 Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#376460 - 04/13/2013 11:10 AM |
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Sounds good. Yeah the puppy thing has me on the side of caution. Definitely want him getting what he needs. Anxious to get full on. . Just the few days he has been on the new diet I already have seen an improvement with some issues that existed prior to the switch.
Just curious, at what age do you consider a dog not a puppy anymore as far as diet goes and not worrying as much about making the switch so accurate as you do with a puppy.
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Mychal Scott ]
#376461 - 04/13/2013 11:41 AM |
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The protocol for switching a dog to a raw diet would be the same whether the dog were a puppy or an adult or senior. Slowly, one new thing at a time.
If you're asking about when a dog is old enough not to worry so much about good nutrition, I don't know--because I don't think about it that way. I think that a healthy, balanced, and varied diet is important for health at any age.
At my house, dogs and puppies eat exactly the same diet throughout their lives--except for a very brief "transition" week when they are first introduced to a raw diet. After that, they get my standard diet of RMB, muscle meat, organ meat (from a rotating list of six animal protein sources) small amounts of veg, eggs, yogurt. The only supplements I feed are fish oil and E (the shepherd also gets glucosamine).
Yes, puppy nutrition is extra important. But I don't think a well-fed puppy should one day "graduate" to a less nutritious diet.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#376464 - 04/13/2013 12:38 PM |
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I guess I didn't state the question right. I agree whether puppy or adult all should have optimal nutrition. I was more curious about the worrying of puppies getting what they need to grow properly. For instance, advice is a puppy is more critical at getting the diet correct in a hurry because you want them to have all the nutrients for proper development ASAP. Are as concerned if a dog was 1 year vs 1 month? Not a big deal just curious for my own knowledge when a puppy isn't a puppy I guess 
"If you're asking about when a dog is old enough not to worry so much about good nutrition, I don't know--because I don't think about it that way. I think that a healthy, balanced, and varied diet is important for health at any age. "
Agreed 100%
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Mychal Scott ]
#376465 - 04/13/2013 01:37 PM |
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The most rapid growth spurts happen in the first year. They are making the most brain in the first few (6?) months. Teeth are being made in months 4-8 or so. Bones do most of their growing in the first year, but growth plates in bones aren't fully closed til age 2 or so in big dogs. Big dogs aren't fully muscled out til 2. Individuals vary, but mine didn't stop acting like fools until 3. 
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Mychal Scott ]
#376634 - 04/17/2013 09:52 PM |
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#376636 - 04/17/2013 11:24 PM |
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It's going we'll I think. Poops are soft and solid and consistent. Loves,the new diet! Thank you for the links. That article in the last link has me even more nervous about feeding a pup, especially such a large breed. To much calcium, if he can't regulate to much calcium which is bad, and too little calcium causes deficiency in other areas.... How do you KNOW he is getting the right amount? I definitely don't want to do anything to contribute to any kind of skeletal growth problems!
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Mychal Scott ]
#376641 - 04/18/2013 10:24 AM |
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It's going we'll I think. Poops are soft and solid and consistent. Loves,the new diet! Thank you for the links. That article in the last link has me even more nervous about feeding a pup, especially such a large breed. To much calcium, if he can't regulate to much calcium which is bad, and too little calcium causes deficiency in other areas.... How do you KNOW he is getting the right amount? I definitely don't want to do anything to contribute to any kind of skeletal growth problems!
Just so we are on the same page, are you doing a mainly-home-prepared-raw with some THK as a side dish, or are you doing a THK diet with add-ins of RMBs?
I/we will be glad to lay out both, since you will probably end up eventually with a diet of mainly-home-prepared-raw with some THK as a side dish, but which is happening right now?
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#376674 - 04/19/2013 07:06 AM |
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Right now is about half and half. If you could lay out both that would be great. And yes I would like to end up with a home prepare diet with some THK on the side eventually. Right now I just wanna make sure the calcium ratio is correct. With a a bigger dog and bone/joint problems more common in the bigger dogs I want to make sure the diet is on the correct path for proper bone development. The more knowledge, the better.
One of the reasons I decided to get him used to the THK now also is one, the peace of mind knowing the balance part of it, but also we go campin and after talkin with the THK people this seems like the perfect source for that and traveling around and I want to make sure he does good with it before we actually go anywhere.
Thanks!
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Mychal Scott ]
#376682 - 04/19/2013 12:13 PM |
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It IS the perfect travel food. 
Yes, I'll lay it out in detail a bit later.
PS
Keeping the dog slender is another very important factor for joint issues.
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Re: Switch to raw and progression questions...
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#376684 - 04/19/2013 02:55 PM |
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Here is a thread that explains how to balance the homemade raw part if you exceed the add-in amounts THK recommends. (You are exceeding it, so you want to balance the homemade part.)
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=32656&page=1
The second post outlines the RMB and MM balance.
Please feel free to post any questions you like.
As you've seen, there are very knowledgeable raw feeders here. 
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