Dogs and chicken wings - good idea?

Bromley86

I was talking to someone recently and she suggested chicken wings as a supplement to our girl's diet in place of what we normally give (without going into detail, it's pretty healthy).

We feed Burns dry food. She's a lab. She's never had raw food and we don't want to go down a BARF route.

Are there any dangers to putting a raw wing or two on her food? I'm worried that she won't know how to eat it properly (and the general worry about chicken bones). I'm also pretty against it as she does lick our faces at times, but I suppose we'd just prevent that on the days in question.

Lainie75

I wouldnt give a dog chicken wings becouse the bones splinter and these could get stuck in her throat or cause all sorts of damage internally.
Once a week i mix a cooked choped up chicken breast in my dogs food i dont know if it benefits but i think its a nice treat.

WeirdoMagnet

Raw chicken wings are ok to feed your dog. Non weight-bearing bones are safer than weight-bearing bones, so wings are fine. We give Tilly one every so often for her breakfast instead of her usual (also Burns) and she handles it fine. The first few we smashed up with a hammer (wing in plastic bag, before anyone wonders!) so if she did decide to swallow it it was already broken up, but it's surprising how sensible she is with them.

~Chameleon~

Lainie75 wrote: »

I wouldnt give a dog chicken wings becouse the bones splinter and these could get stuck in her throat or cause all sorts of damage internally.

Bones only become brittle and at risk of splintering when they're cooked, so feeding raw chicken wings is absolutely fine.

Golden rule = never feed COOKED bones to dogs

withabix

Bromley86 wrote: »

I'm also pretty against it as she does lick our faces at times, but I suppose we'd just prevent that on the days in question.

Any bacteria on the chicken would just be joining the high bacteria load in your dog's mouth, so what's the difference?

mirrorimage0

yes we feed chicken wings too, always have for both our dogs its good for them

suki1964

NEVER feed COOKED bones to a dog.

Chicken wings are great. Mine gets the wings off the sunday chicken, I snip them off before I cook it. two wings = one meal. Dont feed on top of kibble - feed instead off. I also feed them in the garden - dont want raw chicken on my floors

greenmoneysaver_2

Yes - only cooked bones splinter.

I have heard of raw chicken wings given to cats, as the size is right for chewing and they get good teeth cleaning.

The main benefit of raw bones as a supplement (not BARF) is for teeth so wonder if the main benefit would be lost with such small bones on a Lab?

suki1964

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

Yes - only cooked bones splinter.

I have heard of raw chicken wings given to cats, as the size is right for chewing and they get good teeth cleaning.

The main benefit of raw bones as a supplement (not BARF) is for teeth so wonder if the main benefit would be lost with such small bones on a Lab?

Firms up the poo lovely which keeps the anal glands in good health

Also they do help with the teeth cleaning

~Chameleon~

suki1964 wrote: »

Firms up the poo lovely which keeps the anal glands in good health

I didn't know that! One of my cats has problems with anal glands becoming compacted, and ultimately infected, if she doesn't eat a high fibre diet. The Hills Feline Light is high in fibre, much higher than the original or mature varieties, although they've now produced a Feline Light Mature which is great and suits both my cats well.

I might start adding chicken wings to her diet too now though :T

ali-t

chicken wings are great and I give 3 as a meal for a staffy in place of kibble. If it is a hot day she often gets them frozen like poochy ice lollies!