Puppy food

[dunnin21]

Getting first puppy mid November, was thinking of feeding a raw diet.

Is it best to keep him on the food the breeder is currently feeding once get him home for a certain amount of time, then making a gradual switch.

Breed is a Labrador is this makes a difference, thanks

 

[Camdig]

Definitely keep on the same food as breeder for at least a month after arrival then slowly switch over to what you want to feed, if raw diet is the route you want to go I'd start with a little green tripe mixed with original kibble and go from there.

 

[Alex88]

Are you sure? Indeed your pup would have good clean teeth, and healthy looking dung (2 of the leading arguments from raw feeders, as if those 2 things prove good health), but is likely to lack a lot of nutrients that it needs for healthy growth. A good quality, complete, dry food will have cost millions to develop, and contain joint care additives like chondroitin and glucosamine which are particularly important in labradors. Of course dogs ate raw food in the wild (another common argument), but then what age would a Labrador have lived to in the wild I wonder. If you do go down the raw route then please ensure it has been properly treated and guaranteed free of protozoa (many formulations are not), to prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis which are crippling farmers in my part of the country at the moment. Research into whether the increase in raw feeding of pets, and the increase in these diseases is related, is still ongoing.

 

[dunnin21]

Are you sure? Indeed your pup would have good clean teeth, and healthy looking dung (2 of the leading arguments from raw feeders, as if those 2 things prove good health), but is likely to lack a lot of nutrients that it needs for healthy growth. A good quality, complete, dry food will have cost millions to develop, and contain joint care additives like chondroitin and glucosamine which are particularly important in labradors. Of course dogs ate raw food in the wild (another common argument), but then what age would a Labrador have lived to in the wild I wonder. If you do go down the raw route then please ensure it has been properly treated and guaranteed free of protozoa (many formulations are not), to prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis which are crippling farmers in my part of the country at the moment. Research into whether the increase in raw feeding of pets, and the increase in these diseases is related, is still ongoing.

I’ll research it fully before I make any decisions just going on advice from friends that have been raw feeding for quite a while.

 

[nathan.p]

Previous raw feeder, back on kibble, it’s easier and dog is in better condition now.

Take from that what you will..

Despite being a highly sprung cocker spaniel, I certainly wouldn’t advocate for raw. It’s a PITA, dogs aren’t wild anymore they, are domesticated. Some people swear by it, some don’t. Personally I would never go back to raw. A good quality kibble will cost you the same, yes more poo, but

 

[Buchan]

Really important that a puppy, especially larger, fast growing breeds are fed a properly balanced diet and not fed too much, which means keep it skinny! You are less likely to do this feeding raw, especially if it’s home made. The traditional advice is to stick to one type, but there is a reasonable argument for swapping brands and letting the pup’s gut get used to variety.
Expect variable poo. This is the gut immunity develop and can take 12 months or more to settle.
If you want to go raw as an adult, do so, but bear in mind there is no real evidence it offers any improvement on kibble and quite a lot that it is a problem

 

[shakey jake]

Ive fed dogs every thing from cheap biscuits to complete raw, all sorfs of protein, fish, game, chicken, beef and horse.
Other than the crap they produce ive not noticed a massive change.
My girlfriend now feeds a top range biscuit and i add fresh game and meat as i get it.
Short term with adult dogs i doubt it matters as long as the meat is safe to eat. In a pup id use the best biscuit i could find