Troubleshooting

The diagnostic that solves most of it

Before anything else, ask three questions:

1. How long have they been on raw? First two weeks behaves differently from month six
2. How fast did they switch?
3. What else are they feeding? Treats, bones, toppers, table scraps

Most problems answer themselves at question two.

"Loose stools"

Almost always too much, too rich, or too fast.

• In the first week, this is the digestive system adjusting. Normal, settles in a few days
• Later, look at what changed. A new protein, a bone, a rich topper, or simply too much food
• Step back a stage in the transition and move more slowly
• Pumpkin kefir helps. So does Healthy Gut
• Rich proteins and organ-heavy meals are the usual culprits

⚠ Escalate: blood in the stool, or loose stools lasting more than a couple of days.

"Constipated"

Usually the opposite problem — too much bone.

• Often follows a recreational bone. Mild constipation after a bone is normal
• Reduce bone content, increase moisture
• Goat milk or kefir helps

⚠ Escalate: straining, obvious discomfort, or more than a day or two.

"White, crumbly stools"

Normal after a bone. Nothing wrong. Worth mentioning proactively when you sell a bone, so nobody panics on a Sunday.

⚠ Escalate: constant, with no bones being fed.

"He's vomiting"

• Usually too much too soon, or a protein too rich for where they are in the transition
• Slow it down, go back a stage, simpler protein

⚠ Escalate: repeated vomiting, lethargy, or anything that sounds alarming. This one has a lower threshold than the others.

"He won't eat it"

Work through it in this order. The first step solves it more often than everything else combined, and it's free.

1. Is it properly thawed? Cold food barely smells. Ten minutes at room temperature makes a real difference
2. Add smell. Green tripe is the strongest tool you have. Kefir and sardines also work
3. Try a different protein. Some dogs simply prefer beef, or duck, or fish
4. Check the portion. A dog leaving food is sometimes just being overfed
5. Lift the bowl after 15–20 minutes. Free-feeding a fussy dog teaches it to hold out

Never suggest cooking or microwaving it. Room temperature only.

⚠ Escalate: not eating at all for more than a day — and never, ever wait it out with a cat. A cat that stops eating can develop hepatic lipidosis. That is a hard rule.

"He's drinking less water"

Expected. Raw is roughly 70% moisture, so dogs on raw drink noticeably less than dogs on kibble. Fresh water should still always be available.

⚠ Escalate: if they're also lethargic, or it's a sudden change in a dog that's been on raw a long time.

"He's eating poop"

Common, unpleasant, and not a food fault. Not something you can fix from behind the counter.

⚠ Escalate: persistent — worth a vet conversation.

"The detox thing" — set this expectation before it happens

Soft stools, occasionally a bit of low energy, in the first few days. It's the digestive system adjusting. Settles within a few days.

Warning a customer in advance is worth ten times more than explaining it afterwards, because afterwards they've already decided something is wrong.

On the floor

The sentence that solves the most problems:

"How fast did you switch him over?"

And the one that saves the most customers:

"That's normal for the first week — it settles. Give it a few more days before you decide it isn't working."