Why BARF Can Be Good for Your Dog

Although its rather unappealing name may certainly have you thinking other wise, putting your dog on the BARF diet may be exactly what’s required to maximize his or her health and longevity. The BARF diet is formulated to resemble as closely as possible the diets of dogs in the wild, where food is fresh, and often freshly killed.

Why is feeding your dog BARF so important for his or her health? It has to do with the digestive organs which secrete enzymes to break down food so that it’s used properly by the body. For instance, when carbohydrates and proteins are eaten at the same time, the protein enzymes start working first. The carbs wait, and while they wait, they ferment and release toxins in the body.

Meats are only to be given at one meal, along with other heavy proteins like eggs or milk. Do not mix this with grains. At the other meal, give the carbs – the fruits and grains, if you choose to use them. Veggies can be given with either grains or proteins. Fruits, except apples, should be fed alone and at least twenty minutes before or after anything else.

Feeding grains at all in a BARF diet is still highly controversial for the same reasons you already read. Dogs are not cows and don’t need grains to survive and thrive. That’s not to say you can’t feed them, it’s just to say it’s not a good idea as it really does them no good.

Supplements and the BARF Diet

Supplementing the BARF diet may be necessary simply because you are not providing your dog with everything he or she would get by killing and eating fresh game. The biggest thing is to avoid over supplementation.

Since BARFers don’t feed the WHOLE animals including eyes, brains, stomach and intestines, adding essential fatty acids like fish oil or flaxseed oil is good. Yogurt also has good bacteria and can be fed as well. Consider kelp now and then for its trace elements and vitamins C and E for their antioxidant properties.

We’re not talking about adding these every day as a normal part of the diet, unless there is good and sufficient reason to do so, such as illness or chronic stress. The question then becomes what do you use and why or what is in it that makes it a good supplement for your dog.

In general, vitamins and minerals at the right levels promote the health of your dog. They help boost their stamina, help with fertility, increase their disease resistance, and promote a longer life. Not a bad list of recommendations, is it? This is pretty much in a nutshell what we would all like for our dogs.

A properly formulated BARF diet will contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, delivered in the right form for your dog, and honestly, they shouldn’t need a supplement.

However, having said that, there are many factors in the food chain that you can’t really control – e.g. food grown on poor quality soils, harvested before ripening and transported long distances, food left on the shelf longer that it should be, etc. These factors may lower levels of vitamins and minerals in the food you are feeding.

Also, since BARF is so individual in nature, you may have a dog that is older or younger or has a special need for extra supplements in the form of vitamins or minerals. If you are going to supplement, most BARFers recommend you use organic supplements whenever you can for optimal quality and nutrition.

Feeding the BARF diet is not for every dog owner, and eating the BARF diet is not for every dog. The important thing is that you keep mealtime enjoyable for your pet, while at the same time keeping the food bowl full of all the nutrients your pet needs to remain healthy and active. If you have questions about specific supplements for you dog, speak to your veterinarian.

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling “Complete Guide to Your Dog’s Nutrition“.

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