The first week is the week you'll watch most closely. It's also the most predictable. Much of what happens in those seven days is your dog's digestive system adjusting to a new kind of food; the warning signs below need a different response.
Knowing what's coming is what keeps the first week calm. So here is what to expect across the seven days, and the short list of things that mean you should call your vet.
Why the first week feels the way it does
Your dog has probably eaten the same food every day for years. Protocol Raw Complete changes what's in the bowl: more meat, more moisture, and a fair amount of organ and natural fat the gut hasn't handled at this level before. It adjusts to that as the food changes, and while it adjusts, you'll see it. Mostly at the other end.
Softer stools alone don't mean you need to stop the switch. It's the switch happening.
The switch is meant to be slow
You don't move straight onto a full bowl. The plan is a gradual change over seven days. You start with about a quarter of our recipe mixed into the food your dog already eats, in the same bowl, and add a little more each day until you're fully across by day seven.
The exact gram amounts depend on your dog's weight, age, and activity. Our calculator works them out, and if you're a Protocol Raw customer, the full day-by-day schedule is already built for your dog in your customer portal, so the week is mostly a matter of following the plan. Defrost the next portion overnight in the fridge. If your dog prefers it less cold, let it stand briefly before serving, but don't leave it out for long.
What you might notice
Most of what you'll notice falls into a handful of normal changes. Here's each one, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Your dog probably tucks straight in. It's rich, meaty food: heart, tripe, lean beef, a little fish oil. There isn't much in there a dog needs persuading about. If yours is a cautious eater and sniffs the bowl, wanders off, then comes back to it twice before committing, that's assessment, not rejection. A new texture and smell takes a meal or two to become familiar.
Softer stools, sometimes with a clear or jelly-like coating. This is the most common change, and usually the first. It looks worse than it is. The gut is adjusting its bacteria to richer food, and stool is where that shows up. Some dogs have softer stools in the first few days; it's common and usually settles as they adjust.
Drinking less water. Raw food carries substantially more moisture than dry food, so your dog may drink less from the water bowl than they used to. That's expected, and you can see what goes into our recipe if you want the detail. Keep fresh water down as you always would, and judge hydration by the whole dog, their energy, their gums, how they're behaving, rather than the water bowl alone.
The odd bit of yellow bile. A single bit of bile isn't on its own a reason to stop the switch. The warning signs are in the next section.
A short patch of dandruff. Some dogs get a little dry skin or light dandruff in the first week or two as the coat adjusts. It usually settles on its own. Some owners notice coat changes over the following weeks, but week one is too early to judge that. The fuller picture of what changes over the month is in the first-month guide.
When a meal looks like a refusal, or stools are softer, it's tempting to decide it isn't working and switch straight back. That's usually the moment to stay with the schedule. These changes can show up in the first few days. And if you do need to pause, you haven't broken anything. You can go back to the old food and restart whenever you're ready.
What's not normal
A normal adjustment is uncomfortable to watch, but your dog stays themselves: bright, keen to eat, behaving like your dog. The signs that it's more than an adjustment are the ones where that changes. Go back a step, speak to your vet, and let us know if your dog:
- has diarrhoea lasting more than a day or two, which isn't part of a normal switch
- has repeated vomiting
- passes blood in their stool or vomit
- keeps refusing food
- seems lethargic or otherwise unwell
None of these are common, and none of them prove raw was a mistake. They mean something needs a closer look, the same as it would on any food. When in doubt, go back a step in the switch. You can always restart. And if something feels wrong to you that isn't on this list, that instinct is worth a call too. You know your dog.
What to actually do
Three things make the week easier.
Stay with the schedule. It's gradual on purpose. Rushing it is the most common cause of an upset stomach.
Keep a short note on your phone. The look of the stool, whether the bowl got finished, anything that seemed off. If you ever do need to call the vet, those few notes answer the first questions they'll ask.
Treat it like raw chicken in the kitchen. Wash your hands and the bowl after handling, and keep it frozen until you need it.
The honest version
Week one is almost entirely about adaptation. The changes people often hope for, steadier digestion, coat, breath, and energy, build over the weeks and months that follow, not the first seven days. If you want the longer view, the first month is here.
For now, the job is small. Follow the schedule, watch your dog, and let the first week be what it is: an adjustment, not a verdict.