Raw feeding - ash content??

[Shrap]

Hey, so I'm new here. I'll be getting my first GSD pup soon and want to raw feed, but it's all rather confusing... Would really appreciate a hand!
I've had a read over some other threads before posting, and did a forum search but cannot find anything about ash content. Someone linked me to Berriewood for the meat, which looks good, but it's says protein content, oil content, and ash content. Is ash the same as the bone content? And oil the same as fat?

What is an ideal protein % in a diet, i only know the 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, 5% other offal...
I know i'll be able to change it once I see the dogs body condition and poo etc. but really need somewhere to start so I don't get it completely wrong!

He'll be coming from quite big parents so I'd expect him to be on the larger side as well, and apprently 3% of ideal body weight is what i should be feeding a growing puppy?

that means per day [split into 4 meals] approx:

960g (2.1 lbs) muscle meat
120g (0.26 lbs) bone
120g (0.26 lbs) offal (1/2 of that liver)
[Green tripe will be in there somewhere also]

That seems an awful lot tbh! But i've never owned a dog before. Hence asking the experts

Anyone on here fed their pup on raw from 8 weeks? Or close to that? Would be awesome if someone could give me like a sample diet or what they fed and how much/when?
How much tripe should I be feeding as I know it's higher in fat?

Any help or pointing me in the right direction is much appreciated!

Thanks

Rachel

[kizzy]

Hello and welcome.
I don't feed my Cassie on a raw diet, so are unable to provide you with any advice, but there are plenty of peeps on the forum who do feed raw and they should be able to advise you.

[super D]

Hello and welcome, I dont feed raw either, but someone will help you soon
xx

[maxandskye]

Hi there & welcome to the forum, you must be so excited awaiting your new arrival.

I use to feed raw, but had to stop as it wasnt suiting my gang at all.

I wouldnt know the exact amounts to feed a puppy as mine were adults when the were raw fed.

Percentage wise as a rough rule of thumb is, 70 % protein, 20 % bone, 10% offal / muscle meats.

I really am no fan of these pre packed meat suppliers, there are too many attitives in for my liking. For me you cannae beat a good local butcher, but thats just my personal preference.

What ever you decide to do with regards to feeding raw, please please please make sure you know excatley what you are doing, it is so crucial that a puppy gets the correct nutrients at this tender age which will help set him/her up for life.

Personally, I would feed a good quality large breed puppy kibble until he/she is at least 12 months old, but again this is just my personal opinion.

Raw feeding is not for the faint hearted. Young puppies can be very trying at times, & also very serseptable to bugs etc....

Look forward to chatting with you & hearing all about your new fur-baby.

[DelsMum]

I raw feed my 2 but as they came from rescue as adults I'm not the best to speak to about raw feeding a puppy.

Providing you get it right though, I think its a great start for a pup!

[Stuart]

All ours are raw fed, but like Faye above, my dogs are rescue dogs, and I have no details of feeding a pup on a raw diet, this you will have to find out seperatly

This link may help you, there is a lot of usefull information within it
Krisannrio's Raw feeding site - Home

In all the research I have done, I have not come across the term `ash content`,..so I am not sure what it means.
I wouldnt worry too much about the question you asked about protein, because if you feed the the amounts of muscle/bone and offal you mention then the protein is going to be correct,..remember that liver is offal,.[ but heart is muscle ]

Remember I am talking about feeding an adult dog,.. not a pup, for instance be carefull with the bone you offer,..in fact without research I wouldnt offer bone at all,.. maybe bone meal, but you may well damage a pup with bone

Like Faye and Stuart, I've only experience of feeding raw to an adult dog. I would think a pup would be best to initially limit the amount of bone as its digestive system won't be fully developed yet. That's not to say you can't feed raw bones... but I'd make sure there was plenty of meat with it, so if you're feeding chickie wings f'rex make sure pup has some lean fillet meat too.

I'd stay with one protein source for a while as well. Marrow bones might be too rich, as will a lot of offal. Expect to see some small bones in the poop for a while until the GI tract adapts.

[DelsMum]

I think our friend Linda (Lutgard) has fed her boys raw from pups but she is going to be off line for a couple of weeks. I'm sure she will advise you on her return :-)

[wildmoor]

Ash is the mineral content of a food
The UK Natural Pet Food Shop - Rearing Puppies on BARF

this site will help you

[Shrap]

Thanks for all the replies Websites have been of some help and think i'm starting to get the hang of it now. Found a list of vitamins/minerals etc. and where they're found so I'll be using that to make sure he's getting a balanced diet on the vitamin side of things as well.
Everywhere really seems to be saying that it's not too different for puppies as it is for dogs. Guess they do eat the same things as adults in the wild anyway, and i'm guessing they just don't have the teeth for the same amount of bone, so they'll regulate that by themselves? As in, the better their teeth get the more they'll be able to handle bones so the more they'll eat of them (from RMBs - not ground up - will still regulate the bonemeal in minced meat). I prefer the idea of him having to rip meat off a bone though, rather than chowing down to already minced meat?
Not sure which to choose, or how to get a hold of RMBs in bulk?
Got soo much to think about before bringing him home. Luckily it's not until November earliest.
Again, thanks for replies, and still hoping for some other raw feeders advice