Do puppies grow faster on raw diet?
Puppies grow slower and develop stronger bone structure and muscle. The body takes time to develop naturally into providing a better or more powerful stance as the puppy grows. … Raw fed puppies have more natural energy, with a moderate temperament making them easier to train and work with when it comes to obedience.
Are raw fed dogs more muscular?
There are numerous health benefits to feeding your dog a raw food diet. These include: Leaner, more muscular build; nearly 60% of dogs are overweight or obese based on body condition scoring, which leads to a number of related conditions.
Follow these guidelines and adjust percentages until your dog reaches an ideal weight. How do you know if your dog is his or her ideal weight? Generally, you should be able to see the outline of the last few floating ribs closest to your dog’s stomach, but should not be able to see all of your dog’s ribs or his/her hip bones or vertebra of the spine. Your dog should have a defined waist if you’re standing over him/her looking down at them. They should also have a nice tucked stomach beginning where their rib cage ends.
Young puppies are very good at self-regulating their food intake, so there’s no need to be concerned if they don’t finish everything you give them (as long as there are no symptoms of discomfort). Simply pick up any leftovers and feed them later.
Puppies grow at a slower, more regulated rate when fed a raw diet. If your puppy is the only one out of his/her littermates on a raw diet, you’ll notice them a bit behind their brothers and sisters, growth wise. This greatly reduces the chance of developing bone and joint problems. Your puppy will eventually grow to his/her intended size, yet in a more natural, healthier manner.
How much food your raw fed dog needs on a daily basis depends on a few factors; how active your dog is, how old he/she is, how high his or her metabolism is and how high the fat content of his/her diet is.
Puppies are an exception and need to be fed 10% of their current weight until the amount fed per day meets 2-3% of their expected adult body weight. For example, if a puppy weighs 10 lbs. and is expected to grow to 100 lbs. you would feed 10% of their current weight and increase that amount as they grow until you reach around 2.5% of 100 lbs.
Slow Growth Diets for Growing Puppies
Raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular, but they are no new concept. Raw diets are similar to the original doggie diet because the hounds of yesteryear hunted and ate raw meat on the regular. Dogs’ bodies are made to digest decaying flesh, and they are capable of processing bacteria and germs that can easily make humans sick. But until the last decade or so, the market availability for safely prepared and packaged raw diets was slim.
When we talk about raw diets, it’s more involved than cutting up some raw chicken and putting it in a bowl. Raw diets are supplemented with other ingredients to give dogs the nutrients they need. Companies commonly supplement raw meat with fruits and vegetables, organs, bone, vitamins, and minerals. So, we are not saying you should feed your dog raw meat alone. Getting raw food that is already prepared is definitely the way to go.
It’s also important to keep in mind that a raw dog food diet will not work for all dogs and owners. If you want to switch your dog to a raw diet, first weigh the benefits and risks, and take your dog’s current condition into consideration. Your dog will let you know whether or not they enjoy the food by simply eating it or not. If your dog is a puppy, elderly, or has health concerns, consult your vet before putting your dog on a raw diet. Additionally, if you have young children, elderly persons, or anyone with a compromised immune system living in your home, vets advise against feeding your dog raw food.