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I hear a lot of stories about animal health. For example, did you know that you can cure heartworm by tying a lime around your dog's neck? Did you know that feeding dogs rice gives them worms?

Personally, I think it would best to ask vets who have been working here for some years, who will have real experience of the issues relating to chicken bones in Belize. I can think of no logical reason why chicken bones in Belize would be different to chicken bones anywhere else as they use commercial feed and common commercial breeds in the chicken farms.

I would never say never about anything. There are risks associated with raw feeding too - for example salmonella. In fact, even raw bones can become a problem in terms of impaction and injury.

I have known dogs that have died and been seriously injured from impaction and gut damage from eating cooked animal bones (not just chicken). I have also known dogs who have died and been seriously injured from eating rawhide chews and good quality dog toys.

One of my own dogs nearly died from having his esophagus pierced when chewing a stick. I've also known dogs to eat a significant amount of glass, nails, rocks and stones and pass them through safely.

My own view- and I am not a vet - is that if you give your dog anything to eat or chew, if there is any risk whatsoever that pieces might break off and be swallowed, you should supervise your dog. When I give my dogs chicken feet, I supervise them closely and encourage them to chew carefully and not gulp them down whole. Didn't the Queen Mother nearly choke to death on a fish bone - and GW Bush choke on a pretzel (maybe they are good examples of people who need supervision while eating)?

If you have any questions about your own dog and food safety. You should speak to your vet. They spend a lot of time studying for their qualifications and I'd be more inclined to listen to them than to your friend, neighbour, aunt, uncle, brother's sister's husband's nephew - you'll find that everyone whose ever owned a dog considers themselves an expert until the day they say 'Hmm that's never happened before'.

Another Belizean favorite, if your dog is stealing your chicken eggs, put his ear on a stump and drive a nail through it! If they did that to me I would stop doing anything!!! But it did not help our neighbor, the dog kept stealing eggs as it was starving!

I can make it where anyone who does that to a dog would never have to worry about eggs again!
If I saw that happening I would not "mind my own business"!

Just a softie for animals. Ask our 3 cats.

I realize that I am getting into this a little late but as far as Chickens feet are concerned they make a great stock and are very tasty. As in anything of this nature (as well as offal of all types, careful cleaning and proper preparation are key).

If you get the chance to you should try this type of food. If you like it - great if not than your dislike will be based on an actual experience and not a perception.