Raw Food Diet for Dogs

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My dog eat many bones. Yes, many, many different types and almost every day, along with giblets, lots of fruits and vegetables and all strictly raw.

I feed my dog by following the principles of the Barf Raw Food Diet for dogs, developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian Veterinary.

Barf means "bones and raw food", but also biologically raw food; raw food is the best imitation of natural wild canine food.

Having available pre-packaged meals, this raw food diet for dogs may seem like a crazy thing and I admit that I thought so.

So, what made me change my mind?

My dog have had many illnesses, even serious. Largely for this reason I have always tried to feed him using only the best premium lamb or fish.
But there was something wrong, not only health problems not solved, but I saw them increase.

Finally, I read for the first time a reference to the Barf Raw Food Diet for dogs and it intrigued me.

Having sought information on the Web and having read a book explaining this diet, I started to follow it.

But what about the claims about the differences between pets and their wild cousins?

These are the answers given by Barf Diet:

- It is not true that evolution has led to differences in the physiology of digestion in dogs compared to wild animals, so it is not unfair to think that they could be fed with natural food; it is simply common sense that herbivores are healthier eating grass and that predators are healthier eating the carcasses of their prey;

- To find a perfect balance in a raw food diet for dogs is not necessary to eat every day the same thing. You can easily achieve the same goal by changing the foods with a long-term perspective;

- Prepare food for your dog is is not at all difficult, especially not having to provide for cooking;

- It is said that cooking food increases its digestibility but one of the major effects is the destruction of important nutrients and enzymes. The lack of these is the main cause of the accumulation of tartar on the teeth.

- It is true that the bones are dangerous ... if cooked! If they are crude are flexible, and perfectly digestible, when the animal has learned to chew properly and the body has become accustomed to the new food. They are a very important source of minerals and the bone is incredibly well balanced in terms of nutrition.

- The enormous proportions of carbohydrates from cereals, among other things of dubious quality in the pre-packaged meals, are completely unnatural and difficult to justify. They are considered by dr. Billinghurst one of the main causes of the great increase in degenerative diseases, problems of food allergies, cases of diabetes and inflammatory conditions in our animals.

The sources of carbohydrates in the Barf food diet for dogs instead comes from smaller quantities of fresh and centrifugated vegetables and fruit.

The following are some of the benefits that I have personally encountered in my dog applying the raw food diet for dogs:

- Disappearance of tartar from teeth;

- Large decrease in the odor of the fur (before we had to wash my dog at least every three months, and now more rarely;

- Disappearance of cases of diarrhea;

- Almost disappearance of numerous episodes of vomiting;

- Disappearance of the signs of allergy (crumbs and crusts on dark skin);

- Decrease of the body fat and increase of the se muscle mass;

- Improvement in the quality of the nails and disappearance of areas of skin without fur (especially under the belly) and mycosis on the nose);

- The stools are smaller and less fragrant than those of animals fed with dry food, which contain fiber, such as beet sugar, which make them artificially compact;

- Many people have found positive effects of the raw food diet for dogs, even in cases of dysplasia, arthritis, incontinence, ear infections and also aid in cases of behavioral problems.

Not bad, right?

This is my personal synthesis of the raw food diet for dogs (medium size).

Ingredients for my raw food diet for dogs:

60% meaty bones

15% plant centrifuged (better) or milkshakes (5%)

10% offal

5% fruit

10% vitamins supplements

The ideal ratio meat / bone is 1 / 1; the important thing is to vary the possible sources of rabbit (but quite expensive), flank of beef with bone , pork but also fish.

Plants:green vegetables as a base - spinach, chard, Catalonia ... but also cauliflower or cap (in moderation), carrots or pumpkin (little, ... contain many carbohydrates - even the pumpkin should be raw ...) and garlic ( antibiotic and pesticide-natural, very important), say 1 clove per dog per day, more or less.

Offal: liver, heart and kidneys but also spleen or lungs.

Fruits: must be mature, very mature and carefully washed.

Supplements: a few dogs - but in very rare cases - has problems because the pancreas does not produce certain enzymes needed for the raw food, so you have to supplement with pancreatic enzymes (rather expensive). For liver and kidney problems and recommended a supplement of B vitamins.

Also use: eggs - whole with the shell (it is an excellent source of calcium); cod liver oil supplement for omega 3 fatty acids; the oil can be replaced with flax seed grinder, yoghurt (or, better, kefir) for probiotics,soft cheese (cottage cheese is fine and cheap).

Many things to remember ... sounds complicated but I assure you, it is not!
Let's say that I only feed my dog, who weighs about 14 kg and ate 150 g of feed ... Part with a pound of meaty bones as the basis, one or two chicken wings.

I can also buy a chicken, divide it into ten pieces and place them in the freezer in separate bags. These will form the basis for 10-day supply - but next time I'll keep for my personal consumption chest and thighs, so I avoid giving him too much meat ... I also buy 1 kg of liver, for example, a pound of tripe and heart, for a total of two kilograms. I also prepare about 20 bags of ofal.

I try to change as often as possible the sources of meaty bones, and occasionally I give him the fish.

I also add the vegetables. In preparation, I use a centrifuge, but also a blender is powerful enough. Put in the juicer the ingredients that contain more liquid, so I do not add them later, then an egg with the shell, the cod liver oil, yoghurt and fruit. Then add the garlic, one-two teaspoons of powdered seaweed and, gradually, the vegetables.
I try to put more vegetables as possible, allowing the blender to work but trying to make the mix consistent. Done! Just put the bones or offal in the bowl, add one or two tablespoons of the vegetable mix.

If the stools are too hard increases the vegetables.

I put the vegetables advanced directly into the fridge for the next few days, which will last me for 3-4 days, or in the freezer in boxes with daily doses - the vegetable ferments a little.

Latest tips regarding the frequency of meals: do not change your normal habits.
For quantities of food, if your dog is fat, simply decrease the dose.

Do not be too afraid of the bacteria. If using fresh foods for human consumption and they work in a clean environment, the risks are minimal. The dogs generally enjoy vegetables with additions, if not you can mix them with offal or meat.

If at the beginning you find some bone fragments in faeces, expect to see them disappear with the passing of days, with the improved ability to chew.

If you are afraid that the dog swallows the bones, do not give him pieces too small the first few times and not leave it until it starts to chew properly.

If the dog swallows a piece too big, do not be alarmed: he has the ability to vomit without danger it's a bit disgusting but it is not a problem, the cause lies in his teeth that sometimes do not work properly (but not for the bones ... they keep your teeth in excellent condition).

You can see a temporary increase in the odor of fur, bad breath and dandruff, for a process of detoxification from preservatives, dyes and various additives.

Conclusions: a Raw food Diet for Dogs is very recommended!

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