What to feed?

[mrose_s]

I just relised I actually don't know what to feed a puppy from 8 weeks. With previous pups we've put them on store bought puppy food, pedigree brand stuff and I really don't want to do that again.

We feed the other dogs about 60-70% raw and some kibble/table scraps and thats what newpup will end up on, what are the different dietry requirements of young puppies and how does it change as they age?

 

[Saeleofu]

You can feed a pup raw, I know that, but I don't know if there's any special ratios that you need to keep for a pup versus an adult.

Alternatively, there are some goof all-life-stages kibbles you can try. I don't know what's available in your area, but I feed Taste of the Wild and if I were to get a puppy, they would also get Taste of the Wild.

 

[vanillasugar]

You can do raw with a pup, they just need more of it. The average guidelines for an adult dog is 2-3% of their body weight, puppies need up to 5%.

I don't know what foods are available to you there, so it's hard to make brand suggestions otherwise...

 

[Lizmo]

If you're doing raw now, I would definitely go raw with a puppy.

 

[mrose_s]

I feed Buster Artemis Grain Free kibble when he has it (once or twice a week) and I'm pretty sure they make a puppy version. Is there a different bone/flesh ratio for puppies than adult dogs?

Do you work off 3 meals a day from comeing-home age? and then reduce it to 1 or 2 later on.

 

[Brattina88]

According to Jane's raw learning FAQ

Can I feed puppies on raw food?

You most certainly can. And the good news is that unlike the commercial dog foods who recommend a confusing range of foods for different age groups, raw food fed dogs are fed the same regardless of age.
Of course, you won't want to feed that little puppy huge marrow bones! So, use common sense in your feeding.

2 or 3 meals would probably depend on the puppy's size(breed), age, and personal prefrence.

Did I miss the thread about you getting a puppy??????????

 

[vanillasugar]

The ratios of bone/meat/organ remain the same for a puppy, its just the amount of food total that changes (so far as I've always known).

As for meals/day, I'm not sure. I know that one breeder in this area who sends her puppies home on raw recommends 3 meals at first, weaning out the "lunchtime" meal around 4-5 months.

 

[mrose_s]

Thanks guys.

There has not been an announcement thread yet... although permission is there and breeders have started being contacted.

I thought I had it all worked out with what breed I was getting, now I've actually started talking to some more people and I think I'm likely to end up with something siliar but different.

 

[Chewbecca]

I'm going today to my dog food store to have a look at their pre-made raw diets.
I am being soooo picky about Ophie's diet. She's a baby, and I want the best food for her to help develop her little system.
I want her to be a super healthy and strong adult.

I don't trust the kibbles that are available, and she was eating raw at the shelter, but she stopped taking it. They weren't feeding her a raw pre-made, though, they were feeding her, like, chicken backs.
Which is fine, but it's not what I want to feed her right now. I want something that has all the supplements/vitamins she needs already in the food.

I tried grain-free kibbles, and she's on some of the Acana ones right now, but the pieces are GIGANTIC, and I want to see if she'll take a pre-made raw diet.

 

[puppydog]

I fed Riley raw from day one. But the others are right, they eat a crap load!

 

[Saeleofu]

Taste of the Wild is grain-free and has pretty small kibbles if you don't have any luck with pre-made raw.

 

[Chewbecca]

Well, I went to the store, and I came back with some Stella and Chewy's pre-made raw.
I took out a patty, and let it thaw some, then I fed it to her as training treats, and she LOVED it.
It wasn't completely thawed, though, so that may be the route to go with her.

 

[Renee750il]

Becca, if she was getting straight chicken that might be why she started turning away from it. My bunch have actually PREFERRED the EVO RM to raw poultry.

*sigh* And now I've got to find another food. I'm probably going to go with the Acana -- if it's available here.

 

[Chewbecca]

Acana is good, but the kibble size is too big for Ophie.
She's still got a baby mouth.

Ophie is LOVING the Stella and Chewy's beef patties that we fed her yesterday.
I mean LOVES it.
I'm thawing some out right now for her for breakfast, and she's letting me know they just are not thawing out fast enough!:lol-sign:

 

[Renee750il]

You know, with her teething, I'll be they feel pretty good to her half thawed!

 

[lizzybeth727]

Acana is good, but the kibble size is too big for Ophie.
She's still got a baby mouth.

You could try soaking it in water to soften it up before you give it to her.

 

[Chewbecca]

Well, yes, I have done this, but I find that I end up wasting more than she eats.:lol-sign:

 

[drdamian]

do you'l give your dogs pet vitamins?