Hi Nancy, Edible bone is bone the dogs can chomp through...like small chicken wings, breasts, backs, necks etc. I grind the leg and thigh bones for the little guys...but some of my bigger guys chomp through them just fine. I bought a $99 meat grinder that goes through them like butter and it just gives me peace of mind. Weight bearing bones like beef legs, larger beef bones etc are not really edible as they can't chew through them. I still let them chew the meat off...their very favorite thing in the world is when mama hands them a beef rib....ahhh the sounds of pure lip smackin-puppy-joy!!! The love to get the marrow out of the ends. I just watch and don't let them have them forever as the bones are too hard and I don't want them to chip a tooth on them. Here is a list I did for another Chi member that wanted to know about Raw feeding...
Here are the basic how to's: 1. Feed 3% of predicted adult body weight... 2. Feed 80% raw meat, 10% organs (kidney/liver), 10% edible raw bone 3. You can grind if you are concerned about bone splinters for the little guys 4. look at Maverick Grinder $99 at www.pierceequipment.com Will grind chicken...all parts like butter! 5. I just buy whole chickens and grind everything except the wings and necks...those they get to crunch on. 6. Chicken is the easiest meat to start with but after awhile you should add in a variety of meats, fish, poultry, lamb etc. 7. Be careful with weight bearing bones...they can damage teeth with the bigger dogs that have more jaw strength. I let my guys pick them clean and then play with the bones to get out all the marrow from ends etc. but then take them away after a bit. 8. DO NOT EVER feed cooked bones of ANYKIND EVER!!! 9. I free feed young puppies and really don't measure much until after 6 months of age. I put down the raw and let them eat the ground till they are full...3-4 times a day depending on age. Feeding raw you really don't have to worry about the blood sugar levels in tiny dogs as much because they aren't getting sugar spikes from un-needed carbs and sugars! 10. Relax...it really is simple! 11. Raw eggs are a GREAT protein...I feed them raw.. www.dogtorj.com says one a day per dog but I feed them a couple times a week. Changes you will see: 1. Improvements in skin and coat 2. WAY LESS stools after adjustment...you check stools to see consistancy...too much organ=looser stools...too much bone=constipation. Grinding a whole prey like a chicken with all parts included is a GREAT balance without too much figuring. 3. MUCH better breath!! 4. Clean, white shiney teeth 5. Balanced even weight 6. More "balanced" energy There are some yahoo groups on raw feeding you can join and many of them are fun...but some are very militanat so just keep your common sense in place! Hope that helps!!! Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Bella, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, Caleb and Maxine!!! www.joys4toys.com ________________________________ From: Nancy Lucky <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, October 3, 2010 2:03:50 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas Actually I have been thinking of the raw diet as it seems to make so much sense. Can you tell me what you mean by edible bone? Nancy --- On Sun, 10/3/10, Deanna Corey <[email protected]> wrote: >From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >To: [email protected] >Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 2:01 PM > > > > > >You most likely won't like my answer...but I gave up on the dog food comapnies >YEARS ago...I was sick and tired of finding a formula I loved that had all the >ingrdients I wanted and none of of what I didn't...only for them to be bought >by >another company and that formula would change...I was sick of bringing home a >rancid bag of $54 food...I was sick of not know the quality of what I was >feeding...so...I started cooking for them...which then led to now a raw diet. >The changes that I have seen have been TREMENDOUS!!!!!! so my anwer??? 80% raw >meat, 10% raw organs, 10% edible bone. > >Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, >Deanna > > and > The Dog Park Pack: >Nugget, Shuai-Li, Bella, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, Caleb and Maxine!!! >www.joys4toys.com > > > > > ________________________________ From: Nancy Lucky <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Sun, October 3, 2010 1:55:14 PM >Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas > > >No I did not know that I noticed the price went up so what do you recommend as >the best food for chi's? > >--- On Sun, 10/3/10, Deanna Corey <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> >>Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >>To: [email protected] >>Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 1:47 PM >> >> >> >> >> >>Ya know Royal Canine changed their formula not too long ago...one that...now >>in >>my opinion...is a food I would not feed my guys...maybe you should check the >>ingredients list and see if you have one of the new bags...there is a great >>site >>for rating food...Use your ingredients list to see if it is a food you still >>want to use with this chart. >>www.htpoodles.com/poodle-nutrition.html >> >>If you scroll down it has rated a few of the foods but know that many of the >>formulas change...so just use the ingredients list on your bag or on the >>companies website to rate it yourself. >> Grading Your Dog Food ~ >>What is the best dog food for my Standard Poodle >>Looking at the ingredients of your dog's food, find the ingredient listed on >>the >>table below. >> >>Starting with 100 points, add or subract the points given for each ingredient >>and total the points. >>Print this sheet to total your points for each item. The grade scale is >>listed >>at the end of the table. RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE >> >>For convenience, we have creatd a printable version of this table >>for use while grading your dog's food Print Table Here >>Starting with 100, add or subtract the points shown for each ingredient in >>your >>dog's food Add or Subtract >> >>For every listing of "By-Product" -10 >>For every Non-Specific Animal Source reference ("Meat" or "Poultry", Meat, >>Meal >>or Fat) -10 >> >>For every Grain "Mill Run" or Non-Specific Grain Source - 5 >>Same Grain ingredient used 2 or more times in the first 5 ingredients. >>(example: ground brown rice, brewer's rice, and rice flour are all the same >>grain) - 5 >> >>Corn listed in the top 5 ingredients -2 >>Protein Sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top >>3 >>ingredients -3 >> >>If Lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to >>other >>protein sources) - 2 >> >>Food is Baked NOT Extruded + 5 >>Food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist + 5 >>Animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free + 2 >>Vegetables have been tested for pesticides and ARE Pesticide-Free + 1 >>Any of the meat sources are Organic + 5 >>For every different specific animal protein source, other than the 1st one. >>(example: Count "chicken" & "chicken meal" as only 1 protein source, BUT >>count >>"chicken" & "fish" as 2 different sources) + 1 >> >>If the food contains any of the following, add or subtract given points Add >>or >>Subtract >> >>BHA, BHT, or Ethoxyquin -10 >>Any Artificial Colorants - 3 >>Ground Corn or Whole Grain Corn - 3 >>Any Animal Fat (other than Fish Oil) - 2 >>Soy or Soybeans - 2 >>Salt - 1 >>Wheat(unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat) - 2 >>Beef(unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef) - 1 >>Fruit + 3 >>Barley + 2 >>Probiotics + 3 >>Vegetables(NOT Corn or Other Grains) + 3 >>Flax Seed Oil(not just the seeds) + 2 >>Oats or Oatmeal + 1 >>Sunflower Oil + 1 >>Glucosamine & Chondroitin + 1 >>For convenience, we have creatd a printable version of this table to use >>while >>grading your dog's food >> >> Print Table Here TOTAL SCORE ____ >>Grading Scale >>100+ = A+ 94-100 = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C >>70-77 = D 69-below = F >> >> Grading Your Dog Food ~ >>What is the best dog food for my Standard Poodle >>Looking at the ingredients of your dog's food, find the ingredient listed on >>the >>table below. >> >>Starting with 100 points, add or subract the points given for each ingredient >>and total the points. >>Print this sheet to total your points for each item. The grade scale is >>listed >>at the end of the table. RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE >> >>For convenience, we have creatd a printable version of this table >>for use while grading your dog's food Print Table Here >>Starting with 100, add or subtract the points shown for each ingredient in >>your >>dog's food Add or Subtract >> >>For every listing of "By-Product" -10 >>For every Non-Specific Animal Source reference ("Meat" or "Poultry", Meat, >>Meal >>or Fat) -10 >> >>For every Grain "Mill Run" or Non-Specific Grain Source - 5 >>Same Grain ingredient used 2 or more times in the first 5 ingredients. >>(example: ground brown rice, brewer's rice, and rice flour are all the same >>grain) - 5 >> >>Corn listed in the top 5 ingredients -2 >>Protein Sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top >>3 >>ingredients -3 >> >>If Lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to >>other >>protein sources) - 2 >> >>Food is Baked NOT Extruded + 5 >>Food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist + 5 >>Animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free + 2 >>Vegetables have been tested for pesticides and ARE Pesticide-Free + 1 >>Any of the meat sources are Organic + 5 >>For every different specific animal protein source, other than the 1st one. >>(example: Count "chicken" & "chicken meal" as only 1 protein source, BUT >>count >>"chicken" & "fish" as 2 different sources) + 1 >> >>If the food contains any of the following, add or subtract given points Add >>or >>Subtract >> >>BHA, BHT, or Ethoxyquin -10 >>Any Artificial Colorants - 3 >>Ground Corn or Whole Grain Corn - 3 >>Any Animal Fat (other than Fish Oil) - 2 >>Soy or Soybeans - 2 >>Salt - 1 >>Wheat(unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat) - 2 >>Beef(unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef) - 1 >>Fruit + 3 >>Barley + 2 >>Probiotics + 3 >>Vegetables(NOT Corn or Other Grains) + 3 >>Flax Seed Oil(not just the seeds) + 2 >>Oats or Oatmeal + 1 >>Sunflower Oil + 1 >>Glucosamine & Chondroitin + 1 >>For convenience, we have creatd a printable version of this table to use >>while >>grading your dog's food >> >> Print Table Here TOTAL SCORE ____ >>Grading Scale >>100+ = A+ 94-100 = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C >>70-77 = D 69-below = F >> >> >>Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, >>Deanna >> >> and >> The Dog Park Pack: >>Nugget, Shuai-Li, Bella, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, Caleb and Maxine!!! >>www.joys4toys.com >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ From: Nancy Lucky <[email protected]> >>To: [email protected] >>Sent: Sun, October 3, 2010 12:07:27 PM >>Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >> >> >>Alll my chi's have loved Royal Canin - I even did a taste test with that one >>and >>Blue and they picked Royal Canin, if he gets hungry enough he will eat. >>remember >>they are very smart little dogs and if he thinks if he misses a meal he is >>going >>to get steak and lobster - then he will :) >>When I brought mine home I mixed a little pure meat baby food into their dry >>food so you might try that. But he will eat. >>Nancy, Abbey-Rose, and Maggie-Mae >> >>--- On Sun, 10/3/10, C.M. <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>>From: C.M. <[email protected]> >>>Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >>>To: [email protected] >>>Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10:59 AM >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>I fogot about that part. As with the TV dinners, would you need to worry >>>about >>>the sodium content? I know I can't eat them because of that :) >>>And my two vets did recommend Omega 3, fatty acids and fish oil. >>>I hope more experienced people jump in here too. I'm curious as well. >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ From: Kavi <[email protected]> >>>To: [email protected] >>>Sent: Sun, October 3, 2010 10:53:12 AM >>>Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >>> >>> >>>Hi >>>Ricky does not eat dog food. He only eats human food like chicken, turkey or >>>beef. He will not touch dog food. I have Royal Canin chi puppy dry down for >>>him >>>but he has never touched it. >>> >>>QUESTION: What about feeding Ricky like banquet or swanson Pot pies? (if he >>>will >>>eat them). >>> >>>shanna >>> >>> >>>Visit my eBay Store For Childrens Wear >>>Specializing In Christening & Communion @ >>>http://stores.ebay.com/Kavis-Christening-n-Communion-Store >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>--- On Sun, 10/3/10, C.M. <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>>>From: C.M. <[email protected]> >>>>Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >>>>To: [email protected] >>>>Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10:21 AM >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>Hi Shana, >>>>Both of my dogs have the same problem and two vets told me not to give them >>>>any >>>>food with corn in it. Check the ingredients on the back of the bags and I >>>>bet >>>>you'll see that corn is among the first ingredients listed. I switched to >>>>organic food and the scratching and dry skin is clearing up. I also give >>>>oatmeal >>>>baths and in between baths, I give them little massages using a >>>>moisturizing >>>>lotion. They love the attention! >>>>Hope this helps, >>>>Carolyn >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ From: Kavi <[email protected]> >>>>To: Chihuahuas <[email protected]> >>>>Sent: Sun, October 3, 2010 10:05:50 AM >>>>Subject: [Chihuahuas] Help with dry skin but no fleas >>>> >>>> >>>>Hi everyone >>>> >>>>Ricky is my rescue who wont eat dog food. now I feed him any meat I decide. >>>>what >>>>I am finding is he now is getting ichy skin. no flakes, but his coat is >>>>getting >>>>a bit dull looking and he scratches alot. I think this is due to him not >>>>getting >>>>all the vitamins and minerals he needs including oil. I plan to go to the >>>>pet >>>>store today and find a good vitamin /mineral with salmon oil in it. any >>>>advice? >>>> >>>>shanna >>>> >>>> >>>>Visit my eBay Store For Childrens Wear >>>>Specializing In Christening & Communion @ >>>>http://stores.ebay.com/Kavis-Christening-n-Communion-Store >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> > > >
