raw poll

**ashleycat** · 08-22-2006, 03:05 PM

My vet said he sees too many dogs come in sick and have injuries from bones.

I know yall said vets didn't have much info on nutrition.

My poll..

How many did get sick or injured from feeding raw?

**Kfamr** · 08-22-2006, 03:16 PM

Nope, never. I have been feeding them raw for a few months now.

Yes, vets generally don't know a lot about nutrition. Are you sure the injuries were from RAW bones? I've heard of many horror stories with cook bones, but I've yet to experience or hear of any with raw. The worst I've heard of is teeth wearing down on beef bones.

**ashleycat** · 08-22-2006, 03:17 PM

Hubby gave Charlie cooked bones. So that's why he got sick

**.sarah** · 08-22-2006, 03:18 PM

My opinion is that if a dog gets injured from a raw bone, you are not feeding them the right sized pieces. Always feed big raw meaty bones, especially until you know how well your dog chews. My Labs can't handle anything small, but Mandy does great with any sized RMBs. She actually had cut up lamb necks today, with no problems. She chews very well.

It's also very likely that your vet was talking about cooked bones.

**JenBKR** · 08-22-2006, 03:41 PM

Vets may very well see a lot of injuries and sicknesses from people who feed raw....my opinion is that would be from owners making mistakes and not doing it right. Feeding raw takes a bit of research time on the part of the owners, and if not done properly I think it may cause some of the above. I don't feed raw personally, at least not at this time, so this is just my opinion so I may be way off

**.sarah** · 08-22-2006, 04:00 PM

Nope, Jen, you're completely correct! The only injuries from raw bones that I've heard of where from owners who did not feed proper RMBs for their dog's size and chewing ability.

**ashleycat** · 08-22-2006, 04:50 PM

ok so other than getting hurt from wrong bones. HOw would feeding raw make them sick? just allergic to it right?

**Kfamr** · 08-22-2006, 07:01 PM

I wouldn't imagine that a dog would be allergive specifically raw. They could be allergic to a specific meat but it wouldn't matter if it was raw or cooked in that case.

When first being fed raw, dogs' stomachs can be sensitive. It's best to take it very slow and start with a bland, plain meat such as chicken and the move onto different meats.

**CathyBogart** · 08-22-2006, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by ashleycat

ok so other than getting hurt from wrong bones. HOw would feeding raw make them sick? just allergic to it right?

The problem that I've heard comes up once in a blue moon...

A dog who eats very enthusiastically can asphyxiate if it tries to swallow too much bone in one gulp. Star is an extreely enthusiastic eater so I monitor her especially carefully, but she seems to know to chew up bones.

**CathyBogart** · 08-25-2006, 12:12 AM

I haven't fed raw for very long yet, but so far so good.

Border Collie Lover: Did you switch them over cold turkey? Sometimes if they're switched abruptly they go through a "detox" period of a week or so since their bodies aren't used to the rich food. That being said, some diets just don't work for some dogs, and I think you're a great owner for figuring out what works best for your dogs.

**Vela** · 08-25-2006, 05:54 AM

Runner isn't a large dog, I would not start off with a whole chicken. THe easiest thing I started off with was chicken legs, not the whole leg and thigh at first, just the drumsticks. The smaller pieces are easier to manage and first until they learn it's dinnertime. I started out by giving my two two raw chicken drumsticks at a time for a meal. THey now eat thighs, turkey drumsticks (quarters are too big for them and they don't finish them and they are larger than Runner). You can give chicken and turkey necks. We butcher a homegrown cow every year so we have access to lots of beef, we also do the same with a pig every six months, but the only bones I fed are from poultry, and the occasinoal oxtail (much softer "bone" and they can chew that). I am not an expert but it's often best to start off with smaller amounts of meat and stick with one kind for a few days to make sure she's not having any reactions. If you start off feeding lots of different things, and she gets sick, it can be harder to pinpoint what cuased it. I also feed plain yogurt, cottage cheese, raw eggs. For red meat and pork I only feed boneless meat (except the oxtail) because I don't what them to break their teeth on the harder bones. I am hoping to get some venison this hunting season from a friend. You can also buy chicken and beef liver in the meat departments for cheap, I also feed beef heart from the store and ground beef from our steer. There are great ideas in the nutrition thread on the raw thread about what the dog eats each day but just start off slowly, add new things one at a time so she gest used to it and doesn't throw up or get runs. Mine never had bowel issues since I didn't feed too much at a time to start and took my time adding new foods.