The Benefits of BARF

by Joanne Faulkner

Have you heard the latest dog food craze? BARF! Yes, you heard right. Although it’s not what you think. BARF is an acronym for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food”, or “Bones And Raw Food”, and has evolved into a feeding frenzy fit for the gods…um, I mean dogs.

 A raw diet is being hailed as one of the best things since sliced bread when it comes to feeding Fido. There are two types of raw diets dog breeders and pet owners are using: the BARFers add all kinds of supplements to their dog’s meat meals (fruit, veggies, minerals, vinegar, kelp, and many other ingredients)....RAW feeders use only raw meaty bones to keep their pooches pleased.

 A “raw meaty bones” diet includes every kind of meat you can imagine, from raw chicken (bones included), to pork necks, ground organ meat (heart, liver, kidney), turkey, deer, tripe (stomach), and fish.

 When buying tripe, the secret is finding fresh green tripe from a butcher, not the bleached white grocery store product. The gastric juices and enzymes not only aid the ruminating animal in digestion, but also aid the dog in digesting and efficiently utilizing his food when he eats the tripe. The amino acids are necessary for muscular development and the other gastric juices are a great cleaner for the teeth. All the partially digested grains are great supplements, so when you get the tripe home, don’t wash it! It may look and smell like a barnyard, but your dog will go crazy for the stuff.

 Bones are relatively soft and chewable when they are raw – never give your dog cooked bones (especially chicken or pork) as these will splinter and can cause intestinal or dental injury. Start your dog with chicken necks or wings, as these have smaller bones and the dog easily learns to chew (not gulp). No more brushing your dog’s teeth either, as the bones scrape away any traces of tartar. Your dog can work up to chicken half-backs or full backs, turkey wings, or other larger pieces as he gets used to this new (and really yummy!) method of eating.

Comparing BARF to a traditional doggie diet, kibble (generally carb-based) can be hard to digest, staying in the digestive tract for 8-12 hours, while raw foods go through the system faster, usually in 4-6 hours. Many Kibblers also show signs of allergies to their food (itchy skin, rashes), and have weight or dental issues from either gulping large amounts at once, or not eating at all. Because a raw diet is protein-based (not carb-based), digestion occurs much faster than with kibble (4-6 hours), limiting the time that any possible bacteria may be able to grow in the dog's system. Raw meat must be fed in scheduled meals, rather than left out to snack on, so it is easy to monitor your dog’s daily intake as well.

The chances of your dog getting sick from a raw diet is low, considering their digestive tracts are shorter than ours, they have an acidic stomach, the food doesn’t sit in the stomach for long, and it is highly nutritious. Have you ever caught your dog eating something other than it’s food? Chances are you have – most dogs love an opportunity to snack on leftovers in the kitty litter box, or check out the neighbour’s garbage. This is much more offensive than a nutrient-rich raw meat diet!

When preparing your dog’s dinner, handle it in the same manner you handle any raw meat in preparation for your family's meals - clean everything thoroughly after it comes in contact with the raw meat: the counter tops, your hands, the dog dishes, utensils, etc. Wash everything thoroughly - this works well to keep your family healthy. And to be on the safe side... don't let your dog kiss your hands or face for an hour or two after eating. Every other hour of the day is fair game!

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