed broccoli, dollops of green smoothie- for pete’s sake you’ve got kefir in the fridge! And all of the sudden your dog gets...explosive diarrhea! Or maybe, they turn their nose up at the fresh food completely! So you back off and go back to what you know- the kibs (aka kibble).
And I get it, I do. You made a change, the reaction seems negative, so you retreat to your previous pattern. But you have to understand, like so many things when it comes to health, for hoo-mans and their fur children alike, this is just an’ it gets worse before it gets better’ type of situation.
If this echoes your current experience, I want you to know that your effort has not been for nothing. The change you’re trying to make is really good. In fact, it’s amazing.
“In a 2005 study conducted at Purdue University on Scottish Terriers...Dogs that ate any green leafy vegetables, like broccoli, had reduced the risk of developing bladder cancer by 90% and the dogs that consumed any yellow – orange vegetables like carrots reduced the risk by 70%!”
In terms of what your dog might gravitate towards, it may just take some simple trial and error. I typically advise approaching it as if they were small children or an adult whose trying to change their mostly processed food diet- start out with something sweet like a strawberry banana smoothie with spinach. Add a tiny pinch of Himalayan sea salt to the steamed vegetables, or drizzle a bit of organic nut butter over the beans or sweet potato. Slowly over time the drizzles, the salt and the sweeter fruit won't be as important.
And as for what's happening with the explosive diarrhea? It's merely a shock to the system. I always tell my clients, it’s like when you go on vacation and you eat and drink like a womxn unhinged, and then you get back to your grilled proteins and cold pressed juices and your system is like...uhhh EXCUSE ME? And suddenly you’re the one with explosive diarrhea.
It’s all part of the process and it will get better. Just ensure you're introducing fresh food slowly and incrementally; and heck, before you know it, you could be feeding only fresh food with the healthiest poops of your doggo’s LIFE! But it’s all in your own time. Just know I’m here to help if you ever have any questions!