BARF sounds pretty unappetizing, but it stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw (or Bones And Raw) Food. The proponents of this type of dog feeding believe that a dog’s diet should mimic what he would eat in the wild. BARF feeders say that the nutrients in commercially prepared dog foods are cooked out at high temperatures and that they contain too high a percentage of grains, which are believed to be unhealthy for dogs. Many who feed their dog a BARF diet experience amazing results as overall health increases, improved coat condition, reduction in the effects of allergies, increased vitality, and recovery from illness. The ingredients in a BARF diet are truly human grade food.
(How often do you see a commercial dog food company recommend that you feed anything but their own products?)
More on the BARF Diet for your Dog
As with humans, a dog’s health can be determined by his diet and some blame the feeding of commercial dog foods with the increase in canine cancers, kidney disease, allergies, and other serious illnesses. However, you have to know what you are doing if you are considering feeding your dog a raw food diet. You have to make sure your dog is getting the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat and that they are in the form that your dog can process. Furthermore, you need to know the health factors specific to your particular breed of dog that may affect what he eats.
For example, Dalmatians cannot convert uric acid to allantoin and the liver cells cannot absorb uric acid, which is where the conversion to allantoin ought to take place. Subsequently, Dalmatians excrete uric acid in their urine and since it is not that water soluble, it can lead to the formation of bladder stones. If a Dalmatian owner were to put his dog on a BARF diet, he would have to know not to feed the pup foods that are high in purines (organ meats, game meats, etc.), nightshade vegetables, or citrus fruits.
The Wysong website is a good place to start learning about integrating a BARF diet in your dog’s routine. Many years ago, I started with a book by Kymythy Schultze, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats. Some people believe the diet she recommends is too restrictive because it does not include grains and dairy, but I found this book to provide a good basis for beginning and have developed my own recipes that work best for my dogs.
The Top 50 Most Frequently Asked BARF Questions Newcomers Ask! This is a Boxer website–An Unofficial Boxer Site for All Official Boxer Lovers with some terrific information–njboxer.com. Check it out!
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