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Sorry to jump in on this but is there a way to feed raw without the actual 'bone' bit?
I'm sorry and I know it's MY problem but I just couldn't feed bones and I know my dog is losing out but I just can't do it. Is there an alternative to that bit??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

what do you mean, you "just can't do it." ?? you own a dog. aside from the many health benefits, dogs get a lot of gratification out of chewing bones. it also builds their neck and shoulder muscle tone. chewing bones is part of being a dog.

you do realize that you own a dog, right? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

She's new to the concept of raw. I was apprehensive (and still am) as well, and besides the shock value of it before you've been exposed to the idea long, the extremist element you sometimes come across when this topic comes up is another deterrant. I can remember thinking the people feeding raw must be eating it as well by the way they got so crazy over the topic on the net <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The first and only time I fed a raw chicken wing, I gagged watching the dog eat it. Then the dog threw up and I gagged even more, and freaked out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But, ask me in 10 years and my dogs then will probably be on the raw diet. It takes some time to get used to the idea.

Lisa, you can feed the Honest Kitchen food or you can feed Innova Evo. That's an alternative.

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.....aside from the many health benefits, dogs get a lot of gratification out of chewing bones. it also builds their neck and shoulder muscle tone. chewing bones is part of being a dog.....

Yes, this is all true. On the other hand, ground-up raw is a gigundoid step up from kibble (to my mind). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

sorry, i guess i've gone native or something out here in montana. we have wolves here. if you've ever come across a wolf kill in winter, you wouldn't worry about raw bones. all that is left is a few spots of blood and few hairs on the snow. they devour every last little thing. quickly.

it's normal to gorge and then regurgitate and then regorge. that's how they make sure they get enough to eat before it gets taken away from them.

This is something I've been wondering about re puppies. In the wild, pups food would be eaten by parents first, then vomited for them to eat. Not only would all the bone be pre-crunched, but digestion would actually already be started to some degree. We are starting the new kid we purchased Friday on Innova Evo, which he loves, but we are flirting with the idea of raw. Can a 7 week old handle this regimen?

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....we are flirting with the idea of raw. Can a 7 week old handle this regimen?

I've never had a young pup, so this is from research and not experience. However, I know dogs who went straight from weaning to raw with 100% success. One friend feeds very young puppies ground or chopped turkey/chicken necks for a few weeks.

My understanding of wild wolves is that they are weaned at about 6 weeks. The adults eat the meat at the kill site and regurgitate it for the pups, but this may be at least partly because it's too far for the pups to travel to eat, and not efficient to carry meat in the adults' mouthes for several miles back to the nursery (or rendezvous) site. Anyway, as soon as the pups are able to travel to the kill site, they are escorted to the kill and allowed to feed directly.

This is a condensed version of the routine, but I think it pretty much covers what you're asking.

And here's a page in BarfWorld that addresses raw for young pups:
http://www.barfworld.com/html/learn_more/barf_pups.shtml

If I had a new puppy, I think my choice would be to start with coarse-ground poultry necks and green vegetables with supplements, and watch how the puppy ate -- chew, gulp, inhale -- to help with my schedule of adding other RMBs.

I mean I 'just can't do it' without having a nervous breakdown every mealtime <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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She's new to the concept of raw. I was apprehensive (and still am) as well, and besides the shock value of it before you've been exposed to the idea long, the extremist element you sometimes come across when this topic comes up is another deterrant. I can remember thinking the people feeding raw must be eating it as well by the way they got so crazy over the topic on the net

I couldn't have said it any better !!!!

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sorry, i guess i've gone native or something out here in montana. we have wolves here. if you've ever come across a wolf kill in winter, you wouldn't worry about raw bones. all that is left is a few spots of blood and few hairs on the snow. they devour every last little thing. quickly

No I wouldn't worry and I wouldn't worry about the wolf either!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
It's not the chewing or throwing up or anything like that as I stomach watching or doing nearly anything.
It's just I used to work as a vets assistant and the number of cases with dogs that had got messed up in some way by a bone, (broken teeth, trapped bones in the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, you name it) and I know probably all of those bones were either cooked or the wrong ones or whatever and I know that dogs can choke on kibble and anything come to that, but I just personally am not comfortable with it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Connie,
I would definitely go with the ground up bone and meat rather than messing with bonemeal etc, I'm going to start doing some serious reading and make some enquiries at my local butchers/supermarket.
Thankyou

Princess is actually eating raw now, but she is so picky and slow about eating. I think she has trouble with the gnawing part. So last night I gave her part of a breast with the ribs included. After she finished eating, about 10 minutes later she threw it up. It was Nasty!! Of course she threw up on the carpeting. Well, she re-ate it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Is that normal? I got most of the stain out of the carpet, but just hope no one shows up with any luminol.

I always hope mine do eat it when they throw up! I sure don't want to have to clean it up. Give the Princess a few more weeks and she'll love it....bones and all.

I will always feel that feeding a raw diet is the best thing I have ever done for my dogs.

Debbie