grizzle

Gristle, which is connective tissue and the soft tissue of joints, is basically glucosamine.  It's a protein(ish) product but not a really great one - you would not want to feed your dog only gristle.  It's one of the components of "by-products" in kibble. There's very few kcals in it per 100 g.

So there's no problem feeding it, it's a treat and pretty much not much else.

Geeze, Brookcove!  How'd you get so darned smart??

My rule of thumb is that aside from organ meat, if I won't eat it, they don't eat it.  That said, when I'm trimming meat, I will let them have a SMIDGEN of meat with a bit of fat, but just not on a regular basis.

that's kind of funny glenda, we have the opposite rule: if I don't want to eat it, toss it into the dog food.

Oh, if it's something like romaine lettuce that's getting a bit less than crisp and fresh, or banannas past the stage that they taste good to me, which isn't terribly ripe,  or veggies that have already been used for one dinner........or even now and then the veggie that got left in the fridge a little too long for me to want it, then I'll cut out the bad spots and use it for them.  I KNOW they can handle more bacteria in meat than I can, but if it's really stinky, it goes in the trash, and I don't give them a ton of fat because I do worry about pancreatitis and other tummy issues.

mudpuppy

that's kind of funny glenda, we have the opposite rule: if I don't want to eat it, toss it into the dog food.

I always thought it was grissle...lol, not that it matters, my sister's inlaws pronounce gas GAZZ...only gasoline gas though, not fart gas, that's just gas.  hehe TMI 

glenmar

Oh, if it's something like romaine lettuce that's getting a bit less than crisp and fresh, or banannas past the stage that they taste good to me, which isn't terribly ripe,  or veggies that have already been used for one dinner........or even now and then the veggie that got left in the fridge a little too long for me to want it, then I'll cut out the bad spots and use it for them.  I KNOW they can handle more bacteria in meat than I can, but if it's really stinky, it goes in the trash, and I don't give them a ton of fat because I do worry about pancreatitis and other tummy issues.

That'so funny---mine won't touch plant matter of any kind---if it's not a meat, they really don't want it (even my border collie mix)----My brother's labs and Irish Setter eat anything, so nothing ever goes to waste in their house. (Jealous). I have no problems giving raw fats/gristle, but can have problems if the fat/gristle is from cooked meats---not sure why, but it usually means tummy troule, so cooked fat is a no-go here.

Geeze, Brookcove!  How'd you get so darned smart??

I have to keep ahead of Ron!  Anybody noticed Ron's been reading up lately?

We pronounce it "GRISS-ell" here too - or even almost "GRITS-ull" believe it or not.  

However you pronounce it, it's both perfectly safe and also nutritionally neutral - not much bang for the buck but your dog will enjoy chewing on it.  Dog bubble gum.  It's a protein like muscle and organ meat, but unlike "meat" (or skin, by the way, which is the "forgotten organ";), the collagen fibers are more densely packed and do not have their own blood supply.  The tissue that surrounds organs and groups of muscle (fascia), connective tissue, and the tissue between joints, are all made of this bloodless, springy material.   

brookcove

However you pronounce it, it's both perfectly safe and also nutritionally neutral - not much bang for the buck but your dog will enjoy chewing on it.  Dog bubble gum.  It's a protein like muscle and organ meat, but unlike "meat" (or skin, by the way, which is the "forgotten organ";), the collagen fibers are more densely packed and do not have their own blood supply.  The tissue that surrounds organs and groups of muscle (fascia), connective tissue, and the tissue between joints, are all made of this bloodless, springy material.   

And if it weren't....I would believe it anyway...I'm impressed!  And thank you!

HHHmmmmm  we always pronounced it grizzle so I spelled it that way!  

Glenda.....I LIKE it myself...I always ate it off the chicken leg.  Not much taste..just a different feeling in your mouth.   Yeah...kind of like bubblegum.   Other than that I agree with not giving what I wouldn't eat....but that includes fat and skin.  I am thinking skin is not good....so I toss it...except for when its browned crispy;

 Skin is great for them! Like helps like. Skin is high in selenium and vitamin e. What Becca said.... the forgotten organ.

Mine love the "gross" parts of meat, and that's what they get, when someone in the house is eating meat. I don't, but my family does. 

jennie_c_d

Skin is great for them! Like helps like. Skin is high in selenium and vitamin e. What Becca said.... the forgotten organ.

Well wish I had known that a long time ago.......I ALWAYS throw it out,,,,thinking it to be useless and might get them sick like too much fat.  HHHmmm!  Well thanks for telling me ( after I threw away my turkey skin ) I will know now.

 Feeding a big chunk of cooked skin might upset a tummy, especially if a dog isn't used to it, but skin as part of a meaty meal? Fantastic! I never pull skin off of anything, for my dogs, and because everything I get doesn't have skin, and I can't feed all free range meat, I *still* have to add fish oil and vit e to their meals.