Raw diet information

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0310Star

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I am putting my puppy onto the raw diet, partly because she doesn't like biscuits at all and partly because I think the raw diet really is healthier all round.

She is a 13 week old Rottweiler pup who is growing extremely fast, my main question is: how much should I be feeding her? I am looking at either Durham animal feed or Manifold valley meats.

I have read that I should give her 2% of her expected adult body weight which should be an average of 37kgs so I have worked this out as 740g/1.7lbs a day. Does this sound correct?

I have also ordered her a pro biotic, multivit supplement to add in.

Any other info people may have would be much appreciated as I am completely new to this!!

Thanks in advance :)
 
Hi, welcome to raw! Everything you need to know can be found here....
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-and-nutrition/111437-raw-feeding-everything-you-need-know.html
..and in the sticky at the top of this page.

Start with one type of protein, usually chicken, and slowly introduce other meats. Ours love beef, and we use manifold valley. You will be able to adjust the amount you feed by eye - ours put weight on at first so we reduced it. It seems like you are feeding a tiny amount compared to what you did before, but it's just because it's not filled out with all the other rubbish in commercial foods.

Don't forget to feed bone. I've never used a supplement so have no advice on that. Some add in veggies but I don't as a rule, apart from the odd carrot as a crunchy snack.

It seems complicated at first but it becomes clear as you get going!
 
I agree with RR, I was daunted at first putting mine on raw but it is the best decision I have ever made :) I use MVM and would really, really recommend them - excellent quality products and absolutely fabulous customer service - the only thing I would say is that I feed mine by eye, and a growing puppy will probably need considerably more than the usual 2-3% that is recommended
 
I fed more like 5% of breed standard adult weight to the puppies. The link RR gave you is fab, I'm on there lots! Unfortunately, Sleeping Lion is no longer on there.

As the dog is quite a large breed, I'd start sourcing a supplier and looking at a big freezer so you don't have to be constantly looking for more food.
 
Thanks everybody, after a day of researching online and also reading 15 pages in so far of the sticky on here I think it is finally going in!

I have got another freezer for the garage and have ordered a bulk load of minced chicken and turkey (with bone) and minced tripe (without bone) as the supplier suggested starting her on the lighter meats for a few weeks and then adding in a bit more variety after that once she is used to it all.

I cant wait to start her on the meat, I am not at all impressed with the dry food after researching the raw diet.

So how much would people recommend I start her on? She is 13 weeks old today and is full rotti.

Thanks again :)
 
I have an 8 week old Border Collie pup that I am feeding raw, she is quite a big pup weighing 5.1 kg already. I am feeding her 400g split over 4 meals a day. My other adult Border Collies are quite small (weighing between 13 kg and 15.5 kg), they get 300g of raw meat each a day.
 
So 740g a day would probably be about right for now then as her expected average adult weight is about 37kg?
This is the only part which is confusing me as there are such conflicting views!
 
0310Star said:
So 740g a day would probably be about right for now then as her expected average adult weight is about 37kg?
This is the only part which is confusing me as there are such conflicting views!
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My male greyhound is around 35kg and gets a 1 - 1.5 kilos of meat per day - he looks very fit and well on that, and is definitely not fat :)

How much does she weigh now?
 
I have 2 rottie puppies, both rescued, one app 8 months and the other app 6 months. I started both on 5% body weight - tripe & chicken only. They flourished on it. They are now on a full range of protein, bone & offal. I have just dropped the older one to 4% and will continue to do so as needed.
I buy my feeds from bulmers in Leicester and can't fault the quality.
It really was the best thing I did for them. The excitement at feeding times is ridiculous, you'd think they were never fed. Their coats are amazing. They are lively and both have been asked to be blood donors when they turn 1. Had you seen them a few months ago, they really were poor specimens.
Good luck with it all. I highly recommend joining raw feeding rebels if you're on facebook x
 
missmatch said:
I have 2 rottie puppies, both rescued, one app 8 months and the other app 6 months. I started both on 5% body weight - tripe & chicken only. They flourished on it. They are now on a full range of protein, bone & offal. I have just dropped the older one to 4% and will continue to do so as needed.
I buy my feeds from bulmers in Leicester and can't fault the quality.
It really was the best thing I did for them. The excitement at feeding times is ridiculous, you'd think they were never fed. Their coats are amazing. They are lively and both have been asked to be blood donors when they turn 1. Had you seen them a few months ago, they really were poor specimens.
Good luck with it all. I highly recommend joining raw feeding rebels if you're on facebook x
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I am so glad to have had a reply from a fellow rottie owner! And glad to hear they are flourishing on the raw diet.
Do you feed at 5% of their current body weight or 5% of their expected average adult weight? I have the meat arriving Sunday so she will be starting the meat on Monday and I cant wait. She really isn't at all a fan of the biscuits and and I don't think she looks as good as she could on them at all. She seems to be slightly constipated and itchy with flaky skin too... not good at all!
Do you find it cheaper or more expensive feeding raw just out of curiosity?
I will join the facebook page now :)
 
Page is Rawfeeding Rebels, can't link as on iPad. My vet is a raw food advocate and advised we feed 5% of their current weight. They were very very poor and we weren't entirely sure if they were full rotties. One is and one looks to be gsd cross! They have gained an average of a kg a week which started to dip when they got to about 6 months. The vet is incredibly pleased with their progress :-)
Once you get into the group, read the files. There's so much info in there.
There is also a fab group called Rottweiler uk which is worth joining. Lots of raw feeders in there too. I remember being terrified going for it. Like you, the coats were dull & dry. Itching like they were infested and nothing agreed with them. The difference was clear within a week and I've never regretted swapping them. Actually once I did, when trying to get the older one to eat offal!!!! We got there though x
 
I've just swapped mine over to raw the last few weeks - not rotties but 2 boxer crosses. The pup is about 8-9 months old and wasn't thin but just poor with a dull coat and flaky skin (he came to us end Dec from a recue) a couple of weeks in he started to look better and now a month in he gleams and has put several kilos on. We are cutting his feed back a bit from this week as he really is looking a bit chunky! We were feeding 5% as instructed and have dropped it back to 3-4%. Our older dog gets 2% and is also thriving. I'm feeding Natural Instinct as it's easily available locally and have been feeding mostly duck and chicken as they are the higher fat options.

My only issue with raw is that I should have done it a long time ago....
 
I just want to confidently feed her the correct amount, that is my only concern!
I may see if I can get hold of some scales so I can weight her as she has grown since the last vet visit 2 weeks ago. Once I know her weight I will go by the 5% of her current weight and that should work perfectly then!

I am getting very impatient for the meat order and being able to start her on it!

I liked the look of the Natural Instinct meat but I just found it would be so expensive?
 
We started using it because it is so easy to get hold of - local tack shop sells it for under the rrp on the website - and because we don't have storage for anything more than a weeks worth at the moment. I'm about £25 for both dogs for a week inc bones etc and they are really doing incredibly well. The rescue visited this week and were amazed at how well the pup is looking. I like the convenience too, just spoon it out, add a duck neck on top and the dogs love it. To be honest it's a bit cheaper than what I was feeding - Forthglade meat and Skinners dry - so I'm happy to keep going.
 
Oh ok! Sorry to be nosey, but how do you pay per 1kg of you don't mind me asking? Its £2.80kg at the supplier I am getting mine from and she will be having at least 500G a day so would work out quite pricey compared to the DAF meat I have ordered. I think it will be trial and error though seeing as I am new to all of this!

Although saying that, the Royal Canin she has been having is £45 per 14kg so either way I will be saving money! :)
 
0310Star said:
Oh ok! Sorry to be nosey, but how do you pay per 1kg of you don't mind me asking? Its £2.80kg at the supplier I am getting mine from and she will be having at least 500G a day so would work out quite pricey compared to the DAF meat I have ordered. I think it will be trial and error though seeing as I am new to all of this!

Although saying that, the Royal Canin she has been having is £45 per 14kg so either way I will be saving money! :)
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Local shop sell the Chicken at £2.10 and the duck for £2.50 per kg.
 
Elvis 4 weeks into raw diet - from scrawny and dull to this...
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I started our Gsd on raw the day after we bought him home best thing i ever did he's on 4% of his body weight

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Enjoying some ribs for his dinner
 
0310Star said:
I have also been suggested to feed her scrambled egg and/or rice pudding, thoughts on this?
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No, absolutely unnecessary and dairy really isn't good for dogs. Raw whole egg, crack the shell for her so she knows it's edible! Just chuck it in with whatever you're feeding.

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Just wondering, is it just my hounds who act as if every meal is their last on a raw diet? As soon as they changed onto raw they eat their meal in literally about 20 seconds flat (longer for the toothless ones!) and they are desperate to eat every day :D

They do get enough BTW, the vet constantly commends me on how well they look every time I go (which is more often than I would like!)
 
Our dog who has never been a food orientated dog goes nuts! He bounces round the kitchen like a loon. His previous indifference has been replaced with enthusiasm. The puppy needs an anti gulp bowl or he snorts it up his nose.
 
Scarlett said:
Our dog who has never been a food orientated dog goes nuts! He bounces round the kitchen like a loon. His previous indifference has been replaced with enthusiasm. The puppy needs an anti gulp bowl or he snorts it up his nose.
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LOL that is how Amy is as well - I have really never seen a dog eat so fast :D :D
 
Well my pup is officially starting her raw diet as we speak, first meal currently being eaten :) she looked at it a bit odd to start with but is now tucking in. I will add a photo when I am at a pc!
Thanks again everyone for your help :)
 
The first meal has gone down a hit! We have gone by the 5% rule and she has gobbled the lot but keeps going back to her bowl hungry, what would people suggest in this situation? Add more until she is full?
 
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