Raw reassurance please??

[jaybee]

We just got back from the puppy party at the vet, who during the little talk bit had a little rant about how giving dogs any bone, raw or cooked, was an horrendous idea and if they ate one they would have to be surgically removed. Now, after careful consideration and reading up on everything, we've decided to try and move onto raw feeding. He's been having chicken wings, loving them, and we really thought by making this decision we were doing something for the benefit of our dog. But what she said really scared me. And of course we came away with all the free samples of kibbles and wet food. Is this a common thing for some vets to say??

[MaggieR]

In a word yes!  A lot of, if not most vets, will try to discredit raw feeding completely. 

[jaybee]

thank you! i know deep down that i would not continue with anything that was hurting or harming him in any way, so to hear someone lambast something i'm doing so relentlessly just made me feel  and now my OH is really worried about what we're doing too. It has irritated me 

[Karma]

Yes, a lot of vets know nothing about raw feeding.
Honey has been eating raw meat and bones for 4 years, and none have needed to be surgically removed.   

Vets don't actually receive much training in diet and nutrition so, unless it is something they have a personal interest in, it's a bit like seeing your GP about physiotherapy.  There may have (anecdotally) been rare cases where dogs have had problems with raw bones getting blocked, but there have also been dogs who have choked on kibble.  I read a lot about raw feeding, and have read the horror stories along with the benefits, and continue to feel that raw meat and bones is the right diet for Honey!
 

[Patp]

I am lucky, my vet supports my decision to feed raw and the nurse at the practice even put me in touch with another of their clients who are breeders feeding raw to their puppies to get further advice.

It is sometimes annoying when they try to push the products they sell onto new pet owners!

Pat

[praia]

There's always a risk in everything you do, but being informed and taking precautions always goes a long way in ensuring safety for our dogs.  My dogs eat raw as well as home cooked and we avoid very dense weight bearing bones to avoid cracked teeth, and very small sharp pointed bones to prevent internal lacerations and blockages.  ALWAYS supervise a dog while they are eating raw meat and bones and I routinely ask my dogs to give up a bone to check on the size and shape of the bone.  Once it gets too small or if they've worn a very sharp edge I take it away.  If you have food aggressive dogs or have not taken the time to train them to easily give up much prized items, you can stick to smaller prey items like chicken or rabbits so you won't have to check the progression of the bone. 

At least where I'm at, vets do not devote much time to nutrition and what classes they are required to take are often taught by people in the pet food industry.  Much of dog nutrition information circulated by vets is researched and funded by the pet food industry as well.    Vets will often get a kick back for promoting and selling certain foods, so it's always best to do your own research on what exactly is in the food you feed, how those ingredients are sourced, and what benefits it has for your dog.  Honestly, I think the ingredient list of most of the dog food sold at vet offices to be horrendous and disgusting. 

[bluegirl]

If you are new to raw feeding you maybe feeling a little nervous especially when people start to point out negatives to the way you wish to feed. As others have said there are risks with everything you do and all foods that are fed, but bones do need careful consideration as they can cause problems at times. If you feel worried about giving chicken wings or thigh bones atm and maybe until you have more confidence you can always put the wing or thigh in a plastic bag and get a hammer and give the bone a good hammering so that all bones will be tiny. The meat will hold the wing or thigh together and just give to the dog, or you can get a pair of pliars and holding the flappy bit of the wing in the pliars you can give other end to your dog  so they have to chew the wing better and only release when they get nearer to the end you are holding (I say pliars as if you try holding on yourself you'll find it very slippy and dog will try to wrestle it off you and also they may be over zealous and chomp down on the end of a finger.

I've been raw feeding for over 9 yrs now and the only problems I've ever encountered are with pups under the age of 8 weeks so unless mother regurgitates I use the hammer method on all bones given to very young dogs.

[jaybee]

Thanks for all your advice.

I am determined to give this my best shot, as Bingley really does seem to love it so far. He has been really good with eating the wings slowly and really chomping on the bone rather than just wolfing it down. I'll bash them up a bit for a little while, it will make my OH feel better if nothing else.

[Patp]

If you feel worried about giving chicken wings or thigh bones atm and maybe until you have more confidence you can always put the wing or thigh in a plastic bag and get a hammer and give the bone a good hammering so that all bones will be tiny.

I still do this because I sometimes worry that Jinley eats her chicken wing too quick to break up the bones with her teeth!  I have no regrets in going onto raw food and you can get alot of advice on here.  It is not as complicated or difficult as you think it is.  I went away for a long weekend a couple of weeks ago and even managed it there, although I had taken some Natures Best just in case!

Pat

[Sharon]

My vet cringes at the thought of raw, especially chicken wings too, as he does Thornit....and natural whelping? well he knows basically nothing, our young vet said he had NEVER seen a natural birth, only performed c-sections, so I listen to what he says and smile.