feeding raw meat?

[TLC]

Thanks. I hope that my scale will be in today so I can measure exactly what I am doing with the drumstick. Ok, now in some of those links above, it says to start off with Chicken Leg Quarters Should I go and get that instead of the drumsticks???

[lara2913]

The drumsticks will be fine, a leg quarter would be wayyyyyy too much for a yorkie anyway lol. They would think they were in heaven!

Drumsticks were the first thing my dogs had, I was sooo nervous, I even had the emergency vets number in my hand!

[TLC]

Thanks for the tip...

Emergency Vet #
Shoes on
Car Keys in hand

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by TLC

Emergency Vet #
Shoes on
Car Keys in hand

.... try not to be tooooooo stressed about this whole thing. Just remember: you're doing this for the good of your pet. They learn quickly. And, it's a good idea to keep in mind how many dogs choke on kibble, toys, plastic and various and sundry other things in their environment. We just don't hear about those incidents, as people expect a certain amount of accidents in a dog's life. Dogs are curious - they eat weird things. But, let someone just mention a close call with RAW feeding, and it makes the headlines!! Mozart has been eating RAW for almost five years now, and I still would never send him out in the backyard with an RMB, unsupervised. Yet, neither do I hang over them in the kitchen while they're eating.

[kalina82]

Lots of good information here thanks to Abbie's mom, Lara, and TLC. I too am afraid of switching to straight RMB and organs. I think i'm gonna ease my way into that. I like the convenience of the pre-made raw patties right now and Morgan loves them too.

Do you guys just feed chicken? it seems like its the easiest and the smallest for our yorkies. Morgan is 4.2lb and it seems like all the other meaty bones on the other sites would just be too big for her. Are chicken drumsticks a 'balanced' diet or are other meats needed?

I was thinking of getting some anchovies or small fish from the butcher at the supermarket. Those seem easy to feed because i basically would just hand the whole fish over right?

oy...

[lara2913]

For the rmb's I give whole chicken wings, drumsticks, necks and lamb chops. I also use turkey necks, lamb ribs and whole breast of lamb but for them I have to cut them up into small pieces, like for example I would cut the turkeys neck into three or four bits and each yorkie would get one bit. If you were buying them fresh then you could cut them into yorkie sized pieces before freezing. If you get a good butchers knife or meat cleaver then it makes it much easier because you can even cut through the bone.

Its generally seen as better to give as much variety as you can.

Whole raw fish is great for them and is considered an rmb, however you have to see how your dog copes with it because some just can't keep it down. Usually around 50% of dogs can eat it fine and the others puke it up on your carpet not long after feeding (not a pleasent smell!). As it is only one of mine can deal with it so I don't tend to feed it very often.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by lara2913

For the rmb's I give whole chicken wings, drumsticks, necks and lamb chops. I also use turkey necks, lamb ribs and whole breast of lamb but for them I have to cut them up into small pieces, like for example I would cut the turkeys neck into three or four bits and each yorkie would get one bit. If you were buying them fresh then you could cut them into yorkie sized pieces before freezing. If you get a good butchers knife or meat cleaver then it makes it much easier because you can even cut through the bone.

Its generally seen as better to give as much variety as you can.

Whole raw fish is great for them and is considered an rmb, however you have to see how your dog copes with it because some just can't keep it down. Usually around 50% of dogs can eat it fine and the others puke it up on your carpet not long after feeding (not a pleasent smell!). As it is only one of mine can deal with it so I don't tend to feed it very often.

oh Gross about the fish. I think we will be feeding that outside LOL

thanks for the suggestions!!!

[TLC]

I cleaned up the fat and most of skin from 4 Organic Free Bird Chicken Drumsticks and put them in the freezer. Saturday will be the day.

Questions: Do you thaw it 100% before feeding? Do you feed this in the AM or PM? What about the blood vessels? Do they actually eat the largest bone? Should I hit that bone with the hammer so they can eat it? One of the large bone looked like it had a bloody marrow, is that ok?


P.S. I have feed mine some tuna and salmon from my sushi - no puke from that time - Although, TJ wasn't as excited to eat it as was Roxy, but I think it's b/c he like his frozen and the sushi was really thawed out for the most part

[lara2913]

I thaw them out completly, but some people feed partially frozen or completly frozen. I usually feed the rmb's PM but it doesen't matter either way. They eat the entire drumstick, every little bit. Yes the marrow is fine, very good for them. If you are really really worried then you can bash them with a hammer but it would be better for them to be able to crack into the bone themselves, they don't get the benefit for their teeth otherwise. Good luck, i'm sure they will love them

[Repunzel]

We have been feeding raw meaty bones for over a year now. Gigi lost her last baby teeth about two months ago, saved us $100. Our little maltipoo (2 mos) is the latest addition and receives the benefits of eating raw. She does love to graze but we take the bone away immediately because she is not strong enough to break the bones yet, besides the other two eat it quickly. We haven't had any problems. The benefits include their feces disintergrate within 24 hours, no smell; they're not as thirsty as those fed on commercial dog food. While our first dog had bouts of diarrhea it was because she was detoxing from commercial foods. Gigi didn't have that problem and transitioned rather well. I do know of our good friend who had to take their dog to the vet for surgery ($6K later) to remove the abcess caused by feeding him cooked bones.

I've learned from my last dog that there is a high number of dogs with strange diseases that weren't around when I was a child. I figure if they were supposed to be non-meat eaters then they wouldn't have teeth to tear meat. I did do research before we acquired our first dog and the history of the commercial dog and cat industry and was quite shocked. I could go on and on but it comes down to a personal decision. All in all, I approach my family's health as well as our animals' health from a holistic angle. I'm a firm believer that an ounce of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure.

[Elisandra]

Isnt a raw diet dangerous because of ecoli in the meat unless it's cooked properly?

im no expert but if it's bad for us to eat raw wouldnt it be bad for them just asking

[lara2913]

The reason raw meat is good for them and bad for us is because................................... they are dogs and we are humans! Completly different species! Different species have different dietry needs, grapes are really good for humans but could kill dogs... do you get my drift?

Dogs have totally different digestive enzymes in their stomachs to us, which means they can cope (in fact thrive) on bacteria that could be dangerous for us.

Think about it this way, humans are evolved from chimpanzees, chimpanzees are vegetarians so our bodies are not even supposed to process meat, let alone raw meat. However dogs are evolved from wolves, who live on a diet of raw meat and bones. Therefore dogs bodies were made to digest this diet, ours are not.

[Elisandra]

wow thanks they always say you learn something new every day thanks for the info

Originally Posted by lara2913

The reason raw meat is good for them and bad for us is because................................... they are dogs and we are humans! Completly different species! Different species have different dietry needs, grapes are really good for humans but could kill dogs... do you get my drift?

Dogs have totally different digestive enzymes in their stomachs to us, which means they can cope (in fact thrive) on bacteria that could be dangerous for us.

Think about it this way, humans are evolved from chimpanzees, chimpanzees are vegetarians so our bodies are not even supposed to process meat, let alone raw meat. However dogs are evolved from wolves, who live on a diet of raw meat and bones. Therefore dogs bodies were made to digest this diet, ours are not.

[lara2913]

So TLC, how did it go?

[TLC]

Yesterday was too hectic over here. I wanted to feed them it at 4 or 5 pm, but I had too much going on and me and hubby were going out to NYC for his B-day dinner. And tonight his Mom is taking us out for dinner too!

...so...next Saturday