raw bones - Page 2

Angusmom, the weight bearing bones are the marrow bones.  Those are the larger bones (like the knuckle bones) that you want to use for recreational chewing and teeth cleaning only and not as part of the diet.  Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse. 

Rib bones, neck bones and the like - bones that don't bear the weight of the larger animal, are the "diet" bones.  In poultry, rabbit and such all bones would be fine.

I don't worry about grinding anymore, haven't in years, but there are people who feel better doing so.  There are many who used to swear that it was the chewing of the bones only that kept the teeth clean but I don't believe that's the case.  If you look at a dog that's just eaten a meal of "kibble" (as in full of grains) you'll see that the kibble (grain) is stuck to the dog's teeth.  Even ground, the raw diet doesn't stick similarly and the only thing needed is the occassional marrow bone for a good cleaning.  Chewing the bones does help, and does slow the dog down to keep him from gulping and regurgitating, which is why I don't grind.  But the nutritional value is the same.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with grinding the bones if you feel more comfortable doing so.

Wow.  Angus does sound like quite the big boy!

In the morning I feed ground beef (bones/muscle meat/organs/smidgeon of veg along with salmon oil, vits & mins)

In the evening I feed  various  whole bones which usually are:   chicken necks & backs,  venison necks, lamb necks,  pork necks

I also add eggs with shells a couple times a week,  raw fish about once every other week (no pacific coast fish)

I keep canned mackeral for emergencies or for when I have a senior moment the night before & forget to thaw for A.M. feeding!

I have been known to feed chicken legs from the grocery in a pinch, but other than that, everything I feed is certified hormone/antibiotic/addtitive free all human grade.

I forgot to say I don't give any recreational or weight bearing bones (other than the occasional small chicken leg) at all.

I do it a bit different.  I weigh out all portions of RMB's, MM and OM for 3 days meals (2 meals per day), package the quantity for all three days in one container and freeze.  I'll take one container out every 3rd day.  At feeding time I take approximately what I weighed out per meal, and into the bowl it goes along with the few supplements I do feed.  Then I'll add in the egg, yogurt, etc. if she's getting it during that meal.  It takes no longer to grab a handful of raw than it does to measure out the kibble. 

When I feed the fish meals she gets them whole without anything else.  Same for the canned mackerel.  That's all she gets for the meal.  Then, back to the normal feeding schedule.

I get everything in pretty big boxes (40lbs of chicken, 25 lbs each of the other whole bones, tripe etc) so I partially thaw & package into individual bags when I get it and toss it all in his freezer.

Right, sueincc. 

That's pretty much what I do.  The "big order" as we call it is what gets portioned, packaged and frozen at the beginning of the month.  Packages are taken out every third day to feed as needed.  Other than part of an afternoon once a month to portion, package and freeze it takes no time at all feeding. 

yellowrose, i only mince the chicken cuz I'M chicken about those particular bones. and they are fed twice a day.

i do raw organic eggs now about once a week altho i really crush the shells too. geez, i am a wuss. and i buy organic chicken for the dogs and for us now. my husband loves to fish and loves to EAT fish very rarely, so on very rare occasions i give the dogs raw fish. it could be yellowfin tuna or mahi mahi. sueincc, why no pacific coast? mercury is in all fish anymore.

i guess when i said marrow bones, i was thinking of the round bones. they all have or had marrow at one time i think. i'm not gonna give lamb anymore tho. i also supplement with plain yoghurt, but quit the cottage cheese. angus will throw that back up (always at a too early hour!). just the cottage cheese, nothing else he's eaten. i have a reluctant admiration for that: specific regurgitation!

i think i'll just print everything out and start a chart or something! it would be so much easier if both dogs ate the same way and had the same reactions, but hey, when was life easy? my husband has already "commented" on how the dogs eat better than he does, BUT, he's getting kalibeck's recipe for lamb shanks tonight, so he really cannot complain!

Don't feed any of the salmonids (raw) from the Pacific Northwest because they contain a parasite that if ingested can prove fatal to canines.  This includes salmon, trout & any other fish that is considered a "salmonid".

Lamb shanks.  Yum!  I'm a huge fan of lamb - in my diet, especially.  LOL

What made you decide no more lamb for the dogs?  The lamb isn't a problem and it's very good for them. (Lamb shank bones, not so much, but the meat, neck and rib bones are still great!)

it seems the lamb bones are really easy to "eat". they crunch them up, but can't digest the pieces. if you like lamb, do a search for kalibeck and you should find it. i can't remember the thread. jackie (kalibeck) has some very nice recipes. she only gave out 3, but i live in hope that she'll part with a few more. she has some good stuff and my husband and son have been enthusiastic! she has a bison chili recipe that i really like too! i drive about 45 miles one way to get the bison! but, her recipes are GOOD and worth the drive.

sue, if i have salmon, it's MINE. my manly men don't like it and we usually give any trout we catch to my folks. the mm's don't like it either. i prefer salmon and i won't share that with my dogs and now i can be "educated" as to why. hah. my husband gets a little cranky when he sees them eating his "ahi" or mahi mahi, but he gripes if he gets fish twice a week, and i hate fish if its been in the freezer for too long (more than a month). he seems to catch too many! he hunts too, but we NEVER have too much duck or quail or dove!!!! and, god love him, he won't shoot "bambi". putz.