Is BARFen Suitable for All Dogs?

Every dog ​​is an individual. Some do not tolerate raw meat or bones, while others do not tolerate grains. Some, however, refuse vegetables or offal. Consequential damage can only be avoided if BARFing always ensures that all components are balanced and combined as required.

BARFen is a protein-rich and low-carbohydrate diet that is not suitable for every dog. In the case of special diseases, caution is advised: For example, a dog with kidney disease needs a special diet. The high proportion of meat and the addition of tripe or lungs can trigger severe flatulence. Bone feeding is not recommended, especially for dogs that eat very quickly and gobble up their food.

With partial BARFing, cooked carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, or pasta are also fed. The starch it contains is only available as an energy supplier after it has been heated, otherwise, the dog cannot use it. If you decide to add carbohydrates to your diet, you can reduce the amount of meat and with it the protein and phosphorus content. This form of feeding is well suited for older animals and dogs that suffer from digestive disorders or kidney, liver, or urinary tract diseases.

Another option is to combine a BARF ration with ready-made food. This is perfectly acceptable and is tolerated by many dogs. If the owner has little time, then this form of nutrition offers a good alternative.

Growing young dogs have significantly higher nutritional requirements than adults. The energy requirement depends, among other things, on age, activity, and the growth phase. The most important thing is an optimal growth rate. If the puppy gets too much food and thus too much energy, it won’t get fat but will grow faster. This leads to skeletal development disorders. Dogs of large breeds in particular are sensitive to feeding errors due to their rapid growth.

It is also essential to avoid an oversupply or undersupply of calcium and phosphorus. The puppy cannot independently regulate its calcium and phosphorus intake, so care should be taken when feeding bones. Puppies should be fed eggshells, bone meal, or alternative mineral supplements. Otherwise, cartilage damage or lameness can result. Calcium deficiency leads to unstable bones that can easily break. Phosphorus deficiencies, on the other hand, are quite rare if lean meat is used. Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented with cod liver oil or a mineral supplement. But here, too, it is important to ensure that the need is adjusted since oversupply is associated with the calcification of organs and vessels.

Regular weight control using the growth curve is essential to notice changes in good time.

A veterinarian who specializes in nutrition should check the rations for puppies in particular – especially for large breeds.

In the case of an allergy, the immune system reacts to a certain food component – regardless of the form in which it is consumed: whether raw, cooked, or in the form of ready-made food. If the allergic symptoms disappear after switching to BARF without changing any of the ingredients in the feed, this indicates a feed intolerance rather than an allergy. In principle, no dog simply reacts to a food component, it always requires the previous contact with the allergen. The body remembers it and reacts with symptoms the next time. The triggering ingredient must therefore be avoided in any form.

With an elimination diet, you can first find out which substance triggers the symptoms. Then the composition of the ration is designed exclusively with ingredients that the four-legged friend tolerates. The aim must be to find the causes and to avoid them. To be able to fall back on one type of meat if the worst comes to the worst, you should already do without one or two kinds of meat when you are a puppy.

Frequently Asked Question

Can every dog BARF?

To answer the question briefly and concisely: yes, BARFen is suitable for every dog.

What do vets say about BARF?

Unfortunately, many veterinarians are against BARF. They only list the disadvantages, report negative experiences, and claim that BARF is harmful to health and, above all, dangerous for people.

Can a BARF make the dog sick?

Dogs that are fed grain-free food develop heart disease more often and earlier than others. In addition, pathogens such as salmonella or listeria are regularly detected in raw meat. They usually do not pose any danger to animals, but they can cause diseases in humans.

Does BARF make the dog calmer?

Dogs are often calmer because their organism is not burdened with the processing of unsuitable feed components. BARF also makes the coat thick and silky and reduces the dog’s odor.

What does the feces look like during BARFing?

Bone droppings are the name given to a dog’s droppings, which consist largely of previously fed bones. These droppings can be brownish to chalky white. Striking: These droppings are often very hard and dry.

Is BARF difficult?

Raw feeding doesn’t have to be complicated! BARF is no more difficult to feed than industrial ready-made feed. You only have to know how! Some manufacturers have thought well and developed entire systems so that you can feed your dog wholesome food.

Can you combine BARF and dry food?

If you want to combine BARF with dry food, you should make sure that you choose a natural, cold-pressed dry food, as they do not show any swelling behavior and therefore have a similar residence time in the dog’s digestive tract.

Is BARFing expensive?

One thing is to be anticipated from the following explanations: Yes, BARF is more complicated and more time-consuming than opening a can of ready-made food or a sack of dry food. However, that is not difficult. When feeding industrially processed ready-made feed, the effort is practically zero.