I think I've decided I want to try Smudge on a raw diet. I've read threads talking about raw diets, but I wasn't sure if it worked the same way for puppies. I was really wanting to mix it half and half. Like maybe doing one meal kibble and the next meal raw. However, I'm not sure Smudge's teeth are grown enough yet for bones. He's 15 weeks old. Could I do without the bones until he is older and ready for them? Like maybe give him some boneless chicken or meat instead of the meat with the bones until he can chew them?
Puppies and a raw diet.
- Thread starter Smudge
- Start date
Don't worry about the bones! I started mine on raw, including bones, infact their first meal was chichen wings and drummets, at 10 weeks. They are just fine! Bone is important in a raw diet, so I would never exclude it. It helps their bones grow. And they digest all of it. I give bigger bones to mine with meat on them and they gnaw at them, get the marrow out. And if it is a knuckle bone, they gnaw at the spongy bone too. Never had any problems.
Are you going to be feeding BARF or pray model? I feed pray model and mine are doing wonderfully on it. GeeRome is an expert with raw diets and she can help you with the amounts too. I was overfeeding Chinook in the beginning. Now I have it all down packed and both of mine are a healthy weight.
Here is the link to GeeRomes blog: http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/09/raw-food-diet-for-dogs-starting-raw.html
Are you going to be feeding BARF or pray model? I feed pray model and mine are doing wonderfully on it. GeeRome is an expert with raw diets and she can help you with the amounts too. I was overfeeding Chinook in the beginning. Now I have it all down packed and both of mine are a healthy weight.
Here is the link to GeeRomes blog: http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/09/raw-food-diet-for-dogs-starting-raw.html
What is the difference between the two?
After thinking about it I think I will wait until I use up his three bags of kibble and then start him on it. It would be kind of crazy to do one meal this way and the next meal another way. I think it would be easier on me to do it all one way. Also, this will give me more time to read up on it.
After thinking about it I think I will wait until I use up his three bags of kibble and then start him on it. It would be kind of crazy to do one meal this way and the next meal another way. I think it would be easier on me to do it all one way. Also, this will give me more time to read up on it.
When you do switch, it is recommended that you do it gradually, but do not feed raw and kibble in the same meal.
BARF is Biologically Available Raw Food diet. THey incorporate vegetables and fruit in their diet. Here is the link to their information: http://www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/barfdiet.shtml
The Pray Model does not. It is 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% liver and 5% organs. This not being balanced at each meal either. This is what I feed my two. They still get veggies and fruit, but it's not a part of their diet, just extra's here and there. They get all their nutrients that they need from their meals.
BARF is Biologically Available Raw Food diet. THey incorporate vegetables and fruit in their diet. Here is the link to their information: http://www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/barfdiet.shtml
The Pray Model does not. It is 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% liver and 5% organs. This not being balanced at each meal either. This is what I feed my two. They still get veggies and fruit, but it's not a part of their diet, just extra's here and there. They get all their nutrients that they need from their meals.
Dusty was eating chicken from a young age. I am not sure at what age his breeder started giving him chicken, but i know at 8 weeks he was chomping up chicken legs and thighs.
here is a pic of him eating his chicken
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/rainsmom_2007/100_4078.jpg
here is a pic of him eating his chicken
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/rainsmom_2007/100_4078.jpg
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
You can start with softer bones first - bone-in breast, chicken wings. Generally a chicken has pretty soft bones, except maybe the thighs which are abit harder but still manageable once your pup gets the hang of it.
My breeder recommended a raw diet too, but I have always been told to stay away from chicken and pork bones because they splinter and can lodge in a dog’s throat. I have only ever had larger dogs in the 70 to 100 lb range before I got my sheltie "Maggie". With the shelties being smaller and having a smaller mouth and less jaw power do they tend to knaw on the bones more and break them up more instead of just putting a chicken leg in their mouth chomping on it a couple of time and then trying to swallow the thing?
I know with "Sheba" my shepherd cross we gave her beef bones but never anything else, but she would just about inhale whatever you put in front of her. I am not knocking the raw diet with chicken bones it just goes against what I was told.
I know with "Sheba" my shepherd cross we gave her beef bones but never anything else, but she would just about inhale whatever you put in front of her. I am not knocking the raw diet with chicken bones it just goes against what I was told.