Feeding New Pup

[~JessyBee~]

Hi everyone,

I am sure this has been done a million times before, but I can't seem to find information on my specific situation - so I hope you don't mind me asking.

I have an 11 week old Golden Retriever pup, so far, I have been sticking with basically what the breeder told me to feed. He came with a diet sheet that to my surprise said - no bones now I was quite concerned by this, he had had beef mince when I picked him up, but not much other "good stuff".

I have since been slowly changing his diet, he had a nice big bone yesterday - which he loved! He had also had chicken mince, necks and frames (supervised) But last night and today he simply will not eat his usual food. (advance puppy growth kibble and Advance puppy cans)

I don't really mind if he doesn't want to eat this stuff, other than I want to put a bit of weight on him. I am sooooooooooo confused with all the BARF / RAW diets out there, I don't know what he needs.

I really want him to have the best nutrition I can provide, I want him to grow up big and strong. I have experienced H/D and other problems in other dogs, that may not have been prevented, but could have been helped with "better" nutrition - basically my question is how do I feed him correctly? (I know there is a lot of opinions on this) But I want to make sure he is getting everything he needs to be healthy and happy.

Also he is a show prospect, so I want him to look healthy and shiny on the outside too

So how do I know that he is getting all the vitamins/minerals and everything else he needs as a growing pup?

currently we feed him (and two small adult dogs)

Small ammount of dry (well - quite a lot for him - and he has it soaked) with either

chicken or beef mince and

raw pulped vegies or

RMB, Chicken frames, necks

and sometimes some canned food mixed in with the dry.

Please help me!

Thanks guys

[Toohey]

Sounds like he has decided he prefers the RMB's to the dry stuff. Have you got, or can get a copy of "grow your pup with bones" by Billinghurst? I think they sell them on the greenpet website, if not try google.

Try mixing some pureed cooked veg into his chicken mince, add a little egg, maybe a little natural yoghurt, sardines tinned in oil are great (mix thru the dry food as well) and very tasty for them, and if you can get some Polyvite, or even just a kid's mulitivitamin, give one a day to cover your bases.

Doesn't hurt to introduce new foods at an early age either, such as raw pieces of fruit and veg for them to chew on as well. Good for their teeth and a good fallback for later in life if you need to get the fat off!

I wouldn't worry with the tinned dog food either.

Edited September 2, 2007 by Toohey

[~JessyBee~]

Thanks Toohey, I will do just that.

I tried again with his usual food tonight and he wouldn't touch it! I ended up just giving him mince with some vegies and a bit of tuna - and he loved it!

I have been trying to track down that book for a while, I will try greenpet and I might try ebay or somewhere else online too.

Polyvite sounds good Ill look into that. i would rather have something like that in his diet than risk him missing out on something important.

He has had natural yoghurt too which he loved - oh and eggs

Thanks so much for your suggestions - and for laying my mind at rest!

I think you are right and he has made the decision for me!

[Poodle wrangler]

He's decided he likes the raw stuff better than the processed . Don't blame him.

Our standard poodle pup tried it on me, looking pathetic every time I opened the fridge. It's tempting to give in, but after a few days he got the idea (it's only 50:50 raw-dry) and ate the dry at the end of the day. I kept giving it back to him later in the day.

My dogs eat both raw and dry food and dry food= food of last resort.

Goldies normally have a good appetite, and if he's otherwise healthy, no way he'll starve himself. I wouldn't worry about him eating enough food.

[~JessyBee~]

Thanks Poodle wrangler,

He has definetley decided that he wants meat! LOL I don't blame him either.

Ill work on sneaking some dry in there too, but am not too concerned that he doesn't like it!

Thanks for the replies guys

[Cavandra]

You say you soak his dry food, does this mean you are feeding him Advance Rehydrateable? That is the only one I can think of that is designed to soak. If this be the case it is only suitable for small breeds.......If you feel you need to feed dry food I would make sure it is one suitable for large breeds, and good quality. He would probably prefer it not soaked anyway

[~JessyBee~]

He is on Advance puppy growth, which I soak in hot water, it absorbs the water well and when it is cool I add the rest of his meal.

The last few days I have been soaking about half of his dry food and leaving the other half 'dry' to ajust him to having it that way. (the breeder always fed them soaked food - so I am changing him slowly..) plus I find the Advance growth is quite large.

I would love to eventually wean him off dry food all together, but I want to be more sure that I know what I am doing, nutrition wise, first

Thanks for the replies :rolleyes:

You say you soak his dry food, does this mean you are feeding him Advance Rehydrateable? That is the only one I can think of that is designed to soak. If this be the case it is only suitable for small breeds.......If you feel you need to feed dry food I would make sure it is one suitable for large breeds, and good quality. He would probably prefer it not soaked anyway

[Staff'n'Toller]

Just make sure they are soft bones like chicken necks, wings and frames.

Be mindful of the big bones with marrow- marrow is very fatty and can cause upset tummies and pancreatitis.

I only ever feed soft bones and Billinghurst talks a bit about these- the non-weight bearing bones of the animal- are less dense and safer as far as tooth wear and tooth fractures. :rolleyes:

Mel.