barf

[skycat 6,174]

Fight night or whatever: what I don't like is the way that some people dismiss different ways of feeding completely. Dogs can live on all sorts of food, I just prefer to feed mine as naturally as possible, but I try not to insult those who feed complete food. Denigrating someone for what they believe in is very small minded IMO, and as long as the dog is getting the nutrition it needs, there shouldn't be a problem.

[inan 841]

any experts on here with the barf diet?

We have a self appointed expert on all matters nutritional.His word is LAW.

 

 

""Dogs cannot digest corn and utilize the protein it contains, so it basically just passes right through the digestive system and you get the privilege of cleaning it up when it comes out the other end."

What is that based on? Dogs digest corn almost as well as we do, its certainly not a complete dog food but there is no reason why it cant be a part of it."

 

 

Corn [maize],is a difficult to digest grain,of , limited value to dogs it is also commonly linked to food allergies .

 

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog-food-index-a.html

Edited August 25, 2012 by inan

[inan 841]

any experts on here with the barf diet?

We have a self appointed expert on all matters nutritional.His word is LAW.

 

 

""Dogs cannot digest corn and utilize the protein it contains, so it basically just passes right through the digestive system and you get the privilege of cleaning it up when it comes out the other end."

What is that based on? Dogs digest corn almost as well as we do, its certainly not a complete dog food but there is no reason why it cant be a part of it."

 

 

 

 

Corn [maize],is a difficult to digest grain,of , limited value to dogs it is also commonly linked to food allergies .

 

http://www.dogfoodan...od-index-a.html

 

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/dog-food-corn/

 

 

 

[riohog 5,751]

must admit i do prefer to feed raw flesh , but i also feed compleate aswell . dogs are omnivores , they will eat most anything ,many dogs in the middle east and so on have rarly tasted meat , apart from a kill were they may get the offell ocasionally, there diet will be pita bread , dates and camel milk they seem to manage ok on it , probebly dont live a long life as do western dogs though .

[day worker 296]

thanks for the replies! skykat i'll pm my email address in a mo cheers!

[rob84 112]

For the last three month my muts have been on a raw diet, before it was a complete with meat now and again, in the last two months i can really see a difference with coats, teeth are now pearly white even with my older dog where the tartar build up was quite bad, and shit, shit well the real lack of it, which leaves me to belive how much rubbish they put into the complete that the dogs cant digest. From what i have seen in a short space of time i will never go back to feeding complete as their main staple.

[lapin2008 1,587]

For the last three month my muts have been on a raw diet, before it was a complete with meat now and again, in the last two months i can really see a difference with coats, teeth are now pearly white even with my older dog where the tartar build up was quite bad, and shit, shit well the real lack of it, which leaves me to belive how much rubbish they put into the complete that the dogs cant digest. From what i have seen in a short space of time i will never go back to feeding complete as their main staple.

 

The dogs producing a third the amount of shit is a big plus for me as well

[bunnys 1,228]

Sandy: we are all entitled to our opinions, but to label BARF as 'mainly bollocks with a smattering of common sense' is to ignore the obvious health benefits of feeding as nature intended, without all the added colourings, preservatives, heavily processed ingredients which are found in commercially prepared dog food. Why be so sarcastic and derogatory towards those who prefer to feed their dogs in a way that doesn't rely on lining the pockets of some manufacturer?

 

For myself, I prefer to know exactly what I am eating, and to this end I never eat ready processed food, or food that I cannot identify by eye. My own diet consists of the least processed cereals: porridge oats, nuts, seeds (home made muesli, if you like), meat, fish, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruit. My only concession to our modern existence is that I buy my bread rather than making my own. Ditto yoghurt.

 

By feeding my dogs in a similar way I have noticed, over many years, that the old dogs stay in better health for much longer than some I see which have been fed entirely on a complete food. Old dogs don't put on so much weight, or lose weight. Young dogs do better all round, and you never get a picky eater if the dog is getting what both its body and mind need from food.

 

As far as bones are concerned: yes, some people new to feeding raw, do tend to feed too many bones. I feed chicken carcases and wings and lamb ribs as PART OF A STAPLE DIET, not as the only food. The softer bones in commercially bred chickens are 99% safe for dogs of all ages. (Even dry food has been known to choke a greedy dog). I don't feed weight bearing (leg bones) from large animals, except to very young puppies which can only strip the meat from them without risking breaking of sharp shards of bone.

 

You say: Then there is the evangelical belief of the followers that breach no dissent and attack the non-believer at every opportunity with avowed belief in the RAW cure for all of the supposed man made canine ills.

 

But aren't you 'attacking' those that feed raw in exactly the same way? If I came to you and told you that I don't eat pot noodles because I don't like the additives they contain, would you say I was a fanatic? I sincerely hope not. Food additives (colourings, preservatives, flavour enhancers etc etc) are totally unnecessary to either man or dog. It is common practice for dog food manufacturers to add sugar to dog food to enhance its flavour. You may say that this in itself is not harmful, but it is also unnecessary. I could go on and on: salt, for example. Sufficient salt is found naturally in meat, and it is known to be harmful when taken to excess.

 

I'm not arguing that many dogs live their entire lives on complete food with no apparent harm, but I have noticed, in both myself, my partner, and our dogs, a definite benefit in feeding as naturally as possible. Doggy breath (in the dogs!) is a thing of the past, loose stools a thing of the past, tooth decay: none, even in the old dogs. The most they get is a thin line of tartar, easily removed with a finger nail, on the canines: the molars are pristine due to a daily munch on chicken carcases or lamb ribs.

Regarding the dangers of bacterial infection from raw meat: meat processed for human consumption is strictly regulated, besides which, dogs are far more tolerant and better able to combat the risks of bacterial infection than us humans: just look at the revolting rotting carcases they devour with glee when they find them in the countryside.

 

Read this: Overall, pets are less susceptible to food poisoning than humans. The major reason for this is a higher tolerance for bacterial toxins from staphylococcal and Clostridium botulinum species of bacteria, though. The lower sensitivity to these toxins reduces the incidence of food poisoning compared to people, since the staph food poisonings are the most common form to affect people. It is clear that dogs are susceptible to infection with both Salmonella and E. coli bacteria that can cause food poisoning but it is not clear whether they are more resistant, less resistant, or of equal susceptibility to these infections than humans are. Dogs are more susceptible to the mycotoxin (fungal toxin) vomitoxin than any other species. The usual signs of vomitoxin exposure are vomiting, diarrhea and refusing to eat. This toxin can contaminate commercial foods in which Fusarum mold species grow and is one of the reasons that dogs sometimes refuse to eat when a new bag of dog food is opened.

The best approach to controlling food poisoning is to be cautious when making foods for your pets and in the handling of commercially prepared diets to minimize the risk of food poisoning. If you intend to feed raw meat it is best to avoid ground meats. Contamination of meat with E. coli and Salmonella species bacteria is more common in ground meats since the grinder itself can become contaminated. When evaluating possibly spoiled foods remember to follow the basic rule: "when in doubt, throw it out!"

 

Taken from here: http://www.vetinfo.com/subscriber/0503digest.html

 

And lastly, BARF doesn't necessarily mean a diet of just bone and meat: the initials BARF stand for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, which, if the owner is conscientious, and is able to apply a little thought to how they feed their dogs, gives an animal the complete spectrum of all its dietary needs.

 

As to cooking? Why cook if the dog can eat it raw? Less time spent preparing the meat. Bones don't need to be dissected out of a carcase for fear that they'll splinter in the dog's gut. And whilst dogs love cooked meat as much as raw, I shan't be wasting time, electricity or energy cooking it for them.

 

As far as the vegetable oil versus animal fat debate goes: http://www.moabhappe...ves/pet0907.htm

Personally, I have no need to add vegetable oil to my dogs' food as they get plenty of chicken and lamb fat in their diet, and when I used to try and add extra 'fat' in the form of vegetable oil, most got the shits. Nowadays the most I'll supplement with is cod liver oil in the winter time.

 

If someone wants to feed their dog on an expensive bag of dog food, I shan't try and stop them, but I know what works for me and my dogs. It's not often I come on here and 'defend' what I believe in, but I think it is important to try and show both 'sides' of the story.

so go and suck on a egg sandy and reap the benefits . atb bunnys.