Hello all, I've tried searching for this but have come up empty. I posted this in the puppy feeding forum too...sorry for the re-post, I just need a solution quick.

I feed my 6 mo. old GSD Orijen Large Breed Puppy. I have been out of town at my parents' place and he's here with me. The trip was supposed to be a few days so I only brought a limited amount of food, but we ended up staying longer and now I'm out of food, and no one around here sells it.

So my question is - what is a good substitute for the next 2 days? I don't mind going to the grocery and getting some raw meats/parts and feeding him that, I just don't have any experience in that and have no idea what to get or how much.

If possible, I could really use a specific breakdown of what to get and in what quantities to feed him for 2 days...the easier the better! I'm inclined to just pick up a couple lean steaks and call it a day, but I thought I'd check here first...

Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't give steaks to a puppy who has never had meat. No bone, too much fat....diarrhea is more likely than w/something w/bone.

I would get some kind of poultry. Try chicken leg quarters. Remove the skin at first to make sure it won't be too rich, but I bet after Orijen, he'd be fine. If it's only 2 days, balance isn't such a big deal. Go for the leg quarters or backs if you can find them. Drumsticks if you can't find either of those. Watch him while he eats them to see how he does w/the bones.

How much does he weigh?

If I did not plan on a switch to raw (which I recommend), I'd probably just pick up two days' worth of frozen pre-made raw.

Steaks are not a balanced food and might just trigger a MM bout of diarrhea.

 Quote: armin ghazi

If possible, I could really use a specific breakdown of what to get and in what quantities to feed him for 2 days...the easier the better! I'm inclined to just pick up a couple lean steaks and call it a day, but I thought I'd check here first...

I've done the pinch hitter steaks before (along with last minute meats of all kinds, including cooked), and while it's not ideal, it certainly won't hurt the dog if it's only for 2 days . Your pup isn't used to raw, so I can't say how his tummy will react going "cold turkey" like that (many do just fine, FWIW ), however, I personally would do something raw or homemade before I would try switching to a different kibble, just to switch BACK to his regular kibble in a few days... that could likely be much more distressing to his system.

If you want to dive into raw, you could get some steak or stew meat and maybe mix in a raw egg (with shell) and I've also added a few TBsp of a pure (no sugar, no salt, etc.) pureed baby food, like plain green beans or pumpkin. Conversely, you could try a few chicken leg quarters, then he'll get some calcium from the bones along with the nutrients in the meat (the bone/meat ratio is critical to a good raw diet). Take the skin off first though.

If you're not ready to take the plunge into raw, or you think it might give the pup digestive issues, lightly cooked muscle meat (NO BONES) might be easier on his stomach than full on raw. A few spoonfuls of plain (not vanilla - PLAIN), active culture yogurt will also help settle his belly and can be added to whatever ingredients you choose to feed. Whatever you choose, make the meals small and don't stress about it - it's only a couple of days. If your dog were on his own he'd probably get by just fine scavenging out of garbage cans!

~Natalya

*Jenni and Connie just made good points - plain steak alone probably isn't the best for a pup this young... I defer to their better judgement.

Thanks for the quick replies. He is around 70 lbs. I'm going to swing by the grocery and pick up some chicken parts and give him roughly the same amount as I would with the dry food.

No no. That is not how it works.

He needs approximately 1.5 pounds (for the day, not one meal).

Also, I would remove the fat and skin for a beginner dog and I would also rather give the front end quarters for a dog whose system is not geared up to dissolve weight-bearing bones yet.