Not sure if I can continue or not so would really like some advice. Firstly Molly the shih tzu still swallows everything whole even if I cut up the chicken wings. Is this okay. She hasnt been sick yet but stopped yesterday as I started to panic.

Barney the lhasa (big lhasa is being sick. He loves the chicken wings but he is always brings some up although he does seem to chew most of it properly.

Shall I stop or carry on or give them the chickenwings every other day etc.

Thanks Gina

Gina to be honest this sounds normal to me although it may no to other. it takes a few weeks for them to get used to the change of diet.

The swallowing whole is OK but I tent to cut a win in 3 so there would never be problem passing.

The sickness although I did not experience it I hear is common. Sometimes they throw it up and chew it smaller then swallow again.

Have you joined the Groups yet.. ??? They are a big help..

Pam

Hi Pam. I think I will continue then as he hasnt been very sick and it doesnt bother him. I cut Molly's into 5 pieces but she just swallows everything whole ... woof gone .....

I havent joined the groupsyet but will do so at the weekend cos I am supposed to be studying !!

Hi Liz - I think it might defeat the object if I mince the meat for Barney as I want him to chew the bones but I am tempted to do this for Molly for a while until she is a bit bigger and her second lot of teeth have come through properly.

Many thanks Gina

Just wanted to say that I give my puppies from 10wks onwards whole chicken wings and whole fish and they are as adults on 12 - 13 inches at the shoulder they seem to manage very well.

Actually it takes a very very long time for a schipperke puppy to eat a full chicken wing and my last litter tried stealing a delivery of 100lb whilst I was letting the butcher out the door - they were only 4 wks at the time lol.

Now that would have been funny ..

Pam

I mince all the chicken necks, bones and meat before giving it to my dogs. I know that they aren't getting the benefit of chewing the wings etc but it makes me feel better that it is more easy to digest.

Hi Liz,
what mincer do you use? I want to buy on that can handle the bones and I'm not sure whether to get an electric or a big hand-worked one.
Kate

hi, personally i use an electric mincer i bought from the states via ebay.it is a 1200 watt model and demolishes chicken and rabbit carcasses easily.only things vuying from the states is you need a 110 volt transformer and you will be charged import duty.maverick mincers are a cheap popular variety with barf feeders in the states,personally i like at least 1000 watts but no people who are happy with 350 W machines.i would be happy mincing wings in a hand mincer but the carcasses are too much.sometimes i have seen good electric mincers on ebay in the uk but not often.go to ebay and type in meat grinder (make sure you have items available to the uk).you will see a good variety.the one on the northern tools site for £78 will do the job most require according to my friend although i have never seen it to pass comment myself.good luck

Hi again,
can you tell me which catering company in the USA you bought your grinder through? Many on the US ebay site won't ship to the UK and there are SO MANY meat grinders on ebay. I can't find any grinders in the UK that are 1000Watt capacity.
Thanks again,
Kate

Northern Tools ...for a grinder

Pam

i bought it privately in auction (from a fella named skip62 ) ,however i will say that the one from northern tools will do what you need (the £78 one) as i saw it working last night and it did rabbits without a problem which i find are a lot tougher than chicken.this would be by far the most economical way to go imo.

i have,nt started yet but have been pondering for a while main reason for me changing is my 17 months old bitches back teeth are quite stained so would mincing help?

No Carol I don`t think it would. It`s the action of chewing the bones that cleans the teeth.
Christine2

thats right mincing does nothing for the cleaning of teeth.i have never known a dog have problems with chicken wings and necks etcwhole and the teeth are spotless fed this way.if you are determined to mince then i would buy a plaque attacker if the dog will chew it as they are good at keeping the teeth stain free.

thanks for the tip but whats a plaque attacker and where do i get it from?

they are a ball of nylon (like nylabone) with little bumps on designed to remove plaque.any big petshop like pets at home stock them.