How young is too young for raw?

[LDNBM]

Hi everyone!

Bane is coming home this week, he'll be about 7 weeks old. Taking him home a bit early due to scheduling issues over christmas with work.

Me and my OH have always agreed on putting Bane on prey model. But as he's coming home slightly early, do you think we should transition?

He's currently being given wet food, he was weaned at about 2-3 weeks old.

I want him to get started cold turkey but as he will be super young, my mum ti be instincts are kicking in and I don't want to make him unwell.

Opinions?

Here's a picture of my handsome at 2.5 weeks

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[QY10]

You can start puppies on a raw diet, but my main concern would be getting the calcium and phosphorous ratios dead-on.

 

[musicdeb]

This is my experience with the raw diet with my boy, Titan.

Ok, first of all, the basics. Raw diet is 80% meat, 10% raw meaty bone and 10% organ meat. The pup is fed 2-3% of their expected weight. Expected weight is based on parent*s weight, usually take the average of the parents. For example, the pup is expected to weigh 100 lbs., you would feed the pup 2-3 lbs of meat per day. For simplicity, you feed the pup 2 lbs of meat per day. You then would feed him approximately 1.5 lbs of meat + 2 ozs of raw meaty bone and 2 ozs of organ meat.

Organ meat is not started until at least 2-3 weeks on raw diet. Organ meat is liver, kidney, spleen, etc. Hearts and gizzards are meat because they are muscle.

The best meat to start raw diet is chicken legs, leg quarters, chicken breasts, and/or chicken necks (use these sparingly due to the high bone content). The chicken legs and leg quarters are pretty close to the 80% meat and 10% raw meaty bones.

Raw chicken feet are a great source of glucosamine. Titan eats his raw chicken feet frozen.

The pup will chew the bones once or twice and swallow, do not be alarmed that is normal. Pups will regurgitate, that is normal.

You will notice the pup will drink less water and the poop will dramatically reduce in size and occurrence. Titan*s poop is about the size of a cat*s poop and he usually poops every other day.

Do the chicken for about 2-3 weeks and then you can slowly introduce other meat and organ meats. Other meats are any meat you can buy at a grocery store or coop.

If the pup starts to have diarrhea after starting new meat or organ meat, reduce the amount of meat you are giving them until the diarrhea subsides.

I have fed Titan raw diet since 2012 because he had severe skin allergies and chronic yeasty ear infections due to the chicken and grains in dog food. It took 8-12 months to notice a difference but he no longer has skin allergies or chronic yeasty ear infection. I went the route of the vet prescribing antibiotics, steroids and special shampoos. It would clear up for a couple of weeks and start again.

FYI: Although pups are allergic to chicken in dog food, they seem to be ok with fresh chicken. However, be aware that some pups are allergic to chicken and/or all poultry.

Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you further with feeding your pup raw diet.

Check out the Raw Diet sub forum in Health & Nutrition with a wealth of information re: raw diet.

“Do your research, form your own opinion and go with gut. Do what is best for your pup and your budget.”

 

[DennasMom]

Lots of breeders that like raw will wean straight to raw.

I agree with getting them transitioned to a well balanced ratio with the right mix of calcium/phosphorus and organ meats is essential, though.

I'd do a bit of research so you know how to make up the mix to start... I haven't, so not sure if you can just hammer chicken bones to make them chewable/digestible for that young of a puppy, or if you'd have to get a grinder.

The younger you start raw, the easier it's supposed to be.

 

[gwhawk]

So I would like to chew his little face off he is so cute!!

How much raw meat would an EM going through adolescents eat per day. I am just trying to work out how much it will cost to feed these guys raw.

 

[musicdeb]

So I would like to chew his little face off he is so cute!!

How much raw meat would an EM going through adolescents eat per day. I am just trying to work out how much it will cost to feed these guys raw.

Raw diet is 80% meat, 10% raw meaty bone and 10% organ meat. The pup is fed 2-3% of their expected weight. Expected weight is based on parent*s weight, usually take the average of the parents. For example, the pup is expected to weigh 100 lbs., you would feed the pup 2-3 lbs of meat per day. For simplicity, you feed the pup 2 lbs of meat per day. You then would feed him approximately 1.5 lbs of meat + 2 ozs of raw meaty bone and 2 ozs of organ meat.

 

[gwhawk]

Thanks Deb, I guess my question was about whether they need more or less food once they leave puppyhood.

 

[musicdeb]

The food is based on their expected weight, it would only change based on pup's body condition. If too lean, up the food. If too fat, decrease the food.

 

[JuneBugg]

It's never too young to start raw! Try just easing in with chicken for a couple day. Bone in, but no legs! They're a little bit too hard for a pup right now. I wean my litters onto raw when I have them. my males faborite is lamb haha. Going cold turkey from proccessed to raw doesn't have the same repercussions as switching a kibble brand, or at least not as bad. There is already some great info listed here. Try differend types of meat and the like, hopefully he isn't allergic to any. I highly reccomend raw/prey model diets. My dogs did the best they've ever done it. Good luck to you

 

[LDNBM]

It's never too young to start raw! Try just easing in with chicken for a couple day. Bone in, but no legs! They're a little bit too hard for a pup right now. I wean my litters onto raw when I have them. my males faborite is lamb haha. Going cold turkey from proccessed to raw doesn't have the same repercussions as switching a kibble brand, or at least not as bad. There is already some great info listed here. Try differend types of meat and the like, hopefully he isn't allergic to any. I highly reccomend raw/prey model diets. My dogs did the best they've ever done it. Good luck to you

Thank you for your advice! Ive done cold turkey with Bane since he came home yesterday. I guess I am more worried about how he will deal with the bones at such a young age and if he will spend long enough chewing them before swallowing. So far he's had some turkey mince and a chicken wing!

 

[NYDDB]

I put Mateo straight to raw the day I picked him up as a pup (8.5 weeks.)

He never had an issue, although I must say i did start with the pre-ground raw meat/bones/organs for awhile. That was more my ignorance rather than the optimal way to go; young pups can handle chomping up bones at a very early age. Plus, unless you have your own meat grinder, it is pricey!

 

[LDNBM]

I put Mateo straight to raw the day I picked him up as a pup (8.5 weeks.)

He never had an issue, although I must say i did start with the pre-ground raw meat/bones/organs for awhile. That was more my ignorance rather than the optimal way to go; young pups can handle chomping up bones at a very early age. Plus, unless you have your own meat grinder, it is pricey!

Earlier when he had the main chicken wing part, he was chewing the bones then made a choking furball sound =\ i panicked and looked in his mouth to make sure it wasn't lodged, think he got upset I ruined his meal because he went to his crate and took a nap. Then, being the overly dramatic person i am, i kept looking every 5 minutes to make sure he doesn't stop breathing

 

[NYDDB]

Understandable!

The only time I had a choking incident was when Mateo was about 4 months old and I gave him a piece of beef about the size of my fist (what was I thinking?!). Anyway, even though he's not a gulper, it was just too big and got stuck.

Of course I freaked out, but was able to get him to swallow and catch his breath again. Whew- lesson learned...

They can handle big pieces of meat and bone, but sometimes things just go down wrong; always best to at least be watchful. Thankfully, we have never had a problem since.

 

[LDNBM]

Understandable!

The only time I had a choking incident was when Mateo was about 4 months old and I gave him a piece of beef about the size of my fist (what was I thinking?!). Anyway, even though he's not a gulper, it was just too big and got stuck.

Of course I freaked out, but was able to get him to swallow and catch his breath again. Whew- lesson learned...

They can handle big pieces of meat and bone, but sometimes things just go down wrong; always best to at least be watchful. Thankfully, we have never had a problem since.

Ahhh phew! I just get so panicky. Yesterday me and my partner were taking turns watching him while we caught up on sleep. He frantically woke me up saying something is seriously wrong with Bane. Turns out he just done a backflip in his crate -___- pretty sure I almost choked him!

Do you give Mateo raw eggs? Not sure if Bane is too keen on them!

 

[NYDDB]

I do give him raw eggs, which he loves. I wouldn't rush too many different proteins into Bane's diet too soon, though. Slow transition in the beginning is the best...