How vaccinations work
As you can see, just like raw feeding, kibble probably has its risks, especially for certain types of dog. Without properly controlled studies it is not really possible to determine which is the safer long-term option for our dogs. Studies on dog food are normally sponsored by dog-food manufacturers and it is not in their interests to pay for studies that might reduce the sales of their products. So we are likely to remain in ignorance for the time being.
Bearing in mind that good evidence in support of there being a right and a wrong way to feed your dog is sadly lacking, you’ll need to make your choice based on your personal circumstances and concerns.
Reasons to feed kibble
Feeding kibble is very convenient. You simply open a packet and pour it out. Kibble is also perfectly balanced with all the nutrients that your dog requires. Feeding a rapidly growing and developing puppy is not the same as feeding an adult dog. Getting the nutrient balance right is particularly important for puppies because their diet must accommodate their growth and development.
Although I feed my own dogs on an entirely raw diet, including puppies, I do counsel some caution before encouraging others to do the same.
The following are, I believe, good reasons to consider feeding kibble:
You are bringing home a kibble-raised puppy.
You have no previous experience of raw feeding.
You have children under ten years old.
You do not have a reliable source of cheap meaty bones.
You do not have adequate space to dedicate to meat preparation.
You do not have a large freezer.
You dislike handling raw meat.
You are very worried about the potential risks of raw feeding.
You intend to travel a great deal with your dog.
Let’s have a look at some of these in a bit more detail.
Tummy troubles Puppies are prone to stomach upsets. These upsets can be triggered by a change in environment, and especially by a change in diet. If your breeder has raised your puppy on kibble for the last few weeks, think very hard before tampering with the status quo. House-training presents sufficient challenges on its own, without adding to them.
Previous experience If this is your first puppy, you will be on quite a steep learning curve.
Do you really want to take on a whole new project?
Young children You also need to consider that raw-fed dogs make a mess. They hold down their food with their paws, and pull and tear at it with their mouths. Raw meat and meat juices get caught in the fur on their legs, faces and (in some breeds) ears. Children are very unreliable at washing their hands. Your four-year-old will also at some point let your puppy lick her face, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. I personally feel that a dog covered in raw chicken juice is not an ideal playmate for a child.
Resources Raw feeding takes up a lot of space. Unless you want to visit a butcher on a daily basis you will need to have the food delivered in bulk, and that means frozen. You will need plenty of freezer space to store the food, and fridge space to defrost it. You will also need to be knowledgeable about handling and preparing raw meat safely, and be comfortable with doing so.
It is worth bearing in mind that we use food extensively in training puppies and in helping them to make good associations with different aspects of their lives. This is simpler to do if you can easily divide up their meals and use them as rewards. The kibble-fed puppy’s food can all be used in this way to help him settle into his new life. This can also be done with raw food, but it is a messy business!
Reasons to feed raw
Feeding raw is not as straightforward as feeding kibble, but provides dogs with a great deal of pleasure. Improvements in dental health and the resolution of anal-gland problems in dogs switched from kibble to a raw diet are widely reported. A raw diet may confer other health benefits but we have no firm evidence for those at the moment. Some of the claims made for raw food, shiny coats for example, are also reported by dog owners feeding good-quality kibbles. There are, however, some other factors that might make feeding your puppy on a raw diet a good choice for your family.
Your puppy has been raised from birth on raw food.
You have other raw-fed dogs.
You have access to large quantities of meaty bones.
You have a large, deep-chested breed of dog, or your puppy has a close relative that has suffered from bloat.
Your choice will really depend on how you feel about these very different ways of feeding, and on your own family situation and lifestyle.
Other options
Kibble or raw are not the only options. You can still purchase traditional wet dog foods in cans or trays, and many owners prepare their dog’s food themselves by mixing some raw meat in with home-cooked food and perhaps some kibble. None of these methods is right or wrong, although you may find it difficult to get appropriate advice and support if you feed your dog in an unusual way or on a changing diet. If you are preparing home-made food for your dog, or feeding household scraps, it is very important to bear in mind that dogs are primarily carnivores and need a substantial proportion of their food in the form of protein and fat, rather than as carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice or pasta. It is also important to be aware that a number of human foods are toxic to dogs if fed in sufficient quantities. These include common items, such as grapes, raisins and onions. Xylitol, a sweetener found in chewing gum, is particularly dangerous.
You will meet people who tell you their dog eats chocolate without ill effects but chocolate can and does kill dogs, as every vet will confirm. Easter and Christmas are particular high-risk periods for accidental poisoning. Dogs do not need cakes, pastries and confectionery, and feeding them to your puppy may wreck his teeth and possibly his health, so don’t be tempted to indulge him.
Puppies don’t need milk
One common mistake that new puppy owners make is in providing their puppies with milk. Eight-week-old puppies are completely weaned and don’t need milk in any shape or form.
You can buy substitute bitch’s milk from large pet shops, and some older breeders still raise puppies on two milk feeds and two meat feeds a day, but we now know that this is neither necessary nor beneficial. Cow’s milk is particularly inappropriate and may cause diarrhoea. All your puppy needs to eat is either a balanced diet of raw meats and bone, or a complete commercial puppy kibble.
Making your choice
The whole raw-feeding controversy has some similarities with the human breast-feeding debate. Raw feeders can be quite evangelical in their claims about the benefits of raw feeding. People who decide not to feed raw can be left feeling quite inadequate and wondering if their dog will die of some horrible disease in the future as a result.
You need to make the choice based on what feels right for your family, but personally I feel that many new puppy owners will be happier and more confident feeding their puppies on a good-quality kibble. Kibble-fed puppies will benefit from regular tooth brushing, and studies have shown that your efforts in this respect will help to protect your dog from gum disease.
Bearing in mind that good evidence in support of there being a right and a wrong way to feed your dog is sadly lacking, you’ll need to make your choice based on your personal circumstances and concerns.
Reasons to feed kibble
Feeding kibble is very convenient. You simply open a packet and pour it out. Kibble is also perfectly balanced with all the nutrients that your dog requires. Feeding a rapidly growing and developing puppy is not the same as feeding an adult dog. Getting the nutrient balance right is particularly important for puppies because their diet must accommodate their growth and development.
Although I feed my own dogs on an entirely raw diet, including puppies, I do counsel some caution before encouraging others to do the same.
The following are, I believe, good reasons to consider feeding kibble:
You are bringing home a kibble-raised puppy.
You have no previous experience of raw feeding.
You have children under ten years old.
You do not have a reliable source of cheap meaty bones.
You do not have adequate space to dedicate to meat preparation.
You do not have a large freezer.
You dislike handling raw meat.
You are very worried about the potential risks of raw feeding.
You intend to travel a great deal with your dog.
Let’s have a look at some of these in a bit more detail.
Tummy troubles Puppies are prone to stomach upsets. These upsets can be triggered by a change in environment, and especially by a change in diet. If your breeder has raised your puppy on kibble for the last few weeks, think very hard before tampering with the status quo. House-training presents sufficient challenges on its own, without adding to them.
Previous experience If this is your first puppy, you will be on quite a steep learning curve.
Do you really want to take on a whole new project?
Young children You also need to consider that raw-fed dogs make a mess. They hold down their food with their paws, and pull and tear at it with their mouths. Raw meat and meat juices get caught in the fur on their legs, faces and (in some breeds) ears. Children are very unreliable at washing their hands. Your four-year-old will also at some point let your puppy lick her face, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. I personally feel that a dog covered in raw chicken juice is not an ideal playmate for a child.
Resources Raw feeding takes up a lot of space. Unless you want to visit a butcher on a daily basis you will need to have the food delivered in bulk, and that means frozen. You will need plenty of freezer space to store the food, and fridge space to defrost it. You will also need to be knowledgeable about handling and preparing raw meat safely, and be comfortable with doing so.
It is worth bearing in mind that we use food extensively in training puppies and in helping them to make good associations with different aspects of their lives. This is simpler to do if you can easily divide up their meals and use them as rewards. The kibble-fed puppy’s food can all be used in this way to help him settle into his new life. This can also be done with raw food, but it is a messy business!
Reasons to feed raw
Feeding raw is not as straightforward as feeding kibble, but provides dogs with a great deal of pleasure. Improvements in dental health and the resolution of anal-gland problems in dogs switched from kibble to a raw diet are widely reported. A raw diet may confer other health benefits but we have no firm evidence for those at the moment. Some of the claims made for raw food, shiny coats for example, are also reported by dog owners feeding good-quality kibbles. There are, however, some other factors that might make feeding your puppy on a raw diet a good choice for your family.
Your puppy has been raised from birth on raw food.
You have other raw-fed dogs.
You have access to large quantities of meaty bones.
You have a large, deep-chested breed of dog, or your puppy has a close relative that has suffered from bloat.
Other options
Kibble or raw are not the only options. You can still purchase traditional wet dog foods in cans or trays, and many owners prepare their dog’s food themselves by mixing some raw meat in with home-cooked food and perhaps some kibble. None of these methods is right or wrong, although you may find it difficult to get appropriate advice and support if you feed your dog in an unusual way or on a changing diet. If you are preparing home-made food for your dog, or feeding household scraps, it is very important to bear in mind that dogs are primarily carnivores and need a substantial proportion of their food in the form of protein and fat, rather than as carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice or pasta. It is also important to be aware that a number of human foods are toxic to dogs if fed in sufficient quantities. These include common items, such as grapes, raisins and onions. Xylitol, a sweetener found in chewing gum, is particularly dangerous.
You will meet people who tell you their dog eats chocolate without ill effects but chocolate can and does kill dogs, as every vet will confirm. Easter and Christmas are particular high-risk periods for accidental poisoning. Dogs do not need cakes, pastries and confectionery, and feeding them to your puppy may wreck his teeth and possibly his health, so don’t be tempted to indulge him.
Puppies don’t need milk
One common mistake that new puppy owners make is in providing their puppies with milk. Eight-week-old puppies are completely weaned and don’t need milk in any shape or form.
You can buy substitute bitch’s milk from large pet shops, and some older breeders still raise puppies on two milk feeds and two meat feeds a day, but we now know that this is neither necessary nor beneficial. Cow’s milk is particularly inappropriate and may cause diarrhoea. All your puppy needs to eat is either a balanced diet of raw meats and bone, or a complete commercial puppy kibble.
Making your choice
The whole raw-feeding controversy has some similarities with the human breast-feeding debate. Raw feeders can be quite evangelical in their claims about the benefits of raw feeding. People who decide not to feed raw can be left feeling quite inadequate and wondering if their dog will die of some horrible disease in the future as a result.
You need to make the choice based on what feels right for your family, but personally I feel that many new puppy owners will be happier and more confident feeding their puppies on a good-quality kibble. Kibble-fed puppies will benefit from regular tooth brushing, and studies have shown that your efforts in this respect will help to protect your dog from gum disease.
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