Capone's a piglet!

[BullMastiffMama]

Capone's been eating raw-only for about a week and a half. Today, he decided he didn't have to chew ...and simply horked it down.

I was right next to him, but it looked from where I was at like he was still chomping on the side. I realized what he was doing and asked for a 'Drop' just as it slid down his throat. Predictably, he yakked it back up in short order... though it would seem he chomped it better in two seconds than I thought he did. (Two half-pound hunks )

So... How to slow him down? He was getting his meals about half thawed, in an effort to get him to work at it a little more. I tried holding one end and offering the other, but he'll only lick at it. I'm thinking he needs about 1 - 1 1/2# per meal, twice daily... and I'll monitor his weight and adjust as needed -- I guess I could feed 2-3# once daily, but he's typically done a lot better w/twice daily feedings.

[Gguevara]

I've read that dogs gulping down their food is simply a trait they kept through out evolution. In the wild if they had food it was an all you can eat buffet and they had to stuff themselves full because of other predators and the possibility of having to go awhile without food.
Maybe somebody else can be a little more thorough.

[ihartgonzo]

What kind of raw are you feeding? Pre-made or prey model?

It's suggested that you don't feed anything smaller than a dog's head, to prevent gulping. And Capone has a pretty big head I'm sure, LOL! Maybe you could feed him a 2-3 lb meal for breakfast and smaller, muscle meat/safer meal for dinner to get around the size thing.

[MericoX]

When I was feeding raw for a bit... Stryder (about 24lbs at that time) tried swallowing chicken wings whole. About the 3rd attempt from swallowing and horking it back up he decided chewing would work better.

[michaelf]

HI,
I did a lot of reseach on raw when my toy poo refused to eat just about anything except what was on my plate.. (I know, my own fault)
So I started her on chicken bones, yogurt, egg all that stuff. A few days after I started, I went to move her bone and she BIT me in the face!

That was the only time she was ever agressive towards me. My mentor explained to me that she, in her little doggie brain, know she was finally getting the nutrition she needed and WAS NOT gonna give it up for anything!

Well, that behavior was nipped in the bud quickly and she was doing fine for several months. Then , one day she refused to eat and ended up dehydrated and a trip to the vet an a big bill. Most likely, her throat was abraided by a bone. I took no more chances, I started her on frozen raw and she is loving it. That was just to scary for me. I don't know if it has to do with how little she is or what. But, at least she's getting the second best, IMO, diet.

[BullMastiffMama]

Prey-model.... with well-earned treats thrown in here and there. I guess I'll throw a whole chicken at him and see what he thinks...

Thx

[filarotten]

I believe the cartlidge in the breast is a problem for dogs to chew, so a whole chicken maybe not be the way to go.

I feed mine chicken quarters and they seem to handle them ok.

[BullMastiffMama]

I hate that the whole chicken idea wouldn't be a good idea... A chicken quarter is what he swallowed more or less whole.

I considered skewering the meat with chopsticks or something similar so that he'd have to work around them, but as enthusiastic as he is about all this raw chicken business, he's liable to skewer himself.

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

My dog will chew on a chopstick for fun, I doubt it would slow down Capone in the least.

Why not try serving his raw fully frozen? Most dogs don't like to swallow the equivalent of a large rock and that usually makes them work on it for a while.

[BullMastiffMama]

Hmm... make feeding raw even more convenient? OKAY! I'll give it a shot tonight.