Does Meat Need To Be Minced?

[sandgrubber]

The other problem with minced meat (other than poultry) is that you're likely to be buying bone free meat . . . hence not getting calcium. I can buy a new commercial meat grinder for less than a thousand dollars. The equivalent machine that will take on bone will cost me well over $10,000, even second hand . . . and it will be a nasty brute that I would be scared to use.

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Have you read "The BARF diet" by Billinghurst? Or "Raw Meaty Bones" by Lonsdale? Both are excellent references to begin a raw feeding journey IMO.

No I haven't ... are they books or online articles?

Both books, but you'll find millions of hits online as well. Sifting the good from the bad is a little more of a challenge though! :D

[MonElite]

Dogs have teeth..

Not all of them do! Silver only has six teeth (she's a "gummy mummy"! ), & they are all front teeth...she has no molars to chew with...hence the question.

the chicken pet mince I get is minced frames.

Id be feeding that to your dog.

And ricotta cheese for more calcium

[Fastgals]

Not all of them do! Silver only has six teeth (she's a "gummy mummy"! :D ), & they are all front teeth...she has no molars to chew with...hence the question.

Our old Girlie (greyhound) only had about 7 teeth left - two of these were upper and lower canines on one side and she still had four lower incisors. She took very little time to adapt to eating bones such as chicken legs and even chicken quarters or rabbit pieces. Because chicken bones are softer, she was able to use her remaining canines to crunch the bones. I admit I supervised Girlie's eating, particularly after her tie-back operation and she would often wait for me to join her for the bone-in part of the meal - my job was to hang onto one end of the chicken leg while she got started crunching and tearing at the other . After a while she'd take over on her own.

[Mystiqview]

Not all of them do! Silver only has six teeth (she's a "gummy mummy"! rofl1.gif ), & they are all front teeth...she has no molars to chew with...hence the question.

I was not referring to your question so much as Trojan's comment about mincing meat. They do not mention a dog with no teeth. However, while your dog may not be able to chew bones due to lack of teeth, there is considerable difference between cutting meat into chunks as to mincing meat. Dogs need to chew.

As for immune systems to bacteria, yes dogs are hardier than humans, but at the same time, why humanise our animals? Dog's teeth were designed for shredding, ripping, chewing etc. Why do vets say a diet of wet food (typically minced and tin food) is bad for dogs? It is because the dogs don't chew and then develop oral problems. It is not just because of what is in Tin Food..

A dog which is not allowed to chew, grows tartar and then is prone to other mouth disorders. The production of saliva is needed in an all round oral hygiene.. Same is said for humans.... Think one of the chewing gum companies use the same slogan.

Big difference between minced meat, chunky meat and a large marrowbone...

[espinay2]

Personally I'd never give this place any of my business. It used to be the knackery (and probably still is...so NO WAY would I buy anything from them).

Yes, but as a horse lover/owner I am personally ok with that. It used to be that feeding a beloved hunter to the hounds was an honour. I generally don't feed horse meat (although have on occasion), but I like to see first hand just where my meat comes from and play a role in choosing the bits I want. It is probably in many ways a lot fresher and cleaner than a lot of meat bought third or fourth hand at a butcher shop.

But then I am not squeamish about meat or its origins, having being raised in the country where we killed our own stock and having worked in Zoos and conservation facilities feeding lions and wolves. I do realise that others may not share this outlook.

JMHO