Dog Community

I want to feed my Chihuahua with human grade food

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:47:23 PM

I was very skeptical about dog food actually being good for my puppy after reading the ingredients so naturally I went to Google to verify my theory and low and behold I was right.

Basically what is a good alternative to dog food? I read something about a Raw Meaty Bone diet and figured it could be good so I bought some turkey necks today and gave one to my puppy and he LOVES it. I have never seen him eat so enthusiastically. The concern I have is if this is a bad idea and is that guy just crazy and wrong or is it good and I should continue?

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:53:53 PM

Raw is a GREAT way to go. You will need to do some research. rawdogranch.com is a great place to start.

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:00:10 AM

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

Raw is a GREAT way to go. You will need to do some research. rawdogranch.com is a great place to start.

Great to hear I didn't pick some crazy method to feed to dog. For a Chihuahua how many times a day should I feed him or should I just put a Turkey neck down in the morning and let him have another after he finally finishes it?

I will read that Raw Dog Ranch site and see if it answers my question.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:11:57 AM

You'll need to feed more than turkey necks. They're very boney, and he'll need some muscle meat. I feed my small dogs twice a day. Two or three times is reasonable.

You'll learn a lot, here, and a lot in your reading, I'm sure. They do need a variety of foods including raw, meaty bones (the turkey neck), muscle meat (maybe some stew beef), and organ meat (like chicken livers). It's relatively easy to do, once you get the routine down, and should be pretty inexpensive for a small dog like a Chi.
http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=15888

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:20:16 AM

Okay I just read a lot of that Raw Dog Ranch site and am ready to start him. The turkey necks were just a test to see if he liked them better than his food and as I thought he did. Tomorrow I am going to Kroger to get some other stuff. I almost bought livers while there but figured they would be a waste if he didn't like the diet. Do you feed your dogs veggies by chance and are chicken bones bad if not cooked?

Also as far as raw meaty bones what are some different kinds that are easy for small dogs to eat since every raw diet site I have encountered has been tailored more so for tall dogs.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:25:27 AM

My dogs do get some veggies. The healthy dog doesn't get much. The sickly dog needs lower protein, and gets quite a bit.

Chicken bones are fine if they're raw, and ideal for small dogs, because they're very soft and easy to eat. Game hens are a good size for small dog. Rabbit is good. Pork ribs should be edible. Anything with smallish bones should be just fine

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:37:53 AM

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

My dogs do get some veggies. The healthy dog doesn't get much. The sickly dog needs lower protein, and gets quite a bit.

Chicken bones are fine if they're raw, and ideal for small dogs, because they're very soft and easy to eat. Game hens are a good size for small dog. Rabbit is good. Pork ribs should be edible. Anything with smallish bones should be just fine

Where would I find rabbit? I know Kroger doesn't have any.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:39:34 AM

Publix has it, here. Lots of places do. You can order pretty reasonably from hare-today.com if you're on the east coast (They're in PA).

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:41:42 AM

ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d

Publix has it, here. Lots of places do. You can order pretty reasonably from hare-today.com if you're on the east coast (They're in PA).

Oh you live in Georgia too! That means my Publix would most likely have it as well. I don't usually shop Publix so that's why I didn't know lol. [

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jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:43:58 AM

Yeah, rabbit's kind of expensive, though, so be warned, LOL. Fish would also be good. You can get canned mackrel and rinse it well, or raw whole fish. My dogs LOVE fish!

Which part of Georgia are you in?

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 12:48:43 AM

I live in Suwanee.

I also have these individually wrapped talapia filets that are frozen that I eat sometimes(good with lemon pepper). Should I just thaw and feed? They are boneless.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 4/19/2006 1:00:07 AM

You could feed a little of that with a peice of the turkey neck, and that should be fine. How much does your puppy weigh? I get those tilapia filets, for Emma's cooked food (she doesn't do well on raw, Teenie does).

MC Arab

Posted : 4/19/2006 1:09:23 AM

He is really tiny probably 2-5 lbs at most.

kennel_keeper

Posted : 4/19/2006 4:56:34 AM

Tak,
I give my Chi's beef short ribs. They love them and keeps them busy for a long time. The short ribs take the place of one of their kibble meals for the day. They don't actually consume the bone, but once they eat all the meat and connective tissue off it, they do get some chewing pleasure from the end of the bones.

brookcove

Posted : 4/19/2006 7:29:47 AM

I was just in Suwannee a couple of weeks ago picking up a rescue dog. Small world, huh?

You can also find local fresh suppliers of things like rabbit and small poultry. Prey model means she gets balanced nutrition over time by eating the equivalent of a whole animal - including head, feet, and feathers/fur (provides insoluble fiber, trace minerals, and biotin). Here's the Georgia "market Bulletin" where you can find ads for poultry and rabbit and even goat and sheep providers. http://www.agr.state.ga.us/mbads/ Some will offer them fresh frozen, whole if that's what you want, and the larger livestock producers should be able to deliver to a meat processor (my Chinese crested can eat small goat and sheep bones right up).

Also, you can get tips on local resources for raw food suppliers through an e-mail list for local raw feeders - here's one for Atlanta!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlantabarf/