What do you think about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet for dogs.?

It sounds tastier and better than traditional dog food which stinks (dried and wet) although expensive.If dried/canned is better, why don't humans eat it? My dog has no health issues but you are what you eat and eating is a huge part of a dogs life.What do you think about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet for dogs.?
Hello

I feed BARF and they are just so healthy compared to when on commercial food.

Have also just found out that the Guide Dogs in Queensland Australia have switched to this style of feeding after 12 months "testing" also with positive results so I am happy that has been confirmed by such an organization.

Great BARF information on a dog food website that I use and I'll put information in the source box for you.

To answer you question as to why humans do not eat dog food have a look at the ingredients section of that website - a lot of stuff is banned for humans!

Why then is it safe for dogs to eat is my question.What do you think about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet for dogs.?
I use high quality can food, dry food that does not cause bloat, and I cook meat for her.

None of them alone contains complete nutrition for a dog. I combine them keeping the dry food wet so it does not swell in the dogs stomach. Serving it dry it swells in the dogs stomach which cause's enormous gas / bloat which can flip the intestines folding it. Stopping blood flow and ultimately death. It is more common in large breed dogs as they consume larger quantity's in one meal. But it cause discomfort in all dogs.

I found when increasing the meat in her diet her bowel movements are smaller and less frequent. Im told the meat processes easier because there is no byproducts process to process. There is nothing to build up in her lower intestines. She has more energy. I am a firm believer if it is not broken don't fix it. She had 2 major intestinal surgery's in one month. At only 73 lbs 1/2 her weight they didn't think she would live. I brought her home and feed her small amounts several times day and night of high end puppy foods dry soaked and canned mixed. She gained 40lbs in less than a month. So I still use the adult version now with different meats. She is 7yr old 135 lbs now looks great. people think she is under 2 yrs. oh Great Dane Hope that helps.
I tried feeding my dogs that once and they liked it at first but then refused it. I prefer to feed my dogs cooked chicken (I eat it too) and stuff like yogurt mixed with flax seed and coconut oil. I read somewhere that feeding the raw diet might give your dog parasites like giardia, so I don't want to take the chance. I just keep dry food in their bowl in case they want a snack between meals.What do you think about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet for dogs.?
I wouldn't feed my dog dried or canned food if I got it for free. So many have known Cancer causing agents. I feed raw and in doing so know exactly waht my dogs are eating. No preservative or colouring, nothing bulked up with rice, wheat or corn.



You couldn't pay me to return to dry feeding.
My dogs are on it and they're the picture of health. I used to feed dry food and my dog used to be sick, have diarrhoea and hot spots. In the four years Ive been feeding him raw, he's never had a problem. I would never go back to dry food.What do you think about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet for dogs.?
All 4 of my dogs and both of my cats are on prey model raw. Wouldn't go back to commercial foods for anything.



My two older dogs have been on raw for nearly 4 years now, the cats and the two younger dogs since they came to live with us.
I think it's a excellent idea to feed BARF.
I think it is a good choice if your dog will eat it. Mine wouldn't. I cook for her so Im pretty much screwed.
I'm not a fan of the "raw" part unless you are slaughtering your own meat - there are too many chances for germs to get into food during slaughter, butchering, packaging, and transportation from conventional sources - if you feed meat from commercial sources, it should be fully cooked.



As far as being "biologically appropriate" it is difficult to define exactly what is "biologically appropriate" for dogs across the board, similar to humans though definitely carnivorous rather than omnivorous, dogs have lived for hundreds of years on everything from wild lizards to leftover kangaroo bones to frozen, whole fish to diets that are nearly vegetarian... while clearly some of these diets are better than others in most cases, dogs have an amazing ability to adjust and thrive on almost anything with a decent mix of nutrients or to supplement through eating all sorts of weird things for the nutrients they are missing.



That being said, the tightly controlled nature of a modern pet's dietary habits means that the owner needs provide that balanced nutrition because Fido isn't let out to roam, hunt, or scavenge to fill in those pieces - thus many raw-fed dogs end up deficient in their diets due to owner ignorance. Commercial diets have many flaws, but for the average dog owner who probably doesn't even understand their own nutritional needs, they provide a convenient, balanced diet. In some cases, commercial diets are the only viable option - like my dog with his constricted esophagus must have a liquid diet with no chunks and I have yet to find a way to powder meat on my own, but the feed store can put his high-quality kibble through their feed grinder and I can mix it with water to make his "doggy oatmeal".



Humans do not eat commercial pet foods because we have different dietary needs, different perceptions of what "tastes good" and different abilities to digest foodstuffs. Because people are more important than animals, animal feed production (especially for animals not entering the human food chain) is much less regulated than human food production, and since Americans have woefully low tolerances for germs and dirt than other species and humans in less developed parts of the world, things that would not make you dog-who-eats-dead-frogs' stomach upset could make you dangerously ill.



The best measure of a diet? You're dogs overall health, are they maintaining a healthy weight? Do they have plenty of energy? Are their skin and coat shiny and soft? Are their bowel movements and urination regular and do they appear normal? If so, then your dog is doing fine on their current diet. If the above is lacking and there is not an underlying explanation (i.e. the dog being really old, suffering from a specific health problem) then I don't care if they're eating certified organic meals prepared by someone with a PhD in canine nutrition, their diet needs an adjustment.