Can you mix dry and raw dog food? For most healthy dogs, yes. Combining the two is one of the most popular ways to feed in New Zealand, because it gives your dog some of the benefits of raw without the cost and planning of a fully raw diet. This guide covers whether it's safe, the best ways to do it, and how much to feed so your dog doesn't put on weight.
Is it safe to mix raw and kibble?
You may have read that raw and dry food digest at different speeds and shouldn't be fed together. There's no good evidence that this causes problems for healthy dogs, and many dogs have eaten a mixed diet happily for years. Commercial feeding guides even pair raw and dry products in the same bowl.
A few dogs with very sensitive stomachs do better with raw and dry fed at separate meals. If your dog gets loose stools after a mixed meal, try splitting them up before giving up on the idea.
Why owners choose a mixed diet
- Better mealtimes for fussy eaters. A spoonful of raw on top of kibble is often enough to get a reluctant dog eating.
- A complete base you can trust. A good dry food covers all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs, so you don't have to balance a raw diet yourself.
- Variety without the hassle. Adding raw brings fresh protein, moisture and interest to the bowl.
- Lower cost. Topping up with raw costs far less than feeding fully raw, especially for big dogs.
Three ways to mix dry and raw food
- Raw as a topper. Replace about 10–25% of your dog's dry food with raw. This is the easiest place to start.
- Split meals. Feed raw in the morning and dry food at night, or the other way around. Good for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Half and half. Roughly equal amounts of each, by calories. Best for owners who want more raw in the diet but still want a complete food as the backbone.
Don't forget to cut back the kibble
This is the most common mistake we see. Adding raw on top of a full portion of dry food means extra calories, and over a few months that turns into extra kilos.
Raw medallions usually contain around half the calories of dry food per gram, because they're mostly water. As a rough rule, every 100g of raw medallions replaces about 40–50g of kibble.
The big exception is Mighty Mix Frozen Concentrate. It's a high-fat, high-energy product, with more calories per gram than most dry foods. It's brilliant for working dogs and dogs that need condition, but if your dog is a couch potato, use it sparingly and reduce their other food to match.
Whatever you choose, weigh your dog every couple of weeks for the first two months and adjust. If they start gaining, our article on why dogs gain weight can help.
Good pairings from our range
Mighty Mix Biscuits with Mighty Mix Frozen Concentrate. These were designed to be fed together. The Large biscuit suits big and working dogs, while the Family biscuit is sized for medium and less active dogs. For puppies, Mighty Mix recommends pairing the concentrate with Nourish biscuits. All Mighty Mix products are click and collect only.
Black Hawk Lamb & Rice with Maranui Lamb & Salmon Medallions. A dependable everyday kibble with a matching lamb-based raw topper. The salmon adds Omega-3s for skin and coat.
Addiction Le Lamb with Maranui Wallaby, Heart & Tripe Medallions. A good combination for sensitive dogs. Both avoid chicken and beef, so you keep the ingredient list simple while adding variety.
Orijen Original with Maranui Chicken, Heart & Salmon Medallions. For owners who want a high-protein, meat-rich diet across the board. Orijen already includes raw and fresh animal ingredients, and the medallions add fresh organ meat.
Maranui medallions are available in-store only at our Oxford shop. Not sure which combination suits your dog? Call or pop in and we'll talk it through with you.
Tips for sensitive dogs
If your dog has itchy skin or a touchy gut, match the proteins in the raw and dry parts of the diet. Adding chicken raw to a fish-based kibble undoes the point of choosing a fish-based kibble. Our guide to dog food for sensitive stomachs and itchy skin has more on choosing proteins.
How to start
Introduce raw slowly. Start with a small topper, around 10% of the meal, for the first week. If stools stay firm, increase gradually to the amount you're aiming for over another week or two. Thaw raw food in the fridge, use it within 2–3 days, and wash bowls and hands after each meal.
Find the right combination for your dog
Browse our dry dog food and frozen pet food ranges, with delivery across New Zealand and click and collect from Oxford, North Canterbury. Or get in touch and tell us about your dog. We're happy to help you choose.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, see your vet.