Frequently asked questions about RMBD
What are the most common benefits of feeding RMBs?
Feeding Raw Meaty Bones offers several advantages for your pet's health and well-being:
- Dental Health: Chewing on RMBs naturally prevents and reduces plaque and tartar buildup, promoting cleaner teeth and healthier gums.
- Mental Stimulation: The act of gnawing on bones provides valuable mental enrichment and stimulation, including the release of endorphins, which can contribute to your pet's overall happiness.
- Natural Diet: RMBs mimic the ancestral diet of carnivores, stimulating essential gut enzymes and promoting healthy digestive mobility.
- Improved Body Score: The effort required to pull meat off the bones helps develop stronger muscles along your pet's backline.
How can I ensure safe feeding of RMBs?
Preventing choking and bones getting stuck are the main hazards when feeding RMBs, and these are emergencies that must be avoided.
- Choose Appropriate Bone Sizes - Go bigger: We recommend the bone be the size of your dog’s head or larger to avoid wolfing bones down.
- Always Supervise: Always supervise your pet while they are eating RMBs.
- Consult Our Team: If you are unsure whether RMBs are suitable for your pet's health, please consult with our team before introducing them.
How frequently should I feed RMBs?
Raw meaty bones should form the foundation of your pet’s diet, serving as meals rather than just snacks or 'dental treats'. For most adult pets, feeding once a day is generally sufficient.
What proportions of food should I feed?
- Please consult our Expanded Diet Guide for detailed information on appropriate proportions.
What about providing variety in my pet’s diet?
We stock a wide range of different Raw Meaty Bones to suit every pet’s needs, including an array of poultry, fish, and wild game meaty bones. Some carcasses include offal such as gizzard, heart, and liver. We recommend feeding offals like heart, kidney, and liver to your pets fortnightly or once a month.
Can cats and kittens eat Raw Meaty Bones?
Yes! Kittens as young as 6 weeks old can begin a carcass-based diet. We offer smaller quail frames to help them start off, and they often adapt quickly to eating raw meaty bones. Please see our guide on feeding RMBD to kittens and puppies.
Cats can certainly be fed raw meaty bones. While transitioning them to a raw meaty bone diet might be challenging at first, here are some tips (please link to starting cat on RMBD handout) to help your cat enjoy the bones.
When can puppies start on RMBs?
Most puppies will readily take to carcasses from 6 weeks old. Start with the basic spatchcock or chicken frames, they are soft, cartilaginous and large in size for easy and safe feeding.
Read more about it in our guide on feeding RMBD to kittens and puppies.
Can I feed commercial food with raw meaty bones?
Meaty tail bones and ribs are good. Brisket bones are not recommended due to a lack of meat. Marrow bones that are cut into half length-wise are common causes of tooth fracture, which could lead to surgical treatment.
What about raw chicken?
It is fine to feed raw chicken for dogs and cats because their digestive systems, with their highly acidic gastric acid, are well-equipped to process and digest raw meat. However, general hygiene is absolutely necessary when handling raw poultry products to prevent bacterial contamination.
Are lamb bones good?
Lamb necks are good for medium to large dogs.
Can I feed cooked bones?
Cooked bones are less nutritious and carry a higher risk of obstruction. They can also break and become splinters and cause major gastrointestinal crises.
Where can I find raw food suppliers?
Check local sources - supermarkets often stock chicken neck and chicken three-joint wings that are great for cats. Enquire from your local chicken or butcher stores, they often sell chicken carcasses as well.
Is raw food expensive?
Raw food is generally cheaper than commercial pet food in Australia.
Should I feed fruit and grains?
It's not essential but raw fruit is acceptable.
Some cooked grains are okay in moderation, but large quantities can cause issues. Grain-based diets are linked to many pet diseases.
Is onion toxic?
Yes, onions are toxic for dogs.
Can I feed table scraps?
It's not essential but raw fruit is acceptable.
Should I feed vegetables?
Vegetables are not essential, but feeding lots of vegetables is fine.
The difference between RMBD and soft food
Compare eating small and soft food with eating a raw meaty bones diet.
Featured products
Spatchcock Frames
$2.49
Spatchcock Frames
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