Raw dog food for a puppy?

[Damon]

On TV an a lot of people say raw dog food is good for dogs. Would this be the same for a Rottweiler puppy as Rottweilers suffer from bad hips when they get older? Or do I use Science Plan food which costs an estimate of £60.00

[Lorraine]

RAW FOOD diet all the way for rottweilers.

You must be UK if watching that and using £'s sign. We have a very good facebook group especially for raw fed rottweilers.

I raw feed mine and wouldn't do anything else, and I certainly wouldn't give Science Diet at all. Totally believe that the only reason it is on vets shelves is because that company fund the half a day training vets get on nutrition.

[Monny Love]

Raw dog food diets are controversial. But the popularity of the diets -- which emphasize raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables -- is rising.

Racing greyhounds and sled dogs have long eaten raw food diets so they'd be fine. Potential benefits of the raw dog food diet that supporters tout include:

+ Shinier coats
+ Healthier skin
+ Cleaner teeth
+ Higher energy levels
Smaller stools

Potential risks include:

- Threats to human and dog health from bacteria in raw meat.
- An unbalanced diet that may damage the health of dogs if given for an extended period.
-Potential for whole bones to choke an animal, break teeth or cause an internal puncture.
A raw dog food diet typically consists of:

Muscle meat, often still on the bone
Bones, either whole or ground
Organ meats such as livers and kidneys
Raw eggs
Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and celery
Apples or other fruit
Some dairy, such as yogurt

“For most animals, it’s more beneficial than processed foods,” says Doug Knueven, DVM, of the Beaver Animal Clinic in Beaver, Pa.

[K9]

science diet is overpriced junk. go with raw.

[Justin Patient]

First I would at least get some BASIC education about pros and cons of a raw food diet. Simply search online for "Raw food diet for dogs"

In the US anyway we have several high quality pre-made raw foods for dogs which include primarily Meat, Organ Meat, and bone and then are supplemented with small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and supplements. Pre-made raw food is far and away the most expensive way to feed a dog. (That's one of the cons) A brand like Natures variety or Bravo (Which are high quality "Budget" foods) It's going to be well over $100/month to feed a 50lb dog. I know your puppy isn't 50 lbs but at the same time your adult Rott will likely weight well over that.

The highest quality raw foods are Primal and Stella and Chewys and it will cost you well over $300/month to feed your adult rottweiler those brands.

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com has reviews of both dry and raw dog foods.

It is much cheaper to make raw food at home but as you have no education on that you need so refrain from doing that for now. The good news for you is that there are MULTIPLE websites and books that can educate you on the topic. Just do a search online and read through a few places.
When I first researched feeding my dog(s) a raw diet I read through several sites and even read several resources on the cons of a raw diet. I will personally never EVER feed a dog kibble again but I have no problems with others doing it and there are definitely several high quality dry dog foods.

IMO (And what I've found through my research) is that when meat is properly handled, the dog is acclimated to raw food, and is served as suggested there is virtually NO threat of sickness for your dog. Yes dogs have gotten salmonella poisoning but once a dogs stomach is fully acclimated to raw meat, the stomach will destroy any harmful bacteria that enters it. The risk for salmonella is far greater for you or your family if you aren't cleaning preparation utensils and surfaces just like if you were to prepare chicken for yourself for dinner. Dogs GI tract and stomach aren't like ours. They've evolved to eat raw meat for centuries and they're fully capable of doing so with no negative health ramifications.

ADD: I should note that if you're going to feed your dog a pre-made raw diet you have to understand that while the food contains the bone it is ground down into such fine pieces that it does virtually nothing for the dogs teeth. While your dogs teeth will be strong and healthy they will devlop plaque/tartar rather quickly if they aren't brushed or if the dog isn't allowed whole raw bones to chew on to maintain his own teeth.

[Hand_of_Chaos]

A well researched and well balanced raw diet is among the best thing to feed a dog. A dog. like a cat, is a carnivore. They NEED meat.

Don't bother with that pre made trash from the stores. Its not even raw. Its all cooked, full of preserves, artificial ingredants and anything by Purina contains dead dogs and cats from rendering plants

[GoldfishPond]

A well prepared raw food diet developed with the help of a veterinary nutritionist can be very healthy. Be careful though, because an improperly prepared raw diet can have devistating consequences.

I started my mastiff puppy out on raw. I had a pet food background and was well versed in the commercially available raw products. What I didn't know is how important it is to limit the amount of calcium in a large breed puppy's diet. The bones in my puppy's legs began to grow curved and he developed a limp. The cause was the raw food diet. It has been proven that more than 3% or less than 0.6% calcium causes bone deformities in large breed puppies.

I switched to a high quality large breed puppy food and the problem resolved. By the time he was a year you would never know he once had a problem.

Science Plan is better than the U.S. version (Science Diet), so start with that until you can talk to a professional about the best choice for your dog.