But perhaps the decision on what to feed your puppy is one that will impact its life the most. Currently, the market is saturated with commercial dog food that might fulfill your dog’s appetite but wouldn’t be providing the kind of nutrition you imagine it would.
If you’re a new pup owner, come with us to learn more about feeding puppies raw food. You heard that right! For those of you hearing this for the first time, our blog will comprehensively explain everything you need to know about raw diet for puppies.
Can you feed raw dog food to puppies?
Contrary to popular belief, puppies can eat and thrive off a raw diet. In fact, raw dog food offers more nutritional value than other commercial dog food types on the market. These nutrients support your puppy’s growing needs and aid healthy development as the months go by. Plus, it mimics the natural diet your dog would’ve had if they lived in the wild!When can you start feeding puppies raw food?
Typically, you can start a raw diet for puppies when they begin naturally weaning. For most puppies, this is at 4 weeks old. At that point, you can gradually introduce them to raw dog food for puppies. On the other hand, if your puppies are already eating a different diet, you can transition them slowly to a raw diet within 2 weeks.Why is raw food good for puppies?
There are several reasons why raw dog food is gaining more and more popularity among pet parents. According to various studies and research, raw dog food is beneficial for the development of your puppy as the raw diet provides more nutritional value because of a lack of processing.Some of the benefits of putting your pup on raw dog food are:
- Improved digestion and firmer stool,
- Healthier skin and shinier coat,
- Improved dental health,
- Energetic behavior,
- Reduced body odor,
- Stronger immune system,
- Superior bone and joint health,
- Healthy weight control, and much more!
How to feed a raw food diet for puppies?
Do you feel like this whole ordeal is a tricky affair? Don’t worry just yet! In the following 3 steps, you can easily settle into feeding a raw food diet for puppies:1. Figure out how much you need to feed
Before anything else, you must figure out your puppy’s nutritional needs. One thing to keep in mind is that until your puppy turns 6 months old, it will need around 3-4 proper meals per day. After the 6-month mark, you should shift to 2 full meals per day.But when it comes to how much you should be feeding collectively, this should help you out:
|
Age |
Number of meals |
Intake to total body weight |
|
4 months old |
4 meals per day |
8-10% of your dog’s weight |
|
6 months old |
3 meals per day |
6-8% of your puppy’s weight |
|
1 year old |
2 meals per day |
4-7% of your dog’s weight |
|
Adult dog |
2 meals per day |
3% of your dog’s weight |
2. Pick a balanced diet option
Even in the world of raw dog food for puppies, some options are not as healthy as you might believe. And so, it becomes critically important for you to find the best raw food for puppies. And by that, we mean finding a meal plan that fulfills your puppy’s nutritional needs to the T.It’s not enough to feed your puppy muscle meat because that ingredient meets their protein requirements. The best raw food for puppies will often be a mixture of muscle meat, organs, bones, vegetables, fruits as well as ingredients such as pumpkin seeds.
A combination of these ingredients will not only meet your puppy’s growing needs but also ensure that it grows up to be the strongest it can be!
3. Transition them slowly
If your puppy is on a different diet, you’ll need to be mindful about their transition. Much like us humans, puppies can suffer through severe stomach issues if their diets are shifted drastically. Even the best raw food for puppies will cause diarrhea and digestive issues if you switch it directly.Here’s what you should do instead:
- For the first 3 days, mix 1 part of raw dog food with 3 parts of your existing dog food of choice and let your puppies eat that.
- On the 4th day, mix 1 part raw dog food with 1 part of your existing dog food of choice. This gradual increase helps your puppy’s stomach get used to the new nutrition without upsetting it. Keep this ratio from the 4th day to the 6th day.
- On the 7th day, mix 3 parts of raw dog food with 1 part of your old dog food of choice. Let your puppy stick to this mix until the 9th day.
- On the 10th day, you can fully transition to a completely raw diet for puppies!
Tip: Keep your eye on your puppy’s poop to check how well they’re digesting this change in diet.
Choose the best raw dog food for puppies
If you’re looking for a recommended raw diet for puppies, you’re in the right place. Made by nutritionists and qualified veterinarians, ZENOO dog food is a freeze-dried raw dog food made from 12 vet-approved ingredients that keep your puppy active and fit beyond its years. Our freeze-dried diet offers balanced nutrition with no additives or preservatives while being delectable enough for even the pickiest of eaters!With a 30-second prep time, ZENOO dog food retains 99% of the total nutrients, is formulated from human-grade ingredients, and is incredibly light, portable, and compact. If you want the best raw food diet for your puppy, pick ZENOO. What are you waiting for?