This is my experience with the raw diet with my boy, Titan. You can start your pup on the raw diet at any age.
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.”
