i have been wanting to try some raw bones for axels teeth to help make sure they stay clean. I've heard that raw chicken wings are really good for dogs teeth and a good little treat. But I'm so nervous he will choke. Am I crazy to worry about that? When I give him treats he chews them up. But he doesn't chew his kibble. And sticks he will chew up but swallows pieces that are about an inch long or so. I only know that because he has thrown up a couple times since we gor him and I have seen the evidence. So it makes me nervous! Anyone have great success or the opposite, bad experiences with raw bones?
Never had a problem with meaty bones and I've been feeding them for about 18 yrs. But if you are worried (always a natural response when trying something a bit unknown ) start out with something that's too big for him to swallow in one go, like a whole chicken thigh and leg together on the bone (we call these 'marylands' but I dunno what they're called elsewhere...). He'll have to chew bits off that. Dogs are made to swallow things fast and in large quantities so it's actually perfectly fine for them to crunch and then swallow a chicken wing whole. So if you do give him a wing and he does that don't worry
Hi I give my 20 week old boy frozen chicken wings (he eats raw ones too fast!) regularly. He gets so excited that he throws it around for a few minutes, jumping on it, barking, doing his "happy dance" before finally munching it down. Never had a problem with them and as he has had several adult teeth coming through at the same time (and suffering with it a fair bit too ) they have seemed to ease his sore mouth. He takes around 5 mins (on a slow day) to crunch his way through, but the first time I gave him one raw it took him about a minute! He's never choked or sicked anything back, and his poop has been fine afterwards. Either my OH or I always supervise him and never leave him to have these on his own (mainly because he is so funny to watch when he firsts gets the chicken wing!) and he really does seem to crunch, crunch, crunch, gone! Only disadvantage to this is that everytime we go to the freezer we have a "helper" trying to get his nose in!
Thank you for the reply. This does make me feel better. My husband choked on a French fry in a restaurant a couple years ago. So I have some bad anxiety when it comes to food. Don't know how I'll handle having children! Lol Would a turkey neck be as safe as a chicken wing or is that more 'dangerous' ?
Haha that's so funny, a 'helper'. Axel does the exact same thing because when ever my husband would go in the fridge he would give him a baby carrot. It's amazing how fast they are with these. I thought it would last more than a few crunches. I'll have to buy some this weekend and try. I feel more brave now but I know when it's time I'll be nervous again lol. I started giving him whole carrots and he seems to handle those really well so far. And I was nervous about these too
A turkey neck would be fine and I'd say on a par with a chicken wing as far as chew-ability goes. Less fatty though. Having your husband choke on something in a restaurant must've been really frightening. Rest assured that dogs are much more able to swallow big stuff than we are. When you give your dog the piece of meat step right back and give him heaps of space so he feels less inclined to rush with his eating. Don't worry though if he still hoes into it
I hear turkey necks are about the worst for choking, once they start going down they're so long it's hard for the dog to stop. When I started feeding raw bones I encouraged breaking off swallowable hunks by holding on to the other end. I wore cotton gardening gloves for grip. I always supervised bones, except for that one time I just had to run to the bathroom. Oban was sitting with a bit of the bone sticking out of his mouth, I thought, that's funny but kind of cute. I came back and it was still sticking out the side of his mouth. Oh, oh. It was an ox tail bone and he'd managed to put his back molars right through so that it was wedged and stuck around his teeth. He couldn't get it off, couldn't chew to break it up, couldn't swallow, a really freaky thing. I pulled it off for him and away he went.
Ok I'll try both because by the sounds of it, if he eats a chicken wing so fast then I can't see the benefits for his teeth. But if he does the same with a turkey neck then I'll wonder the same. I'll definitely give space as you suggested. As that was a mistake that was made when we gave him a femur bone. He growled at us because we didn't give space. Now with those bones we can say his name and he will come running to us wiggling and says hi and then trots off again to chew. I have been reading on here that those bones are too hard so I have been really watching how he chews it. He seems to just lick it a lot to get the marrow out and then chews on the ends a bit but not aggressive chewing. He's pretty gentle. So I haven't been concerned with him hurting his teeth yet. But should I be? A local pet store suggested antlers as they are a long chew. But that seems way to hard and bad for their teeth. So I haven't even tried. Sorry I have so many questions!
Oh my! That would have been scary. Glad he was ok. At the pet store where they sell the raw food the lady was telling me to not do chicken necks as he would just swallow it whole as they are slippery. She said the turkey ones are slippery too but are longer so depending on your dog they may or may not be ok. But how do you know until you try Maybe I'll stick with chicken wings and see how that goes and then venture out
I have stopped giving mine chicken wings (Waitrose best!) as they would swallow them straight down, no chewing to get sparkling teeth!
I had read guidance to hold the chicken wing the first time you gave it to the puppy, but that didn't work out for me and Willow at all. She was panicking - probably thinking I would take it away, which made her rush it. The next time, even though I was nervous, I popped her in her crate with it - and watched her like a hawk! They do tend to crunch up the bones without breaking the flesh, and then swallow the whole thing whole in my experience, which can be pretty scary when you first see it. As far as benefits for their teeth are concerned, it's true that bones can help with this, but you should really be getting into a proper oral hygiene routine (ie daily tooth brushing) anyway.
Tut tut, I am really bad at cleaning their teeth. Four year old's have never been cleaned and I bought some teeth cleaners for 10 year old and then forget to use them I used to be a veterinarly nurse so do understand how teeth should be clean, I have seen some dreadful examples over the years. 4 year old's teeth are perfect, 10 year old has some tartar on rear of top teeth. I used to LOVE cracking off the tartar of dogs undergoing an op. so satisfying seeing the pearly white teeth underneath.
I think that's how Axel may act if I hold it. Just swallow it fast. Yes I think I need to start getting into brushing his teeth like I do with Odie.
My sisters German Shepered has amazing white teeth and he is 4 years old. She has never brushed his teeth ever. Just tons of bones. Where as my cousins lab is 1 year old, also gets tons of bones but already has tarter build up. Both are on high quality food. Maybe has to do with the individuals saliva? I'm not sure but interesting the difference.
I do think it has something to do with individual saliva but have no evidence, maybe I will go and look for some Mine don't have bones but do have a Bonio and either a piece of dried tripe or a denta stix every evening at about 9pm and I think that helps to clean their teeth.
I think so too. Jet had bones rarely and I never brushed her teeth but they were sparkling white and clean all her 14.5 years. I did put Oxyfresh in the drinking water, as per VEt suggestion, that might be why. Especially since the cats drank from the same bowl and their teeth were also nice and white and clean. Neither Jet nor those cats ever needed cleaning at the Vet's either. I stopped using it though, after being scared off by internet claims of Benzene in it. I should look into that again; since having to quit the raw diet Oban's teeth are not as nice as they were.
With freezing the chicken wings he does chew on them a fair bit before swallowing - I think the cold is helping his teeth and sore gums more than anything - and I would rather he has these than chew on wood or furniture! Another tooth came out yesterday so hopefully we are nearly over this painful stage for him . Poor little fella. Trying to clean his teeth at a moment is a no no...he just won't let me put the toothbrush near his mouth - up until teething started he had been really good about it too...oh well wait until things calm down and then start again. Good thing is he really likes the taste of the toothpaste! When we give him his frozen chicken wings we give him plenty of space but still watch closely - he does like to throw it around, doing his happy dance before chowing down . Go with whatever you feel easiest @Kelsey&Axel I personally can't face the thought of turkey necks (being a vegetarian myself chicken wings are the only thing when raw that I can cope with!).
Just a quick question to clarify after reading the thread.. It's perfectly fine to give our 10week old Enzo frozen chicken wings as long as he's supervised? And while on the subject of frozen, is it ok to freeze his usual dry food biscuits in the kong along with the paste? I've never thought of feeding raw food, it seems strange.
Personally I don't feed any raw meaty bones frozen. My dog doesn't like eating frozen meat and neither would I to be honest!! I thaw it all out. But you can freeze them if you want to. Wings, necks, thighs or any part of a chicken, duck, turkey or rabbit (minus wings...) are fine to feed whole. Give things that are still on the bone, not de-boned thighs and breasts. It is perfectly fine to give these things to your 10 week old puppy (I would give them thawed not frozen but it's up to you..). It's also 100% fine to put a mixture in his Kong and freeze that for a nice treat - eg. kibble mixed with something to hold it together, or raw mince, or mashed potato or pumpkin... You can also give all of the above unfrozen, though it won't last as long.
