Jude's first meal. Vid :) And a hello!

[bcjude2009]

First off, sending a hello to everyone. I'm new from atlantic Canada with my almost 2 year old Jude. He's been 1/4 raw and 3/4 kibble fed and made the full switch today.(He had the weekly meat meal, and snacks without bone) I've always been scared of the bone thing and just couldn't do it. He had a bad allergy on his neck and lately he is always rubbing his face and I'm sure something is bothering him itchyness/allergy wise so I though why not start today!

He had a pound of chicken legs (2 legs). There was nothing at our small grocery store, so I'll stock up next time I'm in town. I don't know the bone to meat ratio on chicken, was this ok? He seemed to be chewing fine, except at the end he had everything in his mouth and he was chewing everything forever and then seemed to just gulp it all down. This normal?

Here he is having a wonderful supper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f_higoARWY

I'm a lot less worried now, but still a bit apprehensive. Watching him like a hawk.

Edit: ahhhh, worries!! I just found this online. "DO NOT FEED CHICKEN LEGS AND THIGHS AS THOSE BONES ARE TOO LARGE FOR DOGS TO CHEW WITHOUT SPLINTERING. TURKEY WINGS ARE OFTEN TOO BIG A BONE. " at http://www.perfectpooches.com/b_a_r_f_.htm I'm slightly worried now! But I also remember reading several lists that said all parts of the chicken were fine...

So much conflicting information!

Also.. He won't eat liver, I have tried it many times. Can I mix it with some natural baby food, either the meat or meat and vegi one [green beans and carrots]. It's pulped obviously, and the ingredients are only the meat or the meat and vegi. Nothing else added.

[DaneMama]

It's perfectly safe. Don't panic. Most of us raw feeders give chicken leg quarters on a regular basis without issue. Raw chicken bones are highly digestible.

Most dogs don't like organ meat like liver. You can try feeding it frozen, mincing it and feeding it mixed with something else, or searing it lightly but not cooking it straight through. I've found the shove method to be the easiest...open their mouth and shove it down! But I wouldn't add in liver or any other organ meat for a few months after being in full raw. Please read through the link in my signature at the bottom of the post to learn more about switching to a raw diet!

[BRT]

cool video! he eats just as fast as mine does!

[Tekoah]

*Natalie - yes, we'll meet up in Cranbrook one day - puppy play date day!

Welcome bcjude!

What part of Atlantic Canada are you from? I'm out here in BC
I just wanted to reinstate what danemama had said; don't panic! If it helps (besides reading testimonials here) I used to feed our dogs whole chickens and many other whole carcasses without issue for nearly 2 decades.

I've assisted in more surgeries for blockages due to foreign objects such a socks, nylons, synthetic bones, pigs ears and raw hide chews WAY more than bones, and when it was a blockage due to bone, the bone had been cooked previously.

Your dog looks big enough and is slowly chewing his meal, so you have a much better chance at him chewing it thoroughly rather than 'wolfing' it back.

In regards to liver, I have found that freezing it has done the trick with those finicky ones that I had. I never had to get creative to feed, so I can count myself lucky but I do believe it gets some getting used to for the dogs. My dogs are just being reintroduced back to raw after a HUGE hiatus, and another of mine is just starting raw now (and thinks he died and went to heaven, I swear!). My two older dogs who I had bottlefed, were both started raw when weanlings and they seem to have more issues with beginning that diet again. But the two who had never been introduced to it love it!

I'm happy you decided to make the switch - good for you, your dog will surely thank you for it!!

[Tekoah]

cool video! he eats just as fast as mine does!

BRT, is that fast?! Wow, I wish I had taped my guys eating ... You'd have run for the hills, LOL!

[bcjude2009]

What part of Atlantic Canada are you from?

I've assisted in more surgeries for blockages due to foreign objects such a socks, nylons, synthetic bones, pigs ears and raw hide chews WAY more than bones, and when it was a blockage due to bone, the bone had been cooked previously.

This makes me feel lots better, you hear those horror stories, but it's nice to see someone who's actual seen the percentages of it.

I'm from newfoundland!

[BRT]

BRT, is that fast?! Wow, I wish I had taped my guys eating ... You'd have run for the hills, LOL!

For me is superfast because my puppy is just 5 months old and is starting on meaty bones.

[schtuffy]

Great video, Jude's expression is priceless! He did awesome for his first time It took mine 45 minutes to finish his first raw chicken wing.

[schtuffy]

So much conflicting information!

Also.. He won't eat liver, I have tried it many times. Can I mix it with some natural baby food, either the meat or meat and vegi one [green beans and carrots]. It's pulped obviously, and the ingredients are only the meat or the meat and vegi. Nothing else added.

Unfortunately, the internet is full of misleading information!

Since you have to start small with organs, I used to feed a dime-sized sliver of liver (rhyme, lolz!) on top of a small amount of peanut butter in my palm. My dog couldn't resist and licked it right up. He refused it otherwise, even frozen. I only had to do it this way a couple of times. Now he eats 1-inch chunks frozen, no fuss

[bcjude2009]

Unfortunately, the internet is full of misleading information!

Since you have to start small with organs, I used to feed a dime-sized sliver of liver (rhyme, lolz!) on top of a small amount of peanut butter in my palm. My dog couldn't resist and licked it right up. He refused it otherwise, even frozen. I only had to do it this way a couple of times. Now he eats 1-inch chunks frozen, no fuss

Great Idea! He loves PB!! I'll definetely employ that when liver time comes