Shots in Game (Raw)

I have pheasant mince to feed my littl'uns (and it smells delicious!) and sometimes I'll find a little metal ball in their bowls when they are finished - other game meats on suppliers websites also say "may contain shot"

I don't know what shots are made from and since I find them in their bowls I assume they aren't eating loads, but does anyone know if they are going to cause any damage at all if they are swallowed??

Shotgun "shot" is made from lead, but I doubt there could be enough in minced game sold by reputable companies to be dangerous.

Lead Poisoning in Dogs

Measures were introduced decades ago to restrict the use of lead pellets near important wetlands and sites of special scientific interest but they are not working, with many shotgun owners admitting that they flaunt the rules. So best to assume any shot is lead shot. I definitely would not want any of my pets ingesting lead.

I see first hand the damage done to beautiful birds like flamingos by lead shot. I think every shot fired releases around 300 pellets and most of them fall to the ground to be eating by birds.

A friend of mine only recently put up some x-ray pics of her Whippet on Face-Book. Several lead shots in his digestive system, dog feeling sick, quite high vet bills .. I personally wouldn't feed it to my dog.

From rawfed.com

Lead poisoning causes irreversible health effects and there is no 'cure' for lead poisoning. I don't have a clue how much shot would be dangerous I just wouldn't feed it to my dog.

And I hate 'game' and the first time I was served it by a huntin' shootin' fishin' family I found shot in it. And it all just tastes like FISH to me!

Would it be worth buying whole pheasant? It's much easier to find any shot in it

I've never even considered buying a pheasant whole or otherwise for any of my dogs!

It goes down well in our house, both for us and the dog, even Kizzy cat like a bit now and then

It has usually been in the slow cooker for hours though with bacon and red wine

The terror!!
At least they seem to be spitting them out though - good job I only got a bit to try

Maybe I'll grow some pheasants in the garden to supply to the "scared shotless" crowd