My husband, gotta love him, cleaned the yard while I was gone training yesterday. (This is a good thing) However, I noticed the two dogs (fatty and the Lab) were not very hungry this morning. I chalked it up to the chicken thighs being a first time thing. (only legs, backs and necks so far)

I asked him if he cut up the two deer carcass and froze them and he said yes but he threw the two rib cages in with fatty and the Lab YIKES!!!

There is not a scrap left of those. The rib cages did not have a lot of meat on them and they were small compared to some of the deer we have around here. Am I going to have to look for issues with either dog? I am thinking I will only feed them THK tonight or maybe just veggie glop that I made. Or should I just wait till tomorrow to feed them?

He promised from now on that he will ask before throwing stuff for the dogs. I am concerned also because they were not frozen in the deep freeze, only with our outside temps. He didn't know and it was my fault for not telling him. Learning experience for both of us.

Also, both dogs seem normal in attitude and energy.
Thanks

Well, keep in mind that I'm a very bad mother who fasts the dogs weekly anyway....I'd say don't feed them today. Venison is very rich, and the only issues I've ever had with it resulted from the dog eating something in addition to it. Instant vomit. Just venison...just fine. IMO, wait until tomorrow, at least. On antother note, it's nice that your dogs didn't kill each other over it;-). I'm envious.

Keep in mind also that predators eating a whole bunch of food one day, and little or none the next, is really quite natural. A wolf often gorges one day, and has only scraps and bones the next day, or nothing at all. Their digestive systems are drastically different from ours. Mine never even seem to notice if they don't eat for a day or so. So, don't murder your husband (for this, anyway).

Thank you thank you, being new to RAW I was concerned. Since they seem normal, I was only mildly concerned though.
Also, the dogs are in separate kennels, otherwise they would have had issues. None of my dogs are allowed unsupervised time together and there are certain dogs that can be together and certain ones that cannot, so at least hubby knows to leave them where I put them.

P.S. i don't think your a bad mom for fasting.

Good Post Jenni.

Reminds me of the ultimate raw diet story .. the infamous, "Dogs in Elk",
http://www.jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/dogsinelk.html#dogs

Thanks, Melissa. I try to get one right every now and again, lol .

Carol, I feel a tad better knowing they weren't really "sharing." I had an awful fight once over a rabbit carcass I didn't even know was in my yard. I have to keep mine totally separated (can't even SEE each other separated) if anything remotely wild or raw is around. So I'm glad yours aren't perfect.

Raw seems overwhelming at first, and we tend to worry ourselves more than necessary...like waaaay more than necessary. It'll get easier-I promise! And venison is a great addition or staple if you can get it, b/c usually, it's sooo much safer than beef, which is full of antibiotics, hormones, and other unmentionables.

...and it's better than beef to cook. Not a single drop of fat! I just made 60 pounds of burger for the winter. I used pork as a mixer. )
The best Spaghetti you'll ever eat is deer. These are just my opinions of course. )

I must admit I've never had it , though I hear you're right. I don't really buy any food that good that isn't for the dogs. I usually eat out of a bad with a greasy receipt inside. There's no money left for food for me . I have several hunters giving me all their scraps...now all I need is a chest freezer. I've avoided one so far by not keeping any food for human consumption in the fridge or the freezer. 'Cept mebbe a lil booze.

If you're just starting raw, sometimes you miss obvious sources of food b/c you're 'overthinking' and trying to do everything just perfectly. It took me almost 2 years to think to ask hunters for their scraps. Duh.

I guess I am lucky there, as soon as our "hunter" friends found out I was feeding RAW it was like somebody opened the gates. I came home about every other day to deer, elk and antelope carcasses with scraps in my yard. WOO HOO!!!!


P.S. We eat game a lot also. And Buffalo, but since we help run the family ranch, we have to support the beef industry also.

Ok, my envy is back .