Today I watched my puppy get a bone stuck in her throat. Scared the life out of me! She is fine now as we were able to push it down.

She is 5 1/2 months old, about 9 pounds. She's been eating raw since I got her at 8 weeks. Never had any problem. As with my big dogs, sometimes its a little creepy to see them regurgitate and reswallow something, but she's always been fine with that. I usually give her one third of the chicken wing--this was the middle part. It was obviously too large to swallow whole (well, obvious to me) and she was chomping away. Suddenly she was in distress--I grabbed her and shoved my finger down her throat. I could feel the end of the bone (in her esophagus THANKFULLY)and it felt like it was a part she had chewed off and it was crosswise. It took four serious pushes (she went from agitated to limp in the process--very scary!) to get it down.

We are a doctor and a nurse and happened to both be standing there (not that I kept my cool!).

Anyone ever had a bad experience with bones? I didn't want to break them up because I figured she would attempt to swallow pieces, now I'm not sure where I stand.


Edited by Kim Condon (03/30/2011 08:03 AM)
Edit reason: sp

Feed larger pieces, the Whole Wing.
They can not swallow a Whole wing, thus causes them to Chew.

I think "breaking" up is/was the problem.

I feed raw, but Never Small pieces, & my dog chews well.

When I feed legs or quarters, I mince the heck out of them with a clever. It ends up looking like a big patty. My dog will try to swallow them straight down like yours did. He also has a hard time digesting the heavier bones if they're not chopped up like that.

I had also thought for a dog that small you may want to grind your bone.

I feed a 20# Cairn Terrier, but never had a problem with either of the dogs & bones.
No "intervention" needed by me.
But, I don't feed "small" pieces, ie, chicken necks.

I do feed turkey necks, & chicken leg quraters.
The Cairn Terrier will get either a chicken leg, or thigh for a meal. Nice meat/bone ratio also!

 Quote: steve strom

When I feed legs or quarters, I mince the heck out of them with a clever. It ends up looking like a big patty. My dog will try to swallow them straight down like yours did. He also has a hard time digesting the heavier bones if they're not chopped up like that.

My dog also seemed to have a harder time with "heavier bones" ie, chicken legs (weight bearing, dense bone) when she was younger; but it showed more with difficult poo.
She seems to have "out grown" this at 3 yo; but I always feed the leg attached to the thigh, with added mm.

Also, nothing to do with "choking";

but regarding re-gurgitation & digestion;
I supplemented with Digestive Enzymes before & during the start of raw feeding; Also supplemented after any illness, upset, ect.

My dog has only re-gurgitated once or twice, & that was pork or deer neck bones, that were immediately re-digested.
I don't feed weight bearing bones, except chicken legs, fed with thigh attached.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I've never had a small dog before and I guess I assumed (other than size) it was the same as feeding the big guys. This dog's size makes it difficult to satisfy both "big enough not to swallow whole" and "small enough for a meal."

Guess I'll stick to backs. Apparently Rat Terriers have no idea that they are small.

 Quote: kim condon

Thank you for all the suggestions. I've never had a small dog before and I guess I assumed (other than size) it was the same as feeding the big guys. This dog's size makes it difficult to satisfy both "big enough not to swallow whole" and "small enough for a meal."

Guess I'll stick to backs. Apparently Rat Terriers have no idea that they are small.

I feed my Cairn Terrer, 20#, small chic qtrs, or larger meaty thighs; he eats the meaty drumstick also.
I add some (small amt) of MM (muscle meat, or ground meat), small amt of organ.
supplements (salmon oil, vit E, kelp)
I don't feed chic wings (too bony) or chic necks (to much chance for choking due to size (circumference)
He also gets canned mackerel (rinsed well)

 Quote: kim condon

Thank you for all the suggestions. I've never had a small dog before and I guess I assumed (other than size) it was the same as feeding the big guys. This dog's size makes it difficult to satisfy both "big enough not to swallow whole" and "small enough for a meal."

Guess I'll stick to backs. Apparently Rat Terriers have no idea that they are small.

Don't forget those little frozen Rock Cornish "game" hens that go on sale 2-3 times a year. Another board member here PMs me when it happens (a DOLLAR) at Safeway, and then I make my only trek to Safeway for the season.

Mixing Pugs with real dogs, I find those mini birds to be really great, because they're fine for either!

Also, I agree with you that you can't beat chicken backs. They have it all going for them, even though these days they are cut a little slim. Still, that's just fine, because I want to give variety in the MM anyway.

(I peel them for a beginner.)

Necks are my staple for the wee dogs. they're easier to divide up than a back and usually I don't have to beat the tar out of them with a meat hammer in order to get them to eat them.

I'm also going to go down and pick up some whole body quail from raptor supply house. They're working out to be cheaper than game hens and available frozen year round.

Also a thought, check your pup's teeth. He's at the age where they should be falling out and the adult teeth coming in. He may not be chewing as well because of that.