Amanda Teixeira
Find out here how to provide your dog with biologically appropriate raw food and which risks you should definitely keep in mind.
BARF is the abbreviation for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Foods. Anyone who wants to barf their dog wants to reconstruct the natural diet of the wolf in order to offer their dog a diet that is as natural as possible. Read about the advantages of this nutritional philosophy and what you absolutely have to pay attention to when barfing.
Ingredients at BARF for dogs
When barfing, many different foods go into the dog’s bowl. These mainly include:
- fish, meat and bones
- offal and offal
- vegetables and fruits
It is important with BARF that all feed components are fed to the dog raw. The dog should eat its food in the same way that the wolf would find it in the wild. However, there are also variants of BARF that allow carbohydrates such as rice or potatoes: These ingredients are then of course served cooked.
Can BARF cover daily needs?
When barfing, an average ration for the dog consists of around 70-90% meat and 10-30% plant-based ingredients such as vegetables or fruits. A dog should be able to meet its daily energy, mineral, vitamin and protein needs with BARF – however, this often cannot be guaranteed with meat and plant-based ingredients alone.
Supplements, such as mineral or vitamin mixtures, can provide the dog with additional nutrients. In order to avoid deficiencies and an oversupply of BARF, you should definitely have a ration calculation carried out by an institute for animal nutrition or a veterinarian specializing in dog nutrition. Important: With BARF, diseases of the dog must be taken into account!
BARF is a self-determined diet
With BARF, many dog owners enjoy the freedom of being able to decide for themselves what should end up in the dog bowl. With BARF, you can specifically avoid certain foods to which the dog is allergic. The food can also be designed according to the dog’s preferences.
With a high proportion of muscle meat, the dog can digest and utilize the BARF food better. This often means that barred dogs often only defecate once a day. It’s also a fact: raw feeding can have a positive effect on a dog’s health – provided it is done correctly.
BARF means a lot of effort
BARF is difficult for dog owners: Meat, fish and offal have to be kept fresh in a freezer. Vegetables, grains, fruits, oils, minerals and other supplements must be included in each ration.
BARF is also expensive: a large, sporty dog quickly needs a whole kilo of meat to cover its daily requirements.
In addition, raw meat poses a potential health risk: Salmonella, viruses or parasites can not only be transmitted to the dog through consumption, but also to the dog owner during preparation. When feeding the raw meat, it is essential to pay attention to hygiene.
BARF is also not unconditionally suitable for every dog. Especially with young or sick animals, special attention must be paid to an adequate supply of nutrients. Unfortunately, the self-determination that dog owners gain through BARF often leads to poor nutrition. In the long term, these can have serious consequences, such as heart or liver diseases, urinary stones, chronic diarrhea, vomiting or arthrosis.
So before you get started with BARF, you should definitely seek veterinary advice. So your dog can not only be fed naturally, but above all healthily.