Feeding puppy raw....

U

uneekstuf

Forums Regular
Oliver, my 13 week old puppy has been eating raw since he came home at 8 weeks. The transition went well without any issues. I bought some commercial raw that he can eat at daycare but the majority of his food comes from Hare-Today. As some here know, they have a really nice assortment of raw and most of the products I buy are ground with organ and bone since he is just a puppy. He does love their chunks of chicken with bone which I love to give him for exercising his teeth. I've read that 3 types of protein should be alternated for a healthy balance but it turns out he will not eat the rabbit, venison, beef or bison. Turkey and chicken seem to be his favorite. I splurged on my last order to Hare-Today and bought chunks of bison (not cheap). He picked at it but obviously wasn't thrilled.... the next day he had a little diarrhea. I really want to stay with the Hare Today products but I worry about the lack of balance with only chicken and turkey. I know if I put the commercial raw beside the actual raw he would go for the commercial. I cringed at the thought of how much money I have thrown way on the meats he wouldn't eat. Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
There's a really good book by Dr. Dodds on Amazon called Canine Nutrigenomics. It's sort of how to construct diets. It may give you some tips?
 
Have you tried pork yet? I raised Fillion on raw starting at 8 weeks when I got him home, but I never used commercial, just reg grocery store raw food. I think I went chicken, turkey, pork, beef as I added different meats. Duck is another possibility. My guys don't like rabbit either. Been a long time since I had a quail source, my last two boys loved it. Re beef: they can handle hamburger, but other cuts of beef I have to realllly trim--the fat makes them both a tad ill.
 
I don't want to use pork but quail is a great idea. I never knew a dog who wouldn't go for beef. I just wonder why he doesn't like it. I might try some sardines, too. I tried the duck, too but it wasn't a hit. Maybe things will change when he gets older. Although he turns his head from rabbit he loves the dehydrated rabbit ears.
 
My girls don't like many varieties of fish. They tolerate salmon, but love trout. I make fish sticks that are a hit. I roll it in panko crumbs which I add a little dulse flakes too and they go NUTS. Sardines are well received. Rabbit is NOT something they fancy. Duck they will eat but aren't happy about it. I don't give the girls pork as I don't eat it. I don't feed them chicken because my previous girls couldn't tolerate it. Friends gave me moose, and they think that is great. I corn my own beef and make my own corned beef hash. Are you feeding a grass fed beef or corn fed beef. I prefer the grass fed and it is more gamey tasting. They ADORE that. I also feed them beef type liverwurst for some organ meat in their diet. I don't like bison, but they will eat it. I won't eat bambi meat. But they have had elk jerky. I eat a lot of lamb, the girls go ape over lamb anything. . I try to rotate the proteins they get.
Can you mix what he doesn't like in with what he does. I did that with Kaleigh as she was weird about texture and size when she was a puppy and I fed her kibble. If I put the bigger kibble she would pick around it, and then eat them like she eats a treat. I also find if I cover stuff they don't really like with bone broth they will eat it. Sorta like dog ketchup, ha...
 
Last edited:
All three of my dogs are on straight RMB raw, Kel started at 7.5 weeks when we brought him home. I don't use commercial raw simply because for some reason, my dogs don't like it. Maybe because a lot of the commercial raw that I find in pet stores also contain vegetables and my guys don't care for them. They also don't like beef other than beef heart and sweetbreads, both which I incorporate into a boneless ground including pork (I trim as much fat as possible, which still leaves some fat but no too much) and chicken. They also turned their noses up at venison which a neighbor gave me last week (he butchered his deer and gave me the 'scraps' which totalled close to 30 pounds of meat.) they did have a few chunks last night and this morning were desperate to get out of their crates to go outside...maybe compared to their regular food, both beef and venison might be a tad too rich all at once?

I haven't heard of the commercial brand you mentioned, though. Maybe it was a slightly tainted (read: beginning to go bad) batch?
 
I'm reading all of your dogs' likes and dislikes, including mine...yet given half a chance (and with Kel, one second of not paying attention), mine will raid the kitty litter box like it's a snack bar. Yet these guys turn their noses up to rabbit and venison and bison...oy
 
I forgot about the great fish debacle. I scored smelt for 1.11 lb and was so happy--till His Royal Highness Koko the Puff turned his nose up at it. The Clown Prince poo pooed it several weeks later. Back to canned fish. Luckily I found a buyer for the 30 lb case of fish! But green tripe--which the smell makes me gag--is beloved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top