[david in germany]

Originally Posted by nazali

so Muscle meat on the bone, a bit confusing

again, going on what we have been told as kids

dogs eat marrow bones, or no they are not good because they can break there teeth
chicken bones are bad because the splinter, but I'm seeing words to the contrary
meat should be cooked, no, meat should be raw.

so very confused,

I wanna give doggo a raw bone with some meat on it, HOW
He's a maltese and a BIG BIG chewer
This guy chews on ANYTHING hard, plastic, metal his carry case, if he can wrap his teeth around it he's happy!


I have seen around trotters on the forums, but not sure where I can buy them from.
what about chicke drumsticks? chicken wings
lamb bones ?

txs again, wanna him healthy BUT safe

Raw raw raw. Start him out with some fresh chicken necks and see how he likes it. Just a warning, the first week or so it will/may have diarrhea. This is simply the body getting accustomed to the change.
Cooked chicken bones shatter like glass and will act like glass in their digestive tract. Raw bones are dull and actually dissolve in a dogs stomach acids. His turds will eventually get smaller and smaller as his body starts absorbing more of the nutrients for the food. Oh, and the wet dog smell, it goes away. Fur gets shiny and full, they have more energy, just a better situation overall.
Best of luck!

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by bosstones

david in germany brings up a good point about potential nutrient deficiency. Another reason dogs eat their poop is to cover their tracks (i.e. hiding or removing evidence of their poop) but I think that tends to be more the case w/ puppies/dogs that aren't house broken yet.

I wouldn't feed your dog based on stereotype food/treats from growing up. Bones are bad because some can break or fracture teeth as you say but smaller bones can also splinter and cut them (internally as well as externally). This goes for any hard 'treat' (e.g. antlers, some Himalayan chews, etc...). There's no guarantee it will happen but it's up to you if you want to roll that dice.

If you've not had a dog before, there are many books and websites about how to care for and feed them. As with people diets, there are many philosophies and fads on canine diets (e.g. dry food, wet food, raw, home cooked, grain free, etc...) so do your research and decide what you think is best for your dog.

Unlike their wolf ancestors (well....maybe not for Chihauhaus....) and excluding Huskies, dogs developed facial muscles over time that allowed them to make the infamous puppy eyes. Dogs are also smart.....they learn how to manipulate you to bend you to their fuzzy wills. Stay strong. lol

You are correct about cooked bones and dried bones like the big beef bones (dried) you can get at some pet food places.
Raw bones break but do not shatter.

[nazali]

we were told by the breeder to feed him dog food only
the vet said a mix of veggies as well was ok

I have to admit I hand feed him his doggy food and throw him some scraps
he does beg and we ignore him,

I can't help it, he sits there wags his tail and looks at me so adorably

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

We have small dogs also and do not feed our dogs anything but their dog food and some dog treats. We try to never give them house food so they never start begging for food when we are eating. Never had an issue doing that.

A lot of these small dogs have all kinds of issues. Our boston mix is choking on air half the time. Don't need to deal with him choking on bones and stuff.

[nazali]

receptionist at the vet said the same thing, said there crafty MOFO's, skilled in manipulation !

Originally Posted by bosstones

Unlike their wolf ancestors (well....maybe not for Chihauhaus....) and excluding Huskies, dogs developed facial muscles over time that allowed them to make the infamous puppy eyes. Dogs are also smart.....they learn how to manipulate you to bend you to their fuzzy wills. Stay strong. lol

[nazali]

ok, how about a compromise, raw meat , but no bones, concerned he will have a bones issue and mix the raw meat with his ordinary food. OH said your (I'm) not to give him raw meat, must be cooked, "because he's a puppy" someone advised

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by nazali

receptionist at the vet said the same thing, said there crafty MOFO's, skilled in manipulation !

Originally Posted by nazali

ok, how about a compromise, raw meat , but no bones, concerned he will have a bones issue and mix the raw meat with his ordinary food. OH said your (I'm) not to give him raw meat, must be cooked, "because he's a puppy" someone advised

There are certainly dogs that aren't the sharpest tool in the shed but still don't let your guard down! They're experts at social engineering and cuddly extortion.

Personally, I would stick w/ a diet specifically formulated for puppies for at least the first year and transition from there based on the situation. If the pup is healthy and still growing, not really a reason to seitch unless it is just YOUR preference. I'm also not a believer in a pure raw diet unless you plan to supplement the diet, but that's me. Like with anything, seldom is too much of one thing a good thing.

There are lots of resources on this. I don't think anyone here will tell you specifically what you should do. It is nest to do some focused research and decide what you think is best.

[nazali]

I hear ya and as a new doggy person, kinda good to ask questions, VETS are expensive

and love to know peoples thoughts, but for sure your on the money !

Originally Posted by bosstones

There are certainly dogs that aren't the sharpest tool in the shed but still don't let your guard down! They're experts at social engineering and cuddly extortion.

Personally, I would stick w/ a diet specifically formulated for puppies for at least the first year and transition from there based on the situation. If the pup is healthy and still growing, not really a reason to seitch unless it is just YOUR preference. I'm also not a believer in a pure raw diet unless you plan to supplement the diet, but that's me. Like with anything, seldom is too much of one thing a good thing.

There are lots of resources on this. I don't think anyone here will tell you specifically what you should do. It is nest to do some focused research and decide what you think is best.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by nazali

I hear ya and as a new doggy person, kinda good to ask questions, VETS are expensive

and love to know peoples thoughts, but for sure your on the money !

Indeed and it can be hard to find a good one, too!

As funny as it may seem, pet insurance is a thing. Having got it for both our dogs, I recommend it. Our older dog has had more than his share of vet and specialist appointments the last couple of years and the insurance far more than paid for itself. It's easier to get insurance for a puppy than it is for an older dog (or at least for a better premium and coverage plan).

I'd recommend keeping to puppy food diet from a reputable brand. You need to make sure your dog gets all the stuff it needs, including DHA. That'll also give you time to research what you want to do and what it requires.

We ended up switching out to home cooked foods when our older dog was old enough. He eventually went through a bout of eating little. Before we knew it was medical (genetic, not nutrition related), we had switched to mix of home cooked + Primal and Stella & Chewy. The Primal and Stella & Chewy foods we get are kind of a raw (dehydrated) diet but they mix in veggies and stuff so it's not 'just' meat. Now we're doing a mix of home cooked, Primal, and Stella & Chewy.

If you do home cooked, make sure you include a good mix of foods to ensure proper nutrition.