Won't eat RMBs: HELP!

mrscrawley · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:26 am Post subject: Won't eat RMBs: HELP!

My weim Caroline is one year old as of last week. She's had a slew of health problems since we got her last August, most of which have been chalked up to allergies, particularlly seasonal ones. We've been on several different kibbles (Canidae Lamb & Rice, Evo, Wellness Lamb, Wellness Chicken, Natural Balance Venison & Sweet Potato, and currently California Natural Lamb & Rice) and decided that raw might be worthwhile because she hasn't been doing GREAT on anything so far. When the allergies popped up we weren't sure if there were food allergies as well so we eliminated chicken, beef, and salmon (which I know she is allergic to). To start feeding raw I decided on turkey. I wanted to test the waters for her sensitive stomach so I just gave her about 2 tablespoons of ground turkey on Thursday night with some probiotics. I know this isn't a complete diet, but I just wanted to see if she could handle it at all. No stomach upset, so I doubled the amount of ground turkey last night. Still good, so I got brave and decided to go with turkey necks. I gave her 2 turkey necks that I 'marinated' in apple cider vinager as well as about 4 tablespoons of ground turkey and a mixture of raw egg with shell, beef liver, and a very small amount of kale, spinach, and yellow squash. She ate the ground meat and liver/egg/veggie mixture, but she just licked and licked and licked but wouldn't pick the necks up to chew them. She's always been in the habit of inhaling her dry commercial food without chewing it, but I give her chews every few days in her crate (i.e. sow ears, free range bully sticks, etc.). I tried putting her in her crate with a frozen neck to the same outcome. I've read that you shouldn't accomodate them by cutting anything up. Any ideas?

Also I'm wondering what other things I should get for her. She's moderately active and weighs about 60lbs right now. I've read a lot about chicken quarters, but I thought that load-bearing bones like thighs aren't that great of an option because they're lower in calcium. I wanted to know if anyone knew anything about oxtails (fairly expensive but intriguing) or what fish would be good. The canned stuff seems awefully high in sodium. I heard freshwater fish are better, but I wanted to know what in particular. I was also curious what beef RMBs are good.

Sorry for the broad spectrum of quesitons, but I want to do what's best. Thanks!

weimdawgs · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:57 am Post subject:

For RMB's my guys get chicken wings. No frills, just in some warm water with their Nupro supplement. Makes a nice gravy.

iris · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

Just try feeding her a chicken wing with nothing else added and keep giving it to her till she figures out how to chew it. We have a similar problem!!!!!

Phoenix1705 · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

I did the same thing. I started them on chicken wings and got them used to them for a week or so, then started in on legs, quarters, necks, gizzards etc. Now I rotate it all out so they don't get bored. Smile