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Which parts of a chook can you feed your dog safely?


bk_blue

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[quote name='bk_blue']I was wondering because so many people feed their dogs chicken necks, is that the only part of a chicken carcass a dog can digest safely?[/quote]

It depends on the size of your dog. I have Dobes so, they could probably safely eat any portion of the chicken including a whole one if I let them! I will admit that I have never let them have the portions that have leg bones. I know lots of folks with dogs my size that do, it's just a personal preference. I prefer that the bones they eat be a bit smaller...just to be on the safe side.

I think that chicken necks are about the smallest RMB (raw meaty bone) available so, that makes them the RMB of choice for owners of small or very young dogs. I haven't fed any chicken necks since the first week I switched my dogs to BARF. Those necks are just so tiny in relation to the size of my dogs that they tended to swallow them whole. It also took a whole mess of chicken necks to make up a meal!

Chicken backs are probably the most frequently chosen RMB for medium to large size dogs for two reasons. The cost is very low, by the case about 50 cents or less a pound. The ratio of meat to bone is just about ideal for a BARF diet.

I feed turkey necks occasionally....when I happen to see them in the grocery store I'll pick some up. These do cause me some concern and I watch the dogs like a hawk while they're eating. Turkey necks are just the right size to lodge in a mid to large size dog's throat if they don't chew.

I also feed pork neck bones on a semi regular basis...grocery store almost always has them. I do watch the dogs more carefully with them than the chicken backs because the bones look so much bigger. It does seem to be pretty soft though, my kids have no trouble crunching them up. They seem to regard the pork neck bones as a special treat.

I'd love to just feed chicken backs and leave it at that since they seem to be the ideal RMB for my dogs but, if you're BARFing you're supposed to vary the type of RMB you give your dogs. I'm still working up the courage to try some beef ribs!

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