I have bought Maisie and Billy some lamb ribs having been on various websites which say these are good bones to feed.  I also bought some sprats (which Maisie and one of my cats love).  The dogs are really enjoying the lamb ribs and chewing through them systematically - they are (especially Billy) really enjoying them.  I have to be careful because Maisie is allergic to chicken, duck, pork, dairy and beef. 

Has anybody got any ideas as to how I can incorporate these into a healthy balanced, natural diet?  What about combining bones with Nature's Menu nuggets or Naturediet?

I would just give them as an alternative meal here and there. Mine love ribs cme to that the ones I have atm I have condsidered adding bbq sauce and giving to oh they look so good lol

mine love it minted.

one of mine is apparantly allergic to chicken but he is fine with raw chicken its only when its in dried food that we have a problem.

Sorry if this sounds like a really thick question but are you talking about Sprats, as in the fish? I saw these in Morrisons today and was sure I read somewhere they were ok to feed. Can someone tell me, do you feed them raw whole?or chop certain bits off?Or cook them? Im a complete novice at this...lol :)

I feed sprats whole, only two of mine eat them though, one of mine just took them out of his bowl one by one and spread them all around the room

Sprats are very young herrings. Which might have grown up to be sardines, pilchards etc.
Whole and raw though, some dogs don't regard them as food at first...lol

If you fancy trying Sprats yourself (very good for your Omegas!), may I recommend dipping in beaten egg then cornflour and shallow fryingtil crispy and golden, serve with sweet chilli dipping sauce, salad and crusty brown bread, or some authentic Thai sticky rice (if you can get it or know how to make it). They are traditionally left whole as in whitebait but some people do take off the heads. (My apologies to any vegetarians reading this.)

>If you fancy trying Sprats yourself (very good for your Omegas!), may I recommend dipping in beaten egg then cornflour and shallow fryingtil crispy and golden, serve with sweet chilli dipping sauce, salad and crusty brown bread, or some authentic Thai sticky rice (if you can get it or know how to make it). They are traditionally left whole as in whitebait but some people do take off the heads. (My apologies to any vegetarians reading this.)

Thanks for this I was wondering how humans would eat them (dont think im about to try though, the smell of them raw puts me off !)

Dogs can cope with raw fish perfectly well, I choose not to include it with my two for one very good reason, they usually struggle to keep it down, and bring it back up, then eat it again, then bring it back up, you get the picture, and it's smelly enough the first time you feed it to them.  I will try again in the future with any pup(s) I have to see if they cope ok with raw fish, otherwise they'll get it tinned as a part of their diet. 

Thank you everyone! Mine is very partial to anything fishy,she loves all sorts of fish related dog food so thought I might try her with a Sprat, think Id have to chop the head off though because the eyes freak me out!! lol :) :)

They won't freak your dog out though... just close your eyes and drop it in the dish! :)

> They won't freak your dog out

:-)  :-)  :-)

Haven't had them for many years, but remember as a kid having them, shallow fried, and really crisped up, they were sooo tasty.  My dad loved them.

Very true, I dont think Evie would even be looking at the head/eyes! I will just have to shut mine while I put it in the dish, they make me shudder!! :) :)

Yes.  Mine were from Morrisons too.  I feed them the whole thing!  Billy does not like them though!!

Mine like them as a snack, and in summer had them frozen.

They won't touch sprats in this house! I don't know why, they'll eat flaked white fish, but not the whole thing! To be honest I haven't tried again recently, I hate having to handle raw fish! They get tinned. :)

Where do u get sprats from? Checked out my local supermarkets and can't find them.

Morrisons is the only place ive ever seen them.

Try any fishmongers, or fish stalls in farmers markets, or ask any supermarket that has a wet-fish display.