So you’ve just brought home a new puppy and the big question is what to feed them.
One question we often hear and are always happy to answer:
Can I feed my puppy a raw food diet?
The answer for us at Healthy Pets Northwest has always been a simple “Yes.”
Afterall, pups from wolves and wild dogs all start out on a raw food diet. There is no such thing in the wild as “puppy” food, there is just raw food.
Recent research (cited below) is showing that there are actually real life-long benefits from feeding pregnant females and their puppies a raw food diet. Of course, over the years we have seen the evidence that raw foods where easier on the digestive system, kept teeth cleaner, improved the shine and luster of fur, reduced allergies and a whole lot more. (See our “Thoughts on Raw Diet” blog.) Research into raw feeding now indicates that puppies fed raw food actually have fewer allergies and sensitivities when they grow into adults – both from food and environmental allergens.
This may not seem like a lot, but it is really a huge issue for a growing number of dogs and their companions.
Dealing with my dog’s allergies
Addressing allergies can be an expensive and frustrating experience for an allergy-prone dog’s companion.
At Healthy Pets Northwest, we spend a great amount of time helping customers find solutions for dealing with their dog’s allergy issues. Allergies in dogs manifest in many ways such as:
• excessive itching
• chewing on paws
• chronic ear infections
• hot spots
• hair loss
• red spots and rashes
• flaky skin.
As issues related to food allergies and sensitivities in dogs has grown, so have food options from pet food manufacturers.
Lamb and rice recipes were one of the first “alternate protein” options. Then came fish-based formulas and duck and potato formulas. Now there are hundreds of formulas featuring limited ingredients, single proteins and novel proteins (like kangaroo).
There are also a growing number of veterinarian interventions to help deal with allergies. Steroid shots and prescription diets with hydrolyzed proteins are often used. (While these can provide relief, they also come with their own set of problems and side-effects).
Feeding to prevent allergies
One study we’ve seen (referenced below) demonstrated that puppies had a lower chance of allergies as an adult if their mothers ate raw, or the puppies ate raw from 1-2 months of age.
Likewise, puppies had a higher chance of adult allergies if the mothers primarily ate kibble, or the puppies exclusively ate kibble for its first 1-2 months of age.
Having a wide range of options is great for dogs with allergies, but avoiding allergies all together is is even better!
So, if you are wondering about feeding raw food to your pregnant female or that cute little puppy you just brought home, the answer is more than a simple “yes.” Feeding raw is an easy and effective way to start your puppy on the road to a happier, healthier and allergy-free life.
To help you get your puppy off to a great start, Healthy Pets Northwest has joined the Astro Share the Love Adoption program.
When you adopt a new puppy, or any dog or cat for that matter, you can register at one of our stores and get a free Adoption Bundle. The bundle for puppies includes a free package of frozen raw or freeze-dried raw food and freeze-dried raw treat options. It’s our gift to your puppy’s long, healthy, happy future.
1. Manal Hemida, Kristiina A. Vuori, Siru Salin, Robin Moore, Johanna Anturaniemi, Anna Hielm-Björkman. Identification of modifiable pre- and postnatal dietary and environmental exposures associated with owner-reported canine atopic dermatitis in Finland using a web-based questionnaire: Published: May 29, 2020; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225675.
Editors Note: See our special on Primal Freeze-Dried Raw. Its a quick and convenient way to add raw food into your puppy’s diet.