Something I have been meaning to do for ages and I mean ages as it might interest you and it does me because I do this for my puppies.
I have been raw feeding some of my Great Danes for a good few years now, have tried out a few suppliers along the way and trawled ALL the supermarkets at 7-8pm for the meats and fish on special.
Our dams are usually fed raw as a matter of course, but some don't like it and I don't beat myself up over it and feed them a very good kibble along with raw if they will eat it, mainly tripe thats a winner here for most of them.
This is ongoing as this litter is just on the ground as I have no other pics of puppies to show you actually eating raw. I do have a few but not many. In this litter we got 5 healthy puppies a nice small litter.
I do not remove as mummy likes to be in there helping on clean up duties and a slurp of milk if needed mostly for the early days of weaning. If she doesn't want to feed the pups that is fine also.
At 3 weeks as the teeth are usually in we begin the weaning process but sometimes mum has other ideas and will vomit her dinner up for them this gives an indication of when to start and yes this is normal for mum to do this.
3 weeks old and getting stuck in.
I do throw in wings for them to eat to start just to gauge how they do and if they show they are ready unless mum has other ideas.
Day 1, 21st August
Puppies are 3 weeks and are having chicken mince for lunch as they liked the chicken wings that mum was having which was a very good sign I have to say. If they don't show an interest I do so over the next few days we had one Dottie that wasn't too keen but she was getting mummy milk so I wasn't overly concerned as she just wasn't really ready for the weaning.
I allow about 15/20 minutes and then Wilma goes in for clean up and a drink of her milk to help them digest their first meal.
It went well I have to say as they left very little and mum was pleased to get the clean up duties.
Day 2, 22nd August
Once again the pups are having chicken mince for lunch which is met with gusto once again and its all gone in a few minutes. They where given a little extra as they seem to be looking for more and it was also gone in minutes
Day 3, 23rd August
I have upped the feeding to 2 meals a day now one mid morning and one late evening of chicken mince once again it was all gone in minutes
Mum is allowed in to nurse to allow them to digest their meals and of course clean up duties.
Day 4, 24th August
Early morning I hear caterwauling from the pen and the pups are trying to get out looking for food so I quickly put out some chicken mince for them all gone in seconds this time
Lunchtime more chicken mince
Early evening we try some tripe to the diet which is devoured very quickly.
Day 5, 25th August.
6am I was woken up by the pups looking for food I am sooooo glad my house is a stand alone one because I have no complaining neighbours unless you count the sheep and cows.
I gave them some chicken mince once again and it was devoured very quickly.
11am, I throw in some chicken wings to see how they go and the noises they where making was lovely to hear. This isnt a meal in itself as they are a bit young just yet for this and mum is sent in to eat what they leave which she enjoys. Most of the wings are gnawed though and they thoroughly enjoying the chewing.
3pm well more like 3.30pm I put down some tripe again for them this is eaten in seconds so I give a little more which again is eaten and mum is let in to give them a drink.
8pm another round of chicken mince is given and mum gets the clean up once again and in to give them a drink.
I have to say we have had only one day of poopy bums but I think this was more to do with worming which is done at 2.5 weeks then 5 weeks and 8 weeks.
Mum isn't in with them all the time now as she likes her breaks, but still like to give them drinks after meals I think its more because she gets clean up duties.
Day 6, 26th August.
5.30am The pups decided they would cause a racket all in the name of food and I do need my sleep so was not best pleased but the puppies need me for their food as this isn't the wild whereas mum gets it all in for them. At this hour I wish they did. So they got some chicken mince and I had to add to it as they ate it all
11am chicken mince again
4pm Tripe is added today once again and is devoured quicker than the chicken mince
7pm I throw in some chicken wings just to gnaw on and to show them they can chew which they do.
9pm chicken mince once again.
Day 7, 27th Aug
5.30am oooh dear really early again some chicken mince
10am another round of chicken mince
3pm I throw in some wings and legs to be gnawed. I go back after cuppa and some have been chewed down to the bone well done puppies. They should be able to gnaw and chew as they would in the wild. I put in some beef mince to see if they where still hungry and they ate that too.
8pm more of the chicken mince bet they are sick of it but still eat it haha
Day 8, 28th Aug
6am woohoo an extra half an hour in bed. I know I know it isnt much but when you are sleep deprived it's a lot. Ask any mother and she'll tell you.
We are having a chicken mince day today with a little tripe and chicken legs with bone on them
So we do
6am chicken mince about 2lbs worth all gone in seconds.
11am as they where whinging and I throw in some chicken legs on the bone why is it when 5 are put in they all want the same one much growling and humphing from all but they got it eventually that there was enough for all.
Sorry this is about poo they dont go as much this litter and it's fairly compact as in nice and firm unless I go overboard with the tripe.
3pm chicken mince
8pm I have made them wait a bit longer for supper but its gone in seconds as it was sardines in tomato sauce not ideal but better than some of the tinned fish.
Day 9 29th Aug
We are trying to source rabbit and it looks like someone on FB has some so I shall be at a show and will collect them then should be fun to see how they cope with these.
Now we are having
6am chicken mince
12 noon Tripe
4pm Beef Mince
7pm some bones
9.30pm Fish is given some cod and tuna and no it wasn't canned this time.
I dont do exact times for feeding as you can see. More fed on demand is what I am finding with the pups.
Day 10 30th Aug
5.30am another early day for me and they start of with wings and quickly eat them bone and all I kid you not.
11am Tripe and an egg it was mixed in with the shell all crushed up devoured in seconds
3pm Chicken mince
8pm well ish Chicken backs and wings to gnaw on but they are eaten all up.
Day 11 31st Aug
5.15am this morning my thats early but I got on feeding the puppies with some chicken mince we are on 2lb per meal the now for 5. I also throw in wings again.
10am They have some steak as it was leftover in the fridge so I thought why not. It was raw folks not cooked but had been in the fridge for 3 days.
3pm some tripe is given and this is upped as they ate it within seconds so they got on average 2.5lbs between them.
7.30pm Carcasses thrown in today plus some beef mince for afters all eaten none left. I think it'll be another early rise tomorrow
Day 12 1st Sept
I was right over the early rise it was 5am
So I give in some turkey on the bone got it on special so I bought some in
As we are at a show today our daughter is feeding everyone
So at noon a bit later than normal she gives in a mixture of beef mince, tripe and chicken mince.
Then again at 4pm the same mixture.
I am home at 6 and I give in some carcasses to chew on and some cuddles too which is sweet.
9pm I give in some beef mince
Day 13 2nd Sept
6am rise today and I give in some chicken legs
11am Beef mince
4pm Tripe and egg with shell
9pm They got their first taste of rabbit. I didn't mince it though just cubed it up as it was whole rabbit with fur on. I even bought a new meat cleaver for the job of chopping it up. It was gone in seconds so I gave some chicken mince too.
I feel that the feeding raw is coming along nicely and they haven't turned their noses up at anything but tried it first. Dottie wasn't keen on the weaning to begin with so she delayed herself for a few days but she was still getting mummy milk so I wasn't overly concerned. I found her paw deep in the beef mince one day and she hasn't looked back.
Day 14 3rd Sept
6am rise woohoo. Chicken mince is given for breakfast.
11am Fish is on the menu some cod and is gobbled up big time with a little liver thrown in too.
3.30pm I throw in some carcasses for them and they are left to munch on them for a bit.
I go back and they have nearly been demolished which is good.
9.30pm chicken mince to finish of for the day. They are given in more to see if they'll eat if not it'll be another early rise in the morning.
Day 15 4th Sept
6am I start with some chicken mince but mix in some tripe too with a liver to see how they cope with it.
12.30pm rabbit again but this time its whole but it isn't their main meal because I know they wont eat it all. It was only to see if they'd eat it for me and did they get tucked in and gave it a go. chicken mince is given in too
5pm Lamb minced is brought into them for tea and is gobbled up fairly quickly.
I might have to increase what I am feeding to 4lbs per meal for 5 pups.
9.45pm well nearly 10 to be honest and chicken mince is given in and I feed 4lbs of it to them and they eat it all.
Day 16 5th Sept
6.30am oh my it was bliss having that extra 30 minutes I can tell you. Chicken mince for breakfast.
Mum is still there for the odd slurp too I have to say but she doesn't feed for long and she is there 3 maybe 4 times a day. I have left her to do this as she wishes to continue to feed them. I have had dams feed right up to the pups leaving and one a late on feeder as the pup was an only. There is no right or wrong way just what feels right to you. This is for me and my dams and all are different.
12noon salmon is given and I have to open another bag good job I brought out extra from the freezer for a just in case.
4pm chicken legs are given and they make quick work of them I can tell you. 1lb weight is in one of these as I weighed them beforehand.
9.30pm, Tripe for supper tonight.
Day 17 6th Sept
4am woken up with pups looking for something to eat eeeeekkkk I am tired so make up some chicken mince for them and go back to bed. Mum goes in and gives them a drink too as she usually does at 6am for them.
7am more chicken mince
12 noon Lamb and kidney for a change
4pm Tripe
9.45pm Chicken mince plus some tripe mixed in.
Day 18 7th Sept
4am again looking for food what the hell puppies so I let mum in first and the little sods go back to sleep mmmmm
7am Chicken mince is given about 4lbs again
11am they are given in chicken wings and demolish them fairly quickly and eat about 3 each.
4pm Beef
10pm Yup I held off and went to see if mum would let them have a slurp no joy so I gave tripe for supper to see if that would fill the little bellies. She has fed them at 5pm and was having none of it.
Day 19 8th Sept
6am woohoo and extra few hours in bed and chicken mince is on the menu once again
12noon carcasses are thrown in the pen and are eaten. I love the crunching they make when eating them.
4.30pm Lamb
9.45pm Tripe is given in as I have been told its better as a last meal as it's filling we shall see wont we.
Day 19 9th Sept
5.30am oh well better than the 4am call in I go with the chicken mince and some beef heart chopped up.
11am chicken legs today some ended up with 2 of them. Really pleased with the eating I have to say.
5pm Beef minced and I had to give in 3.5lbs worth today
9.30pm I know its earlier but they wanted supper so I go in with the tripe again with some beef from earlier mixed in.
Day 20 10th Sept
6am oh bliss, chicken wings this morning, they ate about 3 again each.
11.30am they are looking for mum and have a quick slurp and I bring in lamb for them it is devoured.
Wilma is allowed to feed when and if she wants as she still has milk there. She is going in less I have noticed but I will leave her till the pups go at 8 weeks. She has done really well for a first litter I have to say even with a bout of mastitis. We allow her to feed of the sore boob as well as it disperses the infection quicker we find. Smaller litters can cause this because not all boobs are being used you see. Big litters the pups are supplemented usually or rotated as the smaller pups get milk first.
4.30pm in I go with some chicken mince
9.30pm again with the tripe which seems to be working as filling them up better why I have no clues.
Day 21 11th Sept
6am I am seeing a pattern here but that could change of course. Chicken Mince but some chicken legs too
11am whole fish for a change as I sourced some and boy did they devour it all I was really surprised and pleased I have to say
4.30pm Beef for tea
9.30pm Tripe once again
Day 22 12th Sept
6am Chicken legs are given and I settle down with a cuppa again supervising
12.30pm Lamb and whole egg with shells all crushed up
5pm Carcasses
9.30pm Tripe.
Day 23 13th Sept
6am chicken wings and legs for breakfast
12 noon Lamb, kidney and heart mince
5pm whole rabbit is given in
This on the themes of what mama would do,
kill and let the pups feed plus herself altogether
There is the usual growling and snapping again very normal. Once bigger they would get one of these to themselves and a light supper. If territorial in any way separate them for safety reasons.
They do love their rabbit, 6 weeks old here getting tucked in.
Sprats where a hit also
Salmon
Chicken wings
Salmon in its natural state
Lamb
9.30pm Tripe for supper
Puppies are completely weaned now and are loving all the lovely meats I give in, nothing has been refused at all. Dottie was a wee bit late but I wasn't overly concerned as she was getting mummy milk and a few days in she decided she was having a go and never looked back. We have had two episodes of exploding bottoms but I think that was more to do with worming than the feeding but I shall never know.
Also I have had to remove mama from the puppies as she was reverting back to feeding 4/6 times a day and she could hinder the weaning process. It was meant to be maybe 3 times a day for them but she upped it.
I have discovered that she was feeding more because they where on a growth spurt so the meats where upped and she reverted back to twice daily and down to once and now she doesnt feed at all unless she wants to. She regulated herself on how much they got and I am now taking my cues from my dam and observing and learning too.
Might of done this for awhile but I still can learn from it.
She didn't mind going back in with her man though for the day and we have brought her in again at night but she refused to nurse so we left her to her own devices she might nurse in the morning but if she doesn't that is fine too.
Most novices get frightened by choking mine wasn't that but the vomiting as in them being greedy with their food. None of the pups have done this, this time but past ones have and I know this is gross you allow them to eat what they have vomited. Well, they would do this in the wild after all or have one of the others nicking it if they didn't.
An answer to a question: Why late feeding it means they poo first thing in the morning less chance of accidents, but remember to be up at 6/7am to let them out for that first toilet of the day. Also remember they might mess during the night as most pups under 4 months cant go all night. In fact most dogs are not completely potty trained till a year so dont worry if they have an accident in the house just ignore the pup and clean up no fuss.
When a wee bit older I will introduce in kidneys, liver, heart and lung in small amounts I learnt my lesson with that one a while back. This is started of as a tablespoons worth built up over a month to get the ratio correct. Liver is a good source but do not panic if your dog doesn't eat it just mix in with other foods in small amounts in the beginning till they do get used to it. Remember the golden rule 10% of offal, some do say liver is 5% of that but if fed over the month your ratios should work out fine.
At 4/5 weeks depending on weight I introduce Bugs Away/Billy No Mates for fleas, mites and ticks this is a natural remedy that a lot of people use instead of the chemicals. Once a year I will use frontline or Advocate but only in high season.
Also if squeamish in any way there is places that mince everything or worried over bones minced again or if like one of my adoptees that is a vegetarian she overcame her revulsion to feed raw to her dogs as she has a Dane one of mine and a JRT.
To recap on what I have fed the pups so far.
Chicken mince
Chicken backs
Chicken carcasses
Chicken legs
Chicken wings
Turkey legs
Turkey wings.
Beef mince or chunks
Lamb mince or chunks
Steak mince or chunks
Cod
Salmon
Tuna not tinned
Sardines in tomato sauce tinned.
Sprats when in season. minced
liver minced or chopped
heart depending on size whole or chopped
kidneys chopped
trachea in their natural state but chopped
Tripe green only and yes it does stink and if you cant stand the smell nappy pails with lids here work but if for an only a small tub with lid will do to. I like the fact that tripe has a ratio of 1;1 nearly for calcium and phosphorus. So you know that the dogs are getting their quota of calcium as dogs do need this as well. 1; 6 for muscle meats which is till ok but more would have to be fed and you cant just give muscle meats they do need a variety in their diets.
Rabbit as nature intended. Cut into 4 - 6 for a pup depending on size. Freeze the rest.
(Remember if gutting yourselves remove the stomach as it has parasites in and can swell when freezing)
In the beginning a little kidney, heart and liver can be added to the diet. Now to add more in but please go steady with this and do so in small amounts mixed in with other meats as it can make for exploding bottoms I kid you not. Been there and it's not nice. If you wish you can do the liver daily or once a week your choice of course.
Increase weekly and remember its only 10% of offal of the body weight not over or under this. In the beginning do a teaspoon daily and increase to the desired amounts. 5% is liver by the way and is a very small amount overall in the diet so don't worry if you think ooh thats a lot isn't it.
You maybe wondering why liver is good for your dog well Iron for one as it absorbs into the blood stream. Its contains an anti-fatigue factor and helps when training and showing your dog more liver means more oxygen carrying capacity to the blood cells, increasing endurance.
It can help your dog in later years with dementia and keep it away for longer. If you must cook it please only flash fry it or like me mince it into other meats if they don't like the texture or taste. If fed from puppies they wont mind it but might get a wee bit fussy just mince and add.
Kidney and heart in the diet helps with natural vitamins that they need and not from supplements as I dont as a rule. Also for healthy joints.
If going the veg route please make sure you don't add ones that are toxic for your dog. Some do this to bulk out meals and only use about 10% of the overall diet if you wish and feed daily. Just watch the back end as this is your guide on how things are progressing.
Now once baby is home and you are looking at his raw diet throughly remember at 12 weeks reduce from 4 meals to 3 and at 6-9 months to 2. Remember to increase the amounts of course.
If introducing a new meat do the 3 day rule as all pups have been weaned onto raw so should be fine but if new to this and reading away do it once a week for new meats and Chicken or turkey are the best to start with easy to digest and good for them.
Hope you have enjoyed now.
This was inspired by Anne Ridyard and Sheena Booth both breeders, exhibitors and raw feeders before it was called BARF.
Written for my new owners to show you all it can be easy to do.
I can do weekly menus for all if needed. Ratios and amounts too.
Sources for me are
The more I find I shall put here for you all.
Thanks for your patience.
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