Carley's Mom

Thanks for all the advice I could not have done it without you guys. I started with one piece of chicken and Carley, though confused, did like it. I loved hearing those bones crack... ( that sounds so awful ) but just knowing she was cleaning her teeth was great. She was such a lady, ate very slow and careful, never touched it with her paws or legs...lol I am going to wait and see if it upsets her tummy, if not, I am going to give her one more piece tom. How often do you think I will need to feed raw to keep her teeth clean?

RileysMommy

Glad she ate it! What piece of chicken did you give her?

I tried it today with Riley, too! I gave him a leg quarter and he just sniffed it and walked away! :(

Gave another LQ to my other dog and he licked and licked for a while before he realized he had to BITE it! Once he realized that...it was GONE! But, Riley is the one with teeth problems! I was really hoping he'd eat it!

Carley's Mom

I gave her a big thigh, with the skin removed. She licked it at first and walked away. I picked it up and sort of pulled it apart a bit and gave it back to her. She took it and slowly ate it. She was so funny, did not want to touch it with her paw. She needed too, it was hard to eat and not touch... she would lift her paw , but then change her mind. Finally she layed down with her front legs wide apart, so not to touch it and ate it. I had to laugh.

RileysMommy

I will definitely try again with Riley then...maybe he will change his mind next time. I feel like I needed something smaller than a LQ though...maybe that would make a difference? But, since he didnt even touch it...I dont know if something smaller would have mattered!

Anyway, dont mean to overtake your thread! I'm really glad she's eating it! Congrats to both of you!

minipoodlelover

Thanks for the post Carley's Mom - I need some moral support. I'm on the verge of taking the plunge with Angie for exactly the same reason you did, teeth cleaning benefits. I've been brushing Angie's teeth the best I can, but just today I saw the very beginnings of that unwanted dark yellow color on her back molars. If raw bones can take that away, I will be happy.

CT Girl

A back may be easier for them to start with. Smaller bones that crunch readily. When they have that down chicken or turkey necks are great. It is well worth it as you will quickly see a noticeable difference in their teeth. I try to give a bone at least every third day.

Quossum

Congrats on taking the plunge!

Mine eat raw all the time, so I can't comment on minimum frequency for clean teeth, but I can tell you that the "bonier" cuts are the most effective for that purpose: chicken backs and, for the more experienced raw dog, pork neck bones. (Though they can be completely consumed, pork neck bones are hard and quite a chewing experience, which is why I recommend them for dogs used to raw and whose systems are "used to" digesting the bone.)

A lot of people like to give chicken feet for the cartilage in them; it's supposed to be beneficial to the joints.

Good luck! Keep it going!

--Q

Carley's Mom

I don't think I could find chicken backs here. I guess I could buy a whole chicken and cut it up. Is that what you mean? Thanks.

CT Girl

I couldn't find chicken backs around me so I cut them up myself - the first time with a cleaver which is way too hard; I have found kitchen shears work better. If you have a good butcher around you he may do it for you. I only did the chicken backs a few times to help Swizzle get the hang of eating RMB. After that I mainly feed chicken and turkey necks which may be too challenging to your dog before he has eaten a few meaty bones and gotten the hang of it. Swizzle caught on quickly and devours his bones. I find it amazing that I never see a trace of bone in his poop. I always take the skin off; I don't see the need for all that fat. I do think if your dog is reluctant they may need to have it offered a few times to get over the fear of trying something new. If you are offering something too big that may put your dog off it also. I gave Swizzle half a chicken back - a whole one would have been too much. Once they catch on they love it. Swizzle quivers with happiness when he gets a RMB; it is adorable.

Mallhopper

Oh wow! Carley's Mom...I thought you were going to be my partner in crime and hold off on the bones! haha I just can't do it yet...he's just a babyyy! haha

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Bentley