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Post by AnnaAmber on Mar 24, 2013 21:55:57 GMT
What do you think about raw bones for dogs? Our dog Amber's teeth are pretty clean at the moment (although could be better) we have tried brushing her teeth but she doesn't really co-operate and also tried using Petzlife gel that we saw at Crufts, despite getting the salmon flavour she hates it and it makes her drool if we try and use it, so not much use at all really! I don't want her to have to go to the vets though to get her teeth cleaned in later years if we can help it.I know lots of people talk about raw bones are good for their teeth. Does this work? Also we tried giving Amber rawhide once but she choked on them so we have stopped, are they likely to choke on a raw bone?If we did go for them, what types of raw bones would you recommend? Or any other ideas on different chews/products that would be good for her teeth?Thanks in advance
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Post by bextull on Mar 24, 2013 22:40:23 GMT
As a raw feeder my dog gets bones almost daily. I'v had to remove a chunk of rawhide from down his throat before, but never raw bones.
I give anything from meatless chicken bones to pig trotters. Pig trotters are brilliant for teeth cleaning but they are very boney so if you give one of these be sure to feed it in sessions, freeze it when you arent using it. Although they are tough to chew, so it takes some time, especially for unexperienced dogs.
Raw ribs, pork, lamb etc, are good too.
I wouldn't touch beef bones, far to dense and I'd like Oscar to keep all his teeth. But plent of people do give them, just for a leisurly chew but not for my dog because of how he eats them.
Remember, never feed cooked bones and always supervise while bones are out.
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Post by bextull on Mar 24, 2013 22:41:28 GMT
And stagbars!!! Best chews ever!! They dont splinter, break or smell!
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Post by Rubyroo11 on Mar 24, 2013 23:09:24 GMT
I too am a raw feeder so my dogs get bones as part of their diet. In fact tonight they had venison necks which gave them a good work out and they are all now zonked and snoring!
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Post by charlottte on Mar 25, 2013 8:20:30 GMT
I don't feed bones because Jasper guards certain things and gulps if you go near him -we're working on it. I can usually get him to trade anything for a bit of cheese I'd like to give him bones as I KNOW he'd like them. The problem is that he would drag it all over the carpet and wouldn't stay on a blanket. Our Lab used to get bones but he'd take them out into the garden rain or shine, so that wasn't an issue!
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Post by AnnaAmber on Mar 25, 2013 10:19:37 GMT
Thank you everyone, I think I'll give raw bones a try. (Just need to convince my parents : Just a few more questions! Do they actually eat the bone or just chew on it? How long does a bone last? Do I leave her with it for a little while and then remove it for another day? Can I go into a butcher and ask for one? Or should I order it from a raw pet food company? Our pet shop only does cooked bones as far as I am aware. Thanks again
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Post by bextull on Mar 25, 2013 10:58:31 GMT
Thank you everyone, I think I'll give raw bones a try. (Just need to convince my parents : Just a few more questions! Do they actually eat the bone or just chew on it? Eat it, usually but I suppose it depends on the bone.How long does a bone last? It also depends on the bone. A chicken leg might only last 2 minutes, but a pig trotter can last anywhere from 30mins to an hour, but thats when Oscar gets them as a meal, not just a chew. If you gave a pig trotter you could give it for 15 minutes at a time or something like that, then it might last you some time.Do I leave her with it for a little while and then remove it for another day? I would, if not then constipation could a problem the next dayCan I go into a butcher and ask for one? Thats what I do. I get bags of scraps weekly. Or should I order it from a raw pet food company? That might be best for the first time. Then you can order a specific bone, rather than the luck of the draw from the butchers. I don't get stuff from suppliers but I am sure somebody can point you towards one with some nice bones.
Our pet shop only does cooked bones as far as I am aware. Thanks again
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Post by julie72 on Mar 25, 2013 11:36:31 GMT
Hi annaamber
Our two live off raw meaty bones amongst other meaty bits. Amber looks like a big girl and ours are way smaller but the biggest one, kidder, weighs around 13kg. Neither dogs have recreational bones, they have them as their actual meals.
Kidder always eats slabs of pork ribs the slowest. The shape of the slab is wide and flat so you may find this would work well for amber? You can usually pick up slabs from the supermarket easily so no need to go out of your way or pay anybody postage. British pork doesn't need to be frozen first and you can easily cut it in half or feed the whole thing depending on what would make a good meal size for amber. The shape also means you can hang on to one end while she crunches down on the other which will slow her down. If you give her a meal sized slab and use it as a usual meal replacement rather than a treat it may work best?
If you normally feed twice a day then obviously one meal would be half a days allowance. For say a 30kg dog I would estimate a single meal size as around 300g (based on 600g a day which would be equivalent to feeding 2% of body weight daily). A 300g pork rib slab will look quite large as they are relatively light for the size I think.
Remember you can never eliminate the risk of choking with any food. I have heard stories of dogs choking on kibble. Just last year a dog across the road from me choked to death on a simple dog biscuit!!!! Never leave them with a bone or rawhide unattended, but you said you have experience there so you will already know about that.
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Post by AnnaAmber on Mar 25, 2013 12:12:49 GMT
Thanks everyone for all the information!
I've found places online where I could get a leg of venison, lamb spine and similar. Or I may just get some from the supermarket or butcher.
What is best to start her off on? Anything particularly good?
Most raw food companies seem to do Beef - is any type of beef chew OK or are we better to completely avoid them?
Wasn't really planning to feed her raw as a meal, more as a chew/treat but I suppose it's worth considering! Even just a few times a week to give her a raw meal.
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Post by bextull on Mar 25, 2013 12:19:45 GMT
Well I avoid any beef bones myself, but Oscar is much smaller than your Amber. I know people with larger dogs, similar to Amber that feed beef bones with no problems. Beef bones shouldn't really be eaten though, more for gnawing really. If I were you I think I'd give either the venison leg or the lamb a try. I've fed lamb necks and spines before but never venison though.
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Post by caz2golden on Mar 25, 2013 18:46:28 GMT
I have not done the raw bones yet I can say my younger dog likes deer antlers. My youngest prefers the softer fallow over the tougher red deer (though I did go for the tough chews and now wish I had got a normal red deer one) www.antlerdogchews.co.uk/ www.puredog.co.uk/
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Post by BorderTerrier on Mar 25, 2013 19:54:10 GMT
I do know a lot of raw bones can splinter... I've heard that rawhide is the worst??
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Post by bextull on Mar 25, 2013 20:04:31 GMT
I do know a lot of raw bones can splinter... I've heard that rawhide is the worst?? Any bone is a choking hazard, not just raw, in fact raw bones are much less likely to break or splinter than cooked bones. Rawhide, splinter?
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Post by AnnaAmber on Mar 25, 2013 22:20:22 GMT
Thanks again everyone for all the info on raw bones. I'm going to get some and give them a try. Overall I think they sound just right for Amber, I'm sure she'll LOVE them!!! I'll let you know how she gets on I have her a few antler chews, although she's not too bothered for them, but Bramble loves them I know Amber has had rawhide a few times and she has choked on them, we managed to get her to throw the piece back up but I wouldn't be getting them for her again. (It helped that I had read Your Dog Magazine's article on choking a few weeks before) Never heard of them splintering though? Since finding out about raw bones I'm really tempted to trial Amber on raw food too! I found out there is a Natures Menu stockist up the road so that's perfect Now just need to convince my parents that raw is going to be the best for Amber, at least it helps that it is cheaper than her normal kibble!!
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Post by bextull on Mar 25, 2013 22:34:38 GMT
While its great you are thinking of raw feeding, please do your research first. Smokeybears thread is a good place to start, along with a good book.
Natures menu isn't the best stuff. Quite a few of their foods have grains in and are mixed protein sources, the latter is ok but when starting out it could cause tummy upsets and so on. Their meat isnt the best quality either, its ok but i wouldn't use it long term myself.
There are lots of online suppliers though. If your on FB there is a raw feeding group I am a member of and they are just brilliant, I'll give you the link if you want it.
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