Puppies can be raw fed, but their nutritional needs make careful planning particularly important.
During the first year of life, puppies are building bones, muscles, organs and their nervous system at an extraordinary rate. Their diet needs to support this growth without creating nutritional excesses or deficiencies.
Calcium and phosphorus balance is especially important during puppy development. This is particularly true for large and giant breeds, where incorrect mineral balance can affect skeletal development.
Puppies also need sufficient energy and high-quality protein to grow properly, but overfeeding should be avoided. Rapid weight gain is not always healthy growth.
A puppy’s feeding requirements can change quickly, so regular weighing and body-condition checks are useful. Portions may need to be adjusted frequently as the puppy develops.
It is usually better to think of a puppy’s diet as its own nutritional plan rather than simply feeding a smaller version of an adult dog’s diet.