We love to hear from our Pawgevity feeders, both new and old. You keep us on our toes with your questions, comments, feedback – and, especially, success stories. Over the next few days we’ll feature answers to some pawticularly pertinent recent questions.

Q: “We were reading on a raw feeding site about dogs being really hungry and begging constantly when they first start eating raw. They recommended feeding as much as the dog would eat at one time and then gradually cutting back to the normal amount. Is this a good way to do it?”

A: Wow, I’ve heard it all now! The internet is a beautiful thing – a great way to share information and communicate. That’s also it’s downfall – it provides easy access to an instant platform to, basically, put anything in print, be it factual or not. Sadly, there is a great deal of misinformation out there regarding raw feeding. Read with caution. Act with even more caution.

That said, this is not sound advice. Transitioning can be a delicate enterprise, particularly if a dog (or cat) has never eaten raw before. Overfeeding can have serious consequences, including vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. These are conditions that can lead to horrible discomfort, expensive veterinary visits, and on occasion, even death.

Dogs and cats (and human animals) should go hungry between meals – their digestive systems need time to do their work. If your dog is begging after eating a raw meal (and it’s not due to a medical condition), it’s very likely that it’s because he’s used to eating dry food with filler – the stomach felt satiated because it was “full”. It’s also highly likely because he’s eating real unprocessed food for the first time and he loves it! We all like second helpings of our favorite foods but that doesn’t mean it’s beneficial to do. Stick to the program – a little discipline on your part will help your dog achieve full health.