Can I feed necks?

[Lego&Jacub]

It's been awhile since I posted anything. But I'm wondering if I can feed raw turkey or chicken necks to my 7.5 mo. old pup who is fed Innova LBD kibble?

[johnwa]

Related and somewhat related...
<a href = "http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7601">thread</a>
<a href = "http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7639">thread</a>
<a href = "http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5566">thread</a>

[Lego&Jacub]

Thanks! That helps!

[Peter]

Bentley is 14 weeks and I've fed him raw chicken backs & necks, turkey necks, all the parts in a cornish game hen, all the parts of a rabbit and Primal formula raw dog food. I've had no problems. FWIW, I think the chicken necks are too small and can be swallowed whole, and while others here might disagree with me, I don't think it's a good idea for the dogs to swallow whole bones. The turkey necks, at least in my opinion, are better because they're larger and require much chewing.

[johnwa]

Peter, you are quickly becoming a raw feeding connoisseur extraordinaire! :)

[Peter]

Peter, you are quickly becoming a raw feeding connoisseur extraordinaire! :)

I don't know about the Connoisseur part (lol), but I'm beginning to believe in raw feeding and I continue to feed Primal (a raw food formula) because it's convenient. I admit it wasn't easy watching my pup eat raw chicken for the first time...I was was taught bones and raw meat could cause a pup/dog harm and I was concerned about parasites, bacteria and so forth. Now I provide Bentley with raw rabbit, chicken backs, cornish game hens, turkey necks, Primal, raw veggies and have no hesitations. I do admit to watching him eat just in case a bone causes a problem swallowing and so forth.

Most evidence for RAW is anecdotal but since the pet food scare I'm grateful I took the RAW plunge from the time Bentley was adopted at 7.5 weeks. Clearly, going RAW hasn't caused any problems with Bentley and he's growing without getting fat, no skin problems and so forth.

I don't see myself as a RAW fanatic but I now question the wisdom of "one kibble fits all needs" theory. At least for me and my pup, RAW makes sense and is working well. Frankly, I wish I had gone RAW with our other dogs over the years.

By the way this forum and the kind and thoughtful people posting on it deserve much credit in getting me to think RAW. My thanks goes out to Sandra who helped me a great deal...and thanks to you John for providing this forum.

[Sandra]

I don't know about the Connoisseur part (lol), but I'm beginning to believe in raw feeding and I continue to feed Primal (a raw food formula) because it's convenient. I admit it wasn't easy watching my pup eat raw chicken for the first time...I was was taught bones and raw meat could cause a pup/dog harm and I was concerned about parasites, bacteria and so forth. Now I provide Bentley with raw rabbit, chicken backs, cornish game hens, turkey necks, Primal, raw veggies and have no hesitations. I do admit to watching him eat just in case a bone causes a problem swallowing and so forth.

Most evidence for RAW is anecdotal but since the pet food scare I'm grateful I took the RAW plunge from the time Bentley was adopted at 7.5 weeks. Clearly, going RAW hasn't caused any problems with Bentley and he's growing without getting fat, no skin problems and so forth.

I don't see myself as a RAW fanatic but I now question the wisdom of "one kibble fits all needs" theory. At least for me and my pup, RAW makes sense and is working well. Frankly, I wish I had gone RAW with our other dogs over the years.

By the way this forum and the kind and thoughtful people posting on it deserve much credit in getting me to think RAW. My thanks goes out to Sandra who helped me a great deal...and thanks to you John for providing this forum.

Very nice of you to thank me, Peter. But I do not want thanks and credits, just wanna help providing good information on the real nutrition needs of a dog.
This line:
Frankly, I wish I had gone RAW with our other dogs over the years.

Know what you mean by this.....unfortunately...

Yourself has to be the one to thank. You did yourself a GREAT JOB! :434

[Peter]

Very nice of you to thank me, Peter. But I do not want thanks and credits, just wanna help providing good information on the real nutrition needs of a dog.


Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, we need a push in the right direction. Candidly, Sandra, you provided the push I needed to go full RAW a step beyond Primal. I was leaning RAW, evidenced by my initial start on Primal, and did much research on feeding RAW prior to registering on this site. Truth is while I was "leaning" I did need a push and you provided that, and I'm thankful. And, of course, this site is terrific.

While I understand RAW is not for everyone's pet, I'm convinced it's best for my pup and my experience supports that conclusion. I remain loyal to Primal since it provides convenience and a variety of antibiotic/steriod free meats with veggies along with chicken necks/backs, turkey necks, and recreational meat bones, although I now include a variety of fresh raw meaty bones from a trusted butcher. I haven't included fish in Bentley's menu but I plan to do so soon.

[Jo Ellen]

I'm glad to hear that, Peter, about the fish. I just gave Daisy a whole raw rainbow trout for dinner this evening. She knew exactly what to do with it :) She sure does love her fish.

You can find whole fish in the fish section of your grocery store. If they don't have whole mackeral, you can ask them to order you some. I buy Daisy the Boston mackeral, it's smaller than the Spanish mackeral. When I first started with the mackeral, I didn't specify and I ended up with Spanish mackeral that cost about $25/fish !! :laugh2

[Peter]

Thank you for the tip on spanish mackeral. At $25 a fish I understand why it's so expensive as Sushi...which I enjoy.

[Elwood'smom]

Bentley is 14 weeks and I've fed him raw chicken backs & necks, turkey necks, all the parts in a cornish game hen, all the parts of a rabbit and Primal formula raw dog food. I've had no problems. FWIW, I think the chicken necks are too small and can be swallowed whole, and while others here might disagree with me, I don't think it's a good idea for the dogs to swallow whole bones. The turkey necks, at least in my opinion, are better because they're larger and require much chewing.

I would definetely say the same. Chicken necks are WAY too small for goldens and unless they are really good at chewing can swallow them whole. My lab eats the chicken backs, and necks and chews really well, but they are so small it doesn't really seem to satisfy her as much as a leg quarter does. Turkey necks are bigger and require more chewing but I find sometimes they cause my dogs to get constipated (may just be my two but I'm just giving my experience with the turkey necks).

[elvira]

I went to the market at the end of the day and received salmon heads and back for free. Nelson Loved it. Zingaro doens't eat fish unfortunetely. I give them sometimes sardines.

[Daniela (UK)]

Funny that, Molly doesn't like fish either.. it really bugs me because it's so good for her and well.. I LOVE fish :D

I tried all sorts of different ones and tried 'hiding' it in her bowl but she is not too keen... she loves it cooked though. I think it's the consistency of raw fish.. she is sooo fussy it's unbelievable!

[elvira]

Funny that, Molly doesn't like fish either.. it really bugs me because it's so good for her and well.. I LOVE fish :D

I tried all sorts of different ones and tried 'hiding' it in her bowl but she is not too keen... she loves it cooked though. I think it's the consistency of raw fish.. she is sooo fussy it's unbelievable!

I think Zingaro has hurt himself on a fishbone. He has eaten sardines and doesn't want them anymore. I gave Nelson fish as a puppy, I think that makes it easier. What they eat as a puppy, they eat as an adult. (although, for me he isn't an adult jet with 20 months).