The honest answer to “when can you start feeding your dog a raw diet” depends on their age, health, and your home. While puppies can start once fully weaned (around 8 weeks) and healthy adults can switch at any age, dogs with underlying health conditions should wait for a vet’s approval first. Here is how to decide the right timing and make the transition safely.
what age can a dog start raw food?
Weaning puppies (3-6 weeks): usually breeder-led, using finely minced, balanced recipes.
New-home puppies (8-12 weeks): the most common start, using a complete puppy recipe.
Adult dogs: once fully grown, with a gradual switch.
Seniors and dogs with health conditions: only after a vet check.
Starting raw with puppies
Weaning begins at around three to four weeks, when milk alone no longer meets a puppy’s needs, and is usually complete by six to eight weeks. Some breeders wean litters straight onto raw food. If yours does, you can usually carry on with the same diet.
If your puppy arrives on kibble, introduce a raw diet for dogs gradually. A transition of about seven to ten days is commonly recommended.
Puppies need extra care because their bones are growing fast. They have strict calcium and phosphorus requirements, so choose a complete puppy-formulated recipe rather than improvising at home, and ask your vet to monitor growth.
Starting raw with adult and senior dogs
Healthy adult dogs can switch whenever you’re ready, ideally once fully grown (giant breeds take longer). Allow one to two weeks for the change, and longer if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
Senior dogs can eat raw too, but book a vet check first. Dental disease, kidney problems, pancreatitis and medication needs can all change what’s suitable. The same goes for pregnant or nursing dogs, whose nutritional demands are higher.
Is your home ready for raw?
Raw feeding affects people as much as dogs. The Food Standards Agency tested raw pet food on sale in the UK and found Salmonella in 21% of samples, Campylobacter in 14% and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in 12%.
Think twice if your household includes babies, young children, older adults, pregnant women or anyone with a weakened immune system. If you go ahead:
Keep raw food, bowls and utensils separate from human food.
Wash everything thoroughly after feeding and sanitise any surfaces you’ve used.
Defrost food safely and wash your hands afterwards.
What does the evidence say?
Many owners report shinier coats and better stools, but these reports are largely anecdotal. Risks are better documented. A UK study published by the BSAVA found antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in 62% of raw-fed dogs, compared with 13% of non-raw-fed dogs, and Salmonella only in raw-fed dogs. That doesn’t make a raw diet for dogs impossible, but it does mean preparation matters more than timing.
Complete raw, 80:10:10 or homemade?
Complete raw meals are pre-balanced with meat, bone, organs, vegetables and supplements. 80:10:10 diets (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% offal) lack vegetables and added supplements, so they suit only experienced feeders.
PDSA vets advise against making pet food at home, raw or cooked, because it can end up nutritionally unbalanced, and they recommend manufacturers who belong to the PFMA. For beginners, a complete commercial recipe is the safest route.
How to switch your dog to raw
Book a vet check and confirm your dog is healthy.
Choose a complete recipe with a mild protein such as chicken.
Start with around 25% raw and 75% of the old food.
Increase the raw portion every few days until your dog is fully on raw after roughly 7-10 days.
Add new proteins slowly, one at a time.
Watch stools, energy and appetite, and slow down if anything changes.
Some suppliers advise against mixing raw and kibble in the same meal, so follow the guidance for the food you choose.
Signs the switch is going well
Look for steady energy, a healthy appetite and a stable weight. Mild stool changes can occur while digestion adjusts, but persistent problems shouldn’t be ignored.
When to wait
Hold off and talk to your vet if your dog has a medical condition, is pregnant or nursing, or you can’t commit to strict hygiene. Call your vet if vomiting, ongoing diarrhoea, blood in the stool or lethargy follow the switch.
FAQs
From weaning, which suppliers often put at around 3-4 weeks. Most owners start at 8-12 weeks.
Can an adult dog switch to raw?
Yes, at any age, gradually and ideally after a vet check.
How long does the switch take?
Usually 7-14 days, and longer for sensitive dogs.
Is homemade raw safe for puppies?
It’s the riskiest option because puppies need precisely balanced nutrients. Use a complete puppy recipe or a vet nutritionist’s plan.
Do UK vets recommend raw?
Most UK vet bodies don’t recommend raw diets, and if you choose raw they advise a complete commercial product from a PFMA-registered manufacturer.
Final thoughts
The best time to start a raw diet for dogs is when your dog is healthy, your home is ready, and you have a complete recipe and your vet’s support.
Ready to choose? Compare raw dog foods
General information only, not veterinary advice. Speak to your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
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