Teresa you made me blush!
For the benefit of anyone who doesn't know my qualifications/ experience are in human healthcare (including nutrition) but I am aware of that felines are obligate carnivores with a different digestive system than ours.
Traditional vets do still recommend dry food for cleaning teeth, but AFAIK there is no scientific evidence to support this. It is worth remembering that vets, like GPs, have to be all rounders so they will partly rely on commercial organisations to keep their knowledge up to date. If dry food contains 'starchy' carbohydrates (from cereals) this can feed plaque bacteria in the mouth just like sugar - this information can be found on the net or ask your own dentist. Given that cats have zero nutritional requirement for carbohydrates this is one more nail in the coffin for most dry diets IMO.
The evidence for raw bone cleaning teeth is anecdotal, but it's interesting to note it is your boy who has tartar. A number of more progressive vets are convinced enough to publicly advocate feeding raw bones - IIRC I easily found proof on Aussie vet practice websites a while back. Is it completely safe? No doubt there have been cases of bones getting stuck, just as there will be cases of a pet inhaling a biscuit and choking.
Felines have evolved to hunt, butcher, chew and digest bone-in raw meat: zoos do not use Hills Science for their big cats, neither do many Bengal breeders! Are we really so arrogant to think Purina-Nestle knows better than Mother Nature what cats thrive on?
*dismounts soapbox*
Noah tends to strip the meat off bones unless I chop them with poultry shears to reveal the marrow; or do you mean your boy is not interested in the meat either? A shame if so as my Noah (as greedy as many dogs!) seems fuller on days he only has raw. You don't necessarily need to adjudicate at mealtimes, maybe feed them in separate rooms?
If you remain concerned about splinters you could try turkey necks and chicken carcasses instead of wings as the vertebrae are rounded and the ribs small and soft. I'm not clear as to whether the main part of their diet is wet or wet and dry at present? If you are using a kibble this may be contributing to the weight problem as it is more calorie dense than wet, plus there is scientific evidence linking grains to weight problems in canines. You might also consider a supplement (or food containing) cranberry extract, there is evidence it stops plaque bacteria sticking to the teeth just as it does in the bladder.
If you are still torn and would like me to link to the evidence I refer to will be happy to do so, but it may take me a couple of days to get time to sit down with Google!
