Buying the first RMB *PlEaSe read!

[AgilityKrazii]

I just came back from the store and bought some chicken drumbsticks for Rosco my lab. I currently have them in the freezer. Should I keep them frozen for a few days before giving him one or would it be ok right now for him to eat it.

This is his first ever raw meaty bone and I know its good for him but I'm so nervous and dont want to do anything wrong, I'm a little over protective of him!

Thank you so much!

 

[Fran101]

I keep chicken in the freezer for 24 hours before serving it to kenya

 

[PAWZ]

I get my chicken fresh and feed as soon as I get home with no effects. I then process the remaining weight usually 40-50lbs into 2 meal servings and freeze

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I do not recommend drumsticks as a starter RMB for your dog. I would recommend you start with backs or wings, or at the least leg quarters.

 

[AgilityKrazii]

I do not recommend drumsticks as a starter RMB for your dog. I would recommend you start with backs or wings, or at the least leg quarters.

Why dont you recommend them?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I have fed drumsticks. I know what my guys will do with one though (no gulping). I don't think it would be my first experiment. I feed fresh or frozen. Don't care either way.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

First of all, it is a weight bearing bone, the hardest for dogs to digest. Second of all, it is the perfect size to choke and kill an inexperienced or over zealous dog.

I avoid buying them for my own dogs, which are Rottweilers, who have been raw fed from birth.

I do not think smaller pieces like drumsticks are appropriate for a dog the size of a lab. I would not recommend them for starting out FOR SURE.

 

[AgilityKrazii]

First of all, it is a weight bearing bone, the hardest for dogs to digest. Second of all, it is the perfect size to choke and kill an inexperienced or over zealous dog.

I avoid buying them for my own dogs, which are Rottweilers, who have been raw fed from birth.

I do not think smaller pieces like drumsticks are appropriate for a dog the size of a lab. I would not recommend them for starting out FOR SURE.

I planned on when I gave it to him not letting him eat the whole thing, just let him have like half for starters and then let him finnish it a few days later so it would be easier on him.
Rosco isnt the kind of dog to inhale his food and he is very good about taking and chewing small peices plus I would be there watching him the a hawk the whole time.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I only have about 17 years experience raw feeding dogs, so you go right ahead!

Good luck.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

 

[Fran101]

Kenya loves chicken quarters/backs. they are pretty cheap, usually come in packs of 4-5

 

[Dekka]

I too wouldn't start with those... You could freeze them and save them for later. They are NOT safe starter RMBs.. You should know how your dog will eat raw FIRST then try the 'trickier' cuts if you want too.

I start the fosters out with backs or frames. JRTs aren't huge so a turkey neck is good too. And as for taking it away from him. I don't suggest it, for 2 reasons. Lets say he is really into it and you take it from him... you will only teach him to gulp and eat faster before you come steal it. If he is unsure you could inhibit his desire to eat raw.

The best thing is to give them a safe RMB and leave them in peace (but supervise) to eat it.

 

[Zoom]

I only gave my foster Lab raw whole chicken quarters, they were large enough that she was forced to chew and wasn't able to just gulp and inhale. Some dogs react different to raw than to kibble; they may be blase about kibble but go gaga over raw. IMO, chicken wings are far too small to safely feed to a dog the size of a Lab. Now if I had a JRT or a Pap, something that size, then maybe.

 

[bubbatd]

I'm with Red ..... I'm scared to death of chicken bones ! Ollie ( and my past Goldens ) would chomp in half and swallow a pointy right down . I'm chicken !

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I have no issue with chicken bones being fed to a dog. The issue is drumsticks as a first RMB with a dog the size of a lab.

That is not something I would do.

 

[vanillasugar]

I'm going to chime in and agree that drumsticks are not a good starter. Sierra isn't on raw at the moment (soon, very soon, we'll be going back) but I would avoid feeding drumsticks in general as they're small enough for her to crunch, but they're still very dense bones and she *ALWAYS* ended up throwing chunks back up because she didn't chew properly. This is a dog that's careful about how she eats, doesn't hoover, still swallowing large indigestible chunks of bone.

Backs are great for starting, turkey necks if you can get them whole (not cut into pieces) are too but I would start with something a bit bigger than the necks for your dog.

Even if your dog is a cautious eater, raw is different. He will probably act differently with it (more eager). I wouldn't plan on taking anything away from him either. You don't want him learning to choke it down so he can keep the whole thing before you get to it. Even if we were talking drumsticks, one is about a quarter of what a full sized lab should eat in a day, taking away after he's eaten half is just unnecessary.

 

[Dekka]

Hehe .. have you seen some of the turkey necks I have been getting? Even the smallest ones are larger than the whole chicken frames!!!!

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Turkey necks can be good for some dogs but they are even more of a choking hazard for large dogs than drumsticks might be. I actually know of a dog who choked to death on a turkey neck. You have to remember that pieces like this are not found in the wild. Like the drumstick, the neck comes attached to the bird and they can't just wolf it down and choke on it.

 

[AllieMackie]

For a first "RMB" I would try something big and weight-bearing, perhaps something that your dog cannot eat all of. I use raw lamb shanks, which Finn tears down the the bare bone. He eats marrow and all, but leaves the bone shell because it's too hard to break down. I've also heard that beef knuckle bones are popular.

They're expecially good if you plan on feeding raw occasionally, as I do. Finn gets a shank or two a week to clean his teeth, give him a great chewing treat and to keep his stomach used to a varied diet.

 

[Dekka]

For a first "RMB" I would try something big and weight-bearing, perhaps something that your dog cannot eat all of. I use raw lamb shanks, which Finn tears down the the bare bone. He eats marrow and all, but leaves the bone shell because it's too hard to break down. I've also heard that beef knuckle bones are popular.

Those are rec bones not RMB.. the whole thing must be edible for it to be a RMB.. and should be a decent amount meat (turkey necks are far more meat than they are bone.. backs and frames are only a little more meat that bone.) If your dog isn't eating the bone then you will have to be supplementing like crazy which to me defeats the purpose of going raw in the first place.