Raw dog food Denver / Raw Food for Puppies
Raw Food for Puppies
Puppies need more calories per pound than adults, more frequent meals, and — for large breeds — careful attention to growth rate and bone development. Raw can work beautifully when portions and protein are right. PurePawRaw has not completed a veterinary-nutritionist review of a dedicated puppy formula; treat this page as education and talk with your vet before switching a growing dog.
How puppy portions differ from adults
Adult maintenance often lands around 2–3% of body weight per day in raw, depending on activity. Growing puppies commonly need roughly 5–8% of current body weight per day, tapering toward adult percentages as they approach maturity. That range is wide because a 4-month Lab puppy and a 4-month Yorkie do not share the same growth curve.
Our plan quiz asks species, age, and weight to preview portions — nothing orders or charges during prelaunch. Final sizing publishes with ordering terms when we launch.
Meal frequency by age
- 8 weeks – 6 months: 3 meals/day is a common default; toy breeds prone to hypoglycemia may need 4 smaller meals.
- 6 – 12 months: many medium breeds move to 2 meals; large breeds may stay on 3 slightly smaller meals longer.
- 12+ months: transition toward adult portions unless your vet recommends extended growth feeding for giant breeds.
Large-breed puppies — read this before raw
Great Danes, Mastiffs, Shepherds, and other large-breed puppies need controlled growth — too-fast weight gain stresses developing joints. Calcium and phosphorus balance matters more than for a 15-lb adult. See our large-breed guide and involve your vet before raw if your puppy is on a large-breed growth plan.
Delivery cadence vs puppy hunger
PurePawRaw plans every-two-week Friday deliveries across the Denver metro. Puppies eat more often, but that does not mean a separate weekly truck — you portion from the same box into daily meals. Freezer space becomes the constraint; see freezer organization.
Transitioning puppies from kibble or wet food
Never hard-switch a puppy overnight. Use the 10-day transition schedule (or stretch to 14 days for sensitive guts). Soft stool for 1–2 days can be normal; persistent diarrhea past day 4 means step back a ratio and call your vet. Track stool, energy, and appetite in a notes app — patterns matter more than one odd meal.
What to watch in the first two weeks
Pair with first 14 days on raw. Puppies should stay playful and hydrated. Lethargy, repeated vomiting, or refusal to eat for more than one meal window is a vet call — especially in toy breeds.
When we are not the right fit (yet)
- Puppies under 8 weeks — vet-led feeding only
- Prescription growth or renal diets — follow your veterinarian
- Unresolved GI disease — stabilize first, then transition
Related Denver resources
Raw dog food Denver lander · Best raw dog food comparison · When to call the vet