If you’re thinking about putting your dog on a raw food diet, it’s important to understand the nutritional requirements essential for their health. A properly balanced diet promotes strong bones and muscles, boosts their immune system, and keeps them content and happy.
Protein is one of the most essential nutrients for your puppy’s growth and development. It provides all 10 essential amino acids required for successful development and maturation.
Protein
Puppies require a balanced diet that provides them with plenty of protein, fat and minerals to grow rapidly during this stage. With high nutrient requirements at this stage, puppies must get all their needs met to thrive.
Protein is essential for your pup’s bone, muscle and immune system development. Plus, it forms the building block of healthy skin and coat.
To guarantee your pup gets a balanced raw diet, select different meats and bones (as well as vegetables, fruits and eggs) for each meal. It is best to use different recipes for each component so that your pup always receives an evenly balanced meal.
Additionally, make sure you’re feeding high quality, fresh meat. Avoid feeding meat that has been spoiled or past its sell-by date – these can be unsafe and contain hazardous bacteria.
Raw feeding requires careful selection of meat and offal, so be sure to ask your butcher or meat market for their top recommendations.
Another helpful tip is to freeze the meat before feeding it, as this kills off any bacterial contamination without reducing its nutritional value.
Fruit and vegetables are beneficial for your dog’s wellbeing, as they contain phytonutrients which may protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, boost immunity levels and enhance digestion. Plus, fruit and veggies contain probiotics which aid in relieving gut issues while keeping your pup’s digestive tract happy and healthy.
If you’re unsure how to begin raw feeding your puppy, ask your veterinarian or reach out to a Darwin’s Pet Food Advisor for more details. They can guide you through all the available options and answer any queries along the way.
Bone + Muscle Meat
Raw feeding offers many sources of protein for dogs, and to ensure a healthy pup we recommend offering different proteins at different times.
Meat is an excellent source of several nutrients, such as iron (beef contains more iron than pork or lamb), potassium and zinc. Furthermore, it’s packed full of essential fatty acids which your pup needs for good health and wellness.
Bone is packed full of essential nutrients and should be included in any balanced diet. Not only does it supply calcium and phosphorus for bone growth and development, but it’s also high in fiber which aids digestion and prevents constipation in young puppies.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends that puppies should begin access to raw meaty bones at around 12 weeks of age when their baby teeth start erupt, provided it’s large enough to chew on and not swallow whole. It is also wise to supervise your pup when chewing on a particularly tough raw bone as these can be hazardous if left unattended.
To effectively incorporate bone nutrition into your puppy’s diet, use a bone measuring cylinder or bowl. This will allow you to precisely measure out how much bone is necessary for their meal and guarantee they get all of the nutritional advantages from fresh bone sources.
Vegetables
When it comes to your pup’s diet, it’s no secret that they need a well-balanced raw food diet. This includes proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as vegetables for optimal growth and development.
Vegetables are an excellent way to add vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients to the meal. Plus they provide a good amount of fiber – essential for digestion and gut health.
There are numerous advantages to feeding your pup a raw diet, but one in particular deserves special consideration:
Dr. Sehn recommends vegetables for improved canine digestion, as they are difficult to digest and the fiber they provide helps keep your pup’s bowels functioning normally.
Reduce Cancer Risk: Feeding your dog raw greens is a safe and effective way to help reduce their risk of liver cancer. This is because greens contain chlorophyll, which has been demonstrated to counteract the effects of aflatoxin contamination, an unsafe contaminant commonly found in commercial dog foods.
Bones + Muscle Meat: When feeding your puppy a raw diet, aim to include at least 15-20% bone and 60-80% muscle meat. This will give them the calcium and phosphorus they need to build strong bones and muscles.
To feed a dog a healthy raw diet, it’s essential to adhere to the NRC and FEDIAF guidelines. These will give you insight into what your pup requires nutritionally and what can be done to meet those needs.
You can provide your puppy with the essential nutrients they need through supplements. The key is selecting the ones best suited to your dog and being patient and consistent when giving them these supplements. With the correct supplements in place, your canine friend will experience improved overall health and longevity!
Liver
The liver is your largest internal organ and an essential part of digestion. Its primary job is to break down and metabolize food, but it also serves as a storage facility for essential vitamins and minerals.
Liver tissue consists of millions of cells known as hepatocytes that are tunneled through with blood vessels and bile ducts. These cells produce proteins essential for bodily functions as well as building and maintaining cellular structures like blood and bone.
Bile is produced, aiding digestion of fats and other substances. Additionally, it stores carbohydrates for later use as energy when necessary or blood sugar levels drop.
The liver stores and releases iron from hemoglobin (the red molecule that carries oxygen throughout the body) in ferritin form. Additionally, it stores vitamin A and B12 for making new blood cells within the body.
Additionally, exercise helps filter the blood, breaking down and detoxifying toxins that can accumulate there. These pollutants may come from food or other sources like drugs or alcohol.
Additionally, the liver assists in breaking down protein into smaller molecules so that stomach acids can more easily digest it. This process takes place by producing a substance known as bile which aids in this breakdown process.
Raw feeding your puppy the liver is essential for its success on a raw diet, as it contains essential nutrients essential to their development. To ensure they get all of these essential nutrients from an optimal raw diet, feed a variety of meats, bones and fish daily – this should be done during their first year of life.
Supplements
Puppies require a range of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and strong. Many can be obtained through food sources, while others must be supplemented.
Vitamins are organic compounds that support your puppy’s growth and metabolism. They also support immunity, brain function, heart health, and cellular health.
Vitamin supplements are widely available at most retail outlets and online. Many contain antioxidants which have been known to reduce inflammation and slow the aging process in dogs.
Some contain probiotics, which may improve digestion and eliminate poop habits. Others provide allergy relief or boost your pup’s immune system.
If you’re uncertain what to buy, consult your veterinarian or the National Animal Supplement Council for advice. Look for brands that specialize in a certain area or have conducted clinical studies of their product, according to Ochoa. Additionally, ensure the supplement has lot numbers and clear quality and safety instructions.
Another excellent option is PetAg’s multivitamin tablet, which contains all the nutrients your growing pup needs to stay healthy and strong. It contains phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin A – all essential for growth and bone development.
It is free from GMOs and chemical preservatives. Furthermore, its absorption technology means your puppy’s body will actually absorb the nutrients rather than just passing them by with little impact.
A quality puppy supplement can help ward off some of the common problems your pup may develop as they mature, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia. By taking time to select the appropriate ones for them, you’ll ensure they remain contented and healthy throughout their lifetime.
Aurelia is the Editor-in-Chief of The Graceful Kitchen, a vegan lifestyle blog that focuses on delicious, nutritious, and ethical eating. A lifelong vegan, Aurelia is passionate about sharing her love of plant-based cuisine with others. She is a regular contributor to several online and print publications, and has been interviewed by major news outlets about the benefits of a vegan diet. In her free time, Aurelia enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her cats.
