BARF diet.

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Onyxia

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Was at vets for buns jabs and ended up chatting about dogs.
Vet is completly oposed to "normal" tinned dog food/kibble and cant sing the praises of BARF high enough.
Dont have enough spare cash to listen to vet ramble on about it so thought I would ask you lovely people.

Do you think dogs do better on it?
Is it more healthy for dogs then "normal" food?
If you think it is ,is there any evidence that it works better?
What do you feed(if you use it of course!)and how do you work out how much to feed?

Any views good or bad welcome, very curious about this one.
 
You're very lucky that your vet approves and, indeed, advocates a BARF diet- lots of BARF feeders aren't so lucky. Although I don't BARF my dogs (if you know what i mean!) i do know people that do and have had success with skin problems, anal gland trouble, recurrent ear infections etc. in their dogs that treatment and other diets failed.

Researched and fed correctly, I would love to try it with my two because I've yet to see a dog that HASN'T done fantastically well on BARF; but it isn't practical for me at the moment.

My two are currently starting on Arden Grange but it's early days- they were on Bakers and actually fine on it, but someone has given me about 30 kilos of AG so I'm in the process of changing their diet.
 
Well, I don't know.....I mean BARF = Bones And Raw Foods diet... 99 other vets would say NEVER give your dogs bones...why? well because chicken/poultry bones are too soft and can get stuck/choke your dog. Beef bones, could give your dog a variant of Mad-cow disease (maybe that aint true now..) Lamb and pig bones are also likely to splinter... so who in their right mind would give their dog a bone as part of it's meal? You can get roasted bones, they're pretty good, but you can pay more money for one of them than you do for a whole weeks supply of dog food (weather raw or tinned) personally I wouldn't feed raw food as it can give the dog a taste for blood, and then may want fresh blood... also you'd have to worm the dog more often.

This I was told by a vet....

99% of vets prefer Chappie............
 
Do you see wild dogs/wolves having a BBQ after they have caught there prey???? Yes it is better as it is natural. All the tinned meat has no real goodness in it after all the cooking & processing. Bones do not really shatter as raw as to when cooked they splintter which can the cause internal damage. Cooked bones are far worse for dogs. In the days before foot & mouth all hunts ever fed the hounds would be raw flesh with the bones still in Though they do remove the wind pipes which wouldnt happen in the wild. Hounds have alot less problems than domestic dogs. In the BARF diet they likew to feed alot of Chicken wings & necks. I doubt they would recommened them if they would do harm. Saying this it is not for every dog but I think the main initial problem is the owner getting over feeding raw. BARF have their own website which gives you lots of good ideas & tips.
Naturally vets are going to "prefer" lovely food companies with big bank balances their, their second best friend after the drug companies.
 
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i do know people that do and have had success with skin problems, anal gland trouble, recurrent ear infections etc. in their dogs that treatment and other diets failed.

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My vet said much the same thing.
It does apeal to me, anything we can do to make our dogs lives as natural as possable is a good thin IMHO.

I supose its the same principal with us.If you eat a diet you were intended to you are more resistent to niggling health problems.
 
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Naturally vets are going to "prefer" lovely food companies with big bank balances their, their second best friend after the drug companies.

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TBH that swhy i am so curious- my vets make a bloody fortune form normal food on sale through them, so if he is recomending BARF( and in the process losing sales) then it must be good!

So far I really like what I have found out.Its more trouble then just opening a bag of food but dogs seem to do so well on it its more then worth it.
*makes note to suck up to local butchers before buying a puppy*
 
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but you can pay more money for one of them than you do for a whole weeks supply of dog food (weather raw or tinned)

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When it comes to an animals health cost isnt an issue for me.
If it is better for the dog then hang the price.

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personally I wouldn't feed raw food as it can give the dog a taste for blood, and then may want fresh blood...

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Sorry but that is BULL!
 
My boys enjoy it as you can see below and I must say they have never looked better and they always clean their bowls

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haha, it was your two that got me thinking about it- lots of people seem to recomend it for Sibes and yours look fab!
*sigh* Still really want a sibe, but think we may have to go for something that doesnt need so much exercise for now.Another baby is a possability and TBH I wouldnt have the time to do R, house,another baby and a sibe.
Definatly going to have one, but looks like we will need to wait a few years
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How is the "new boy" doing?
Cyrus was due to do his gold KC soonwasnt he? How did he get on?
 
Well, I don't feed BARF but I do feed the next best thing: organic chicken breast cooked with different veg, flax, and a multi-vit for dogs. I'm lucky in that my local pet shop makes this food, though, as well as selling every bit of a cow you could think of
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My dog has an incredibly shiny coat on this diet although, to be honest, she looked just as glowing on what we fed her before (Eukanuba kibble and then Wellness).

As for BARF, I've seen dogs with allergies recover completely -- without any kind of medication involved.

Oh, and here's my dog's lustrous coat, which always scores her a nice comment or two
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Anima....it's not BULL... sorry, but i have seen dogs on this so-called diet, and the next thing is that they start killing other animals.... maybe it's the owners encouraging them....after all most dog-owners seem to enjoy encouraging their dog to "get the cat...chase the cat...where's the pussy cat...etc" and by feeding this horrendous diet,

I have a dog, she only ever gets a roasted bone (raw ones give her the scoots) and she will never be subjected to raw food. (she is also on Chappie)

As for the statement on Wolves, they are not domesticated dogs...... they are not brought up on puppy food, their mouth muscles are stronger, and their daily routine is also different, a wolf in the wild might only eat up to 3 times a week. and then they have to hunt for it....

and while on the subject...wild horses do not get hard feed...... so peeps out there who don't have a horse in work, take it's shoes off, stop feeding it, take the rug off....lets get back to nature........ Do you get my point?
 
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Anima....it's not BULL... sorry, but i have seen dogs on this so-called diet, and the next thing is that they start killing other animals.... maybe it's the owners encouraging them....after all most dog-owners seem to enjoy encouraging their dog to "get the cat...chase the cat...where's the pussy cat...etc" and by feeding this horrendous diet,

I have a dog, she only ever gets a roasted bone (raw ones give her the scoots) and she will never be subjected to raw food. (she is also on Chappie)

As for the statement on Wolves, they are not domesticated dogs...... they are not brought up on puppy food, their mouth muscles are stronger, and their daily routine is also different, a wolf in the wild might only eat up to 3 times a week. and then they have to hunt for it....

and while on the subject...wild horses do not get hard feed...... so peeps out there who don't have a horse in work, take it's shoes off, stop feeding it, take the rug off....lets get back to nature........ Do you get my point?

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Yes it is a load of bull. Hounds eat cow flesh but they dont hunt them or kill them & are as soft with people. Eating raw doesn't mean they will hunt it for themselves.
Yes some of my horse have from October till spring off, they go to a wood have their shoes taken off & no rugs at ANY time of the year thats for youngsters & oldies over 30yrs. We check them daily maybe the odd bit of hay then bring them back in Spring & not a sight of mudfever or ill health. Yep there's nothing wrong with getting back to as nature intended.
If it's good for the animal & it is happy on it than whats so wrong about it?

The dogs get their vitamins & minerals from the meat, bones & veg. Because to feed BARF correctly you also feed veg but you have to pulp it for their digestive system to be able to break it down. JUST like a dog or wolf in the wild eating the stomach contents of their prey. Because the prey has broken the outside of the vegitation down the dogs own digestive system can now start to get the nutrients from it. If your own dog eats grass you will notice that it comes out as grass at the other end.
 
The dogs get their vitamins and minerals from the BARF diet itself- the whole idea behind it is to mimic a natural canine diet. In other words- wild dog catches and eats rabbit. From rabbit, wild dog eats bone, flesh and the content of rabbit's stomach-vegetation. A BARF diet should include these elements- RAW bone, raw meat and a little (cooked, as it would have been semi-digested in said rabbit) veg. Several BARF feeders i know do feed a seaweed-based supplement, so that would be an option.

As for encouraging dogs to kill- well, I've never met a BARF feeder yet who's had this problem with their dog, and I know people who have fed dogs this way for a long time, not just recently converted. I would say the thrill of the kill would encourage a dog to kill, not the taste of raw meat and blood! A touch of the old wives' tale about that one, methinks.

It's a diet that will always provoke controversy but Anima- if you speak (as I have) to lots of different BARF feeders, with all different breeds of dog, they can't recommend it highly enough. The fact that your vet advocates it too, has to be a factor. And I completely agree with the previous poster who said that vets are encouraging manufacturers' feeds as it is in their best business interests.
 
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Whatever........

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Oh dear, we have another muppet on the site!

What is the natural diet for a dog then? Pedigree Chum? Haha.
 
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Well, I don't know.....I mean BARF = Bones And Raw Foods diet... 99 other vets would say NEVER give your dogs bones...why? well because chicken/poultry bones are too soft and can get stuck/choke your dog. Beef bones, could give your dog a variant of Mad-cow disease (maybe that aint true now..) Lamb and pig bones are also likely to splinter... so who in their right mind would give their dog a bone as part of it's meal? You can get roasted bones, they're pretty good, but you can pay more money for one of them than you do for a whole weeks supply of dog food (weather raw or tinned) personally I wouldn't feed raw food as it can give the dog a taste for blood, and then may want fresh blood... also you'd have to worm the dog more often.

This I was told by a vet....

99% of vets prefer Chappie............

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Ok, for a start, get a new vet, if your vet really said that I doubt he or she is even qualified.

Secondly, chicken bones/wings/carcasses are perfectly fine for any dog to eat. Another of the canidae family is the fox, they too eat raw bones without a problem, its what they are designed for. Bones only become brittle when cooked, when raw to the jaw of a dog they are soft and will NOT splinter or choke your dog.

Thirdly, Beef bones are dangerous to dogs? (now I've finally stopped laughing) what do you think the kennelmen to the 300 odd packs of foxhounds in this country feed their hundreds of hounds on? Pedigree Chum? No, funnily enough they feed BARF, fallen stock to be more precise. Ever heard of a foxhound choking on a bone? Didn't think so. Foxhounds are healthy animals, on a hunting day they will run upto 40miles, do you think a dog lacking vits and minerals would be able to stand upto that?

I don't know how its passed you by but meat has vits and minerals in it.

Raw lamb bones splinter? Yes ok.

Seriously, what planet are you living on?

"it can give the dog a taste for blood, and then may want fresh blood..."

OMG, I have mad bloodthirsty killer dogs on the loose....aaaaaah! Fair play you are putting a smile on my face today.

"also you'd have to worm the dog more often."

Wow, may god strike me down, you've actually managed to say something truthful and sensible....I applaud you!
 
I pity your dog only ever receiving roasted bones, poor thing must feel terribly deprived.

It is bull, we live surrounded by sheep and horses, do my dogs ever have the tendency to go and kill one for their blood fix???? NO.

What has hunting for its food got to do with whether or not raw bones are good for/ choke dogs? You're slightly off of the point.

No, I don't get your point at all. Do we still feed our horses grass? Or are you going to tell me thats bad for them now? What would dogs have eaten years ago? Chappie??? Or raw meat and bones?

Regarding manufactured foods for horses, you obviously are unclear on Mark Phillips's view, its the same as my view on manufactured dog food. My horses are on grass, haylage and soaked oats, they manage to look fit and healthy and hunt for a full day without all of the vits and supplements and other c#ap put into manufactured feeds.
 
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Oh I forgot....on this BARF diet...where do the dogs get their daily vitamins and minerals from?

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Ummm....let me think for a minute....the meat...and...er the marrowbone...and the bones....

Its not rocket science dear!
 
Look peeps.... It was MY opinion... OK? you don't like? fine, don't keep going on about it.... I am not a muppet... I've been on this site for less than a month, and already if someone doesn't like what i say, does that give the rest of you the right to tear me apart?

I didn't say it was MY vet...... No other thread has a problem with me.....

Servernmiles called me a muppet.... Well, you're a numpty, now we're quits!!!!
 
I like you're style! (Numpty is a great word).

Apologies, I am a very passionate debater, hence why I am most at home in the Hunting Forum.

I'm sorry that you caught me in a particularly sarcastic mood!

Hope I haven't put you off of the forum
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See you around! x
 
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haha, it was your two that got me thinking about it- lots of people seem to recomend it for Sibes and yours look fab!
*sigh* Still really want a sibe, but think we may have to go for something that doesnt need so much exercise for now.Another baby is a possability and TBH I wouldnt have the time to do R, house,another baby and a sibe.
Definatly going to have one, but looks like we will need to wait a few years
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How is the "new boy" doing?
Cyrus was due to do his gold KC soonwasnt he? How did he get on?

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Hey Anima

Cyrus passed his gold
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I was soo pleased proved a lot of people who told me he would never even get his bronze wrong who says a sibe cant be trained hehe
The "new boy" is doing brilliantly only an inch shorter than his brother now and twice as wide the boy loves his food, he recently passed his bronze award and we are looking to start his silver soon but its nearly rally season and the focus is now on getting cyrus fit and diablo used to a harness and the commands he may even get a couple of rallies under his belt at the end of the season too
If u need a sibe fix and are ever in the area do come and visit us the door is always open to you am sure the boys would love to take you on a long walk and give you plenty of husky cuddles
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Anima....it's not BULL... sorry, but i have seen dogs on this so-called diet, and the next thing is that they start killing other animals.... maybe it's the owners encouraging them....after all most dog-owners seem to enjoy encouraging their dog to "get the cat...chase the cat...where's the pussy cat...etc" and by feeding this horrendous diet,

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Now, I will agree that stupid owners who encorage their dogs to chase other small furies make dangerous dogs- but feeding raw meat doesnt.
Back before baby and lack of horse I spent a lot of time at hunt kennals and found the hounds to be the most good natured dogs on the planet.Guess what they are feed on??

Dogs "getting a taste for blood" is pure myth, they may like whats in their bowl more but they wont go out and bite someone to get more blood.


PS- please dont write the forum off because of a bit of debate on this thread.
Looks like Ive hit on a passionate subject here(which normally means a cracking debate!).
No-one is having a pop at you, just dis agreeing with what you have said.
 
I don't feed my dogs strictly BARF. They always have ad-lib biscuits in their bowls, however they do get raw meat and bones. I never ever give them cooked food except the odd leftover.

Raw bones and meat are very good for dogs - it's what they are designed to eat. So long as you do not cook the bones, then they are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. It is during the cooking process where the bone mass gets destroyed and this is when dogs end up with splintered bones inside them!
 
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I wouldn't feed raw food as it can give the dog a taste for blood

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Aww bless.....

I'm so sorry but this really has me in absolute stitches
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. Thank you for cheering me up no end.
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Sorry Anima, I will slap my wrists and sit in the corner to cool off
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I would be really bored without the debate on here- OH and friends have learned to nod and agree to avoid a 3 hour argument so dont ge any at home
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Just nip to hunting and poke some trolls if you feel the need
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I wouldn't feed raw food as it can give the dog a taste for blood

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Aww bless.....

I'm so sorry but this really has me in absolute stitches
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. Thank you for cheering me up no end.
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LOL, funny that old wives tales seem to stick in peoples minds better then fact.
 
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Raw bones and meat are very good for dogs - it's what they are designed to eat. So long as you do not cook the bones, then they are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. It is during the cooking process where the bone mass gets destroyed and this is when dogs end up with splintered bones inside them!

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Yes, thats what I always thought.

I do like the sound of BARF, it just sounds so logical.We worry all the time about e numbers and junk in our food and normal dog isnt much better.This way of feeding does sound much better.
No-one seems to know a dog that HASNT done well on pure BARF or a modified version but we all know plenty that struggle on tinned.
 
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