Seeing as we have a lot of pet owners here any BARF feeders?

[Vinnyc]

I was just wondering as the last pup I got was started on barf when I got him and I have continued with it. Just wonder if any of the guys here feed this way?

[HarveyBoulevard]

oddly enough my dog does eat his own barf!

...what is barf (as I don't think I think it means what you mean it to mean

[Carts]

oddly enough my dog does eat his own barf!

...what is barf (as I don't think I think it means what you mean it to mean

just googled it. I think he means Bones And Raw Foods ... BARF

[Scroats]

I would like to do that, I just can't seem to gather a game plan together. I look online and find nobody that sounds convincing.

If you have any recommendations on where to look for some good knowledge on the topic I'd appreciate it.

[HarveyBoulevard]

I will be interested to see the discussion here. I used to feed my dog Beniful then it gets recalled for causing animal deaths. I hate buying ANY dog food because I just don't trust it. No idea if the claims are true, just disheartening to know I may have hurt my dog's health if they are.

[Fuzz]

I've been feeding my Lab a mix of dry food (1.5 cups per day), fruits and the occasional bone. Every once in a while I'll sneak him some raw meat when I'm prepping dinner.

Just recently changed his feed to Canidae, as it is grain free.

[Vinnyc]

I move my other dog to BARF when I got this puppy and she has changed from an ageing old mastiff to a shiny new dog. Got a new lease of life some issue she was having have gone away. I was given a book by the breeder written but Dr Ian Billinghurst. It is pretty good. I am not anti kibble. And as usual it's an issue that draws extremes from both ends of the spectrum but when I watch my dogs now get stuck into some ribs and big meaty bones I see how they enjoy it. It's not easy a lot more preparation u less you buy the premade meals but with two 150 pound dogs that gets expensive.

Biologically Acceltable Raw Food is the proper meaning of the word.

My neopolitan mastiff had really bad reactions to the grains in the kibble now she loves a rack of ribs with a few big chunks of meat and a turkey or chicken wing

[Vinnyc]

http://www.wolftucker.co.uk/wolftucker-raw-feeding-guide/

That's a pretty good guide and explaniation. I am lucky my vet likes the idea some don't as they make a lot of money from the specialist food they sell. I say if your getting dry food try and make it grain free and high meat content.

My girl with a turkey carcass

[Ken Gargett]

i feed my scorpion live moths and bugs and an occasional caterpillar. does that count?

[Vinnyc]

Yes ken of course it does its perfect. Just as always.

[leftimatic]

http://www.wolftucker.co.uk/wolftucker-raw-feeding-guide/

That's a pretty good guide and explaniation. I am lucky my vet likes the idea some don't as they make a lot of money from the specialist food they sell. I say if your getting dry food try and make it grain free and high meat content.image.jpg

My girl with a turkey carcass

You are lucky to have a vet that is open to new diets. It means she is a doctor not a business person. My wife is a vet also and gets upset with clinics who push food companies only and refuse to try new things. Like most human medicine these days its not about health just money.

One thing to keep in mind as my wife will say. Chicken and turkey bones have a habit of tearing stomachs apart and regular bones to often, will take their teeth out. Moderation on the bones. And I never read the book but I know she would also suggest fresh raw fruits and veggies if they will eat them. Super good stuff.

Just remember no grapes, raisons, onions, apple seeds, of course dark chocolate and a few others I can't remember right now. Very toxic to dogs.

My thoughts on the shiny coat and sudden burst in health is that most dogs like humans and all animals in fact are not meant to eat high grain diets. She was probably allergic to something in the food. Good on yah. One thing my wife would also say, if you are just starting out with this diet please monitor your dogs for rapid weight gain or loss, liver, kidney issues, anything out of the norm. Trust me if you know your animals you will know when something is up. For at least a few months. It can sometimes be too big of shock at once.

Trust me my wife's a doctor!

[Vinnyc]

I hear what you are saying. I mix in 20% fruit and veg. Then the rest is 10% organ 10% bone and 60% meat. The bone is often in a mined form do already really broken down. My girl doesn like a good chicken wing and carcass but these must be raw. Dogs should t get cooked bones at all. I tend to stay away from the big weight bearing bones so that they are not as strong.

Again dont get me wrong I still give some kibble but it is grain free and often cold pressed such as Lukullus. This makes it easy for if I ha e to someone else feed my two if I have to go away for a few days.

[NJP]

Raw meat and bones all the way. Occasionally we heat meat in the winter but only mildly and try not to cook it.

[polarbear]

My vet gave the missus a recipe for home made dog food a while back

Its essentially cooked mince, rice and vegetables.

My dog seems to love it (but he loves everything I put in his bowl) and I've even eaten it on the nights when I'm too pissed to cook

[Quint]

I have 2 Bengal cats and both have been on a raw diet since they were 6 months old, now 11 years. One had IBS as a kitten which got cleared up within a week or 2 after switching over. Both have been extremely health and although my vets gave me **** about doing it every time I bring them for their yearly they rave about their coats and how healthy they are. Both are on a raw chicken and turkey diet. I have a grinder and grind up everything none and all. I ad sone liver and a vegetable mixture with vitamins and raw eggs. Cat are primarily carivours so the meat and bones make up most of the recipe. Someone mentioned bones can rip up the stomach as long as they are raw, and raw is the ONLY way they should be served they are soft and pliable and cause no problems. When allow to naw on a full bone they should obviously be watched because of a choke hazard.

[poorman]

Would if I had the time.

The owner where I get my dog food does do the barf.

Explained it to me and I just don't have time for that right now.

Feed my dogs grain free lamb from Acana.

I'm lucky the pet store I use is very very conscious about their food.

Switched from Canidae to Acana because of them.

Mostly because it seems to be fresher, as it comes from just north of me in Canada.

Absolutely must go grain free if you feed dry food to your pets.

[cigcars]

just googled it. I think he means Bones And Raw Foods ... BARF

WHEW! THANK YOU!!! 'Cuz I was about to barf over this article!!! Yuck! He's a dog - not a baby bird!

[Borgy]

Roo tails when I can get them 30% veg and 70% mince.I do cook the mince if its Roo,no bones that are cooked I have lost a dog many years ago to a cooked Rib bone.

[ShortFatHokie]

My dog gets fed venison/organic beef or chicken (whichever is available at that time) with carrots and a banana for breakfast every day. For dinner we feed her Blue Buffalo dry food. She loves it and it seems to do her good, she is very healthy and active.

[NweakO]

My dog is a snob, doesn't like chicken or any other birds. Likes beef, lamb, rabbits, bison, green tripe.

Lamb neck

Rabbit

He has got an entire freezer just for him. Holds about 40 kg of meat.

He eats better food than me.

[DoubleDD]

I used to have a 170 pound bullmastiff that we started on barf and moved to grain free dry food. You get two reactions in the veterinary community, either they love it or hate it. One bonus of barf or grain free is that dogs with grain allergies tend to do better. You can find pre-pattied barf which makes it simpler and easier or you can make your own. There can be two down sides to barf, according to veterinarians. The first is, feeding an all protein meat diet increases the work the kidneys need to do to filter the protein which can lead to taxation on the renal system. Second, they are concerned with parasites and various food borne illnesses. There are theories everywhere for both sides. If your dogs like it and have no issues I say stick with what works.

[Philski]

Cat are primarily carivours so the meat and bones make up most of the recipe.

Actually, cats are termed 'obligate carnivores' - they have evolved into such efficient hunters that they can no longer process more than very small quantities of carbohydrates.

My Egyptian Maus have been on a raw diet since five months old. The producer basically minces whole chicken, lamb and rabbit, bones and all, minus the guts and fur/feathers, and they get raw prawns (cooking prawns removes the taurine, which they need to take in through their diet). Coming up to seven years old, and have never had any health issues (touch wood).

Dry food can be very bad for cats, and I think I'm right in saying is a primary cause of obesity and diabetes in cats these days - as would any other carbs that they might be fed.

[leftimatic]

My vet gave the missus a recipe for home made dog food a while back

Its essentially cooked mince, rice and vegetables.

My dog seems to love it (but he loves everything I put in his bowl) and I've even eaten it on the nights when I'm too pissed to cook

I am always sneaking the odd homemade dog cookie. Go good with tea. The vegetarian only ones though. The wife makes some from the left over organs from the farm animals we eat. I have seen them in the blender and I just cant seem to muster the courage. The dogs go apeshit for them though.

[spicycorona]

Raw works if there isn't any abs or general digestive issue. But it doesn't have to be raw to be good. Home cooked dog food can be a pain in the a$$. But look into what they put in commercial dog food and it is worth it. I know my mother buys massive whole pork loins or bulk chicken breast (be careful most chicken isn't very good especially the cheap stuff) and bakes them in bulk. She chops the meat into bite size pieces, adds blueberries and macerated greens(kale, escarole, swiss chard), bags then freezes. After thawing and refrigerating, she adds that mixture to hot water, rice, nutrient supplement and whatever there is for the treat of the day; lamb trimmings, a heated egg, leftover steak, baked potato etc. It's a crazy amount of work that I could never do, but Maia's a healthy beast.