should i freeze

[sams mum]

question for feeders of Raw...should i freeze any raw meat first before feeding ?????

[Stuart]

Freezing will only kill a certain amount of the baddies,... but none the less, I make it a rule, that I always freeze for at least 24 hours no matter where the food comes from, be it off the hill or the supermarket

[Caryll]

Same here. Although it doesn't kill everything, most dogs can stomach a little 'ripe' meat so a small amount of bacteria isn't a problem.

[sams mum]

ok. thanks guys.. another question ... if i get a fresh rabbit kill what do i do with it. skin it or not? empty it or not? freeze it whole???

[jesterjenn]

I don't necessarily freeze everything.

Most bacteria is only put in a dormant state from freezing, so when it's defrosted it "comes alive" again.

With regards to rabbit - I'd see if the dogs would eat it with the jackets and innards, and if not, just experiment on what they will eat. I've heard you're meant to freeze rabbits for a long time first, but I've never had them so I don't know.

[Lutgard 1]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Freezing will only kill a certain amount of the baddies,... but none the less, I make it a rule, that I always freeze for at least 24 hours no matter where the food comes from, be it off the hill or the supermarket

Same here

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by sams mum

ok. thanks guys.. another question ... if i get a fresh rabbit kill what do i do with it. skin it or not? empty it or not? freeze it whole???

Personaly I would feed it whole, you dont even need to gut it if you dont want to,..[ although preferable].. so freeze it as it is, but bear in mind, some dogs wouldnt know what to do with an animal with its jacket still on,.. trial and error,... I wish I could get rabbit more often

[wildmoor]

Rabbit I would deffinately gut
if they wont eat it fur and all they are easy to skin - chop feet and head off then just peel off

[Bet]

When I get rabbits, I empty the bladder first and gut apart from the organs, I've offered them to Zeus with their jackets on and he didn't seem keen. The dogs faces are a picture when they see me carry the cottontails into the garden to sort....their eyes glaze lol

[sams mum]

thanks guys for advise....