Trying not to panic - Labrador Retriever Dogs Chat Forum Board - Dogs, Puppies, Photos, Training, Pictures, Rescue Forums

GlennBaxterFam · 10-30-2009, 06:00 PM

I gave Token a chicken breast thinking he would not be able to swallow it whole .... he did

He's fine and laying at my feet chewing on a toy but I am worried about him swallowing that whole as I thought they were suppose to chew it up, at least a little bit!

Do I need to give him larger pieces so that he cannot swallow it like that? Do I need to be worried?

Here is the video of him with his first chicken breast.
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p...edium=text_url

Pam and Brandy · 10-30-2009, 06:08 PM

He's fine. That's exactly how Brandy would eat it. He cracked the bones first and worked it until he could swallow it. That was a really meaty back, it looked like a breast.

It's great you're feeding raw but the fur mom in me has to ask, are you getting help on feeding a puppy raw? Their requirements are quite different. I know people who raise raw puppies so I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all, I wish I had been able to do it. Just want to be sure you've done your research.

GlennBaxterFam · 10-30-2009, 06:16 PM

Hi,
I have been feeding my ferrets raw for over a year now. We use the prey model and I have researched and researched how to feed a puppy raw more specificly a large breed puppy and what ratio's to feed.

I know that ferrets are not dogs but the feeding guide for both is about the same with the exception of ferrets diet is based around small birds, game hens and rodents due to their size.

I understand your concern and really believe I am capable and ready to feed him raw. My concern was that he is suppose to chew it. I thought I had given him a big enough piece so he could not swallow it whole. Your are right it was a breast not a back ... had chicken backs on my mind lately!
I have a couple of mentors who have fed raw to their dogs for years and also read and post on the dogster raw food.

Pam and Brandy · 10-30-2009, 06:21 PM

Good to know! It sounds like you've really prepared yourself for this. From what I've heard, dogs don't really chew - they crunch. Brandy will pick up a piece and start at one end and crush right through to the other end (just like Token did). Then she swallows it.

Pam and Brandy · 10-30-2009, 06:23 PM

Oh, sometimes, if she swallows a piece that's too big, she's throw it up and crunch it a bit more and swallow it again. After the first couple of times, I got over that.

I've also given up trying to give them a towel or something to eat on. They take it and go to eat it - instinct makes them want to move it to "someplace safe". I just make sure they stay on the floor. That floor gets washed every day. It's the cleanest spot in the house!

If my dogs stayed in a crate, I would have fed them in the crate. Is Token crate trained?

GlennBaxterFam · 10-30-2009, 06:44 PM

Yes he is crate trained ... first thing I trained with him

The only difference I could find between the ferrets and Token is only 5% of organ should be liver for Token and the other 5% different organs, like kidney, lung, etc. I already know that heart is not an organ.

I also wonder how much gulping his food is health issue's. He had no puppy fat when he came to us and recently we found out he has worms. The Vet said he needs to put on at least 5lbs .... can see his ribs! The Vet felt that the cause of the underweight is the worms combined with a growth spurt and we are not feeding him enough. I just started the raw but he was eating TOTW High Prairie.

The Vet said she isn't sure that he 13 weeks because of his front teeth. She wasn't sure that those were adult teeth just coming in (which would put him at about 13 weeks) or baby teeth that are going to fall out! She said she would have a better guess on age when he goes back in 4 weeks for shots.

*edited to add*

I had a couple of response on another forum who suggested that he might have gulped the food due to to many people around and being held. I just wanted to clarify that Token backed up into my daughters lap she is not holding him but she does pet him while he is eating. Which I guess *could* have re-enforced the gulping?

ImWithThePyr · 10-30-2009, 09:53 PM

I have got to get me a Lab!

GlennBaxterFam · 10-31-2009, 03:22 AM

Just to update he never did throw it up and is fine!

I'm thinking that he is going to have to have bigger pieces so he cannot swallow it whole and actually has to chew it up, like chicken quaters but no breast or backs.

elliotsmomma · 11-01-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImWithThePyr

I have got to get me a Lab!

Yes you do

!! Maxwell is an honarary lab in my mind

angus&teddy · 11-01-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennBaxterFam

Just to update he never did throw it up and is fine!

I'm thinking that he is going to have to have bigger pieces so he cannot swallow it whole and actually has to chew it up, like chicken quaters but no breast or backs.

Even with leg 1/4's he will eat them the same way.

They don't take bites out of their food and eat it, they will eat everything that is large that way. Smaller pieces just get eaten and swallowed alot easier and faster.

You also don't want to give him too large of a piece, because you could end up over feeding him. Dogs can become overweight and fat on raw feeding just the same as on kibble. Angus is one such dog that got fat. He is now eating at the most 1 1/4 pounds a day in order to get some weight off of him and looking nice.

kallie · 11-05-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam and Brandy

Good to know! It sounds like you've really prepared yourself for this. From what I've heard, dogs don't really chew - they crunch. Brandy will pick up a piece and start at one end and crush right through to the other end (just like Token did). Then she swallows it.

Yep my dogs do the same. I love to watch them work it that way also, it is pretty amazing to see them take a turkey neck and crunch the bones first before swallowing..

Woofie · 11-15-2009, 01:54 AM

Glennbaxter - don't want to be rude, but the man in your signature pic??

Watching video clips of your family within the same link you provided, beautiful family.....please tell me that's not your hubby in the signature pic?

HunterBoozer · 11-15-2009, 07:25 AM

Chance is a gulper. Sometimes he doesn't even try to crush anything.

Yogi & Hunter chew more. Hunter is the longest /slowest chewer. Its looks like he savors his food compared to his brothers.

angus&teddy · 11-15-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woofie

Glennbaxter - don't want to be rude, but the man in your signature pic??

Watching video clips of your family within the same link you provided, beautiful family.....please tell me that's not your hubby in the signature pic?

It was her brother-in-law. Read some of her previous threads instead of asking something like that in the Natural Diets section. I am not her, but to me your post was rude.

mayabrowniebear · 11-16-2009, 06:36 PM

Just an observation from the video, I noticed right when the young girl in the video moved her hand close to the meat that’s when he then swallowed the whole breast. I think he swallowed it in fear that it would be taken. After watching it a second time, I also noticed how when he was given the meat he wanted to walk away from the audience probably to go to a more private/secure place to eat.
JMO but he might take more time to eat(and not swallow the meat whole) if he was able to go to a more private place to enjoy his meal, but do get the fact that he had an audience for his first raw meal, it was sure something to see

Thanks for sharing I enjoyed the video, and Token sure is a cutie!

10-30-2009, 06:00 PM	#1
GlennBaxterFam House Broken Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Shoreline, Wa. Posts: 91 My Mood:	Trying not to panic I gave Token a chicken breast thinking he would not be able to swallow it whole .... he did He's fine and laying at my feet chewing on a toy but I am worried about him swallowing that whole as I thought they were suppose to chew it up, at least a little bit! Do I need to give him larger pieces so that he cannot swallow it like that? Do I need to be worried? Here is the video of him with his first chicken breast. http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p...edium=text_url __________________ You are loved, you are missed and you will NEVER be forgotten!!!! Last edited by GlennBaxterFam; 10-30-2009 at 06:45 PM. Reason: it was a chicken breast not back!

10-30-2009, 06:08 PM	#2
Pam and Brandy and Grizzelda too! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 25,517 My Mood:	He's fine. That's exactly how Brandy would eat it. He cracked the bones first and worked it until he could swallow it. That was a really meaty back, it looked like a breast. It's great you're feeding raw but the fur mom in me has to ask, are you getting help on feeding a puppy raw? Their requirements are quite different. I know people who raise raw puppies so I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all, I wish I had been able to do it. Just want to be sure you've done your research. __________________ 28/50 Thank you for your support of Chase Away K9 Cancer - Brandy's biggest jump at Nationals was 17'5" and with your help, we raised over $2,600 dollars to fight canine cancer

10-30-2009, 06:44 PM	#6
GlennBaxterFam House Broken Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Shoreline, Wa. Posts: 91 My Mood:	Yes he is crate trained ... first thing I trained with him The only difference I could find between the ferrets and Token is only 5% of organ should be liver for Token and the other 5% different organs, like kidney, lung, etc. I already know that heart is not an organ. I also wonder how much gulping his food is health issue's. He had no puppy fat when he came to us and recently we found out he has worms. The Vet said he needs to put on at least 5lbs .... can see his ribs! The Vet felt that the cause of the underweight is the worms combined with a growth spurt and we are not feeding him enough. I just started the raw but he was eating TOTW High Prairie. The Vet said she isn't sure that he 13 weeks because of his front teeth. She wasn't sure that those were adult teeth just coming in (which would put him at about 13 weeks) or baby teeth that are going to fall out! She said she would have a better guess on age when he goes back in 4 weeks for shots. edited to add I had a couple of response on another forum who suggested that he might have gulped the food due to to many people around and being held. I just wanted to clarify that Token backed up into my daughters lap she is not holding him but she does pet him while he is eating. Which I guess could have re-enforced the gulping? Last edited by GlennBaxterFam; 10-30-2009 at 07:14 PM. Reason: more info

10-30-2009, 09:53 PM	#7
ImWithThePyr and the Chow mix! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 5,902 My Mood:	I have got to get me a Lab! __________________ "You ask of my companions - the hills, sir, and the sundown... and a dog, large as myself that my father bought me, they are better than beings because they know but do not tell" -Emily Dickenson "You don't need a pedigree to be a best friend"

11-15-2009, 01:54 AM	#12
Woofie Adult Retriever Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Franktown Posts: 592 My Mood:	Glennbaxter - don't want to be rude, but the man in your signature pic?? Watching video clips of your family within the same link you provided, beautiful family.....please tell me that's not your hubby in the signature pic? __________________ Woofie/Rivers: Kuai: Dakota: Last edited by Woofie; 11-15-2009 at 02:05 AM.

10-30-2009, 06:16 PM	#3
GlennBaxterFam House Broken Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Shoreline, Wa. Posts: 91 My Mood:	Hi, I have been feeding my ferrets raw for over a year now. We use the prey model and I have researched and researched how to feed a puppy raw more specificly a large breed puppy and what ratio's to feed. I know that ferrets are not dogs but the feeding guide for both is about the same with the exception of ferrets diet is based around small birds, game hens and rodents due to their size. I understand your concern and really believe I am capable and ready to feed him raw. My concern was that he is suppose to chew it. I thought I had given him a big enough piece so he could not swallow it whole. Your are right it was a breast not a back ... had chicken backs on my mind lately! I have a couple of mentors who have fed raw to their dogs for years and also read and post on the dogster raw food.

10-30-2009, 06:21 PM	#4
Pam and Brandy and Grizzelda too! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 25,517 My Mood:	Good to know! It sounds like you've really prepared yourself for this. From what I've heard, dogs don't really chew - they crunch. Brandy will pick up a piece and start at one end and crush right through to the other end (just like Token did). Then she swallows it.

10-30-2009, 06:23 PM	#5
Pam and Brandy and Grizzelda too! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 25,517 My Mood:	Oh, sometimes, if she swallows a piece that's too big, she's throw it up and crunch it a bit more and swallow it again. After the first couple of times, I got over that. I've also given up trying to give them a towel or something to eat on. They take it and go to eat it - instinct makes them want to move it to "someplace safe". I just make sure they stay on the floor. That floor gets washed every day. It's the cleanest spot in the house! If my dogs stayed in a crate, I would have fed them in the crate. Is Token crate trained?

10-31-2009, 03:22 AM	#8
GlennBaxterFam House Broken Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Shoreline, Wa. Posts: 91 My Mood:	Just to update he never did throw it up and is fine! I'm thinking that he is going to have to have bigger pieces so he cannot swallow it whole and actually has to chew it up, like chicken quaters but no breast or backs.

11-15-2009, 07:25 AM	#13
HunterBoozer Brandie - @ 6 months Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 7,089 My Mood:	Chance is a gulper. Sometimes he doesn't even try to crush anything. Yogi & Hunter chew more. Hunter is the longest /slowest chewer. Its looks like he savors his food compared to his brothers. __________________ Kathy Hunter & Boozer (3/3/02) black males Chance (12/23/04) yellow male Yogi, adopted 11/19/05, chocolate male Buddy (3/27/03), chocolate male Isabella (9/18/02) 2 legged yellow girl Brandie (12/4/03-2/22/05) yellow baby girl - RIP -

11-16-2009, 06:36 PM	#15
mayabrowniebear Retriever Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In Posts: 288	Just an observation from the video, I noticed right when the young girl in the video moved her hand close to the meat that’s when he then swallowed the whole breast. I think he swallowed it in fear that it would be taken. After watching it a second time, I also noticed how when he was given the meat he wanted to walk away from the audience probably to go to a more private/secure place to eat. JMO but he might take more time to eat(and not swallow the meat whole) if he was able to go to a more private place to enjoy his meal, but do get the fact that he had an audience for his first raw meal, it was sure something to see Thanks for sharing I enjoyed the video, and Token sure is a cutie! __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode