feeding raw meat?
 

I was at the dog park the other day and I over heard this lady saying that she feeds her pomeranians raw meat such as raw chicken (with bones!), raw beef, raw lamb, but not raw pork. :eek:

Is this healthy for our furbabies? I was just wondering.... :confused:

Raw diets are good for dogs, generally. But I don't think chicken bones are appropriate bc of their "splintering" tendencies. There are a lot of posts on here about the RAW and BARF diets - it's pretty interesting.

Some people do feed that way and its supposed to be good for them. I never would

im not sure but i would never give my baby that

The problem with chicken bones, and ANY bones is when they are given COOKED. Raw bones are safe. No cooked bones of any kind should be given because they all have a tendency to splinter--some, such as cooked chicken bones, tend to splinter more easily.

I tried Chloe on raw. While she loves chewing on a raw chicken wing--bone and all--it didn't work well for us. She prefers to graze, and wants to leave her food for hours before coming back to it, and that just doesn't work with raw, since it can go bad and attract flies and all. But if your dog is ready and willing to wolf it down right away (as most dogs really are) it is a very healthy way to feed them.

raw isn't for everyone but it is supposed to be very healthy. we tried giving Layla some raw meet with her regular home cooked food and it didnt go over well in her tummy.. i'm sure if we would have sticked with it she would have adjusted. I know that giving large bones are ok.. i would never give Layla small chicken bones

I feed my dogs some raw meat...usually beef or ground turkey. They love it!

Yeah, that is what the lady said - that raw chicken bones are pliable and doesn't splinter.... Interesting. I'm going to try and feed my Dunks some raw skinless chicken breast and see how he likes it...

Thank you all for the info....

Only cooked bone splinter. Raw ones crunch up and are really good for their teeth.

hm, i always thought it might give them diarreah while i'm running an errand...

i bet they'd looooove for me to give them some raw stuff. does it matter the size of the dog?

Actually bones will make their poop harder and firmer...if you give organ meat, that may give them the dribbles:(

The bones are good for the calcium, but everything I read says give only big bones, like a meaty beef bone, raw. Little bones can definately get stuck in their throats. I heard that raw meat is good for dogs with allergies but I also heard that a dog that is on only raw meat sometimes has a strange odor. I can't stand the thought of giving raw poultry to my dog, but I'd try very small amounts of raw beef.

If you want to see if he's interested in raw meat that's okay, but you couldn't give just chicken breast long term. It's not balanced. It's lacking organ meat and bone (calcium), among other things..... If you do decide to try raw, be sure to either use a commercial, balanced raw diet that contains the proper amounts of organs/meat/bone/veggies (i.e. Nature's Variety, Stella & Chewy's, etc) or find a book with proven recipes if you wish to prepare at home.

Raw feeding isn't for everyone, and I prefer not to do it. I will mix fresh vegetables into their food, and they like that.

My three yorkies are on a raw diet and I can honestly say they have never looked healthier than they are on this diet. I also think they get alot on enjoyment out of having different foods every day of the week.

I think alot of people have a knee jerk reaction to a raw diet, thinking that its gross because they would not like to eat it personally. However as much as we all think of our dogs as babies at the end of the day they are canines and as canines they have very different nutritional requirements to us. Dogs bodies were made to rip, tear and crunch up raw meat and bones just like their ancestors did years ago.

Before switching to raw its very important to do your research, the most important thing is to get the right balance between the different foods.

Ideally you want them to be eating about 60% raw meaty bones, these are small edible bones covered in meat such as chicken wings, lamb chops, chicken drumsticks, turkey's necks (chopped up for the little guys) etc. They won't get stuck in their throats because they crunch them up before eating them however if you are really worried then you can give the rmb a bash with a hammer so that the bone is crushed before you even give it to them.

Then about 30% of their diet should be muscle meat, this is meat without the bone such as breast meat or ground meat.

Then about 5% offal (organ meat) such as liver, lidney etc

Finally although this is widely debated most people like to do 5% fruit, veg, live yogurt (this is very important) and raw eggs.

Large, hard bones such as beef bones are classed as recreational bones and are fine for dogs to chew on but aren't classed as part of the diet as they should not be consumed.

You don't feed all of these things at every meal however because the aim is to balance their diet over time, so for example you may try to get all the ratios correct over a period of a week.

When feeding raw there is a very small risk of neosporum caninum however this risk can be eliminated if you freeze the meat for a minimum of 48 hours prior to feeding.

It is however important to remember that just like our own diets what suits one dog may not suit another and you can tweak the diet to suit your own dog.


(p.s I want to make it clear that i'm not preaching the raw diet but I thought my input may help people who are considering it as an option for their dog)

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excellent information!!!! I feed raw, but not like this. I prefer a commercial raw diet along with some added things. This way i know they are getting everything they need. I feed Nature's Variety Frozen medallions and Morgan gobbles them in in 30 seconds. I also give her scrambled eggs, yogurt and cottage cheese. i've yet to give raw chicken breast or drummets because i'm unsure about what exactly to give.

Hi Kalina, I fed a commercial raw diet inbetween giving up kibble and starting the raw diet prepared by myself that they are now on. I used it as a stepping stone while I researched doing it myself, it was confusing at first but gets easier the longer you do it .

hhhhmmmm...... interesting, since I've been feeding RAW meat and RMBs for going on 5 years now, and my dogs NEVER smell icky like I've smelled kibble-fed dogs. One can pet them without feeling one needs to go wash up - and doggie kisses are always welcome, because their breathe never smells icky.

I have been feeding raw since March 07

I started out on the NV - but for me at the end of the day...it still is a commercial pet food. I just have some doubts about that brand.

So, I found a local distributor that has researched 'premade' raw and only carries the best of the best.

So, I switched them over to a brand called mOrigins (www.morigins.com)
They love this product, but after a couple months, and some input from others, I just felt the fat % was a little too high for my two.

Next, I went to Aunt Jeni's (www.auntjeni.com) - So far they have had the Rabbit flavor. I have the Lamb in the freeze now, so that will be next. But I wanted to keep switching flavors (I have heard it is best to switch things around). So, right now they are on a beef flavor from Healthy Pet Products (www.healthypetdiet.com).

Mine really love the raw diet. They like beef the best and they like it still frozen. I let in thaw in a baggie on the granite counter top for about 10 mins. Then it is soft enough for me to cut into tiny pieces, when I am all done, it has been defrosted for about 15 to 20 mins. - which is enough for them to be able to chew the meat pieces, which helps to clean their teeth.

Now, I am considering getting some chicken drumsticks from the Market. Mine didn't really like the chicken flavor premade, so I don't know how they will like real raw chicken. I think I will cut off the chicken from the bone a freeze the little pieces for 48 hours (as was suggested) and try it that way. Also, the main reason I want to try this is b/c I would like them to chew and eat the bone. Roxy's teeth are in such bad shape. They have gotten a little better, but within the next 6 months, she gonna need a cleaning. She lost a tooth a couple of months ago and the Vet thinks another one is loose. It sucks b/c she is going to be 3 soon. IMO too young to be loosing adult teeth. I do what I can with brushing her teeth at least 3x a week and I use the PetzLife spray. I don't know....so I am hoping that the chicken bones can help her out....I am soooooooooooooooo nervous about it though.

Is the Perdue brand ok to get???? :confused:

What was it about NV that you didn't like? just curious since that is what i feed now.

I did a search for Aunt Jeni's and came upon a store in Ridgewood that seems awesome! check this out http://stores.wildaboutmeat.com/StoreFront.bok its 20 minutes from me so i think i'm gonna go check it out....and come back with an empty wallet. LOL

OMG - I wish I could go there!

I want the Goat and I want the Sardine and I want the Duck and Ostrich...

Ok, I am gonna have to make a trip back to my home town (Rockaway) to visit my brother and I have to go to this store!

AWESOME - kalina82 - Great Job!

...about NV - I can't really pin point what it is about it, I just feel that there are BETTER brands that's all ;)

Oh that sucks - there not open on Sundays! :(

i'm leaving to go there in a couple minutes. i'll let you know how it is. It looks like they have a lot of cool things there and i hope the people are knowledgeable about all their products.

I guess i feed the NV because its the only commercial raw diet that's readily available in the small stores i go to. i'll ask about the other diets they have at this store and see what they say. I also want some new supplements for morgan's coat and LPs. :) can't wait to buy buy buy

oh and yes, unfortunately they are located in Bergen county so they aren't open on sundays. :(

That whole law thing - it is so baffleing. The business' must be so pissed at all the $ they lose out on. I never understood that whole thing :confused:

Anyway, let me know what you think about the place, b/c if you say it is good, then I am going to call them and place a 'huge' order to pick up next Saturday! I am so excited! The place I go to carries those brands, but not all flavors...

This is what I am going to get:

Aunt Jeni's - Goat 3 lbs
Bravo Ground Elk - 2 lbs
Bravo Ground Ostrich - 2 lbs
Bravo Ground Duck - 1 lb (2x)
Bravo Ground Salmon - 1 lb (2x)
Primal Sardine Ground - 2 lb

That should last me a few months (hahahaha)

check it out http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...44#post1300644

Hi :) - go for it. May I suggest, though, that you not cut the meat from the bone at first, but see what they'll do with it? You may be surprised ;). One of the many benefits of RAW feeding is that the dogs rip and tear the meat from the bone - thus using neck and shoulder muscles. Meal time also becomes an exercise in problem solving, engaging mental activity - healthy and rewarding for pooch. If pup takes an hour to eat a chicken leg - so what? What else does s/he have to do? Licking and chewing activates the natural process of digestion that starts in their mouths, stimulating digestion in the stomache - to say "get ready, here comes FOOD!" If your little ones are just not getting it at first that RAW meat is, indeed, ok food to eat; or they seem intimidated by it - then cut bite-sized pieces to offer. You may also need to hold the bone for them until they get the taste and hang of how it's done.

Yes, though smaller breeds are reputed to have bad teeth and breathe as a 'given' - it need NOT be so. I agree: Roxy is much too young to be loosing teeth, when it can be avoided. Give her RAW MEATY bones and meat while she can still chew. And, be prepared to be amazed at the change in her mouth! Don't tell your vet you're switching to RAW - just ask him/her to check out Roxy's teeth in about 3 or four months. ;) My vet can't get over my Mozart's teeth. He's in his 13th year, and never had a cleaning. Words like "awesome" and "amazing" come forth when she looks in his mouth.

Any human-grade meat is fine to feed. Of course, organic is ideal (for us, too!); but who has access to that all the time!? Take care NOT to feed meats that are 'enhanced' with additives. Shop preservative-free.

I've been feeding Tetley a raw diet for a month now and it's going over very well. I leave a bit of kibble out for him if he wants a snack, but he doesn't touch it. He waits for his raw meal. I follow recipes in Dr. Pitcairn's book (guide to natural health).

He's learned that when I take out his food, he has to eat it right away or it gets put back in the fridge. This week's meal is made up of sweet potato (cooked), raw carrots, zucchini and raw ground veal with garlic. It looks and smells so good I actually considered frying some up for myself! LOL

Thats great Safire but can I just suggest that you don't leave the kibble down at all? Because if he should eat some of it and then you gave him raw within 5 hours of that it could cause problems as they are digested at totally different rates.

Thanks for the heads-up. He doesn't eat it anyways so I don't know why I even leave it there. Away it goes! :thumbup: