BARF diet – what is it and how to compose it?

What is the BARF diet

BARF, or biologically appropriate raw food, is a diet for carnivores such as dogs, cats and ferrets, developed by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst after years of observation and experience. The BARF diet involves feeding the dog in a way that is as close as possible to the way its ancestors fed, as naturally as possible. The basis of this diet is raw meat, offal and bones, while vegetables, fruit, oils and eggs can be given as a supplement. In this method of feeding, grains and dairy products are avoided.

How to compose a BARF diet for a dog?

The general assumptions of the BARF diet are to feed 50% muscle meat, 20% offal, 15% bones, 10% vegetables, 5% fruit. Vegetables and fruit are not essential in the diet, so if the dog does not want to eat them, we can give them up in favor of more muscle meat. It is assumed that for variety, at least four different types of meat should be fed, so you can combine poultry with meat from large or small mammals. It is also worth feeding meat types with different levels of fat, such as turkey and lamb.

In addition to the above-mentioned ingredients, a very important element of a raw diet for a dog are supplements. As a result of today’s method of breeding slaughter animals, their meat is not fully rich in nutrients. Therefore, additional supplementation is necessary for animals fed the BARF diet. One of the mandatory supplements is brewer’s yeast, a source of B vitamins. These are inactive yeasts of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which have a great effect on the condition of the coat, the nervous system, and also on the digestive system due to the presence of prebiotic substances. You can find this supplement in our store. Game Dog BARFER Brewer’s Yeast 300g

Another supplement worth including in the diet is marine algae. A source of iodine, rich in many vitamins, they inhibit the accumulation of dental plaque, and thus eliminate unpleasant odor from the mouth, as well as improve the pigmentation of the coat. You can also find this supplement in our store. Game Dog BARFER Kelp 200g

Not all owners decide to give bones to dogs on a raw diet. In such a case, it is necessary to provide another source of calcium in the diet, e.g. Game Dog BARFER Calcium 300g.

If we care about general support of the body, we can reach for supplements such as Wild Rose (Game Dog BARFER Rose Hip 300g, which is not only a source of vitamin C, but above all contains galactolipid – a substance with highly anti-inflammatory effects or Spirulina (Game Dog BARFER Spirulina 300g), a source of highly absorbable vitamins, minerals and amino acids in chelated forms. Spirulina perfectly increases the immunity of the dog’s body, but also soothes the course of allergic reactions.

The easiest way is to compose a meal so that all the necessary ingredients are included in the daily portion, but this is not necessary. A huge advantage of the BARF diet is the possibility of composing a diet for the individual needs of a specific dog. If the given proportions do not suit the dog, we can immediately introduce changes and observe their consequences.

Is the BARF diet healthy for dogs?

The BARF diet currently has both supporters and opponents. Not everyone believes that it is a safe diet for dogs, due to the microbiological threat. However, raw meat can also have many advantages, e.g.
in the case of food allergies in dogs, it is much easier to carry out an elimination diet than in the case of commercial wet or dry food. It cannot be said that it is a hypoallergenic diet, but it is much easier to exclude one or more types of meat from the BARF diet than from a commercial diet. Other advantages of a raw diet for dogs include the ease of maintaining a healthy body weight, well-groomed teeth, excellent skin and coat condition, lack of unpleasant odor, very high digestibility and absorption of the dog’s diet ingredients.

Why is it worth choosing Game Dog supplements?

The Game Dog brand is a brand created by enthusiasts, with dogs in mind that need support in the form of dietary supplements: sports dogs, working dogs, but also those that require a specialized diet due to their health condition.

Game Dog supplements are the highest quality products, made from selected ingredients, the effects of which are supported by scientific research. Our supplements are dedicated to, among others: older dogs with a delicate digestive tract, so we made sure that they were easily digestible and perfectly absorbable.