Barf and dogs: Everything You Need to Know
Barf, which is the abbreviation of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, is very trendy these days. More and more owners are convinced that this form of nutrition is best suited for their dog and that ready-made dog food basically causes health problems.
What does Barf mean?
Barf is the abbreviation of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. It’s used to describe the idea behind the form of nutrition.
In simple terms, barfen is about feeding the dog raw food in such a way that the dog is provided with the most species-appropriate food possible. Ready-made wet and dry food for dogs is generally not used by the followers of this nutritional concept.
The dog's diet consists of raw meat, offal, fruit, vegetables, grains and small amounts of bones. In addition, vitamins and minerals as well as certain fats are added to the barley meals to ensure an optimal supply of nutrients to the dog.
Avoid these mistakes
Barf’s goal is to provide dogs with a diet that responds to the natural nutritional needs of the dog. Many dog owners do not know what nutrients are essential, which can sometimes do health problems. Homemade meals are not necessarily better for your dog. In addition to digestive problems, mistakes in the composition of the food can cause under- or oversupply of various nutrients.
The following errors are particularly common in barfening dogs:
- Too much meat
- Raw or poorly digestible carbohydrates
- Too many or too few micronutrients
Why too much meat is harmful when bartending
Many dog owners are of the opinion that the main purpose of barking is to give the dog as much raw meat as possible. However, this is a big mistake that can quickly have serious consequences for the health of the four-legged friend.
Because for a nutrient supply meeting demand it is important, among other things, to feed not only muscle meat but also other animal components such as pieces rich in connective tissue, tendons and innards.
Furthermore, dogs are not pure carnivores, but so-called semi-carnivores. Even though their digestion is primarily specialized in the utilization of animal fats and proteins, they still need a certain amount of easily digestible carbohydrates, which must be provided to them in the form of vegetable ingredients when barley is fed.
Apart from this, too much meat in barley can lead to an oversupply of protein and thus cause damage to the dog's kidneys in the long term.
Too many or the wrong carbohydrates in barley
However, too much muscle meat is by no means the only mistake that many owners make when barfening their dog. In addition, there are also some things to consider with regard to the supply of carbohydrates.
Even though barley is often equated with pure raw food, dogs cannot digest raw carbohydrates well. For this reason it is advisable to heat vegetables or potatoes.
By heating the dog can better utilize the carbohydrates, so that unnecessary digestive problems with barfen are avoided. Apart from this, potatoes contain the alkaloid solanine, which is why they should never be eaten raw by dogs or humans.
Needs-based micronutrient supply for barley
Ensuring the right amount of meat and cooking carbohydrate sources are by far not the biggest challenges in barfening. After all, the supply of vitamins and minerals is also of crucial importance for the dog's health.
An under- or oversupply of micronutrients is not uncommon with barley. Especially in young dogs, this can lead to massive problems and cause, for example, malformations of the musculoskeletal system or disturbances in bone growth.
Why Barf is risky for humans
Mistakes in barfing are not only associated with risks for dogs, but also for humans. The problem is primarily the high germ load of the raw meat used for barfing. This is also shown, among other things, by a study conducted in the Netherlands in 2016. A more recent study from Portugal, which came to the conclusion that multi-resistant germs are often found in raw food, confirms corresponding fears.
For healthy dogs, the bacteria in the meat may not be a problem. For puppies and old or weakened dogs, however, the germ load does pose a risk. This also applies to humans, who sooner or later also come into contact with potential pathogens due to the often close physical contact with their four-legged friend. Children and old people in particular can sometimes even become ill as a result.
The most important facts about barfen at a glance
If you decide to change the diet of your dog, you should be aware that feeding them raw food alone does not ensure that your dog is gets all the necessary nutrients.
Here are some of the other things you should consider:
- Too many proteins can in the long run favour the development of kidney insufficiency.
- Besides muscle meat, dogs also need other parts such as tendons and innards.
- Cooked carbohydrate suppliers are much easier to digest.
- Micronutrients must be adapted as precisely as possible to the needs of the four-legged friend.
- Hygiene is very important when handling raw meat because of possible germ contamination.
Our conclusion on the subject of barfen for dogs
There is nothing wrong with a BARF diet. Homemade foods have no artificial additives or other unsuitable ingredients so as long as your dog’s meals are planned well, there is no need to worry.
Barf requires a great deal of knowledge and time. Mistakes, which can sometimes cause serious health problems, are therefore not uncommon. If you are not prepared to put in the necessary effort, you should therefore refrain from the Barf diet.
Healthy alternatives to barfen
If you would like to feed your dog nutritious food but don’t have the time to commit to BARF, dog food from Bellfor is the right option. Your dog will get all the necessary nutrients from our cold pressed dry foods or our tasty wet foods.
All varieties contain neither grains nor artificial additives and are characterised by a needs-based proportion of animal proteins and the use of carefully selected ingredients.
You can therefore be sure that with Bellfor dog food you are choosing a healthy and digestible alternative to BARF and that your dog is optimally supplied with all important nutrients without raw meat.
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