Hello,

I really need your help.  My Old English Sheepdog is 4 months old and he has just taken raw chicken from the worktop and eaten it whilst my back was turned.  I knew he could reach the worktop so i am also really annoyed with myself for putting it in his reach.  I am concerned it will make him ill because of his age (will his stomach be able to digest it?) and the fact it is raw chicken.  He was making funny coughing noises when i caught him with the packet in his mouth.  I would appreciate any advice to put my mind at rest.

Thanks

My dogs were weaned from 5 weeks old on raw chicken wings(among other things)...don't worry its good for them!!!!!!!
Archer

Thanks for that advice.  I can put my mobile down now (with the vet's number ready to dial!!).  I'm afriad I am an over anxious first time mother!!!

All my dogs are fed raw chicken regularly....they love nothing better than a chicken wing to chew on! They even eat them frozen if its hot!...doggy ice lollies!!!
Archer

Would have been a worry if it had been cooked but raw the only problem you are likely to have is what to have for supper.

Jackie H,

About the supper, that is very true.  Had to resort to the frozen meals! Lol

Thats OK then, :) she did you a favour now your will be able to watch the football ;)

That's a favour??!! :D

So what other raw food can dogs eat apart from chicken wings, and is raw food better for dogs than dried food.  Also do you give the chicken wings complete with the bones left in.

Yes chicken wings complete with bone!!Mine also eat
tripe
beef
lamb
raw eggs
pigs trotters
fruit and veg
any bone apart from cow or sheep wieght bearing bones ie leg...although large knuckle bones can be used for recreational purposes.
offal...heart,liver,kidney

IMO raw is better than other foods....its more natural with no additives etc.Its not for everyone though since it does take a bit more time and effort than ready made dog foods.
I have been feeding BARF for about 2 months now and the dogs have never looked better in there lives.They are calmer and produce lss waste(which is also less smelly)
It also works out cheaper for me...was costing approx £10 a week to feed my 4 before..now costs me 60-80p per day!!
Archer

Hi Archer

My sister feeds her dobe on barf and without wishing to sound obsessed with poo :D they turn white with a day or so and are almost completely disintegrated within a week.  We recon that because of all the preservatives put in dog food nowadays the poo stays around for months!! that our theory anyway.  I feed mine on burns at the mo, but I might look into barf.

Hi storm
have a look at the Landywoods website...apart from supplying my dog food I found their site very informative
Archer

Thanks a lot for that, I'll have a look now.

Hi Archer,

So if I wanted to start feeding my dog raw food, would I have to introduce it gradually over a couple of weeks like you do if you were changing the dry food.  I am feeding my lab on Burns at the moment, but I would like to start feeding him on raw as suggested by you.

Thanks for any help Jules

No...you can do it 'cold turkey'...its not like changing onto another processed food.
There are several good sites and books for BARF...sure someone will be able to do some links...
I am more than pleased with it..I appreciate its not for everyone but its soooo much easier than I expected!!and the dogs love it.
Archer

www.landywoodpetfoods.co.uk

archer why dont u feed those certain bones

Because ,being weight bearing, they are more dense. Cow leg bones though are good for medium / larger dogs to knaw on to clean teeth and as a recreational 'food' and smaller bones the same for smaller dogs.
Archer

Hello again Archer, sorry for being a nuisance, I have had a quick look at the website,  so for say one meal would you have to give raw meat along with vegetables????  I am a little confused as to how much raw and how much vegetables I would have to give him?

Jules

jules
I don't feed a veg meal...I fed a meat and veg mix from landywoods and also feed tripe which has a certain quantity of digested 'green matter' nutrients still in it from the cow.My boys also get various fruit and veg 'titbits' if and when they're available.
I am thinking of getting a juicer so that I can pulp some friut and veg but I will mix it with tinned fish.
The main thing to remember is that not every days diet has to be balanced...you should achieve a balance over 3 or 4 weeks.
Archer
ps...no problem...no expert but willing to help if I can.

I've had a look at the website and I have to say I'm impressed, and they deliver in my area too. Thanks Archer for that info, just one more question on the matter is how long does it take them to eat the chicken wings?  I ask because I have four dogs who get fed at the same time and I don't want to run the risk of a fight breaking out.  Obvously its not a major concern but I was just wondering.
Thanks again

storm.
how long to eat a chicken wing...oh boy how longs a peice of string.I have one elkhound who has maybe 4 'chomps' on a wing and its gone...5 ecs at most...and another who takes maybe 30 seconds.I also have a shiba and a 4 month old elk who make the most of them and take up to 5 minutes!!
When you first feed wings I would suggest you give them as a treat....one at a time.....and don't worry if they 'regurgitate' them...some dogs take a few times to get the hang of it....they won't come to any harm and they'll soon learn..
Archer

Thanks Archer I will get onto that website now. Jules

Hi Archer,
You say you weaned 5 week old pups on raw, could you please tell me what breed, and what food did they actually eat. My singleton pup is 7 weeks. I found her quite difficult to wean as mum had plenty milk and she would rather just have that. Because she'll be going to a new home, I didn't really want to feed her raw, like my other 3 SBT. But I have gradually slipped into it anyway. She started on raw mince as that was the only decent meal I could get down her. She now has the tips of chicken wings, chicken meat, mince, veg pulp with raw eggs etc, and I've just tried her on heart, oh yes and she's had a bit of tinned fish, which was in oil as she won't have it in tomato sauce. Is that enough. She doesn't seem to be able to manage any other type of bone yet, she does try but maybe her teeth aren't strong enough. Can she have tripe yet. Did you give supplements to your young pups, if so what do you reccommend. Do you feed supplements to your adult dogs, I don't as yet, but have been advised by people that it is best to give FBO and vit E.

Mitch

Hi Mitch
No I didn't wean...my dogs were weaned on raw by their breeder....sorry if it didn't read right!!
No I don't feed and suppliments in the way of vitamins etc but I do feed a little 'easy green' from dorwest
Archer

Archer sorry me again.
What is easy green, and whats it for.

Mitch

easy green.....
says on tub...the easy way to ensure your animal gains all the benefits from feeding these essential green leafed plants without the hassel and time involved in preparing them yourself.
Ingredients......
          40% spinach
          40% parsley
          20% watercress
www.dorwest.co.uk
I only use about 1/2 of the recommended amount.I bought a 500 g tub at the beginning of may and I've used about 1/3....4 dogs.
Archer   

I`m just weaning my 5wk old pups onto raw & they`re having ch/wings, beef put thru the processor with raw egg mixed in & goats milk with honey & in a couple of days I`ll try them with a whole quail :)
My adult dogs get, apart from what archers already listed, raw fish,pork, trotters, rabbit, chicken legs, whole chickens & lamb rib/breast & neck, beef & pork heart, liver/kidneys now & again. I use a mix of veg & fruit, whatevers in season, put it thru the processor with a clove of garlic per dog & they have a couple of big spoons of that over their meat or fish. It`s a terrific diet for dogs & cats :D

Christine, Spain.

all mine get chicken minced and wings, and i have just started given them to my pup frozen to help with her teething

Do you give your pups supplements Staffie Lover.

Mitch

i give all my 3 a good multi vit, its a powder and goes over there food.  i also feed the pup trip but not a lot and if you give your pup a whole wing i bet she will get though it in a few hours lol,  Grace can eat them in about 3 mins now but she is 15 weeks

Hi Staffie Lover,
Thanks for that, I have given her a whole wing before, and she sits with it for a while, then carries it about, usually inside :(  then I end up finding it left somewhere. Or catch one of the others eating it.
How much would you say yours were eating at 7 weeks, per day or per meal.
Going to sound thick now, but is the multi vit, especially for dogs, or is it for humans. and how much do you give.

Mitch.

hi Mitch
as the wings i have to put Grace in her crate as she will also carry it around for a bit or until her father pinches it of her lol.

i could not tell you how much they were eating at 7 weeks sorry as i feed them as a group with a large puppy dish, if 1 was being pushed out i would put some asaid for it. i woul dnot worrie as long as she was still putting weight on.  (a good sign for a well feed pup is the first time they walk way from the food they should be mostly full, any after that is just gready)

the multi vit is for dogs and i got it from the vet but he told me that you can get it at most pet shops in powder or tablet (the powder is cheeper £5 the tablet is £17 i think for the same amount!) you work it out by the weight of the dog (but my vet said to use a little less) and he also told me that a human 1 will be ok as long as it was a good 1, (what he said was starts at the top of the packet and ends at the bottom lol) which ment the list of vits

Most vitamin mixes are synthetic; natural ones cost more but they are at least twice as bio-available to the dogs.

To be honest a good raw diet will provide all the vitamins a dog needs (especially A, B, D) although as I always supplement with FBO (for EFAs and Omega 3s which ALL diets, raw, cooked or commercial, human or dog, are deficient in) I also include 400 iu of Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol).  I also add 1000mg of Vitamin C as Ester C with bioflavonoids (again as it is the most assimilable of the types of Vitamin C).

I have fed raw chicken to my pups from 4 weeks of age.  Apart from being a bit full he should come to no harm at all.  In fact many people base their dogs feeding on raw poultry with bone in such as chicken wings and backs.  :D

my lurcher was eating raw chicken at 6 weeks old...... the only reason i wasnt feeding him whole carcasses was because he was physically too small to manage them, not a problem for an OES though!

I dont add vit supplements, i use fresh veg, blended, and occasionally add keepers mix or kelp powder when i feel like it. Other than that, they eat chicken, turkey, beef and the skinny orange dog is on an extra meal of fat belly pork to get her weight up, sardines, veg, tripe liver whatever else i find, and stuff next door gives me and the odd human scraps.

Em