Best way to wean pup off raw food?

[Mumma2Ro]

I’ve read conflicting advice. One to slowly wean and one to go cold Turkey. advice appreciated
thanks. She is 8 weeks old x

I think you need to do it over a period of at least 10 days? Just to allow the gut bacteria to adjust, otherwise pup may get diarrhoea and tummy ache.

I’d leave it a week or two whilst she settles

then speak to the company of the food your change too

some foods you could swap straight away some you’ll need to phase

Carry on as you are for a few weeks as she’s got enough to deal with. We changed our pups food slowly once she’d been with us a few weeks. We had no problems.

Why are you weaning them off raw? Raw is a far far better diet than any kibble you can buy!

Maybe OP doesn't want a puppy slobbering bacteria all over her home and the people in it?

I'd transition over 3-4 days, to avoid an upset stomach.

I wouldn't change her food at all for a good week or two. She's going through enough changes at it is.

Good advice not to change anything yet.

Then don't have a dog🤷🏻‍♀️
You wouldn't feed a child McDonald's everyday or other junk food. Why do it to dogs?

If proper hygiene is followed then they won't leave harmful bacteria around!

It's not about hygiene, or about owning a dog.

There are plenty of healthy food options out there and OP has decided to not feed raw. Insinuating it's the only good option I'd inaccurate. Many vets don't advocate raw feeding.

Raw food has bacteria until cooked. So when the dogs lick people and chew on things around the house, they spread this around.
Young, old and unwell people are especially vulnerable to becoming unwell from this.
It's a well known risk of raw feeding, I'm not being a sensationalist.

Vets know naff all about proper nutrition for dogs! They spend about a day studying it in their entire courses! Oh and that training is usually funded by the big commercial kibble companies so not exactly unbiased information! Vets are also paid to promote crappy kibble too!

I am studying to become a dog nutritionist just now so you can't bullshit me!

It is completely sensationalist nonsense to suggest that feeding raw presents a massive risk to human health. It doesn't! So longs as the meat is handled following normal hygiene practices it is no more likely to cause anyone to become I'll than any other raw meat in the fridge.

If I was the breeder I wouldn't sell them the puppy if I knew they were going to feed kibble.

Well, as you're studying, you might be interested in this article by a board certified vet nutritonist:

vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2022/01/raw-diets-perception-of-human-health-risks/#:~:text=It%20has%20been%20well%2Ddocumented,of%20which%20are%20antibiotic%20resistant.

Vets may get limited education on nutrition in uni but they're taught how to research and will have a good deal of anecdotal evidence from their daily caseload. This will be why most don't advise giving raw food.

A study with so few participants it isn't scientifically relevant.
Produced by a vet with a conflict of interest - she works for a commercial pet food company.
Oh and the risks she talks about can funnily enough all be avoided with you guessed it PROPER HYGIENE!!!

Which food company does the author work for? She's a nutritionist at a uni in America.

Even with the best hygiene, a young pup can easily spread bacteria around the home and onto people after eating. This is a known risk of raw feeding.

For some owners and dogs, I'm sure raw feeding works well and owners minimise risks as best they can.

OP hasn't asked if she should raw feed and has decided already she doesn't. I don't think it's fair to condemn all other diets, there are plenty of other good options out there. You are clearly passionate about raw feeding, but it isn't for everyone.

Dogs always spread bacteria no matter what food they are fed. Contamination from kibble is just as big of a problem as raw food.

Hopefully the OP will reconsider her choice to take the puppy off raw. If the breeder discovers her plans they may well stop the sale anyway! I would.

Some dogs dont suit raw i wish people would stop forcing the idea its best!! Its not best for every dog

The idea that cooking food makes it junk food is crazy.

Sounds like @justgettingthroughtheday studied similar to me.

Could you consider salters kibble op, its much better than other kibble, and is made with human grade food.

This is the only kibble I'd consider feeding my dogs, you also don't need to wean them on to it, its that safe. https://salterspetfood.com/

Its not about cooking it, its where commercial food comes from, what they are putting in it. Its basically made up of waste from human food & meat production. There's nothing good in commercial dog food.

https://dev01-na01-darwins.demandware.net/s/darwinspet/blog/ask-darwins-3d-and-4d-meats.html