worried about my puppies diet

[Hagrid]

we just picked up our puppy a couple days ago and the breeders were feeding him some pretty bad dog food. when we got him home he cried all night unless we held him and refused to eat the kibble she sent us home with. I have done huge research on the raw food diet so i decided to put him on it with the kibble . He licks off the food and spits out the kibble. He is getting all the nutrition, vitamins and, grains and greens with the raw food we are starting with chicken and now he sleeps through the night, no more crying, he runs all day behind by feet and likes to sleep alot during the day. Im worried. He is sooo good. He even gets along with our cat. I am worried because he doesn't cry anymore just grunts under the kitchen table sleeping. There are a lot of people telling me I am doing the wrong thing and that i'm going to hurt him in the long run. Is that true. Should I just do kibble? He seems too good and well behaved. we are in total love with him. can He get a stomach ache from eating raw at 8 weeks? Lily

 

[Tug]

Hi Lily,
If you're puppy isn't crying anymore, seems to be content & happy; don't worry.
What did people do before there was 'commercial' dog food? They fed table scraps and what was left after trimming their own meat; raw.
Think about it this way: have you ever seen a pack of wolves building a campfire to cook the deer they just brought down? Or seen a wild dog take down a sheaf of wheat? I haven't

There are a lot of people telling me I am doing the wrong thing and that i'm going to hurt him in the long run.

And who are these people? Are they Vets? Animal Dieticians?
Research, investigate, and watch your baby; that's the best borometer of it's effectiveness.
Read all the posts in this section, they'll steer you to more information.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Largo]

There is no way a processed kibble is better for a body than whole natural foods. What you have to be sure that you are doing is providing him with the proper nutrition for a growing giant breed canine. You can check with a holistic vet and canine nutritionist. As well as experienced raw feeder Newf owners.

 

[SheilaT]

All my dogs (4 Newfs) are raw fed and one is also just a puppy. The puppy is thriving and growing up beautifully. The other 3, adults, are super healthy with fantastic coats, perfect teeth and my vets don't endorse raw feeding, but they look at my crew and shake their h eads, telling me to keep doing what I am doing because they are all in fantastic health.

In my opinion, my make sure the puppy is getting a good variety of different meats, the right ratio of bone and organs. There are several breeders on this forum who start their puppies off on raw at weaning and I'm sure they'd help you get a good meal plan together for your baby newf.

Raw feeding from puppyhood is a wonderful committment to the health and well being of your pup. Don't let people with little or no understanding of nutitional needs of canines scare you away, if this is what you want to do for your dog. (This includes veterinarians! Like i said, mine don't endorse it at all, but they've stopped trying to get me to put the herd o' newfs on Science Diet!)

 

[sarnewfie]

I have seen many a dog live a long healthy life on quality kibble, i personally had a 13 year old newf and a 10 year old and now an 11 year old newf, hardly vetted except for checkups and shots i feel they need. Raw is a choice that YOU make just as kibble is a choice others make, neither is better then the other in my opinion.
as long as you are feeding according to guidelines set up by people who breed and feed raw diet, they are the ones who know the proper balance for a young growing giant breed puppy.

 

[SheilaT]

Christine is right....there are some very good quality kibbles available and it is a choice for YOU to make. My point is/was, that if you feel your pup is doing well with raw and you're confident you can commit to putting together a good balance, then don't let people scare you. Many, many pups...small and giant breeds, are raised successully raw fed. If you're not yet comfortable with it....there are very good quality kibbles. My choice was made after dealing with skin issues, allergies, digestive upsets, vet bills.

 

[Snowden]

Hi Lily- I fed my newf raw and am currently raising 2 corgies on raw ( I started them on it when I got them at 8 weeks of age). Trust me your puppy will be fine eating raw food.

 

[Hagrid]

Thanks, He is doing very well. we are so happy with him. Thanks for all the input. He is so darn cute and huggable. Lily.

 

[Ginny]

If you aren't meticulous in giving the proper amount and combination of ingredients, the result could be disastrous. I know of a Newf raised on a raw diet that didn't provide the proper nutrition, had the calcium: phosphorous ratio out of whack, who ended up with severe orthopedic problems. Personally, I wouldn't risk it because I'm not well versed in the subject. Make sure you hook up with people who truly know what they're doing and have successfully raised large breed pups this way.

 

[Snowden]

Ginny is right be careful if you are mixing your own raw ( if you need help please pm me). However if you are feeding a premix most are correct in calcium: phosphorous ratio and some have a lower % in protien which is good for larger breeds. Oma's pride mixes are a good example.

 

[sarnewfie]

Ginny is right and i agree, one of my biggest concerns with people doing the mixture themselves even after research is that without the coaching of a knowlagable breeder who has been there done that, and seen what works and what does not for certain lines, with a formula specific for those lines, it could be disastrous just as certain kibble can be disastrous for young growing giant breeds. It is best for people to lean on and be coached by breeders who have experienced the growth of many puppies on specific diets with specific lines, what goes for my lines may not for someone elses!
Glad to hear your pup likes the raw!

 

[R Taft]

All my dogs are on RAW.............Including Katy (17 weeks old). She has been from the day we got her. She too is thriving and hardly makes any noise, except she like to talk to us. She loves her brisket bones and all her meat and veggies. She has dislikes, just like the older dogs. But she eats everything and is growing nicely. She does get some extra vitamins, kelp and fish oil added to her meals, as per breeder request. Her favorite is fish, she loves cold water fish, sardines and herrings, raw or canned. Fish is the only canned food our dogs get if I cannot get raw fish. For Katy we use the BARF mix as well.........