I feed Cleo (5 m/o Presa) and Alex (11 y/o Rottie mix) a raw diet. I just located a great source for FREE Ahi heads (all I can take, every week)! You would think fish would be cheap in Hawaii, but just the opposite is true. Ahi heads sell for $2.75/lb in Chinatown (the cheapest on the Island).
I feed fresh sardines whole (a friend catches them on occasion) and the dogs love them.
I'm not sure what the common word for "Ahi" is, but I think it's yellow fin tuna. The heads are immense. The eyes alone are the size of golf balls. I figured I could cut the heads into 1-pound sections.
My concern is the bones are really hard and some are thin and sharp. Are Ahi heads a good thing to feed? I hope so, because this could save me a ton while hopefully providing a high quality food source.
I've fed big fish heads and not had a problem. This being said, I'd never say ANY raw feeding was 100% safe. I do think you're pretty darn safe, and you're no worse off than the risk a dog will choke on or bloat from kibble. I would say the heads are about as safe/risky as whole chicken with those weight bearing bones.
One thing: If you feed a lot of fish, your dog will smell like fish. It's one of those things that will permeate his breath and skin oils. It isn't bad for him, but it might not be appealing for you.
I found that three fish a week (or equivalent) was about enough before my dogs started smelling fishier than my reef tank.
I've only gotten a couple responses, but one was from a respected member of that raw list.
As far as the hardness question, they were under the same impression as here, that dogs eat cow and hog heads so why not tuna.
Their only question was how much meat was left on them? But if they are free, its not like you are losing anything. You just don't want to feed mainly bone, though.
They also raised the mercury question. That isn't something that I know anything about. I'm sure someone here does.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
Offline
I didn't catch that it was tuna in question. Good catch, Mike.
I don't give tuna because of the mercury danger. It used to be that albacore (like other top-of-the-chain fish) was the big problem and that so-called "light" (not white) tuna was relatively safe. Now light tuna looks pretty bad, too, although there are questions about whether the testing was flawed because it was done largely on canned tuna that may have had some skipjack mixed in with the light tuna.
I'd probably completely pass on albacore and check the content of others on a mercury calculator.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
fish heads???
Top
Re: fish heads???
Re: fish heads???
Good catch, Mike. 
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
.jpg)
.jpg)
