Just got a 10 mth old pug yesterday. He'd already been on a raw diet, so no concerns there. He's on a chicken, fruit, veg mix, all ground.

I've noticed that he's done his food in roughly 10 seconds.Is that normal? I've only kibble fed before, and so the food taking longer to put in his kennel than eating it surprises me a bit, lol! I'm following the 7% body weight guideline. In reading an article here, I noticed that chicken wings etc were fed whole. I'm wondering about switching him to more whole foods. Since he's a small dog, esp compared to a GSD, would this be a wise move, or am I risking a choking hazard? I'm thinking that it would have him eat slower, and probably be a bit more cost effective than having to drive 20 mins or so to the nearest supplier of raw dog food.

Feeding whole foods decreases the risk of choking. As long as it is a BIG whole part. Chicken necks, although whole in a sense, will be eaten faster than a chicken 1/4. The chicken 1/4 faster than a whole chicken, etc.

Feeding whole pieces also performs more "scrubbing" on the teeth, too. Dogs are built to gnaw and tear. Whole foods satisfy that.

You'll also definately save $$$ over premade raw. Plus you'll be able to open your variety tremendously.

You're on the right track with wings, but think bigger. Wings alone are boney, but when fed with the WHOLE chicken are great.

I'm not saying that you have to drop a whole bird in the yard, but rather buy whole chickens and 1/4 or 1/8 them yourself according to how big your dog is.

My dog is about 14 lbs. Here are a few vids of him eating BIG foods. Hate to shamelessly plug my videos, but what the heck. I want you to see a little guy tackling big food.

Turkey
Deer Ribs Bigger dog, but equally big food.
Deer Head
Pork Butt
Deer Neck

With that said, I'm not downing ground food. It is heads above the alternatives.

Edited by Michael_Wise (06/15/2008 09:43 PM)
Edit reason: added somethin'

Michael,

Your videos mesmerized me. Very cool.

I feed both some pre-made ground commercial raw food and whole raw food.

 Quote:

I've noticed that he's done his food in roughly 10 seconds.Is that normal?

Normal at my house. 10 seconds for a pound of ground raw would be slow for my dog.

 Quote:

I noticed that chicken wings etc were fed whole

I personally think that chicken wings are a pretty lousy raw food to rely on..unless it is part of a whole chicken like Michael already said. They have a lot of bone and not enough meat to rely on as a staple of the diet. If I fed chicken wings in the morning...I would feed meat in the evening to balance things out a bit.

Necks or backs would be better to start with as the bone is softer/easier to digest.

 Quote:

am I risking a choking hazard?

There is always a chance of a dog choking. I know of a dog that just recently died of choking on some garbage. They can choke on toys too....

Micheal's advice about bigger peices is correct. Sometimes I get small chicken necks for example (free so I don't turn them down). My dog (42 lbs) is a gulper and choses not to chew a food like that. So I actually hold on to each one and make him chew it a coulple times, then let him swallow it. His digestion can handle it without chewing...but I don't like to see it

Bigger IS better.

 Quote: Melissa Charles

Just got a 10 mth old pug yesterday. He'd already been on a raw diet, so no concerns there. He's on a chicken, fruit, veg mix, all ground.

I've noticed that he's done his food in roughly 10 seconds.Is that normal? I've only kibble fed before, and so the food taking longer to put in his kennel than eating it surprises me a bit, lol! I'm following the 7% body weight guideline. In reading an article here, I noticed that chicken wings etc were fed whole. I'm wondering about switching him to more whole foods. Since he's a small dog, esp compared to a GSD, would this be a wise move, or am I risking a choking hazard? I'm thinking that it would have him eat slower, and probably be a bit more cost effective than having to drive 20 mins or so to the nearest supplier of raw dog food.

At 10 months, isn't a Pug almost full-grown? I may be wrong, but I'm thinking that 7% might be high. Of course, you can also watch the dog's body shape carefully, too, and cut back if you see any thickening at the waistline. All dogs are healthier when the weight is controlled, but Pugs, with their bracheocephalic faces and breathing issues, etc., are especially in need of careful weight control. Also, they are a food-driven breed -- so you want to start now with maintaining an ideal weight and never have to deal with reducing. Cutting back on food will break a Pug's heart. Trust me; I know.

About the not-ground diet. My Pugs (rescues, including a little senior who had been on crap-in-a-bag all his life) and GSDs eat the same food.

I'd probably stick to the food he already has while reading up on preparing your own raw food (and this is the place!), but everyone who says that your Pug can eat what other dogs can is absolutely correct.

Wings would be my last choice too for a beginning food because of their makeup: bones and fat (skin), pretty much. As others have said, wings are fine as part of the bird. But as a basic RMB, I'd put them pretty low on the list. I'd put backs at the top.

Don't forget the fish oil and E, no matter what diet you decide on! How much does he weigh?

Winston's a tiny guy, even for a pug. About 9 lbs or so. And definately lean. Person I got him from had gotten him from another breeder, and apparently he was the runt of the litter.

I wasn't looking to feed wings exclusively, lol...I was thinking of trying him out on one, see how it went. I do have some thighs in the freezer, maybe I'll give those a shot. I'm trying to think what I could give him that wouldn't need to be cut up smaller for when my husband isn't home to do the cutting for me, lol! I appreciate the info. In everything I've read, I've realized how superior the raw diet is, but just trying to manage it within my budget too. Honestly, feeding ground (to me) strikes me as still not being the best, that theres so much to be gained from the whole food.

Or maybe just the sight of goop grosses me out a wee bit, lmao!

I have a specialty butcher (Falal?) near me. I'll pop in there and see if they have any scraps I could get...from their sign, I know they have lamb...I don't know of another independant butcher in my area, they're something of a rare sight here.

 Quote: Melissa Charles

I've realized how superior the raw diet is, but just trying to manage it within my budget too.

Your mileage may vary, but my cost were cut by about a 1/3 or maybe even 1/2 once I figured out what the heck I was doing.

There is a learning curve on how and what to buy. Some of us (points finger at self) stay on the curve longer than others.

 Quote: Melissa Charles

I have a specialty butcher (Falal?) near me. I'll pop in there and see if they have any scraps I could get...from their sign, I know they have lamb...I don't know of another independant butcher in my area, they're something of a rare sight here.

One thing to watch out for when buying scraps is to make sure you are not just buying bones. You'll want plenty O' meat on any bones you feed.

Any taxidermist in your area? Hunters?

Either one might be willing to offer you their leftovers. Or they might know of another processor nearby.

 Quote: Melissa Charles

In everything I've read, I've realized how superior the raw diet is, but just trying to manage it within my budget too.

Ah-hahahahahahahahahaha! I just did the math, and when he's full-grown, if he is still in the 9 pound range, you're facing a 3-ounce-a-day habit!



Oh, I wish I had a 3-ounce-a-day raw bill.

Ahhhh. Sigh.

OK, anyway, that means that the weekly equivalent of one chicken with its organs plus a little different-source muscle meat is going to fix that little guy up great.

Or chicken backs, with their nice soft bones and very low cost, plus a little different-source meat (beef, lamb, fish, canned fish, etc.), a little organ meat, a little good yogurt.....


This is gonna be so cheap.

P.S. Although you will find better sources, there isn't going to be any financial ruin with this guy from shopping right at the regular grocery store's meat counter.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (06/16/2008 09:54 AM)
Edit reason: p.s.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I just did the math, and when he's full-grown, if he is still around 9 pounds, you're facing a 3-ounce-a-day habit!

This is gonna be so cheap.

See.......she's already straightening out that learning curve.:smile: