Can You Mix Kibble With Raw Food? What Pet Owners Should Know
Switching your pet to a raw diet or integrating it with existing kibble meals can be an exciting step toward enhancing your dog or cat's health. While the idea of mixing kibble and raw food is often debated in the pet community, it is possible to do so successfully when following proper protocols.
Why Consider Mixing Kibble With Raw?
Pet owners often want to combine raw food with kibble to improve nutrition, palatability, or to ease the transition to a fully raw diet. RAW (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or BARF) diets mimic what animals would eat in the wild — raw meat, bones, organs, and some vegetables or fruits. Kibble, on the other hand, is processed and designed for convenience and long shelf life.
Benefits of mixing raw food include:
- Enhanced nutrient intake, balancing what kibble may lack
- Improved skin, coat, energy, and dental health due to raw nutrition
- Smoother transition from kibble to a full raw diet
- Increased meal enjoyment and variety for picky eaters
Challenges and Considerations
Though mixing is possible, there are considerations to take seriously:
- Digestion rates differ: Kibble digests slower than raw food; this can potentially upset your pet’s stomach if not introduced properly.
- Maintain balance: Ensuring your pet gets the right proportions of nutrients is crucial. Unbalanced feeding can lead to deficiencies or excesses.
- Hygiene and handling: Raw food carries the risk of bacteria if not stored or handled properly.
- Veterinarian consultation: Especially for puppies, kittens, pregnant, or elderly pets, it's always best to involve a pet health professional.
How to Safely Mix Kibble and Raw Food
If you decide to mix raw and kibble, it must be done properly. Here is a simple, phased approach:
- Start Slowly: Begin with 25% raw and 75% kibble. Monitor how your pet reacts for a few days.
- Observe Digestion: Watch for signs of digestive distress like loose stools or vomiting. If all is well, increase the raw portion gradually.
- Use Similar Protein Sources: Minimize potential reactions by starting with proteins your pet has already tolerated in kibble.
- Adjust Quantities Properly: Raw meals are typically calculated as a percentage of the pet’s ideal or current body weight:
- Adult dogs and cats: 2-3% of ideal body weight daily
- Puppies and kittens: 4-6% of current weight daily
- Use a feeding calculator or chart to determine precise amounts
Sample Daily Meal for a Mixed Diet
If you have a 50 lb adult dog needing 1.5 lb of food daily (based on 3%), you can serve:
- 0.75 lb raw food
- 0.75 lb kibble equivalent (based on calorie content)
Split meals into two feedings per day to suit digestion and convenience.
Tips for a Successful Blend
- Transition over 12+ days, especially if shifting from 100% kibble
- Rotate protein sources gradually for nutritional diversity
- Avoid cooked bones; use only raw meaty bones if appropriate
- Use supplements if needed to meet your pet’s nutritional requirements
- Track weight and stool quality to gauge effectiveness and make adjustments
When Not to Mix
Some pets have extremely sensitive stomachs and may not tolerate mixed meals. In such cases, feed raw and kibble in separate meals several hours apart to allow proper digestion.
Also, avoid mixing if your veterinarian has advised against it for a medical reason such as pancreatitis or chronic GI disease.
Final Thoughts
Mixing kibble with raw food is entirely doable and can be beneficial if approached with care. Use whole-food sources, follow feeding guidelines, and make gradual changes. Your pet’s health, energy, and happiness may greatly benefit from this diversified approach, provided it’s done under professional guidance and close observation.
