Organs or Meat

[BAMCB]

I have a local butcher who has pork "fries" (testicles) and beef sweetbreads(thalamus?). What are these considered and are they good to feed?

 

[Liz_M]

Sweetbreads are organs. Testicles are not. (Technically.)

 

[BAMCB]

Thanks Liz_M! Testicles are meat? That surprises me. Lol What about a pig foot? So sorry for all these questions but I am really enjoying finding all these extras to add in. Now I just need to know how to classify and incorporate them into their meals or to give them as treats

 

[Liz_M]

Pig feet don't do anything but support the animal and propel it this way or that. Not organ, obviously. Actually mostly bone. Just look at the darn things. What is its purpose? What do you see? What does it do? Hoof, bone, a little muscle and skin. Fine as a treat, or as food. Or both at once LOL. Balance. Over. Time.

You are overthinking this whole thing. Remember: balance over time. And, mother nature is not a perfectionist. I have fed raw since 1999 to multiple dogs (3-plus at a time) including from puppies to adults. I long ago quit being precious about it. (But obviously, you need to have a solid grasp of the overview and general concept.)

 

[Hector]

I do not recommend raw or smoked pig feet. Pig feet has a lot of fat and bone and it can give dogs the runs. The hooves and the bone in them are pretty hard. It makes me nervous and when they break apart - it breaks into large chunks of bone that the dog swallows. Yeah - no thanks.

If you were to add extras, I would look into chicken feet or something meaty like muscle.

 

[BAMCB]

Thank you, it really is a learning process. I am wondering what all parts are, how they can or cannot nourish the dog, whether they are a good idea or not so much etc. I do understand it is a balance over time and I am trying to do a weeks worth so I know it will be balanced throughout the week and not stress over every feed. I have bought ground whole chickens, pork and mutton to help while I am figuring all this out. I do give chicken feet as a treat for Sonny but more of an add in for Ava's meal(who is on a diet and the reason that pushed me to do this raw feeding) and limited chewing time on raw bones. I'm sure I am overthinking at this point but I am also just learning what all the cuts are and how to incorporate them I think I will be more at ease(at least I hope!) Thanks for the heads up on the pig's feet, I had thawed a couple to give but will now offer them to a friend who likes to pickle them(yuk!).
So.....I also have whole herring and figured I'd just feed as a meal for Ava and add in for Sonny. DennsMom really helped with her weeks worth of food

What about a thread(sticky note) of the types of meats, organs, bones and treats that are good? I really like the convenience of the bone percentages and refer to it often. It would also probably save a lot of questions being asked by us newbies lol

 

[Hector]

You can try the pig's feet and decide for yourself. Some dogs will be okay with them, but not mine. The feet I buy are precut frozen from the store so I can't imagine feeding a whole trotter - big chocking hazard to me. I'm one of those that like pickled feet.

I heard herring was good, I don't usually feed fish - too lazy. If they do, then it's filleted salmon (abundance of salmon in the pacific northwest, lots of co-workers fish and don't eat them).

You bought whole ground chicken? R u feeding a pup?

 

[Liz_M]

It really is a learning process! There are a few things I won't feed - pig feet for the reasons mentioned above, actually. Venison (whole) because a: those bones break into scary shards and b: wild animals harbor so many pathogens and parasites, and I've had some issues with paint-peeling gas and dire rear with feeding wild critters. I've bought whole ground venison, though. And turkey, because those birds are so genetically engineered they are freaks of nature and not "natural." The only time in all these years I have ever seen bone pieces in my dogs' poops was after turkey and that scares me, so bone-in turkey is a no-go. I do get them turkey gizzards and tails (which are mostly gristle and fat, but cheap.) Turkey necks are cheap too but look like perfect large-dog choking hazards to me so again, no. I have bought the pig testicles a few times, they're sort of jelly-like but the dogs ate them.

I buy up whole chickens when they're on sale and whack them into the appropriate size for doggie meals. That's so easy and inexpensive I wouldn't pay for whole ground. For a few years I had a great source of pasture-raised chickens for .99/lb but sadly they lost their farm during the recession.

I will say in 16 years of feeding raw, I've only had one choking incident - a Rottweiler puppy I was taking to work who swallowed the knot off of the client's dog's rawhide bone. Scared the crap out of me but the pup was OK.

 

[Hector]

Oh yeah - I don't feed bone in turkey wings or drumsticks. I've seen those raw bones splinter. I don't feed raw beef ribs either - I've seen those bones split too.

Just keep it simple at first and you'll learn along the way.

 

[tmricciuto]

I have a quick question. I just bought the girls some buffalo marrow bones. Do I let them eat the whole thing? The guy at the store says you can re freeze them but I'm concerned about germs once they thaw?


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[BAMCB]

Yes, I'm feeding a 15 week puppy and an 8 yr 12 lb dog. I'm not so worried about the older one but a growing puppy and my learning curve was making me a bit nervous. I bought some of the whole animal course ground to feed for 50% of his feedings. I am balancing the other 50% myself. I like to add in treats also. I have much more confidence this way but can hopefully do it 100% in a few months.

I re-freeze bones if they still have some meat.

 

[Hector]

I have a quick question. I just bought the girls some buffalo marrow bones. Do I let them eat the whole thing? The guy at the store says you can re freeze them but I'm concerned about germs once they thaw?


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Everything has germs. If your dog has a healthy immune system, it will be fine. I have never fed a marrow bone nor have I refroze anything raw. I'm too nervous it will chip a tooth or be swallowed whole. The dog shouldn't eat or be able to eat the whole bone, if it does you should be worried about potential blockage.

 

[Hector]

Yes, I'm feeding a 15 week puppy and an 8 yr 12 lb dog. I'm not so worried about the older one but a growing puppy and my learning curve was making me a bit nervous. I bought some of the whole animal course ground to feed for 50% of his feedings. I am balancing the other 50% myself. I like to add in treats also. I have much more confidence this way but can hopefully do it 100% in a few months.

I re-freeze bones if they still have some meat.

Just because the dogs are being fed raw doesn't mean they can't have normal store bought treats. If you want to stay with treats that have limited ingredients and less processed then you can buy freeze dried or dehydrated treats. You can also boil, bake, dehydrate real meat and cut it up yourself. They have things like dehydrated chicken feet (expensive in my opinion $1.00 each at least).

Are you talking about the muscle and organ portion of the meal or just treats for training?

 

[Liz_M]

I've given dogs raw marrow bones for 30+ years without worrying about bacteria, but your mileage may vary. Freezing doesn't kill bacteria, generally. It just retards its growth a bit.

Nowadays I'll give them as chewing treats but I toss them after a couple of days, once the dogs have gotten the marrow out. They get really hard and dried out and can crack teeth.

 

[tmricciuto]

Thanks so much everyone. Appreciate the comments.


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[BAMCB]

Just because the dogs are being fed raw doesn't mean they can't have normal store bought treats. If you want to stay with treats that have limited ingredients and less processed then you can buy freeze dried or dehydrated treats. You can also boil, bake, dehydrate real meat and cut it up yourself. They have things like dehydrated chicken feet (expensive in my opinion $1.00 each at least).

Are you talking about the muscle and organ portion of the meal or just treats for training?

The original question was regarding actual meals. If I could feed the pork testicles and sweetbreads and what they are counted as. But since it was an open discussion(which I much appreciate) I thought to ask about other meats/treats/organs etc. I make liver bites for training and have dehydrated strips of liver before for the Jack Russell's. I do find the commercial treats a bit expensive and feel guilty buying because I know I can make them myself for a fraction of the cost.
It's really great to have a place to come and ask questions about what we can/should feed while we are figuring all this out.
I have refroze bones for a day or two. They have only ever lasted 2 chewing sessions, if that! lol