Chicken Wings

[tigs71]

Mason has been on part raw food for a few weeks now and he is loving it 

I really want to try him on chicken wings but I am terrified he will choke as he eats so fast (I timed him and he eats half a pack of Natures Menu in 50 seconds  ).

Can anyone offer any advice to put my mind at rest?  I want to get him onto the bones but my fear is holding me (and him) back 

[Sian P]

Murphy is a fast eater but he loves crunching on a bone. I do keep an eye on him but never had a problem so far. I think some people bash the wing up a little to help. You might find that as it is a new food, Mason will take his time investigating it anyway!! There are so many people on COL successfully feeding bones so that gave me the confidence to give it a go and I'm glad I did. 

[tigs71]

Thanks Sian 

Any idea how many I should feed and how often? - he is almost 16 weeks old

[eljaybee1956]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

[Sian P]

i don't feed a completely BARF diet so I'll leave the details to the experts!! I just give a wing once or twice a week to help clean his teeth. I think you are supposed to avoid weight bearing bones and yes they must be raw so they don't splinter.

[Sharon]

All my pups have chicken wings from around 4 weeks of age, I don't bash them or anything and by the time they are 6 weeks they demolish them in no time, obviously I don't leave them unattended, I normally give a couple a week.

[joanne_v]

The first couple of times you give him a wing try holding on to one end while he chews on the other, that should stop him from bolting it or swallowing it whole (sorry this is Nicola by the way, not Jo )

[Joules]

The first couple of times you give him a wing try holding on to one end while he chews on the other, that should stop him from bolting it or swallowing it whole

You can do this the first few times - I also bashed them with a rolling pin to break up the bones.    Some seem to practically swallow wings whole but luckily Coco likes to crunch them up first even though she is a terrible gannet.    The first few times it took her a while to eat one - now it is gone in no time.  She has been having them since she was about 6 months and never had a problem yet 

[Cob-Web]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

Yup - all bones should be raw 

 I think the OP meant that Mason is eating part-raw, part-processed food diet ?

[bluegirl]

I'd put chicken wing in a plastic bag and bash it to pieces with a hammer so that all bones are really small then take out of bag, hold onto flappy end of wing real tight and let pup chew to your fingers then release. My last lot of pups were a bunch of pirannahs and if I gave them a whole wing they'd still try to swallow it whole! Found it was the only way to control the process as "slow down" didn't seem to work

If pup's not so eager to eat first wing then just give as it is and watch him.

If you only wish to give as an occasional treat then I'd say about 2 -3 times per week max.

Word of warning bones may be vomited back in little pieces and they can pass through to the poops in the same manner and usually this is fine. Occasionally if you over do the wings or bones your dog will become a little constipated, just cut back on bones for a day or two if this happens.

Also need to adjust complete food quantities slightly to accommodate the wings.

[tigs71]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

Yup - all bones should be raw 

 I think the OP meant that Mason is eating part-raw, part-processed food diet ?

Yes I feed him kibble for breakfast and then Natures Menu for lunch and tea

Thanks for all your replies - I am going to buy some wings tomorrow and take the plunge.  If i give wings instead of his usual meal then will one or two be enough??  He is such a piggy 

[tiamaria]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

Yup - all bones should be raw 

 I think the OP meant that Mason is eating part-raw, part-processed food diet ?

Yes I feed him kibble for breakfast and then Natures Menu for lunch and tea

Thanks for all your replies - I am going to buy some wings tomorrow and take the plunge.  If i give wings instead of his usual meal then will one or two be enough??  He is such a piggy 

Reuben has wings for tea some days (got them defrosting now actually), i did start of with one, but he seemed so very hungry after it so i increased to 2.  He is a big boy weighing 9.4kg the other day. 

Oh and he crunches the joint bit in the middle for 10 seconds, then they are gone!  I have once seen a bit of bone in his poo, but as bluegirl says its ok, i feel better now! 

[Joules]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

Yup - all bones should be raw 

 I think the OP meant that Mason is eating part-raw, part-processed food diet ?

Yes I feed him kibble for breakfast and then Natures Menu for lunch and tea

Confused now     If he is only having kibble and Natures Menu - where is the raw food?  Is it Natures Menu frozen mince he is having?    If so then it would be good to add some bones in to his diet 

[tigs71]

Isn't the golden rule with chicken bones is that they have to be fresh, not cooked, as the cooking process dries out the bones, making them splintery and liable to damage the dog's insides? They might also apply to ALL bones. Those that really know for sure will let you know.

Yup - all bones should be raw 

 I think the OP meant that Mason is eating part-raw, part-processed food diet ?

Yes I feed him kibble for breakfast and then Natures Menu for lunch and tea

Confused now     If he is only having kibble and Natures Menu - where is the raw food?  Is it Natures Menu frozen mince he is having?    If so then it would be good to add some bones in to his diet 

Yes the Natures Menu frozen minces are raw

[tigs71]

Well I just gave it a go and he seemed to love it.  I held onto it for dear life as he crunched away    When there was about a third of it left though he swiped it and swallowed what was left whole  - will that be OK?? I also noticed a fair bit of blood and it looked like it was coming from his gums??  Sorry if I seem to be worrying unnecessarily but this is all new to me