We tried raw tonight : )

1502 Views 23 Replies 14 Participants Last post by jesirose, Mar 18, 2009

pugmom

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2009

So I found chicken quarters on sale big time today so I thought I would see how my guys reacted to raw.....

I thought they did pretty well once they got the hang of it.....I didn't give chloe hardly any bone...she is a food vacuum and I was worried that she would not chew it up ...but Isis and Bishop went to town.....I did have one question for you raw feeders....

Where do you feed (in the house)?....my guys could not keep it in their bowls...they had it all over the floor and the deck.....so I had to bust out the mop afterward.....is this common?...or do you feed some where else like out in the yard?

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Trainer

· #2 · Mar 16, 2009 (Edited)

Chicken quarters don't work well in bowls. Some people close off the kitchen with babygates to keep the dogs confined in there. Some will put down plastic table cloths or towels and teach the dogs to eat on them. Some people feed their dogs in crates. Some feed outside.

Many dogs will lick their eating area clean after they eat so no need to mop if your dogs do this.

Are you feeding a whole chicken quarter to each dog? What size are your dogs? Something you said made me think you were feeding pieces.

EDITED: I just looked at the pics of your dogs and I see they are petty small. Too small to eat a whole chicken quarter. I suggest you feed wings, drumsticks, thighs, or bone in breasts. It will be much easier that way. Much less messy and less work on you. I can't tell how large Isis is.

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pugmom

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 16, 2009 (Edited)

We have a gate that closes off the kitchen at all times ....and they did do a good job of licking...but I still felt like I needed to mop up after...

you can see my dogs in my sig

...Chloe is about 22lbs...Bishop is around 18 and Isis is 55lbs....no I cut up the quarters.....I don't think even Isis could have handled a whole one.

I'm not ready to go raw ...I just wanted to see what they would do....at some point I would like to go raw but just not at this moment.

I think I might try to grind it up next time?

Trainer

· #4 · Mar 16, 2009

Yes, I think Isis can handle a whole quarter.

The other 2 can't.

pugmom

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 16, 2009

Trainer said:
Yes, I think Isis can handle a whole quarter. The other 2 can't.

Maybe...it took her quite a while to get though I would say about 2/3 of one........bishop got about a leg and 1/4 of a thigh....chloe got about the same but I pulled hers off the bone

zimandtakandgrrandmimi

· #6 · Mar 16, 2009

I am probably a bit crazy for doing this but I tie Bolo's raw meals to a rope and hang them just out of her reach.

result: tired happy doggie.

Equinox

· #7 · Mar 16, 2009

That's great! Are you thinking of switching to raw period, or were you just taking advantage of the sale?

PitBully

· #8 · Mar 16, 2009

I usually feed my dogs in the basement or the kitchen. I use large breed stainless steel bowls that are about 4.5 inches deep. I usually cut the beef into strips (chunks when they were pups).

Chicken quarters are okay for medium breeds I figure. For smaller breeds, I recommend you cutting them into smaller pieces. Beef is an excellent choice for dogs just starting off on the raw meat diet. One of my males will not consume anything raw that isn't beef.

But you know what, I tend to only use chicken wings and hole Cornish game hens. Corn game hens are about 1.5 to 2.0 lbs when I buy them. In the summer I semi-freeze them before feeding. Dogs love it. Best thing about them, corn game hens are killed about 5-6 weeks of age and therefore the bones aren't as dense as older chickens. So I wouldn't worry about feeding a game hen with bones.

Corn game hen photo for reference

BTW -- my neighbor down the road got me into feeding corn game hens. I was walking down the road and saw him stuffing kibble into the chickens!

I usually purchase the "Tyson" brand of corn hens.

PB

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SaveTheDogs

· #9 · Mar 16, 2009

I may just be being the worry wart here, but arent you afraid of salmonella poisoning? Salmonella is extremely common on poultry (I know this because I went to culinary school) and the only way to get rid of it is through the cooking process. I've never fed my dogs raw b/c I'm too scared of what might happen in case of bad bacteria. I do know however that beef is much less likely to have the bad bacteria. Even though there is the chance of e-coli, if that ever happens, there's always a recall.

txcollies

· #10 · Mar 16, 2009

I started out by feeding mine in their crates on the crate pan. But after a few days I would just haul the bag of meat out to the kennel and lean over the fence and hand out the dinner.

No problems there.

Xeph

· #11 · Mar 16, 2009

Dog stomach and human stomachs aren't the same

They're equipped to break down this kind of bacteria.

Really, kibble is "nutritionally complete" but only to a degree. The populous (including myself) feeds their dogs kibble out of convenience/necessity.

upendi'smommy

· #12 · Mar 16, 2009

I feed a high quality kibble as opposed to raw because I simply don't trust my abilities and knowledge enough to be sure that Upendi is getting a nutritionally complete meal each day. I'm too worried I'd give her too much of some nutrients and not enough of another.

pugmom

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 16, 2009

zimandtakandgrrandmimi said:
I am probably a bit crazy for doing this but I tie Bolo's raw meals to a rope and hang them just out of her reach.

result: tired happy doggie.

LOL...that sounds fun....I might have trouble with that only because I have to feed multiple dogs and I don't want any accidental arguments

Equinox said:
That's great! Are you thinking of switching to raw period, or were you just taking advantage of the sale?

Right now I'm just taking advantage of the sale....I would like to feed raw in the future for sure.....kibble is just more convenient right now

PitBully said:
I usually feed my dogs in the basement or the kitchen. I use large breed stainless steel bowls that are about 4.5 inches deep. I usually cut the beef into strips (chunks when they were pups).

Chicken quarters are okay for medium breeds I figure. For smaller breeds, I recommend you cutting them into smaller pieces. Beef is an excellent choice for dogs just starting off on the raw meat diet. One of my males will not consume anything raw that isn't beef.

But you know what, I tend to only use chicken wings and hole Cornish game hens. Corn game hens are about 1.5 to 2.0 lbs when I buy them. In the summer I semi-freeze them before feeding. Dogs love it. Best thing about them, corn game hens are killed about 5-6 weeks of age and therefore the bones aren't as dense as older chickens. So I wouldn't worry about feeding a game hen with bones.

Corn game hen photo for reference

BTW -- my neighbor down the road got me into feeding corn game hens. I was walking down the road and saw him stuffing kibble into the chickens! I usually purchase the "Tyson" brand of corn hens.

PB

None of them got whole quarters......I cut them up according to the size of the dogs......I used chicken because that is what I have read is the best to try with first time raw feedings...at least that is what has been recommended on this forum

SaveTheDogs said:
I may just be being the worry wart here, but arent you afraid of salmonella poisoning? Salmonella is extremely common on poultry (I know this because I went to culinary school) and the only way to get rid of it is through the cooking process. I've never fed my dogs raw b/c I'm too scared of what might happen in case of bad bacteria. I do know however that beef is much less likely to have the bad bacteria. Even though there is the chance of e-coli, if that ever happens, there's always a recall.

The only worry I have is what is left over after the dogs eat

txcollies said:
I started out by feeding mine in their crates on the crate pan. But after a few days I would just haul the bag of meat out to the kennel and lean over the fence and hand out the dinner.

No problems there.

I would love to feed out side....but its kinda chilly here to be standing out watching every one...I would do that if I had a kennel set up , were they could be separate

upendi'smommy said:
I feed a high quality kibble as opposed to raw because I simply don't trust my abilities and knowledge enough to be sure that Upendi is getting a nutritionally complete meal each day. I'm too worried I'd give her too much of some nutrients and not enough of another.

I am also not ready to move to raw for that same reason.....just thought I would try it out and see how my guys would like it

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Trainer

· #14 · Mar 16, 2009 (Edited)

SaveTheDogs said:
I may just be being the worry wart here, but arent you afraid of salmonella poisoning?

Salmonella or e-coli isn't a problem for dogs. You have salmonella and e-coli all over your house anyway. Your dogs are exposed to them whether they eat raw or not.

upendi'smommy said:
I feed a high quality kibble as opposed to raw because I simply don't trust my abilities and knowledge enough to be sure that Upendi is getting a nutritionally complete meal each day. I'm too worried I'd give her too much of some nutrients and not enough of another.

If you are capable of feeding yourself and your family fresh whole foods without depending on processed diets then you can feed your dog a raw diet. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the food you are feeding now is really complete and balanced. That is a marketing gimick

txcollies

· #15 · Mar 16, 2009

I got to where I'd feed everyone in the yard. I didn't have any fights and those who got seconds (yes they knew who they were) would come running back to the porch for their second helping.

upendi'smommy

· #16 · Mar 16, 2009

Trainer said:
Salmonella or e-coli isn't a problem for dogs. You have salmonella and e-coli all over your house anyway. Your dogs are exposed to them whether they eat raw or not.

If you are capable of feeding yourself and your family fresh whole foods without depending on processed diets then you can feed your dog a raw diet. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the food you are feeding now is really complete and balanced. That is a marketing gimick

I'm 18 years old and while I take very good care of Upendi, I still live with my gramma and she plans most of the meals.

Also dogs have different nutrition requirements than people. And I put a lot of research into what I was feeding Upendi and really went out of my way to put her on a great food that works fantastically for her. Nice shiny healthy soft coat, no more ear infections, nice healthy pink gums, clear eyes, and she's at an ideal weight. My vet says she's one of the healthiest dogs he sees. So while you may not find it adequate it works GREAT for my dog.

pugmom

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 17, 2009

txcollies said:
I got to where I'd feed everyone in the yard. I didn't have any fights and those who got seconds (yes they knew who they were) would come running back to the porch for their second helping.

if we continue...and the weather cooperates, I think that is were we will end up....right now though its a huge mud pit

Maura

· #18 · Mar 18, 2009

I feed mine outside. When I have two or more dogs, they each run off with their treasure and eat it separately. No problems. But, didn't it scare you to watch them crunching on that bone? Geesh! You're just waiting for a fatal rupture or something. But, after seven years I don't worry.

As for giving them a balanced diet, don't sweat it. Feed them mostly chicken (skin, bones, muscles, ligaments all in one), but give them a liver snack twice a week. If you can get ahold of lungs or stomach, snack them with that as well. Give them leftover vegetables from your own dinner to round out their diet. And don't forget the eggs. Give the dogs an egg every two weeks, just so it will be something they will eat when the meat is frozen (or gone!). The shell is fine to let them eat. How hard is that? No measuring, no grinding. Happy faces.

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Donna5503

· #19 · Mar 18, 2009

Do you really think raw chicken and chicken bones are good and safe for dogs? I just can't imagine it being good for them -- I've heard of the raw diet -- but never all the parts that are being mentioned....and the hard shell of eggs????

I don't know....I just can't comprehend this??

jesirose

· #20 · Mar 18, 2009

Donna5503 said:
Do you really think raw chicken and chicken bones are good and safe for dogs? I just can't imagine it being good for them -- I've heard of the raw diet -- but never all the parts that are being mentioned....and the hard shell of eggs????

I don't know....I just can't comprehend this??

If you don't understand it, do more research. It's not hard to understand. What animals do you know that cook their food? Did you know cat food has a nutrient added that is specifically removed via cooking? And the cat food companies HAVE to add it back? Why bother?

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