Chicken Bones and Raw Meat ??

[Charlotte]

Hi Witchdr~~
Congrats on deciding to feed a BARF diet. :D
Dakota will thank you for it :D
I've read the article on feeding raw and the dangers associated with it and I have to say that I've never had a problem with feeding my 2 yr. old Sigmund a BARF diet. Dogs digestive systems are shorter than ours and they can handle eating raw meat.
Still, I take every precaution when handling the raw meat and wash his bowls and all untensils with bowling soapy water and apple cider vinegar after each meal.
There are a number of great books and sites that can help you to get started with this new diet.
Dr. Ian Billinghurst's book, "Give your dog a bone" is a great start and is very informative as well.
As for grinding the RMB's, we grind them for our four cats as they won't eat them otherwise and have had no problem with that.
The Maverick grinder works great and there are some butchers that will grind the meat for you if don't wish to do so yourself. Some charge a little extra but it makes for less mess in the house when doing it yourself.
Personally, I would never feed cooked bones of any kind to my dog or cats. Cooking them makes it easier for them to splinter and most problems with bones happen because of this.
It sounds like you've done alot of research into feeding a BARF diet and I know for me, it's the best choice I've made for all of my animals.
They are all doing fantastically well on the diet. :D
I hope this has helped a little.
Charlotte &
Sigmund, German, brindle, docked tail, natural ears 17/7/99

 

[danelle]

I was always told when I was growing up to never give a dog raw meat period. Simply because they will get the taste for blood? Anyone ever experienced that?

 

[Starfish]

Originally posted by danelle
I was always told when I was growing up to never give a dog raw meat period. Simply because they will get the taste for blood? Anyone ever experienced that?

Myth.

 

[tingoddess]

A taste for blood? Ever had a cannibal sandwich or a rare steak? Did you feel like going out and biting the cow? A dog is not going to associate raw meat with it's source other than that it came from you, his loving owner. People have been passing on this silly urban legend for years.
My only concern with this type of diet is making sure that the ratio's of nutrients are correct. As has been mentioned, a wolf eats the whole animal, this includes the contents of the stomach and intestines which usually contain plant and veggie matter. Dogs are not complete carnivores, they are more like oppertunistic feeders.
Wishing you the best in your quest for knowledge.:p

 

[danelle]

When I was very young I was bitten in the face by a dog that was fed raw meat. A totally unprovoked incident that may or may not have had something to do with what he ate.:(
But knowledge is something we obtain when we ask questions. But my hats off to anyone who is BARFing their dogs, your much braver than I.....