Far be it from me to deny your dogs this delicious meal. However, the tricky part is whether should they eat raw or cooked turkey necks.
A Brief Guide to Feeding Your Dogs Turkey Necks
Here are some key points about your dogs eating turkey necks:
- Benefits – Turkey necks are a good source of protein and minerals like calcium and phosphorus as well as glucosamine for healthy joints. Additionally, feeding your dogs turkey necks is good for their teeth.
- Safe Feeding – As good as turkey necks are for your pooch, not cutting them into the appropriate sizes can be dangerous because it can choke them. This is one reason you shouldn’t even feed turkey necks to puppies. And always be present when your pet is feeding on turkey necks because cooked bones can splinter, especially if they’re aggressive chewers.
- Serving Tips – Always serve turkey necks in the right sizes for your dog and give them plenty of water to aid their digestion.
Aren’t poultry bones dangerous for dogs?
A lot of pet owners have expressed their concerns regarding the tendency of poultry bones to splinter and cause injuries or obstruction in their dog’s digestive tract or throat. However, this is mostly a problem with cooked bones because they’re brittle. This is why raw turkey necks are safe, especially if you feed them to your pets under close supervision.
Can dogs eat raw turkey necks?
Like I said earlier, raw turkey necks are safe for your dogs to eat because the bones don’t easily splinter.
Can dogs eat cooked turkey neck?
I don’t advise you to feed your dogs cooked turkey necks because their bones can easily splinter and puncture the digestive tract. You wouldn’t want to deal with the aftermath of something that you can help your pets avoid.
Benefits of turkey necks
Here are some reasons that explains why it’s good for your dogs to eat turkey necks:
Rich nutritional value: Turkey necks are a great meal for your dogs because their flesh gives a healthy dose of protein, essential fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. Interestingly, even the bones and cartilage are not left out because they contain glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints.
Healthy Joints: The glucosamine and chondroitin in turkey necks are good for your dogs because they prevent inflammation and deterioration, promoting healthy joints and supporting mobility.
Good Dental Health: If you want to keep your dog’s dentition in excellent condition, feeding them raw turkey necks is one way to go because it scrapes away tartar and plaque. It also reduces bacteria and keeps their teeth clean.
Mental Well-Being: You may be surprised to know that when your pets chew on raw turkey necks, it can mentally stimulate them. Think about it as a way of satisfying their natural cravings to chew and stave off boredom.
Where can I buy turkey necks for my dog?
If you want to get this juicy meal for your pooch, I know a place or two to recommend:
- Pet Stores – This is one of the easiest places to get raw turkey necks and they usually sell them frozen and in bagged portions. Some popular examples include PetSmart and Petco.
- Butcher Shops or Meat Markets – You can also pay a visit to the local butcher to buy packs or units of fresh or frozen turkey necks.
- Online – If you don’t feel like going out, you can always order turkey necks from online stores such as Chewy, Raw Feeding Miami, My Pet Carnivore, and so on.
In your hunt for this delicious meal for your pooch, I recommend buying necks from free-range and antibiotic-free turkeys and ensure they’re raw, not cooked or smoked. Most importantly, before you make a purchase, check that the size of the necks matches your dog’s build and make sure your vendor is a trusted source.
What do I need to consider when giving turkey necks to my dog?
Before you feed your pooch turkey necks, consider their size, age, and tendency to chew or swallow food aggressively. And if your dog is a puppy or small in size, do not bother feeding them turkey necks to avoid intestinal injuries from swallowing shards of bone.
How to feed turkey necks to your dogs
- Pick an appropriately sized neck for your dog’s weight and cut it into chunks if necessary
- Feed your pooch outside or in a crate to contain the mess
- Make sure plenty of water is available for your pets to aid their digestion
- As your dog feeds, watch their progress and chewing habits
- When there’s small food left, take it away from your dogs as well as any piece that can choke them
- Don’t feed your pooch more than a couple of turkey necks a week to avoid diet imbalance
When you follow these tips, you will minimize the risks that come with feeding your pooch turkey necks.
Feeding Methods
There are many ways to feed turkey necks to your dogs:
Feed whole turkey necks: If your pooch is large, you can feed them whole raw turkey necks. It allows them to chew for longer and gives them the satisfaction of tearing meat from bone. So if this is ideal for you, I advise that you start with smaller turkey necks.
Feed them ground or cut up: If your dog is small-sized or an aggressive chewer, you can either use a knife to cut the necks into chunks or grind it and serve your dogs in a kibble. But there’s a downside to this feeding method – it won’t enhance their dental health.
Use turkey necks to make nutritious bone broth: You can make a delicious bone broth for your pets by simmering raw turkey necks in water for 12-24 hours with some ACV and vegetables. Then, cool, skim fat, and pour the broth into ice cube trays.
Add raw turkey necks to your dog’s dental health routine: Raw turkey necks serve as a natural toothbrush because they clean plaque and tartar off your dog’s teeth.
There’s no ‘best’ preparation method because it all depends on your pooch’s needs and how they chew.
The kinds of dogs you shouldn’t give turkey necks
- Puppies – If your dog is less than a year old, you should not feed them raw turkey necks because their throats and airways are still developing and turkey necks can easily choke them.
- Small Breeds – Turkey necks, regardless of their size, is a no-no for smaller breeds. What I recommend for them are chews that are ideal for them.
- Aggressive Chewers – If your dog is as aggressive as Mike Tyson when chewing or swallowing food, they will be easy victims of choking or obstructions in the intestines.
- Dogs with Dental Issues – Dogs with damaged teeth, gum disease, or who have had recent dental work done may injure their mouth on turkey necks.
- Dogs Prone to Pancreatitis – The high-fat content of turkey necks may trigger this painful condition in some dogs. So, if your pooch is prone to this, feed them leaner meats.
- Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs – The rich meat and bone can cause GI upset in some dogs.
The bottom line
Turkey necks can be one of the best meals for your dogs when you feed them properly because they provide a wide range of benefits. But that should not let down your guard when it comes to their safety considerations. As I’ve said earlier, turkey necks can choke your dogs or block their intestines, but you can easily prevent this when you do the right things.
To recap, feed your dog raw turkey necks, cut them into appropriate sizes, limit their intake to 1-2 necks every week, and closely supervise them while they feed.
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