I tried to do a search for this subject but didn't find what I was looking for.
I have had our 4 month old on an all raw diet for 3 1/2 weeks now and no problem til now. Today I found some undigested neck bone segments in his poo today.
I do give him some good quality yogurt in the morning and he gets powdered probiotics with his meat meals.
Since I have not seen this before ever, I am just wondering if it could be he just drank too much water with that meal and if that somehow diluted his digestive acids and thus the bone in poo.
Any ideas or comments appreciated! Thanks.

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

... I have had our 4 month old on an all raw diet for 3 1/2 weeks now and no problem til now. Today I found some undigested neck bone segments ...

I've seen that at the beginning of a switch for adopted dogs. Neck of what?

ETA: I have used this in that past; I almost forgot. I have given it for the first couple of months to dogs switching from a life of kibble to fresh raw:

http://leerburg.com/55.htm




Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/14/2008 03:42 PM)
Edit reason: eta

Right now just chicken necks, chicken backs and some ground turkey necks.
Also, he is a very fast eater and he seems to eat the chicken necks very fast. I try to hold them to slow him down.
Is there any connection to eating too fast and not chewing them more? Still, the acids should break them down. ??

I fed him a couple chicken necks for his morning meal.
I do have some enzymes in a supplement I use, however I may just get some of these enzymes that you suggested Connie.

 Quote:

Right now just chicken necks, chicken backs and some ground turkey necks.

That's a lot of bony food. How big is the dog? I have both ends of the spectrum, Chi's and Ridgebacks. I can say I have never fed a chicken or turkey neck. Not even to the Chi's. I have used backs on occasion, but with added meat. I think his diet is just too bony. I feed a lot of chicken leg/thigh quarters and whole chickens that I cut up. Plus added meats, beef, pork, tripe, hearts, whatever. If he is a big pup, necks could be a choking hazard.

I think maybe it's just a touch more bone than he can handle. I would keep giving him the probiotics for a while, but up his meat intake. Bone should only be 10%-20% of his diet.

I do on occasion see small bone bits in the poo, or in the bile throw up my dog does occasionally. I don't worry about it if all else is good.

Hi Shody,

I do feed ground meats as well, with chicken hearts, and some organ meat as well. Right now feeding meat along with the bones so I think it should be ok.
I have just never seen the actual undigested bone before, so I know that something is going on.
I will make sure that I don't over feed the bones.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer back, I really appreciate it!

Can I ask why ground meat? whole or large peices are so much better for the dog, physically and mentally. The only time I ever feed anything ground is if I get it free.

Is this a little dog?

You know, I am not really sure why. Convenience and cost primarily.
Tell me more about the benefits?
Are you saying that ground is not good enough quality?
I am learning, so I am very interested in hearing what you have to say.
I have two GSD's. One 15 weeks and another just turns a year today.

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

Tell me more about the benefits?
Are you saying that ground is not good enough quality?

Ground is like feeding canned food, moist mushy food that can stick to teeth. It does not promote chewing and tearing like chunks of meat do. This assists in keeping the teeth clean along with bones. I have heard of periodontal disease forming in dogs fed exclusivley premade raw diets due to the ground foods ability to stick in the cusps of teeth and between them.
Ground meat can also have a much higher bacteria load due to the greater increase of surface space and air to promote bacteria growth.
While I do feed ground meat on the rare occasion if there is some left over from hambugers or it was cheap, but I always find whole meats cheaper then ground.
The quality of ground meat depends on the source and supplier.
This being said one of my favorite dishes is Steak Tartar with a raw egg. I do get this at a resturaunt where the chef grinds his own steak daily for the dish. If I can eat then a dog definately can.

Regarding the bones in feces, this can happen when to much bone is added to a pups diet, especially when switched from kibble. When starting out I like to go easy on the bone and use primarily bone in chicken breast. The bones are very soft and easy to digest.

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

I fed him a couple chicken necks for his morning meal.

Was this it? That is a lot of bone. A chicken or turkey neck is approximately 50% bone to meat. Personally if I am feeding a neck I add a nice chunk of meat with it. I feed no more then 10-15% bone some meals it may be a little higher but then the next day may be less.

All my dogs are on raw and if I feed leg quarters or turkey I sometimes see the knuckles or other bone pieces. I don't worry. Just got back all blood counts on all dogs and all was well.