Can Puppies Eat Raw Dog Food?

Interested in feeding your puppy a raw diet? Many pet parents are turning to raw dog food to offer their pets a diet that’s closer to what their canine companion might eat in nature. 

Learn about the pros and cons of feeding raw food to your puppy, tips for safely feeding a fresh diet, and which forms of raw food are best for growing pups.
 

What Is Raw Dog Food?

Raw dog food is primarily made up of uncooked meat and/or fish. It can contain a blend of muscle meat, organ meats like brain, liver, and kidneys, and raw meaty bones, which provide a natural source of calcium. Ingredients may include fruits and veggies, seeds, plant oils, animal fats, kelp, eggs, and fish.

Raw dog food can be made at home, though it can be difficult for the average pet parent to calculate and meet their dog’s daily nutritional needs. Complete and balanced pre-made raw dog food has taken the guesswork out of giving your dog a balanced raw diet.
 

Is Raw Dog Food Safe for Puppies?

Raw dog food can be fed safely to puppies. Many experienced dog breeders, sled dog owners, and other dog owners and professionals feed their puppies a raw diet. In fact, it’s not unheard of for experienced, raw-feeding puppy raisers to wean puppies on a mixture of ground raw food and canine milk replacement formula.

Keep in mind, though, that raw feeding can be unsafe for puppies if an unbalanced diet is fed. Puppies need a complete and balanced diet for proper growth and development. Improper nutrition during your puppy’s first year of life can lead to lifelong health issues.
 

Raw Feeding For Large Breed Puppies

Large and giant breed puppies that will grow to be over 70 pounds as an adult need special consideration when it comes to nutrition. 

A large breed puppy needs less fat than their small-breed counterparts. Gaining weight too quickly during growth can make a large-breed puppy more susceptible to bone deformities. An appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, as well as an appropriate level of vitamins and minerals, are essential to healthy musculoskeletal development.

Not sure if your large or giant breed puppy’s raw diet is appropriate for growth? Feed a complete and balanced large-breed puppy food that’s formulated to meet or exceed large-breed nutritional guidelines set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). 

You can still offer raw toppers or treats when feeding a complete and balanced food. Extras should make up no more than 15% of your puppy’s diet. Then, if you’d like, you can always transition your puppy to a balanced raw diet once they’re fully grown, typically at around 18 to 24 months. 
 

How To Safely Feed Your Puppy A Raw Diet

One of the main concerns of feeding a raw diet is the potential for contamination. Dogs can generally tolerate pathogens found in raw meat because their short digestive tract and low-pH stomach acid create an environment that does not allow bacteria to fester. Even so, a puppy’s underdeveloped immune system could potentially make them more vulnerable to foodborne pathogens.

The fix? Consider feeding your puppy a freeze-dried raw diet like Dr Marty Nature’s Blend Health Growth.

“I now prefer feeding freeze-dried raw that is predominantly composed of high-quality meats and also organ meats as the freeze-drying process seals in the peak level of nutrients,” says leading holistic veterinarian and founder of Dr. Marty Pet Foods, Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM.  “And by removing almost all the water, you tremendously reduce the chance of pathogen contamination.”
 

Is A Raw Diet Right for Your Puppy?

Have questions about when, how much, and what to feed your new puppy? Talk to a veterinarian today when you schedule a same-day televet appointment with VetLive.