Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet Home  |    Riley    |  Indy 

Riley and Indy both eat a raw food diet, popularly known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food). The BARF diet aims to replicate a diet similar to what a wolf would eat in the wild. This diet is not typically accepted by many veterinarians, and there are few scientific studies on it, at least that I am aware of 1. You will find volumes of information on this diet on the Internet, many testimonials and observational evidence. Some research on pet food, a little common sense and the results seen in our dogs have proven to me that this is the best way to feed our companion animals.

The BARF diet is a quite casual and easy feeding method once you grasp the concepts behind it. However, understanding these concepts does take a commitment to understanding basic canine nutrition. You can introduce serious nutritional imbalances if you do not do this properly, so please do your homework. Some places you can start are by reading:
  

  • The BARF Diet by Ian Billinghurst
  • http://www.nap.edu/books/0309034965/html/   Nutrient Requirements of Dogs, Revised 1985
  • Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn
  • Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy Schultze


Indy enjoys a raw chicken wing.  Because chicken is inexpensive and wings have the proper meat to bone ratio, wings are a common raw meaty bone that our dogs eat.


Riley is chewing on a recreational marrow bone which exercises his jaws, neck and shoulders as well as cleans his teeth.
The sample menu to the right will give you a general idea what my dogs eat. I adjust quantity according to their appearance not weight, and currently both are eating about the same quantity.

I am only including this sample menu because seeing such things helped me immensely when I first started feeding this way.  But please remember that every dog is different.  Though this diet works for my dogs, they may not work for yours!  

The key to BARF feeding is balance over time.   If the dogs miss their veggies a couple days, it is not a big deal.  I supplement as I remember to.  The menus are not set in stone, and remember, this is not rocket science!  BARF feeding is a lot like feeding our children; with a basic understanding of canine nutrition, anyone can successfully feed a healthy raw food diet to their dogs.

Riley and Indy thrive on this diet. They are energetic, have soft coats, small compact stools and have no doggy odor. I believe the diet helped Riley's chronic ear infections and skin problems. Indy is a second-generation BARF raised puppy; she has never eaten kibble.

  



Dinner, 05/27/02 - One large chicken back, one large chicken wing, 15 chicken hearts (left over from cat food), half overripe banana, 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin, 2 tablespoons veggie slop, half avocado, probiotics, 250 mg Vitamin C, calcium supplement to balance muscle meat (hearts).

 Sample Menu
 

Morning meal:
About 1 pound of raw meaty bones
·    4-6 raw chicken wings; or
·    2-3 chicken backs; or
·    1-2 turkey necks

Evening meal:
¼ cup of veggie slop*
--- and ---
About 1 pound of raw meaty bones and/or muscle meat (combined)
·    same or similar raw meaty bones as fed in the morning; and/or
·    ground meat (beef, ostrich, turkey, lamb, whatever) with egg shell powder or calcium supplement; and/or
·    whatever other types of meats or meaty bones that are cheap - chicken feet, emu, fish, lamb, etc.; and/or
·    offal (exclusive of liver) weekly; and/or
·    whole egg with shell a couple times a week
--- and ---
Essential fatty acids
·    avocado; or
·    flax seed oil; or
·    (sometimes) canned sardines or fish oil
--- and ---
Supplements
·    vitamin C; and
·    probiotics; and
·    trace minerals; and
·    (every few days) vitamin E

* Veggie slop is pulped vegetables which typically consists of any combination of: various lettuces, celery, carrots, squash, cucumber, sprouts, kale, spinach, broccoli, etc., etc. I also throw in apples and garlic in the summer. Each batch is different, and I make a large quantity and freeze.

Snacks:
·    fruit
·    marrow bones
·    freeze dried liver
·    freeze dried salmon
·    any commercial treat that is healthy
 
  About Commercial Dog Food
  Back