Although Nellie isn't actually fed RAW - not yet anyway - I have increasingly read that knawing and chewing on raw meaty bones is great for her teeth, builds muscle, and will give her a little extra calcium.  So I took the plunge today and asked the butcher for a small bone (and he took great amusement in pretending to charge me a fiver for it).

I gave it to Nellie out in the garden, and she was really weird about it - she was intrigued but a little bit spooked, she didn't seem to like the smell and kept walking away, but was drawn to it nonetheless and walked around it in circles.  Eventually she sussed that it tasted gooood, last time I looked she was standing on her front paws, knawing away with her hind feet waggling in the air!

She's been at it now for nearly an hour.  I'm glad she likes them.......but is this a good thing to do for her occasionally, say as a once per week thing for now?  Whats the worst that could happen - I guess she could get runny poos, as she's not used to raw meat?

What d'you think?

Ta!

> Whats the worst that could happen

Sore jaws :) Take it away every so often as her jaws may start to ache !!

Mine have raw bones most days,but are seasoned pros and usually decide when they have had enough.I do keep an eye on them and throw away any small bits that they have chewed off.This time of the year I keep a store in the freezer and give them a frozen one to gnaw on.I throw away bones that look past it,I hate maggots!!Usually these are the bones that for some reason they have tired of.Loved bones are stripped clean and are taken to their kennel like prized treasure.Chicken wings and carcasses are enjoyed by mine as well.I find with BARF there is very,very little poo.What we do have is very dry and powdery.

Well, so far so good.......she kept at it all evening, with one or two breaks to have a drink and rest her jaws, and it was fairly well stripped when she finally came indoors.  I wrapped it up in a bag and tucked it away overnight - I've just offered it to her again after we came back from our walk, and she had a quick pick but wasn't too fussed.

The main thing is that her poos are the same as normal today, no change at all (except perhaps the colour!)!!  So no adverse effects in the digestion department, excellent (I read that some dogs stomachs get upset when they first have raw).

Next time, raw chicken wings I think!

Oh just given mine their chicken wings for the day and a fresh bone out of the freezer.

My dog loves the chicken wings (and drumsticks).  They're so cheap too!  His teeth are kept beautifully clean.  He has them every second day, because I don't feed 100% raw (I know I should take the plunge).  But he seems happy on the diet he has and his coat is very healthy.