B.a.r.f. Diet

[Jake2006]

Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllo Everyone

I've seen the BARF diet mentioned in a few posts. I thought you might be interested in having some dialogue with John Burns as he's asking for opinions

http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/BARF_Raw_Food_Diet.htm

[lassie]

i'e been on other forums and it has got quite heated about this method of feeding

[Yellow Dog]

i'e been on other forums and it has got quite heated about this method of feeding

After i read this i feel the same way. :(

[Becky]

I personally feel that these claims are all wet. I don't feed barf, per say, but I do give raw meals a few times a week. Let's not mention the fact that you are on a manufactorer website and BARF is competition to said manufactorer.

Anyway, some highlights:
The problem with the evolutionary argument is that domestic dogs bear little relationship to the original wild dog. Very early in their association it is likely that man selected and bred those animals which suited his purpose e.g. guarding, hunting, more docile, less independent – even better suited to the food provided by man.


While true, we have domesticated dogs... what do you think they ate 100 years ago? Kibble hadn't been invented yet... I suspect they hunted for themselves, ate scraps left from hunts and butchered farm animals etc.

According to Dr Billinghurst dogs cannot digest carbohydrate. In reality, the dog has very sophisticated, sensitive and efficient mechanisms for breaking down carbohydrate and ensuring its absorption. This could not have evolved if carbohydrate was detrimental.

A dog cannot digest vegetable matter unless its been pureed or cooked. I fail to see how they have evolved sufficiently to eat it. ETA: Also, why do carbs cause their teeth to rot so?

There are other major flaws with the BARF philosophy. One which flies in the face of the facts is the assertion that raw food is more digestible and that cooking destroys that digestibility. Simple common sense and experience tell us that cooking actually increases digestibility.

Actually, most raw-goers claim it destroys nutrients. As a fact, cooking does destroy nutrients in foods. Anyway, if this were completely true, why is raw fed dog poo typically smaller than kibble fed poo?


If I had the choice, I would feed completely raw. I've read so many debates on the subject that I just have to go with my own knowledge. I know dogs are decendants of wolves (they are still classified as a wolf subspecie). Wolves are carnivores, so, in my thoery dogs, are, at the very least, carnivores with omnivorous tendancies (which, I guess, termed correctly is an opportunistic carnivore).

[lassie]

well its not for me sorry. i feed a complete food and my dogs thrive on it.

[Becky]

That's fine :D, I feed mostly kibble as well and I am comfortable doing it. I was simply stating what I would do if I could :) .

[Cheetah]

I'd feed all raw if I could afford it and if I had time for the extensive research and preparation involved.

[Jake2006]

I totally agree!

Its a shame I can't feed my hubby prepared dry food! LOL

(Lassie??)

[Doberman's]

I feed RAW ( BARF ) and have for years and the health benefits from this type of feeding are enormus.

I understand however this type of feeding is not for everyone but I have a dog that is hypo thyriod and in being such has a bit of a compromised immune system, I have found that by feeding him a raw and holistic diet that his health has improved and he looks great ( he is on meds as well ).


Please read this and the truth about commercial diets... yes their are some very good kibble and canned foods out there but dogs were never meant to eat that way, a balanced diet day in and day out can actually do more harm then good ( rotating can help this ). Research for this kind of thing is key, read and read some more.

My vet is also a proponent of BARF and RAW feeding and I so happy he is because I can go and discuss things with him. It is nice that he sees a place for RAW feeding. :)

BTW this website article is not for the faint of heart.

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/petfood1.html

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/petfood2.html


Info on BARF:

http://www.barfworld.com/
http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm
http://www.auntjeni.com/barf.htm


There are tons more websites I can direct people too for info and great books to read written by vets.

If anyone one would like help with starting to feed this way please feel free to PM me :)

[lassie]

i probably would feed this way if i only had one dog;)

[lassie]

Its a shame I can't feed my hubby prepared dry food! LOL

(Lassie??)
:D :D

[skunkstripe]

Actually I'm envious of my dogs because they get to eat raw heart.

No seriously, I feed kibble (nutro max mixed w/lamb meal and rice) and then on top of that they get fresh heart, tripe, liver, bones, whatever. I feel that they do well on it, but I am not about to give advice as I am not a nutritionist.