BARF..

I know the subject of raw feeding has been covered before but I thought I would start a new thread as I have a few questions of my own I want to ask. I really want to hear what people's experiences are of this kind of diet especially those who changed from a complete diet to raw feeding what difference did you notice in the dogs, did anybody try it and subsequently go back to complete feeding if so why? Are suppliments needed? It is something I am thinking more about at the moment but obviously want to go through all the pros & cons of this type of feed and make sure I understand all the requirements before starting this type of diet if I decide to do so.

Does anybody have any recommendations for reading up on the subject more (internet information sites or books etc?).

Thanks

I'll send you some links Laura

You know what problems i've had with Teagan.
The diet was brilliant for her health though.

Now she is on Burns, occasionally with raw mince/carcasses.
She doesn't eat all her kibble now! lol

Thank you Kirstie & Hevvur I will take a look at those links.

Laura

Hi Laura,

Busta and Daisey are both on a Barf diet, I started Busta on it when he was just over a year. He was on complete kibble b4 this and always looked fine. In Busta's 1st year he visited the vets maybe 4/5 times for different things
Since he has been on eating raw he has only been vets for his annual jabs This might not be due to a complete diet change but IMO it is.
Busta's general health has improved alround you can't describe it but you know your own dogs and can just tell how much better they are. They shine if you know what i mean
Daisey has been eating raw since i've had her. Till 8 weeks Daisey had been raised on Arden grange. Her breeder gave me about a weeks worth of food for her and i gave her this but she wasn't producing firm stools. I swapped her on to raw and she hasn't had kibble since. Daisey has been vets once and vet has happy to say she is fine
When Busta was on kibble he just picked at his food and never really enjoyed a good meal. Now he jumps around like a lunatic and apart for the first few minutes of puting there raw dinner down there bowls are always empty.
It is more work than feeding kibble and you do need a doggie freezer Imo it is worth the extra hassle when you see how much they enjoy a raw diet.
I did a wee test with Busta when i first started feeding raw, what i did was make 2 meals 1:kibble 1:raw then put both bowls down at the same time and let Busta choose what he wanted to eat Once he had emptyed 1 bowl i lifted both bowls. I did this for a week. Trust me when i say Busta didn't even look twice at the kibble and when had a choice went for a more natural diet everytime.
I feed a varied diet but i do not use supplements.

Laura i'm just about to feed them as soon as i post this, Rack of lamb for lunch

Thanks Russ very helpful really what I was looking for sounds like it has done Busta & Daisey the world of good. Obviously I will be doing more research but imo sometimes the best research is to speak to people who have already tried it before.

What would be a typical meal for your dogs if you dont mind sharing? Am just trying to get a feel for what is involved in preparation etc.

Cheers
Laura

Laura,
there are so many different ways to feed a natural diet. I prefer not to call it BARF as this is specific relating to the billinghurst books - what i started with.

You can get frozen meat and meat/veg mince meals ready prepared from pets at home now! This involves no effort on your part... you can just defrost and serve, or cook depending on your preference.
There is alot to learn, i suggest you read for yourself and make up your own mind which path you choose to follow, if you aquire the knowledge first then you know you are doing the best you can for your dogs. There are other diets you can choose, that you make up the veg pulp youself, again if you read about the subject first, you will have the power to confidently feed properly. Its difficult for me to explain, but once you start reading a few books you will build confidence to know what is right and whats not. Nothing i or anyone else will say should convince you, but when you read a variety of books on the subject youll feel empowered to just go ahead and do it...we have all been there!
As for supplements, dont over do it. Its sounds like a hassle when you start out, but again once you read into it, you will learn that there isnt much to supplement, generally supplements come into play when you have a specific problem you wish to treat.
Really the only daily 'supplement' i use is cod liver and evening primrose oils.
As for a book, i highly recommend you read 'the barf diet' (its a simple and modern version of 'give your dog a bone', also 'Raw Meaty Bones' by Tom Lonsdale.
Its a wonderful step in the 'right' direction, you'll soon be thinking about your own diet too...
Best of Luck.

hi laura, i used to feed indie raw, but when i started back at college fulltime and work fulltime i didnt have time for it.

anyway, i feel it made a big difference for indie, for one she enjoyed her meals, her coat was softer and she was much calmer.

At the moment she is on burns dry food, but i dont feel it is suiting her as much as her raw diet did.

Heres what i would buy from the butcher: beef trimmings, heart, liver, chicken legs/carcasses cut up, lamb ribs, marrow bones. I would also give her yoghurt, eggs, blended vegetables, blended fruit, sardines and tuna in sunflower oil.

now indie gets a mix of kibble and natural diet, as in cooked meats, tinned sardines in oil and some cooked veg.

Will PM you.

Hi Laura
Gus had a food intolerance- which caused him to constantly lick his paws as they were itching and subsequently would then get infected
Some people did mention it could be food related but I didnt think it would be as he was fed on Hills Science Plan - not a cheap food and one who I thought had a good reputation. Anyway after 6 months of getting nowhere fast with medication etc we saw a specialist who did an allergy test and also said why not try a food trial just to see if it makes a difference.
He was changed onto Royal Canin Hypoallergenic- and after 6 weeks the difference was unbelievable

When we got Libs we didnt want to feed them seperate foods (as Gus would want to finish her leftovers etc) and RC was much too dear to feed to both @ £65 for a 15 kilo bag
so after looking into it we decided to *try* raw.
We've never looked back- Gus has not had any of the symptoms he originally suffered from and both look fit and well They look forward to mealtimes cos each ones different ranging from meat, to fish, to offal and pasta and veg etc. There is loads to feed them

(We actually feed a mix of raw and cooked by the way)

Sorry to ramble on but for us it was a brilliant changeover
(I was originally put off cos Im not really a meat eater and I was worried what to feed them etc- but its great!!)