Raw Diet For Puppies: Is It Good for My Dog?

Starting your puppy on a raw diet can be overwhelming if it’s your first time raw feeding. Although raw diets have always been available as a beneficial alternative for your dog, you may be confused as to how this diet can be suitable for your pup. In this article, we will share some insights on the raw diet and how good it is for your puppy.

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What is a raw diet for puppies?

A raw food diet for puppies consists of a diet filled with uncooked protein, grains, vegetables, and fruits. The raw feeding trend is motivated by the belief that eating fresh food promotes good health and is in line with the origins of domesticated dogs. 

Since the 2000s, pet owners have been increasingly feeding raw food to their pets. The popularity of the diet can be linked to the emergence of the organic food movement in humans, as well as the belief that feeding dogs raw food is the most genuine, natural, and healthy diet given their biology.

All three of the most common raw diet techniques encourage providing raw food to pups soon after weaning, which generally occurs around a month after they are born. When pups are three to seven months old, their temporary teeth fall out and are replaced by 42 adult teeth. 

This period is perfect for you to introduce a raw diet as your puppy will start teething and will start looking for things to chew on. A raw food meal, which is soft, will not be so harsh on their growing teeth while chewing.

The percentage of acceptable meat in raw diets may be divided into three categories:

• Ancestral Diet Guidelines: 75% meat, 25% fresh vegetables, and some trace minerals.
• BARF guidelines: 70% muscular meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organs, and 10% vegetables and fruit.
• Prey Model  Raw Diet guideline: 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat, with 5% of organ meats fed like liver.

Pros of a raw diet for puppies

A raw diet has many benefits for dogs. Here’s how raw feeding is advantageous for your puppy:

Improves Digestion

Puppies can absorb more of the ingredients when they eat raw food. As a result, puppies defecate less regularly and generate fewer feces overall. When compared to a kibble diet, your pup may go longer on less food.

Additionally, raw food only takes 1-2 hours to digest, whereas kibble may remain in your dog's stomach for up to 7-9 hours. When your puppy spends less energy digesting meals, it will have more energy to play and have fun.

Provides more energy

It's simple: feeding your puppy higher-quality food provides them more energy since there are fewer toxins to filter out. Your dog gets the vital nutrition he or she requires without having to carry a weight of carbohydrates and fillers around in its stomach all day.

Improves physique

On a raw diet, puppies have been observed to lose weight or acquire the weight that was needed. A raw diet balances your dog's system and maintains a healthy weight range.

Cons of a raw diet for puppies

There are also some potential risks when it comes to feeding raw food to your puppy, which are:

Nutritional Imbalance

If you're preparing a homemade raw food diet for your puppy, make sure it's balanced so that your dog gets all the nutrients it needs. Puppies might acquire a nutritional imbalance if their diet is not full and balanced with the nutrients it needs.

You should consult with your local veterinarian to ensure that your dog receives all of the required nutrients, vitamins, and minerals if you’re planning on going the raw feeding route.

Food safety

Pathogenic bacteria have been discovered in large quantities in some raw food diets. These bacteria can cause a variety of health problems, from moderate stomach irritation to deaths in rare, catastrophic cases. 

Additionally, individuals who are immunocompromised, the old, and young, are in genuine danger of this bacterial contamination. As such, food should be properly stored and prepared to ensure your puppy’s safety as well as to avoid cross contamination. 

Detox issues

There may be a transition phase for pups that did not start on a raw diet, which can result in gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and vomiting. In puppies, any nutritional change might induce gastrointestinal discomfort.

To avoid this gently transition your puppy to a raw food diet is to do it over a seven-day period. Begin by switching one meal of their usual diet to one feeding of your preferred raw diet. 

Make sure each feeding is kept separate because the two items are ingested and processed at distinct rates and should never be combined. Over the period of a few days, slowly reduce the amount of dry food and then increase the amount of raw food until your pet's diet is entirely raw.

What to look out for while considering raw dog food for your puppy?

Venturing into a new diet plan for your dog can be confusing at first. Here are some things you can pay extra attention to while preparing raw dog food for your dog:

1.Signs of refreezing

You should avoid refreezing food since it is easily contaminated. If given enough time to defrost, the product will fill with oxygen. And when the meat is oxidised, it causes the meat to spoil in a few ways.

Firstly, oxygen will encourage the growth of microorganisms, which causes the meat to become mouldy. Secondly, meat that has been oxidised speeds up its chemical reaction. This causes changes in flavour and colour.

If there is a lot of air in the bag, you can tell that the items have been refrozen. The bag will resemble a balloon in appearance and feel.

2.Freezer Burn

Dehydration on the surface of frozen food caused by air exposure is known as freezer burn. When the frozen meat loses moisture, oxygen rushes in to take its place, causing freezer burn. As a result, the food becomes drier, harder, and often discoloured.

While buying raw meat, you should avoid the ones with freezer burn because it's probably past its prime. If at all possible, pick food that hasn't been frozen to ensure the best quality.

3.Wash your hands thoroughly

Puppies have the ability to digest pathogens that humans do not. When handling raw food, it's vital to wash your hands properly.

4.Always double-check your ingredients

Raw food diets should be supplemented with non-meat items to ensure that your dog gets all of the nutrients it needs. 

Your puppy will be able to absorb even more nutrients each meal if you can locate a diet that includes genuine veggies rather than manufactured vitamin packets.

The nutrients with the greatest abundance will always be mentioned first, so seek labels with direct protein sources at the top of the ingredient list.

How to make raw dog food for puppies?

There are many ways in which you can follow to prepare raw dog food for puppies. Nevertheless, the most common method is the 5:1:1:1 ratio, which is 5 parts fresh meat muscle, 1 part fresh bone, 1 part fresh organ meat, and 1 part veggies.

If you think it’s too time consuming or hard to prepare a raw food meal for your puppy, you can always opt for PetCubes’ Gently Cooked Food for your puppy, which offers the best of both worlds. It is easy to prepare and is made with the finest ingredients, which are highly beneficial for your pup’s health.

Conclusion

Raw dog food can benefit your dog greatly no matter what the age. Try it out and see how it works for your puppy. Remember to always consult with your local veterinarian before starting any new diet plan.