Do you have the feeling that your puppy is growing too quickly? In such a case, it can be worthwhile for the owner to take a closer look at the distribution of food for their young four-legged friend. After all, it is usually the case that a puppy grows too quickly when it has an excess of energy available. Many owners who think that their puppy is growing too quickly initially suspect a connection with raw meat feeding, because this has a noticeably high nutrient density. In fact, balanced feeding, tailored to needs, is of crucial importance in this phase of every dog's life. What exactly this can look like and whether BARF is possible for puppies without any concerns and from when, is explained in the BARF guide from haustierkost.de .
BARF for puppies – a good idea?
BARF is the most species-appropriate form of feeding, even for puppies. BARF provides puppies with everything they need for their growth and development. BARF meat therefore ensures that growing dogs receive an optimal supply of nutrients. If a puppy grows too quickly, this is usually due to too much food, as puppies still need to develop their sense of satiety and could snack all day long. In addition, the energy absorbed through food in puppies is largely used for the animal's growth. The result is often a puppy that is very large for its age but thin, which leads many dog owners to increase the food intake even more, which in turn leads to increased growth. Since the increase in body mass in young dogs is faster than the growth of joints and bones, these are still soft and therefore susceptible to injury due to the increased mechanical stress. In this context, when BARFing puppies, it is also important to consider the increased calcium requirement for strong bones.
BARF calculator for puppies
A BARF calculator for puppies is the ideal way to prevent this risk when BARFing puppies. It is important to adjust the amount of food regularly because the energy requirement also changes continuously due to constant growth. Puppies generally have a higher nutritional requirement than adult dogs. It is recommended that puppies receive up to six percent of their body weight in food in the first six months of life. At three-month intervals, the amount of food can be gradually reduced to five and then to four percent. The animal portion in the BARF calculator for puppies corresponds to that of an adult animal and can remain at around 70 percent.
BARFing puppies: When should I start feeding raw meat?
If you want to BARF your puppy and are wondering when raw meat feeding is possible, you can use the following principle as a guide: A puppy can be BARFed as soon as it can eat solid food. This is usually in the fifth week. A transition phase with dry or canned food is therefore not necessary. Start with lean, finely minced meat from raw beef or poultry for dogs . For all those who are getting into BARFing with their puppy, we recommend practical ready-made BARF mixes for puppies that are optimally adapted to the special needs of growing four-legged friends. In order to cover the increased calcium requirement, we also recommend our puppy supplement. This feed supplement is urgently required due to the high phosphorus content of the feed, especially when feeding grains, potatoes and rice. If the animal seems to be growing too quickly despite careful feed composition using the BARF calculator for puppies, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
