Switching my crew to RAW on Monday ...

[Kfamr]

So it'll be okay to give Bob a couple of raw chicken drumsticks then Kay?

Yep! When my three get chicken they get drumsticks or thighs. I always feed mine frozen, though, as it makes them chew it even more.

[Giselle]

It is perfectly fine to give drumsticks, but remember that weight-bearing bones will always be much harder on the teeth than wing bones or neck bones. When I feed RMBs, I look for poultry necks and carcasses rather than drumsticks.

Also, just because a bone is raw does not give it exemption to the dangers of cracking your dog's teeth. Just ask poor Gonzo! Plus, drumsticks are not of the proper phosphorous:calcium ratio, so if you plan to feed drumsticks, supplement your dog's diet with a bit of eggshell powder.

My feeding regimen is like Kay's: kibble in the morning and raw at night. I simply don't have enough time to prepare raw meals in the morning and it gives them time to digest and hopefully get rid of breakfast by the time dinner comes.

[.sarah]

It is perfectly fine to give drumsticks, but remember that weight-bearing bones will always be much harder on the teeth than wing bones or neck bones. When I feed RMBs, I look for poultry necks and carcasses rather than drumsticks.

Also, just because a bone is raw does not give it exemption to the dangers of cracking your dog's teeth. Just ask poor Gonzo! Plus, drumsticks are not of the proper phosphorous:calcium ratio, so if you plan to feed drumsticks, supplement your dog's diet with a bit of eggshell powder.

Weight bearing bones are leg bones, but all chicken bones are soft enough for a dog of Bob's size to handle. Even pork bones are edible to most medium sized dogs. Beef bones and other very large animal bones are what you should watch out for.

Poultry necks are also about 50% bone which is most likely way too much to feed alone without risking constipation and, if fed regularly, impaction. Chicken necks are also the perfect size to choke on, and I wouldn't feed them to a dog unless if you absolutely know that they are good chewers. Wings also fall into the "too much bone, risk of choking" category. I don't buy either unless if attatched to a whole bird. The only exception is I did buy turkey wings for my foster puppies

I believe Gonzo chipped/cracked his tooth on a beef femur or knuckle bone. My dogs also chipped teeth on beef bones (ribs), which is why I will not feed them to my over-exuberant Labs anymore. I would not hesitate to feed them to Mandy because she will strip the meat and leave the bones. I personally do not think it is ever a good idea to give rec bones ... their nickname is "wreck" bones for a good reason. A raw diet will clean teeth just fine without these bones.

As for calcium : phosphorus ratios, you are thinking too far into this. It is about balance over time, not within every meal. Feed through a whole chicken carcass instead of feeding only drumsticks if that is something you are worried about. But if you feed the right ratio of meat (~80%) bones (~10%) and organs (~10%) then you are your dog will be doing super

[CathyBogart]

It sounds like you have a good plan! It gets easier once you start doing it, I was way stressed out about it for the week leading up to the switch and once I started to do it and see great results I relaxed a lot.

Jasper loves drumsticks, I give 'em to him frozen once a week or so. I'll bet Bob would like them too.

[bckrazy]

Good luck with your pups! I'm sure they will be beyond happy =)

I have never had a problem with poultry, as far as feeding weight-bearing bones. Even turkey. It's just with large weight-bearing bones of cows, buffalo, pigs, etc, that it can be iffy.

Gonzo did crack a molar on a soup bone... but I'm pretty sure that was because my Dad used to microwave them to thaw them. Also, because I didn't know when to take it away from him. Now, he gets soup bones (I always buy them only with lots of cartilege/fat/meat), but I thaw them properly and take them away after about 15-20 minutes. They clean his teeth soooo well, but I have to limit how often he gets them to be safe about his teeth.

[ChrisH]

Yep! When my three get chicken they get drumsticks or thighs. I always feed mine frozen, though, as it makes them chew it even more.

Thanks Kay. Bob loved them, though he ate the second one way too fast. I'd already thawed them out you see, next time I'l give them to him frozen.