Dog owners: do any of you feed raw?

[Eden]

RE - poultry bones, like turkey neck. I have no idea of the truth of this, but I read that cooking is what makes poultry bones prone to splinter and that raw bones are OK for animals to eat. I have not been brave enough to give my kitties any turkey necks to gnaw as my little one tends to try to swallow things whole....

[ccnyc]

RE - poultry bones, like turkey neck. I have no idea of the truth of this, but I read that cooking is what makes poultry bones prone to splinter and that raw bones are OK for animals to eat. I have not been brave enough to give my kitties any turkey necks to gnaw as my little one tends to try to swallow things whole....

It's true. Cooked bones splinter. Raw bones are fine to eat. One of my cats swallowed a 2 inch piece of chicken neck! I was shocked. He hates to chew bones. He was fine. I guess a cats highly acidic stomach acid took care of the neck.

Carol

[PamNY]

Thanks for the interesting (and non woo-woo) discussion. Thanks also for posting links, all of which seemed useful when I looked at them. I am especially interested in hearing about dogs who started acting "middle-aged" again. I've heard that over and over.

Now I just have to figure out how to do this in my home. I don't eat meat, and find it unpleasant, but at least with raw you are spared the smell of cooking. I really like the idea of grinding, though not the idea of paying $200 for a grinder.
I wonder if I can get a butcher to grind up chickens -- guess I'll find out if I ask.

Pam

[Biciclista]

I wonder if I can get a butcher to grind up chickens -- guess I'll find out if I ask.

Pam

I thought i'd get my local butcher to do that for me too. I can't remember why he wouldn't but he had a LOT of reasons. It would be hard for me to do if I didn't like meat. I like the smell of fresh chicken so that part is pleasurable for me.

[badger]

When I first got my dog, it took me quite a few months to figure out how to control his colitis. I debated the raw food diet, but was told that he'll most likely get worse before he gets better, so I never tried him on it. He was on Gastro, a specialized diet from the vet for the rest of his life (both wet and dry). He lived to about 13-14.

I'd love to try raw/home made food for my obese kitty. I wouldn't be surprised if his aggressive behaviour gets better.

Are there any health issues in buying already ground chicken from a grocery store, or do you grind yourself due to cost saving measures?

[Andrea]

I could be wrong, but I'm inclined to think that grinding at home is important in order to prevent bacteria contamination.

[Biciclista]

The ground chicken at the supermarket does not contain bones or organ meats. (or skin probably) all of which are important to a carnivore's diet. That's why we don't use it. It's probably fine bacteria wise or they wouldn't be selling it to people.