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How big can bones be?
#14487 - 07/21/2003 04:26 PM |
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I have a question that I hope is not too stupid. I have just recently switched my dogs to completely raw foods, but I have been tentative about feeding the larger bones. So far, the largest bones I have fed my dogs are chicken wings. I know that they can manage larger ones, but how big is too big for them to crush/chew without swallowing them whole (they are both GSDs)?
Are chicken legs ok? What about the knob of cartilage on the end of them--should that be cut out, or will it pass through ok? If the legs are ok, how about leg quarters (with the thigh)? How about beef ribs?
Any other tips on raw bones would be much appreciated! Thanks!
Kali, Schatzi & Deva
"Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so."
Issac Watts (1674-1748) |
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14488 - 07/21/2003 04:37 PM |
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My dogs eat leg quarters no problems. Last time I ordered I was able to get them CHEAPER than the darn necks and backs... The up-side to that is if I forget to get dinner... I can eat a leg quarter. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I don't cut anything off. They usually have a small spine portion attached.
I tried feeding beef ribs and it didn't work for my dogs. Too hard. They carried them around and hid them in the yard. I was finding them weeks later. In the fall I feed deer ribs no problem.
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14489 - 07/21/2003 04:43 PM |
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Leg quarters are a staple around here. 37 cents/pound at Wal-Mart! I don't feed them to small pups, only necks and backs for them.
I also feed pork neck bones but had to ease into those and use probiotics. If they don't have a lot of meat on them I add muscle meat or it seems to bind them up...I add ground beef or turkey. Sometimes though, they are really meaty and I don't have to add anything, just throw a slab to each dog and feeding time is done!!
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14490 - 07/22/2003 12:19 AM |
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My 13 and 17 lb terriers each, handle a whole, large, leg quarter with no problems. When I started raw I broke them up with a hammer thinking they were to big. That caused more yacking because they tried to wolf it all down. With the whole leg, they've learned to enjoy the chewing and crunching.
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14491 - 07/22/2003 09:58 AM |
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Originally posted by Deanna Thompson:
I tried feeding beef ribs and it didn't work for my dogs. Too hard. They carried them around and hid them in the yard. I was finding them weeks later. In the fall I feed deer ribs no problem. LOL, when we got our new puppy she systematically found every bone our current dog had "hid" and "forgot" in the yard -- the scariest was a mummified pigs foot with the hooves gone....looked like a darned human wrist....
It was really bad when we went to a friends house and she started in on "fluffy's" gravesite -- they said she was honestly buried six feet under, which blew my mind.
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14492 - 07/22/2003 03:19 PM |
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Thanks very much for all your replies! Second question: are chix bones enough bones for the right amount of nutrient/calcium, or do they need beef or other types of bones too? I am talking about the BONES here--I do feed a variety of muscle meat without bone.
I guess I am just paranoid about the chix leg bones. My younger female at first liked to try and swallow the wings whole so I was afraid what she might try with a leg. But I will bite the bullet and see how they do with some larger ones.
Thanks again! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Kali, Schatzi & Deva
"Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so."
Issac Watts (1674-1748) |
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14493 - 07/22/2003 04:37 PM |
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I always watch mine when they eat even though my only choking episodes were when we used kibble. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
My adult dog is very systematic with the leg quarters and chews them up quite well. He ALWAYS starts with the back bone and then works his way down the leg when he gets to the knee he rotates it in his mouth so the foot joint is pointing out the other side of his mouth from where he started --- once the leg quarter gets into his mouth he does not have to maniplate it with his paws or anything.
I think most people avoid the big weight bearing bones of larger animals (like cattle and deer) but are ok with joints.
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14494 - 07/22/2003 08:21 PM |
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Chix necks, backs and leg quarters are the staple RMB's here. I also use turkey necks and wings, those keep the dogs busy for a bit!
The beef rib bones and leg bones are my recreational bones. Once the rib bones are gnawed down to a couple of inches, I take them away. They usually end up swallowed and yakked back up. I do use goat meat with bone attached and so far, so good. Haven't tried oxtail yet, besides, it's too expensive.
I can't get pork necks, so no experience with them. Sometimes a whole chicken is a fun treat!
If your concerned about the wings going down too fast, try whole chicken backs and turkey necks, that should slow them down.
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14495 - 07/23/2003 04:35 PM |
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Thank you all! I should have had more faith in my dogs. They managed the chix quarters with no problems at all.
My next concern is not the dogs swallowing them whole, because I do watch them, but do chix bones alone provide enough nutrition (for bones)?
Thanks again for everyone's help!
Kali, Schatzi & Deva
"Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so."
Issac Watts (1674-1748) |
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Re: How big can bones be?
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#14496 - 07/25/2003 10:20 AM |
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Kali : after reading articles on feeding raw,and to you question about do they get enough from chic bones ,well seems to be the case ,but a varity of bones will not hurt them and only increase the intake of the nutrients .Peter
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