BARF for Beginners: Species-Appropriate Dog Nutrition Made Easy

Many dog owners ask themselves what else they can do to benefit their dog. In their research they often come across the feeding concept of raw meat feeding, known as BARF. Unfortunately, though, it usually remains a mere assumption that it is too much effort and too expensive. People continue to trust the industrial food manufacturers, since the dog’s stool seems to be in order and it appears to enjoy the food. But at the latest after the first intolerance or an illness of the gastrointestinal tract, in the case of tartar, bad breath or renal insufficiency, many ask themselves whether it might have something to do with the food after all. I would like to help you understand the connections better.

Sometimes the truth about the ingredients of conventional food is shocking. A diet that is not species-appropriate can have painful consequences. This primarily concerns the long-term health and daily well-being of your dog.

Do I really have to BARF my dog

A dog does not necessarily have to be fed by BARF, even though it represents the most natural form of nutrition. Fortunately there are also some good pet-food manufacturers in Germany. These are, however, often less well known, because large brands do a great deal of advertising and use complex marketing strategies. The pet-food industry is a billion-pound market, and its main goal is often to achieve maximum profit with minimum effort.

Before deciding on a type of feeding, one should find out about the basic needs of every living creature. A dog needs not only food but also real occupation and exercise. The idea of preparing the food yourself may seem overwhelming at first. The 15-kilogram sack of dry food is certainly convenient and inexpensive, but it rarely represents what is best for the animal. A dog trusts its human, and its health depends decisively on that person’s decisions.

Basic information on nutrition

Dogs are predominantly carnivores, though not 100 per cent so, but rather about 70 to 80 per cent. Nevertheless, over the course of evolution they have adapted to some foods that their ancestor, the wolf, would not tolerate. These include, for example, starchy foods. The wolf obtains about 20 to 30 per cent of the important nutrients by devouring its prey completely. The contents of the stomach and intestines provide vitamins, minerals, trace elements and important dietary fibre.

The appearance and behaviour of dogs may have changed, but the digestive system and the teeth still resemble those of the wolf extremely closely. It is therefore important not to treat the dog like a little human, but to respect its biological origins in a caring way.

The pillars of a healthy BARF meal

An adult dog usually needs about 2 per cent of its body weight in food per day. Puppies, on the other hand, need between 4 and 6 per cent of their weight, depending on their age. These are guideline values that have to be adjusted individually to the dog’s activity level.

The essential components of species-appropriate feeding are as follows.

• Muscle meat as the main source of energy and high-quality proteins
• Offal to supply vital vitamins and enzymes
• Raw meaty bones for natural calcium and dental care
• Lightly steamed vegetables and ripe fruit as a source of fibre
• High-quality oils to supply essential fatty acids

Particularly worth highlighting is green tripe. It is extremely rich in vitamins of groups A, B, C, D and E. It also contains fluorine and iron. Dogs love tripe, although the smell takes some getting used to for us humans. An absolute taboo is raw pork, since it can contain the dangerous Aujeszky virus, which can be fatal for dogs.

Important details on vegetables and bones

Bones should never be fed cooked, because they then splinter and can cause life-threatening injuries in the gut. Vegetables serve as an important source of fibre and should be finely pureed or steamed, so that the carnivore’s short intestine can unlock the nutrients. Suitable varieties are carrots, courgettes, pumpkin or lettuce. Nightshade plants such as potatoes or tomatoes should rather be avoided. Above all the potato contains, in its raw state, substances such as alpha-solanine that can damage the intestinal wall.

The dangers of industrial dry food

Dry food massively deprives the dog’s body of moisture. A dog weighing 10 kilograms would have to drink around 2.5 litres of water per day to make up for this loss. Since hardly any dog drinks this amount, a chronic lack of water arises, which damages the kidneys, the joints and the intervertebral discs. In addition, dry food remains in the gut for up to 14 hours, which increases the risk of a leaky gut. In our holistic view, this is a great burden on the organism.

The claim that dry food cleans the teeth is simply false. The high proportion of carbohydrates, which are converted into sugar in the mouth, actually promotes the formation of tartar and harms the gums. According to studies, dogs fed on industrial food have a life expectancy reduced by up to 32 months. That is almost 3 years of valuable lifetime that is lost.

Our conclusion on species-appropriate feeding

Ready-made food often remains a compromise at the animal’s expense. BARF, on the other hand, is the original form of nutrition of our dogs, whether it is a small Chihuahua or a large German Shepherd. In principle, every dog tolerates this form of feeding if the changeover is carried out with patience and expertise. The health of your dog lies in your hands, and we are happy to support you with our expertise.

This article serves as general information and as caring education about species-appropriate dog keeping. For specific questions, a certified nutritional consultant for dogs should always be consulted.