Hi - this may have been addressed elsewhere but I've been unable to find a definitive answer...

I've got a 1 yr old lab-mix pup that I feed primarily a mix of Canidae kibble and Nature's Variety raw food; however, I also tend to give him some chicken neck, leg, thigh, etc, a few times a week. My question is whether or not the rmb like the neck/leg/thigh need to be frozen(?) Some sources say to freeze it so there's less chance of bone splintering, and other sources say that if they are frozen there's a greater chance of teeth damage from the hard, frozen bones.

Recommendations? Thanks - this forum seems to be the best source of info out there!

Hi Matt!
As long as you are not feeding cooked bones (which can splinter), there is no need to freeze them. (you should not be feeding cooked bones in any form, but you probably already know that!)
That being said, if I've forgotton to thaw a packet of chicken necks or backs or whatever, I let it sit for a few minutes in warm water and then give to my pup, partially frozen.

I give frosty, not frozen solid, bones.

My one dog, (ironically, the one who would not initially) Ivan, has become quite the chow hound, and inhales food without chewing and usually swallows it whole. He has even swallowed an entire chicken QUARTER without chewing - then started gagging and choking on it. I feed him mostly frozen food now, to slow him down. I also no longer cut his food up, so he has to chew to be able to swallow. Kavik, on the other hand, loves to drag a whole leg quarter or large chunk of anything onto the rug in the living room and eat it slowly. When fed in her kennel, she will "hide" it or lay on top of it until let out, then carry it somewhere to heat slowly. With her, I chop up everything into 1-2 inch pieces so that she will just eat them at mealtime and not try to horde them.
Whenever I feed them liver, I keep it frozen because I hate the smell and the mess. I cut it up still frozen (rather easy with a cleaver) and feed them a chunk or two.
I have not ever given a bone larger than a chicken bone frozen, and they are not frozen together, but still able to be pulled apart by hand fairly easily. I haven't yet given a bone or meal from the deep freezer because it is frozen a little too solidly - a friend of mine actually tried to drive over a chunk of ribs once to break them up... it didn't work too well, and damaged the truck. (So don't try it ) I would imagine that would be a bit too damaging to the mouth of a dog as well, so I would never give something that frozen to them.

Also, I think that there's a difference between frozen backs, say, with their cartilage and soft bones, and frozen leg quarters.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Also, I think that there's a difference between frozen backs, say, with their cartilage and soft bones, and frozen leg quarters.

Definitely. I'm sure that a frozen solid back would not be as difficult... I just have never fed a deep frozen back - I have a rotation I haven't forgotten or messed up on yet Emphasis on the word yet...

I was leery of feeding the bones because of choking, so the forum suggested frozen necks and backs and that has worked out great! I do let them thaw out slightly. They usually chew 3 times then swallow. I did not know you could feed chicken legs and thighs too? I thought it was just necks and backs?

 Quote: lisa harrison

I did not know you could feed chicken legs and thighs too? I thought it was just necks and backs?

What do you mean? Frozen?

Or feeding other chicken parts in general?

I mean feeding those parts of the chicken in general.

You can feed the entire chicken. I have no problem feeding the weight bearing bones of birds (chicken, turkey, pheasant, or any small bird) to my dogs.

Some people are afraid to feed any weight bearing bones for fear of breaking teeth. It can happen with any bone, so you have to assess that risk for yourself.

Oh man...if you have been avoiding other chicken parts, you've just had a whole new world of RMB's opened up to you. Go buy some whole chickens and 1/4 them up. Your dogs will appreciate these bigger, more complicated to eat pieces.:smile: