RAW diet - Is my pup the appropriate size/weight for his age??

[Jen&Bear]

Hi...this is my first time doing this type of thing...but I have a question.

I have a 4-month old. For about a month now, I have been feeding a raw diet. I have researched numerous aspects, pros, cons, you name it I read it. Therefore, I chose raw rather than kibble.

I would like to know if I have been feeding him "well"...perhaps meaning nutritionally. How can I tell? I feed him the minimum (2-5% of body weight) or at least what he will eat and add supplements every other day.

He is great. My handsome is awesome and all. All regular puppy behaviors never lacking there................... haha

To me he seems a LITTLE thin. But you can't really see his ribs but you can generally see the frame? and from the top his waist is visible. That's all I read/could find about it. There is nothing about him other than his size that concerns me not even in the least. He does not give any indication of deficiency nor malnourishment BUT I am certainly no expert.

I had a German Shep. He has passed away for some years now but this is my first pup also my first experience with the raw diet.

I am just curious to know if I am doing it right or really that he is the right size/weight for his age. Does anybody have any pointers or advice???

Thanks

PS...For those that reply thank you I really appreciate it but having researched the raw diet for over a month, I realize it is very controversial but that is my choice. I just want to politely say that I am not looking for negative responses or reasons against the raw diet. I am just looking for a little advice from raw supporters. Thanks again.

[studio1one]

My pups have always been on the lean side on a raw diet. Personally I have always figured that if they are growing, gaining weight and if the coat is good, energy is good and they are happy enthusiastic pups I don't worry about them being a bit lean. I work on a basis of 4% of bodyweight as standard but have found some need 5%

[Jen&Bear]

Ok. Thank you

I know there are no strict regimens and rules for raw diets so maybe that's why i am not sure if he is benefiting or am i just over thinking

But can i ask you...how can i get him to eat whole chicken??

He will have the ground chicken but when i offer the boneless breast or thighs he won't eat it. He almost plays with it...which i am not too thrilled about having raw chicken dragged all over.

The other meats and sardines/mackeral he will accept and enjoy once I put it down but chicken not a chance.........any ideas??

Thank you

[Holmeshx2]

where are you getting a 5% rule from? Young puppies get about 10% of their current body weight however at 4 months he should be getting 2-3% of his estimated adult weight so basically he should be eating an adult portion split into 3 times a day. What are you giving him for bone? I would feed him in his crate so he can't walk around with it dragging raw meat all over your house, also it keeps him focused on eating. Give him maybe 20-30 minutes if he doesn't eat it pick it up and give it again next meal. He's young you really don't want to start him being picky and if hes healthy theres no reason to grind his meat it's good for his teeth to eat big pieces of meat and bone. What are you all feeding him and what supplements? Also, why are you only doing every other day for supplements? For a puppy it is really important that you get the nutritional aspect right or it'll cause issues with growth and development.

[Jen&Bear]

ok makes sense

well, I have read so many things on so many diff websites and postings and none of it is consistent. the majority of it is the same but i imagine its the individual preferences that vary. so i am left to devise my own thing...
a website said that puppies require 2-10% of the body weight and i offer him enough but he doesn't always want to have that much...not hungry? or not sure of any other reason

when he was on kibble i added supplements everyday and i read recently that supplements don't need to be given everyday (because of the "in the wild" theory) so i only add it every other day.

he has been off kibble for about 4 weeks - he will get ground meat 1lb (either beef, chk, pork, turk) twice/day and either frozen sardines or mackeral in between or as a snack - plus i will give him plain yogurt every night or morning with little honey and sometimes little oats/couscous/bran pellets (i know those are grains but i can't find any other substitutes to add as texture in his yogurt) - as the fish alt i will give him meat like...veal/beef shanks?...beef roast (blade pot?)...chk breast/thigh/legs (if he will eat it - he only seems to rarely have it frozen never thawed)...pork ribs...as for bones, perhaps i don't give him many - i will add some beef liver and the supplements to the ground meat and mix it in - i have the beef hearts and chk liver (not sure how or when to incorporate those yet) - he will chew on carrots and whole bananas througout the day but i will add chopped carrots/broccoli in the ground meat mix as well plus some bran if i see him straining for potty

Holmeshx2, do you have any suggestions of what else i can be doing or giving him for actual bones? exacty what should i pick up - otherwise i stand in the meat section forever afraid to pick up the wrong thing or that he may choke...

the supplememts are "bio vites" - i have checked the nutrients against the daily requirements on his blue buffalo kibble and a chart i found online - it seems to be approx the same value or more

if you have any suggestions i would be happy to try them

thank you

[studio1one]

Originally Posted by Holmeshx2

where are you getting a 5% rule from? Young puppies get about 10% of their current body weight however at 4 months he should be getting 2-3% of his estimated adult weight so basically he should be eating an adult portion split into 3 times a day. What are you giving him for bone? I would feed him in his crate so he can't walk around with it dragging raw meat all over your house, also it keeps him focused on eating. Give him maybe 20-30 minutes if he doesn't eat it pick it up and give it again next meal. He's young you really don't want to start him being picky and if hes healthy theres no reason to grind his meat it's good for his teeth to eat big pieces of meat and bone. What are you all feeding him and what supplements? Also, why are you only doing every other day for supplements? For a puppy it is really important that you get the nutritional aspect right or it'll cause issues with growth and development.

Sorry I should have made it clear I feed a prey model not BARF. Barf is 10%

[gsd_newbie]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but what is "prey model" vs "barf model"? I was thinking these terms are also mentioning to RAW feeding, but seems I misunderstood.

[studio1one]

Try reading this link

Why Prey-Model and Not BARF?

[mebully21]

he needs bones in his meals.. researching raw takes longer then a month to do. and for puppies you have to get it right to not mess up their joint growth. until you research it more i would put him back on kibble , then once you fully understand the bone/organ/meat ratio and what is involved then put him back on raw. or you can do raw for one meal and kibble for the other now so that he gets the proper nutrients...

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[Lauri & The Gang]

Puppies need as much as they need to grow correctly. It's NOT a set percentage.

I have a nephew that could put away 10 pieces of French Toast and 5 eggs for breakfast when he was around 10 and STILL be super hungry at lunch. That kids was a walking food furnace!

The idea is to feed enough food to keep your puppy growing nice and slow (a GSD pup that is).

Puppies will go through growth spurts and plateaus. One week you might need to almost double their food intake and then they seem to be fine for the next couple weeks.

As a rule of thumb I tell people to start with about 7% of the pups 8 week old weight and check them each week.

By 'check them' I mean LOOK and FEEL. A puppy should look like a miniature version of the breed. Fat, rolly-polly puppies may be cute but they are NOT healthy! You should be able to feel the pups ribs when you press lightly on their side but you should NOT be able to see them.