FozziesMom

I fed Fozzie his first raw whole meaty bone tonight (trying to work on dental plaque) and it went really well!

I got chicken thighs since I couldn't find backs and necks, though thanks to Schnauzerpoodle I know where to go next.

I held the thigh so I could be sure Fozzie ate it all and it was amazing to watch him learn to actually gnaw and chew with his back teeth. He licked for awhile (at least he was interested in it) and then started to chew, then realized how to use his back molars, and then got serious and effiicent about it. Then when he got to the bone, he crunched it through, chewed and swallowed. We have been conditioned so long to be afraid of chicken and bones that it was marvelous to watch him be a dog.

Due to his resource guarding issues I held on to the piece the entire time and finally when it came time to hand him the last knuckle I StILL held my breath....and then watched him cruuuunnnch! it up and swallow it down.

it HAS to be good for him to actually chew on things. Just HAS to be.

My plan is to supplement his Primal Raw prepared diet with RMB chicken parts 3-4 times a week. Most likely it will be backs and necks. (watching weight as well) Once we have a bigger place and a bigger freezer you can bet I'm going full Monty!

WonderPup

glad he didn't have an issue chewing it up! We did our first raw bones today too and all three poodles LOVED them. When you say you did thighs it is just a chicken thigh or the thigh and leg together - curious.

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Liz

Glad to hear it went well!

fjm

So glad to hear it went well - what with resource guarding AND getting over "never feed chicken bones" it must have been an especially anxious moment. Who knows - perhaps discovering that you are really kind about sharing such high value foods may help with his other issues, too.

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To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

FozziesMom

I just gave him the thigh--he's a mini and ideal weight is 15 lbs so that alone was a lot of food for him. I have to feed him an additional bit before bed due to bile issues, so last night he had more primal, and I notice this morning he won't eat the primal for his meal.

Suspect I overfed a bit, but I'll adjust.

WonderPup

Hummm, maybe a thigh would be a good piece for the little dogs here.... if I can get them to touch the raw meat, so far they are not having it lol

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CharismaticMillie

Have you tried putting some fish oil on it? I have also heard some raw feeders suggest quickly searing the skin to bring out the flavor. Be careful that you just very quickly sear, so the bone does not cook.

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Happy tailwags from Peckerwood's Thoroughly Modern Millie, CGC and Ch. Safari's Specter, CGC!

robin

Also, no first-hand experience with this, but I have read that it shouldn't be right-out-of-the-fridge cold. Is that true, CM?

CharismaticMillie

I feed it right out of the fridge cold and have no problems. I even feed partially frozen sometimes.

If you are worried you could soak it in lukewarm water or let it sit out for a bit. I would say that most raw feeders probably do feed straight out of the fridge.

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Happy tailwags from Peckerwood's Thoroughly Modern Millie, CGC and Ch. Safari's Specter, CGC!

schnauzerpoodle

YAY~ Glad to hear that it went well!

I thaw his Primal raw and RMB the night before in the fridge and feed right out of the fridge. Sometimes Nickel is a little reluctant to get right on his RMB so I just warm it up a little bit in my hand, say 2-3 mins (with my latex gloves on). My husband said it looked like I was giving the oxtail a Thai massage :P