Introducing a new puppy to your family is always an exciting time. Whether you have been thinking of getting a pet for a while to keep you company while living alone, adopting a new puppy for your first pet as a couple, or you are a family looking for a dog who will be a forever best friend for your children, getting a puppy is a hugely rewarding and fun experience. One of the main things to consider when getting a new puppy is nutrition and diet. What your pup eats will set him up for life, so you might have considered all the benefits of raw feeding. Here’s what you can do to switch your puppy onto a raw food diet successfully.
Switch the Food Straight Over:
Unlike switching from one commercial dog food or kibble to another, mixing your puppy’s kibble with raw food isn’t recommended. This is because the different types of food will require different gut pH levels for your pup to digest. This could cause a reaction to the bacteria in the raw meat sitting in the dog’s digestive tract for longer because of the kibble that it is mixed with. If you want to switch to raw feeding, it’s best to start the day fresh with a raw meal as the first meal of the day. Keep an eye on your pup for any signs of digestive upset afterwards.
Start Small:
A raw diet for your puppy can be an exciting switch with many different meal options available, but whether you’re planning to prepare the food yourself or get pre-packaged raw puppy food, it’s important to start small and with just one protein source. Feed your puppy just one source of protein for at least a week to help them get used to their new diet before trying out some new meal ideas. Bella and Duke offer this guide that you can use to get started feeding your puppy complete raw dog food safely. They can help you put together a tailored diet for your pup depending on his unique needs.
Gradually Introduce Organ Meats:
Organ meats are a vital part of any raw food diet since they are packed with unique nutrients that will benefit your pup’s health and development. However, introducing too much organ meat to your puppy’s diet at once can lead to stomach upset, so feed them sparingly and gradually increase it in your pup’s diet until organ meat makes up at least ten percent of his meals. Let your puppy get used to their raw food diet for around 2-3 weeks before introducing organ meats.
Feed Little and Often:
Since puppies are small and growing quickly, they will benefit from eating several smaller meals in the day compared to two larger ones. Until your pup is around six months old, it’s better to feed 3-4 smaller meals each day to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and make sure that they are getting all the nutrients that they need.
If you want your puppy to have the best start in life, a raw food diet can be an excellent choice to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients that they need.
