Feeding Puppies A Raw Dog Food Diet

In our articles and advice section we try our best to listen to our customer base and answer the questions that we hear being asked. One of the more common questions we are hearing right now is about feeding a raw dog food diet to puppies. When is it safe to start and with what protein types?

So, the same basic reasons a raw dog food diet is fine for puppies is the same reasons why it is good for any age of meat eating animals. The important bit is to keep food appropriate for what the puppy can cope with.

Time and again we have seen kibble fed puppies come into our shops with pot bellies and bony backs. Often they are suffering from runny poos and constantly looking for food. Some suffer from a yeast overgrowth so smell more ‘doggy’ than usual and may also have obvious skin issues. If we can see problems on the outside, we know that these will also be going on inside as well. After a week on raw dog food most of these issues will be resolved. It would be such a shame if those puppies had to wait another 4 weeks (half their present age!) to benefit from all the good, easily digested nutrition of a raw diet.

It is very important to make sure the food offered is what the puppy can easily cope with. Little breed puppies and some larger breed puppies that are not eating well should be offered fine minced meats with no big bone pieces. This type of raw dog food can also be mixed with goat’s milk to make it easy for the puppies to lap up.

Once the puppies are able to eat properly then they can be introduced to courser minced meats. Then they can progress to soft bones after a couple of weeks

Concerns put forward to delay introducing raw food until 12 weeks include:

The possible pathogens (especially salmonella) which may be present in raw meat and present a danger to young puppies and more importantly, their owners.

This is well covered by our strict ongoing testing protocoles required by Animal and Plant Health Agency under DEFRA to comply with our Licence to produce raw food for animals.

Some vaccines are cultured in bovine serum so it could be wise to avoid beef products until after all the puppy vaccinations.

We never compromise on the quality of our products.

We advise starting with a 100% free range chicken raw dog food. Our chicken and chicken minces all contain bone. Chicken is a great type of protein to introduce your puppy to raw feeding. After that you need to try different protein types, but introduce them one at a time and keeping a food diary. If one of them doesn’t work you can go back to what you know does work and experiment and expand the diet from there.

To help new puppy owners our team has put together a Puppy Starter Pack which contains all the basics of raw feeding including:

12 x 500g portions of 100% free-range chicken

A pack of dried meat treats, ideal for training or just a tasty mid meal snack

This starter pack is also very good value at just £9.98 with free delivery nationwide. See Below for Details

We also have the Deluxe Raw Dog Food Puppy Starter Pack Upgrade Box in which you will receive:

12 x 500g of 100% Chicken Portions

1 x Pack of Dried Meat for Puppies Natural Dog Treats

1 x Dog Toy

1 x Pack of Stinky Sticks Chew Treats

1 x Pack of Hairy Rabbit’s Ears Natural Dog Treats

1 x Roll of Biodegradable Poo Bags

Again, this is also with free nationwide delivery, all for just £19.98. See Below for Details

There is no age of dog, cat, ferret or hedgehog that should not be fed a good, varied species appropriate raw food diet. They just need to be fed food that they and their owners, can realistically cope with.

As with all raw feeding, the meat doesn’t contain any of the additional elements a puppy will need such as herbage. By herbage we mean the appropriate beneficial nutrients and vitamins found in leafy, fast growing vegetables, herbs, fruits, seeds etc. Raw and liquidised is better than cooked.

We also advise adding a small amount of Keeper’s Mix which is derived from a recipe developed by a Dorset gamekeeper and kennel-man that contains an impressive eight ingredients. Balance is the key to this potent herbal blend which contains natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, fibres and complex bioactive compounds. As well as promoting a thick healthy coat, Keeper’s Mix has a positive effect on many organs and supports their function to help maintain the body’s natural balance.

All dog, but especially working dogs and animals performing at a high level of physical demands, will benefit from this product.

Ultimately, as soon as the pup (or pups) starts weening we advise getting them onto a varied healthy raw feeding diet to give them the best chances of a happy and healthy future.

The more variety of meats, fish, offal, bones, vegetable, shoots and herbs fed, the better the diet will be.

As with all our articles if you have any questions about feeding a raw dog food diet or anything health related then please do get in touch and we will get the relevant specialist to call you back.

And good luck with your new puppy!