In recent years, we've all heard about a new diet for dogs, based on the original diet of wild dogs and wolves.
It's called the BARF Diet, and it supports a completely raw food regimen for dogs, that is, a feeding method based almost exclusively on the consumption of meat and bones.
But does this diet bring benefits to our four-legged friends? In reality, it has been quite controversial, and those who disapprove of it outnumber its supporters.
Among the opponents are also most veterinarians, who are often accused by pro-BARF owners of being in the pay of the pet product industry.
Let's then try to understand how the BARF Diet works, whether it is really as miraculous as some claim, or if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
What is the BARF Diet?
BARF is an acronym that stands for 'Biologically Appropriate Raw Food'.
Its philosophy is based on restoring the natural diet of dogs in ancient times, when they were carnivores feeding exclusively on raw meat.
This diet, therefore, promotes a diet entirely based on raw meats, meaty bones, offal, and vegetables.
To this are added some supplements to address any potential vitamin imbalances that might arise.
How did the BARF Diet originate?
The popularity of the raw food diet was sparked by an Australian veterinary doctor named Ian Billinghurst, who published a book in 1993 titled 'Give Your Dog a Bone'.
The title alone challenged years of ideology about canine diets. Feed bones? Weren't they dangerous, even potentially lethal for our animal friends?
Ian Billinghurst argued that feeding dogs with the BARF Diet would prevent various diseases and common problems in pets.
He supported his thesis by claiming that a diet based entirely on raw food would bring substantial benefits.
The alleged benefits of the BARF Diet include:
Improvement in oral health and dental condition
Elimination of bacterial infections in skin and ears
Reduction of arthritis-related problems and cartilage degradation, consequently reducing muscular pain causing mobility difficulties
Strengthening of the immune system
Reduction of liver, pancreas, and intestinal malfunctioning issues
Slowing down of vision degradation
Decreased risk of cancer
Reduction of the risk of developing autoimmune diseases
Increased energy levels
Enhanced learning abilities
Increased and better-developed muscle mass
Explained this way, this revolutionary diet seems quite convincing, but is it really so beneficial for the dog?
Many veterinarians seem to be against the exclusive feeding of raw foods.
Let's then try to understand why, and to learn in detail how the BARF diet works to decide whether it is suitable or not for our loyal companions.
How to feed your dog with the BARF Diet
The BARF Diet allows for the feeding of the following foods, some in limited quantities, and others occasionally.
Unlimited foods:
Beef, sheep, buffalo, and veal meats.
Chicken, turkey, and rabbit meats.
Meaty bones of small birds (e.g., chicken feet and wings), ribs, lamb heads, turkey necks.
Recreational bones (large cattle or pork bones, useful for chewing).
Foods allowed occasionally:
Chicken, turkey, and rabbit meats (they are low in iron and vitamin B).
Eggs (1 unit maximum 2-3 times a week), with shell (see notes in the feeding transition section, should be given powdered).
Fish (maximum 1-2 times a week).
Chicken gizzards.
Beef liver (once a week).
Fatty fish (anchovies, mackerel, sardines, pilchards…).
Allowed vegetables, totaling a maximum of 10%, or fruit, preferably ground.
Natural yogurt.
Kefir.
Butter.
Foods not allowed:
Pork meat (raw could transmit a parasite lethal to the dog).
Already deboned bones.
Thigh and lower thigh bones of turkey, chicken, and rabbit bones.
Supplements.
Fish oil (or Omega 3 capsules).
Algae oil.
Of course, all foods should be given to the dog raw, except for eggs which can be quickly scalded.
Calculating indicative amounts of raw food for the dog by weight
To calculate the portions needed to satisfy the energy needs of your dog with a raw food diet, age and weight must be considered.
Obviously, other factors such as the level of physical energy, health status, and current physical condition (pregnant bitch, postpartum, etc.) will also be taken into account.
Puppy:
Weaned puppy up to 4 months: 10% of body weight
Puppy between 4 and 6 months: 8%
Puppy between 6 and 8 months: 6%
Puppy of 8-10 months: 4%
Puppy of 10-12 months: 3%
The BARF Diet can start around 5/6 weeks of age. You should administer 5/6 meals a day, gradually reducing with age, until reaching 2 in the adult dog.
Do not mix kibble and meat, make a choice: either raw, dry, or homemade diet with cooked food.
Adult dog:
Young adult: 2.5-3%
Active adult: 3%
Moderately active adult: 2.5%
Sedentary/elderly adult: 1.5-2%
Percentage quantities of BARF Diet foods
Regarding the foods that make up the dietary mix, the dog's two daily meals should be divided as follows:
A minimum of 65% meats, fish, and meaty bones (approximately 45% meats - 20% meaty bones)
15% ground vegetables, or a bit of fruit
20% offal
Example of portions for age and weight
6-month-old puppy weighing 4 kg: (weight in grams : 100) x 6
(4000: 100) x 6 = 240 grams
Moderately active adult of 30 kg: (weight in grams : 100) x 2.5
(30000: 100) x 2.5 = 750 grams
NB:
Generally, small dogs require a higher percentage of food than large dogs at the same level of exercise. A poodle, therefore, needs 3% of its total weight, while a Labrador needs 2%.
The percentage is calculated on the dog's ideal weight, not its current weight: if an overweight dog weighs 10 kg instead of 5, the daily total is calculated on 5!
Some breeds burn more calories than others, so a greyhound or a sled dog must eat more than an English Bulldog.
These rules are not absolute, and since it is a special regime, it is always best to consult a veterinary nutritionist.
How to switch from traditional diet to BARF Diet
The transition from a kibble-based diet to the BARF diet cannot be immediate: apparently, the best method is to leave the dog fasting for one day.
This practice apparently serves to empty the dog's intestine of all the old food, so as to start afresh.
For the next two days, the dog should be fed only ground beef muscle, and then other meats should be introduced.
Bones should be introduced last, and if the dog seems to tolerate them poorly, an eggshell powder supplement can be administered (to learn how to do this read here!). Then maintain a fasting day once a week to cleanse the dog's body before starting again with meat.
Can cats follow the BARF Diet?
Yes, both dogs and cats can follow the BARF Diet, obviously with some precautions, given that dogs and felines are very different animals by nature.
Many owners opt for this method to also feed their cats, which makes more sense in their case than for dogs, considering that cats remain carnivorous animals.
However, cats that are fed a raw diet are also at a higher risk of contracting antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections compared to animals that follow conventional diets.
And there remains the problem related to the consumption of bones, which can also be very dangerous for cats.
Why don't veterinarians like the BARF Diet?
The majority of veterinarians are opposed to the raw food approach of the BARF Diet.
Firstly, unlike wolves, which remain purely carnivorous animals, domestic dogs have adapted to consume foods other than meat, thus becoming omnivores.
Indeed, they are capable of digesting both starch and gluten, and many dogs actually do not like raw meat, let alone raw fish.
The administration of raw meat can cause the transmission of bacteria or parasites harmful to the dog, some of which are transmissible to humans.
Even if the meat is purchased from a butcher or supermarket, there is always the possibility that it may contain microorganisms dangerous to our animals.
The most common are salmonella, listeria, and Escherichia coli, but there are many others, including the dreaded swine virus that causes Aujeszky's disease, which is fatal for dogs.
Cooking is crucial for eliminating most of the bacteria and potentially dangerous microorganisms for animals and humans.
Bones can cause intestinal occlusion, choking, and tearing of the stomach or intestines.
Even though raw ones should not crumble or contain sharp parts, there is always a risk of accidents.
And eggshell, if not properly powdered, can cause micro-lesions to the walls of the dog's stomach or mouth.
Then there's the story of the fasting day per week: the dog can go a day without eating, just like people, but is it worth leaving it hungry for so long?
While it is true that wild dogs do not hunt prey every day, domestic ones have nothing in common with them anymore and can tolerate fasting very poorly.
What are the disadvantages of the BARF Diet?
Contrary to Billinghurst's claims, the bacterial flora of dogs fed only raw meat is altered, precisely because of the harmful microorganisms we talked about.
The recommended intake of vitamins and minerals often proves insufficient, particularly for vitamins A and E, or excessive (see vitamin D).
And regarding vitamin A, there can be the opposite problem, caused by excessive consumption of liver, which can lead to liver problems.
Also, the intake of fats often turns out to be excessive, causing gastrointestinal disorders, pancreatitis, and overweight.
The teeth of dogs fed with the BARF often break or chip due to the continuous chewing of bones.
In conclusion
At present, there is no scientific evidence that the BARF Diet brings greater health benefits to dogs compared to a traditional diet based on kibble or homemade diets with cooked food.
Often the reasons why dog owners choose this dietary regime are based on mistrust of the manufacturers of industrial pet food.
While there is some truth to this point (in America, batches of food that have caused incidents are often recalled from the market), it's also true that this problem does not occur in Europe.
And there is still the traditional homemade diet, which, if supplemented with the necessary supplements and planned with a veterinarian, can replace industrial food.
At this point, the only really important advice remains: if you want to feed your four-legged friend in the best way, consult a veterinarian.
Each animal is a case unto itself, and the ideal diet depends on a number of very personal factors.
Only an expert nutritionist can help you in the possible transition to a raw meat-only diet, or tell you that it wouldn't really be good for Fido.
For now, the BARF diet seems too contested to give us total certainty that it offers all these benefits.
At this point, the choice is personal, but remember that we are talking about the health of your dog, and that DIY could have serious consequences in terms of well-being and the length of its life.
Make the right choice and take it to an animal nutritionist!
