Introducing the BARF Diet For Dogs

Introducing a raw food diet such as the BARF diet may seem overwhelming for many dog owners. However. those who are truly dedicated to providing their dogs with the best nutrition possible are willing to do the research necessary to introduce the BARF diet successfully. This is important because not doing this necessary research can not only minimize the benefits of the BARF diet but can also cause adverse effects as well.

Before attempting to introduce a BARF diet, dog owners should do adequate research to ensure they are proceeding properly. There are many books available on the subject including, Give Your Dog a Bone, by Dr. Billinghurst. This is the book which introduced the subject of feeding raw meaty bones to your dog in 1993 but since then there have been many other books and online resources which have become available to dog owners dedicated to feeding their dogs a raw diet that closely mimics their evolutionary needs.

Once the dog owner has done this research it is time to begin the process of introducing the BARF diet to the dog. The key to a successful introduction of the BARF diet for dogs is to introduce the diet gradually. Start with only a small amount of raw meaty bones and focus on pieces which are less rich.

This is important because a typical diet of commercially prepared dog food for adult dogs is usually rather bland. The introduction of large amounts of rich foods at once can upset the digestive process and result in side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea. However, most healthy dogs can handle a slow introduction of these rich foods without side effects.

BARF Diet Recipes and Other Dog Food Alternatives

There are more dog foods today than ever before. When you walk into any pet supply store the choices can be almost overwhelming. How in the world are you supposed to choose which food to buy for your dog?

In order to choose a good food for your dog you should keep in mind that there is no “best” dog food. Dog foods make many marketing claims but your dog will be able to do well on many of the foods sold in stores today. All you need to do is learn a few dog food basics.

Choosing a good dog food for your dog depends on two essential skills: learning which ingredients go into a good dog food and learning to read a dog food label. As you get more experienced with dog foods you will soon learn which companies generally manufacture the better foods and it will shorten the time you have to spend examining foods.

Do you have a Toy or small breed dog? You may want to consider canned food. Canned food typically costs more per ounce than dry food but it usually contains more protein and fat and much less grain than dry food. It also usually has fewer chemical additives such as artificial colors and flavorings. Canned food also doesn’t need preservatives because of the canning process. Finally, canned food has plenty of moisture which makes it easier for dogs to digest than kibble. Most dogs love canned food. On the other hand, if you have large dogs or multiple dogs the cost of canned food can be prohibitive.

Whether you are buying kibble or canned food you will need to look at the label to find the information that you’re seeking. Look for the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officers) statement that says the food meets the minimum nutritional adequacy standards required for pet foods. This is no guarantee that your dog will thrive on the food but without this statement the food may not even meet minimum standards.

Next look for the ingredient list on the label. Foods are required to list ingredients in order of their weight. The first several ingredients should be the most important ingredients in the dog food. Ideally you will see several sources of named protein among the first five ingredients. These protein sources can be ingredients such as chicken meal, lamb meal, whole chicken, deboned chicken, and so on.

You should avoid foods that provide protein sources such as “animal digest” and “meat meal.” According to AAFCO, these animal digests can be described as “animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed.” Meat meal is described as “an animal feedstuff produced by recycling animal byproducts.

These byproducts include meat trimmings, inedible parts and organs, fetuses, and certain condemned carcasses. They are cooked (rendered) to produce a nutritional and economical feed ingredient.” These are not the kinds of protein you want to feed your dog. Choose named proteins so you know what your dog is eating.

You also want to choose named sources of fats in your dog’s food for the same reasons. Choose chicken fat instead of animal fat.

Avoid foods that use corn gluten meal or that has multiple sources of corn. Corn has been used on such a widespread basis in dog food that many dogs have developed allergies to it. Not only that, but dogs can only digest about 54 percent of the protein in corn. That means that nearly half of the corn your dog eats in a food passes through him. Corn-based foods typically produce large piles of poop for owners to pick up and you have to feed large amounts for your dog to get enough nutrition. It’s best to simply look for foods that have no corn or minimal corn in them.

Foods that have fewer grains are generally better for your dog. It’s up to you if you want to feed your dog a grain-free food. They are generally very expensive.

You can also decide if you want to try feeding your dog a high protein diet. Some dogs do well on them while others don’t. If your dog becomes hyperactive and isn’t getting enough exercise to burn off some of the energy on this diet you may need to go back to a normal protein diet.

Avoid products that use BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin as preservatives. Look instead for natural preservatives.

Avoid foods with artificial colors, sugars and sweeteners. Your dog doesn’t need them.

Many dog foods claim to contain “human grade” ingredients but that can be misleading. All poultry in the U.S. is hormone-free and dog food cannot, by law, be labeled human grade. They may use anti-biotic-free meats and cuts of meat that humans would eat. You will have to make your own decision.

If you examine dog food labels for these specifications you will begin to narrow down your choices. After that, you may ask for some sample packs so you can see which foods your dog likes the best. Remember that there is no single best food. In fact, it’s best if you have 2-3 foods so you can rotate every few months. This kind of variety is said to be beneficial for dogs. If they are not having all of their nutritional needs met with one food they may make up the deficit with another food.

The most expensive foods are not always the best value for the money. But the cheapest foods do usually cut corners and contain cheap ingredients. There are a vast number of dog foods in the middle. It takes some effort to choose good foods with good ingredients without necessarily spending a fortune but it's certainly possible to do so. Your dog will thank you.

You may also want to explore BARF diet recipes an an alternative diet for your dog.