Since the first dog biscuit was invented in 1860, there have been many changes
in the pet food industry. While the original foods included natural meats and
fats and didn't have a very long shelf life, the current foods have switched
meat protein sources for animal by-products, gluten meals, and include fat
sprayed on the food in order to help the taste. The last major recall of
commercial dry pet food in the spring of 2007, due to melamine poisoning, has
caused an outcry from pet owners regarding pet food nutrition and packaging and
a desire for an alternative.
One of the most popular alternatives to commercial pet foods is the BARF
diet, an acronym meaning "Bones and Real Food" or "Biologically Appropriate Raw
Food". The diet is based on a 1993 book, "Give Your Dog a Bone", by
veterinarian Ian Billinghurst.
The idea behind BARF is to feed dogs a diet that resembles the diet of dogs
or wolves in the wild. That diet includes raw meat, bones, organ meats, and
small amounts of vegetables. The raw meats should be human grade and the bones
should be uncooked. Some owners even go a step further and give Omega oil
capsules to supplement the diet.
The BARF diet is more expensive than a typical diet of commercial dog food.
Due to cost, some owners use co-ops in order to purchase meats in bulk. Some
mix foods such as chicken and turkey necks with venison received from local
hunters. Others alternate feeding a raw food diet with an all natural dog food
purchased online or at natural food stores. One such place is Steve's Real
Food, where a 10 pound bag of frozen turkey dinner for dogs costs between $26 -
$30.
The BARF diet also involves more work for the pet owner. Bones must be ground
in order to prevent possible splintering within the animal's digestive tract.
Vegetables need to be chopped in a blender or food processor in order to help
the dog digest them. The food must be made fresh daily. It can't sit out like a
typical dog food.
Switching a dog to the BARF diet can be fairly simple. Begin by introducing
basic foods such as turkey or chicken necks, and then later add the pulped
vegetables with different meats. Most dog owners who switch to a BARF diet did
so immediately instead of having a transition time. The typical ratios within
the foods given include 60% raw meat and the rest consisting of vegetables,
ground meats, organ meats, eggs and supplements.
Each type of diet has its risks. The pros of the BARF diet include no chance
of contamination, a healthy coat and teeth and few vet visits except for
regular checkups. Veterinarians say the risks of handling the raw meat could
lead to salmonella or e-coli infections for the owners and the pets. Bones
could also splinter and cause a perforation within the animal's bowels. Owners
claim that these risks are negligible and the benefits far outweigh the
possibilities of problems.
Using raw food for pets has been a subject of debate for many years, but
never more due to the recent food recalls and questionable nutrition of
commercial pet foods. Before deciding to switch to an all natural diet,
research is important. Read books on the subject and speak to a veterinarian
who is familiar with a raw food diet. Speak to people online and offline who
have used a raw food diet for many years. Make sure the safety of your pets and
family is paramount.
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