Questions about pork. I spent 20 minutes looking at pork cuts at the grocery store tonight. Am I borrowing trouble worrying about sharp, jagged looking pig bones?

Which cuts are safe? I ended up buying some boneless sirloin pork chops and gave him a couple of ounces. So far so good. However, I need Michael. He needs to know that Ripley hasn't pooped in a day and a half. And now that I've mentioned it, he will.

Plug up his USB port. He should poop before he retires for the evening.

Pork neck bones are pretty much what they say. Bones. Some think they are too hard, so I say go with the individual dog's chewing habits. If he wants to lay out in the yard and chew on one for a while, he is probably fine. If you think he is going to try to crack the thing in one crunch, skip 'em. Either way, they definitely need meat added to them. They are very bone heavy.

Bone in pork chops. Some don't like them because they can also be hard, and the sawn edges worry them. Turbo has eaten them in the past with no ill effects. I just skip them because there are cheaper ways to get pork. If they are on sale, I get them.

Ribs. I haven't fed pork ribs in a while, but feed deer ribs ALL the time. Very bone heavy. You'll need to adjust those as well.

I'll also get pork butt roast when on sale. In a whole one, I will cut off most of the meat, but still leave a good chunk attached to the shoulder blade bone. Turbo can't eat the entire shoulder blade bone, but he can eat the majority and I just take it away when he gets to the heavy center and socket end. He'll swap meat for meat, so there is no conflict involved with me taking something away.

Let's see. All I can think of now is straight meat cuts like what you got tonight. For awhile, I would remove most visible fat. The meat itself is fattier. You don't want to aggravate Mt. Ripley's volcano. There may be some strips of fat running through the meat that are tough to get. You probably don't have to fuss with those. Just the big stuff.

Has Ripley had pork yet? Just remember to start slow and with small amounts.

I used to feed the pork neck bones, the dogs love them, but the sharp edges made me nervous. I guess I could grind them if I really wanted to... Enyhoooo, I do what you did - feed a bit here and there as just the meat with other types of bones.

Michael will have to advise on Ripley's "hold out"... is he feeling okay? Is it safe to assume no unproductive straining... just no poop?

I was posting at the same time as the "Wise one"

When you hear us talk about adjusting the meat to bone, there are a couple ways you can do it.

You can balance each meal. Trying to keep every meal consistent on the amount of bone and meat.

Another way to do it is by following a bone heavy meal with a meatier one, and vice versa.

This is also going to depend on the dog. All dog's can go the "balance every meal" approach. It's universal.:smile:

But some dog's may get digestive upset from a meat heavy/only meal. Some get digestive upset from bone heavy meals.

Use your discretion.

Right now, in the beginning of the switch, I would lean towards more balance. Once you really get the feel for feeding Ripley, then you can "wing it".

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

I used to feed the pork neck bones, the dogs love them, but the sharp edges made me nervous.

I don't get nervous so much as I don't like paying good money for bones. The only bony item I buy is chicken backs.

They are just right, in that I can feed them solo, or add meat to them and still achieve pootopia.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

The only bony item I buy is chicken backs.

They are just right, in that I can feed them solo, or add meat to them and still achieve pootopia.

Don't tease me like that... I still can't find anyone to order me chicken backs!!!

Thanks y'all. I probably worry too much, thinking that a diet based on just chicken---backs, leg quarters, and Cornish Hens just isn't varied enough. Do you guys do vegetables? I haven't yet, and am torn. If I could find green tripe I'd feel better about not feeding veg.

We've been at this a month now and knock wood we've had just one minor tummy upset, and I think that was bile because he got too hungry.

Maybe I'll go beef next week. I've been reading that it's better to feed red meat than poultry on other dog lists. I think perhaps I'm reading too much. I hear such differing opinions that I start to doubt myself.

I have 2 sources for $0.99 chicken backs. One entirely organic from a local farm. Yay!

Ripley used to be a once a day pooper. Now it's every other day, and then it's toy dog sized. No straining, he just doesn't have anything to eliminate. Either that, or there is a colon full of volcano waiting to surprise me. (just kidding. he acts perfectly normal. healthy and happy.)

How about a few table scraps for the vegetables?

No, a diet made entirely of different chicken parts wouldn't be varied enough, IMO.

But a diet based off chicken RMB's with meat from cows, pigs, turkeys, deer, etc. added in is very varied.:smile:

If you are reading any of the yahoo raw list, don't take their critiques of raw diets to heart. There are some nuts on there.

You are right that there needs to be plenty of red meat in there, but also remember that you just started, too. If you are already feeding all those chicken parts, then you and Ripley are doing great.:smile: Variety will come with time.