Raw Feeding for a Puppy

[Linds]

Ok, I've got some questions, and I'm more than sure there are plenty of threads on this subject but I would like some input on my exact situation.

I've got a new puppy who is a Pit/Pyrenees mix. She's five months old and she's not going to get that big. She's only thirty pounds right now so I'm going to assume she's going be around 60ish pounds.

I want to do a raw diet for her. I've been researching nutrition for about 2/3 of a year now and am only just scratching the surface. I get so many different opinions on raw feeding and how to go about it and I just need some help figuring it all out.

What precent of organs, meat, bones, vegetables (or should they be added at all) tripe and eggs should I do daily/weekly

Now, I'm feeding a five month old puppy, so should the amount she gets be on the higher end of the 2%-3% of a dogs body weight being fed to them. Anything I need to do different if feeding a puppy?

Now, I know this is a lot to ask, but can someone help me figure out a plan for feeding her?

What meats, how much of each part and how to adjust it as she gets older.

I just need some help now, once I start doing it and get a better feel for it I won't be so paranoid and will better be able to adjust the foods, the meats and the amount. But right now I just feel overwhelmed.

Now, she's been on Nature's Variety raw for a little less than a week so far with no stomach upset at all. Before that, the people had her on Chicken Soup for the Puppy lovers soul.

I also don't have freezer space, so from the suggestion by Gempress I will be keeping the meat in the refrigerator.

I also don't have a problem using whole prey, though I will not be able to do this daily. So things like whole Cornish hens, quails, rabbits etc. I can get them whole and would be more than willing to feed that. But how much of it do I feed? The whole thing for one day?

Really, I just need any helpful hints anyone has, and any information that might be useful. Once again, I know this is a lot to ask but I really want to get this all right and I could use some help.

Thanks a bunch for any help anyone can give, I really appreciate it!

 

[Lizmo]

About how much to feed for a puppy, I've heard (because I started a thread very similiar to yours! lol) that it's 2-3% of their predicted ADULT weight.

 

[bubbatd]

Wish I could help ... but at my age I leave it up to GOOD packaged feeds ....I think raw is great for those who can afford it and do the research for good balance etc . Good luck !!!!

 

[Melissa_W]

You are right, there are like a million opinions about the right way to feed a raw diet. So, I'll just tell you what I do, and you can decide for yourself.

I feed prey model, which is 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organ. Chicken, turkey, and pork are my staples. I also feed rabbit, duck, green tripe, mutton, quail, and pretty much anything else that becomes available at a price I can afford. I don't do veg, because I don't think a carnivore needs veg. I have personally seen dogs eating whole prey shake out the contents of the stomach and only consume the stomach tissue itself.

For a puppy, you feed the same stuff, just 2-3 percent of the estimated adult weight.

If it were my puppy, I would start out with whole cut up chickens (no organ) for the first week. If all goes well, I would add turkey. If all goes well, I would then add pork. Then, I would probably add a small amount of organ and work up to the full amount. Then I would continue adding variety from there. Any appropriate size part, as much variety as possible.

For a 5 month old puppy, you'll probably want to feed 2-3 times times a day. As she gets older, you can go once a day if you want. When you are first starting out, you'll want to make sure she doesn't eat too much at once while she is adjusting. So at first, I would cut the chickens into quarters. But once she gets going, you can just set the whole chicken down and let her eat. You can pick it back up once it looks like she's had enough or when she's full.

Raw feeding can seem overwhelming, but once I started it seemed very easy. Don't worry, working up to it is pretty much the entire battle.

The K9Nutrition Yahoo group is pretty good and you can discuss all types of feeding, including kibble, BARF, prey model, home cooked, etc.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Nutrition/

A really good prey model list I belong to is http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/?yguid=318958806

Let us know how it goes.

Ok, I've got some questions, and I'm more than sure there are plenty of threads on this subject but I would like some input on my exact situation.

I've got a new puppy who is a Pit/Pyrenees mix. She's five months old and she's not going to get that big. She's only thirty pounds right now so I'm going to assume she's going be around 60ish pounds.

I want to do a raw diet for her. I've been researching nutrition for about 2/3 of a year now and am only just scratching the surface. I get so many different opinions on raw feeding and how to go about it and I just need some help figuring it all out.

What precent of organs, meat, bones, vegetables (or should they be added at all) tripe and eggs should I do daily/weekly

Now, I'm feeding a five month old puppy, so should the amount she gets be on the higher end of the 2%-3% of a dogs body weight being fed to them. Anything I need to do different if feeding a puppy?

Now, I know this is a lot to ask, but can someone help me figure out a plan for feeding her?

What meats, how much of each part and how to adjust it as she gets older.

I just need some help now, once I start doing it and get a better feel for it I won't be so paranoid and will better be able to adjust the foods, the meats and the amount. But right now I just feel overwhelmed.

Now, she's been on Nature's Variety raw for a little less than a week so far with no stomach upset at all. Before that, the people had her on Chicken Soup for the Puppy lovers soul.

I also don't have freezer space, so from the suggestion by Gempress I will be keeping the meat in the refrigerator.

I also don't have a problem using whole prey, though I will not be able to do this daily. So things like whole Cornish hens, quails, rabbits etc. I can get them whole and would be more than willing to feed that. But how much of it do I feed? The whole thing for one day?

Really, I just need any helpful hints anyone has, and any information that might be useful. Once again, I know this is a lot to ask but I really want to get this all right and I could use some help.

Thanks a bunch for any help anyone can give, I really appreciate it!