BARF Raw Food

In recent times, a new way of feeding our pets with raw food has become increasingly recognised and popular, essentially representing the original feeding of dogs and cats with raw meat, organs and bones with the addition of a plant source.

If we feed our dog raw food, we can monitor the ingredients consumed to the last detail, as we can see them with the naked eye! We also know that there are no hidden additives or lower quality ingredients in the food.

Why choose raw?

As we can see in many industries, including human nutrition, natural eating or food with as few artificial ingredients as possible is becoming increasingly popular. The same applies to our dogs, as many owners want to offer them natural, species-appropriate nutrition, similar to what they would encounter in the wild.

Depending on our beliefs and which type of feeding suits our dog, we can choose to feed exclusively with meat or we will also add a smaller amount of vegetables, fruit and herbs and even carbohydrates to the meal.

How do we store raw food?

Dog kibble is popular and widespread for good reason, as feeding with raw food is somewhat more time-consuming and requires more planning.

Raw food, unlike kibble, cannot wait in the dog's bowl as it spoils quickly and attracts unwanted visitors in the form of insects. If the dog does not eat the meat straight away, we can store it in the refrigerator and offer it later, but no longer than 24 hours! The dog's bowl and the surfaces on which we prepare the food must also be thoroughly washed and cleaned.

Some freezer space and advance planning is also needed, as the food must be defrosted several hours before we want to serve it to the dog!

The positive effects of raw feeding

Raw food for dogs has numerous advantages over commercially prepared food, including:

  • Contains natural ingredients, without artificial additives
  • Easily digestible food
  • Usually very palatable
  • Less frequent allergies
  • Improved animal wellbeing, better condition
  • Healthy coat and skin
  • Clean teeth
  • Compact stools

Why is raw food difficult to prepare at home and why are human food leftovers not good for dogs?

Although it may seem pointless to buy raw meat at a pet shop when we can buy it at a regular shop or butcher, there is a good reason for this! Not all meat is equal and a dog's meal must be precisely balanced – it must contain a certain amount of muscle meat (what we humans most often perceive as 'meat'), as well as organs in certain proportions and bones as a source of calcium and other minerals. Pre-prepared raw food for dogs contains the required quantities in the correct proportions, but if we want to prepare meals for our dog ourselves, we must first educate ourselves very thoroughly on the subject!

Even worse would be to offer the dog food from the table or leftovers from human food! Food prepared for humans is often too spicy and contains ingredients that are dangerous or even toxic for dogs, such as onion or chocolate! Human food also falls far short of meeting the nutritional needs of our dog. A list of foods forbidden for dogs can be found HERE (click)!

You can read more about raw food for dogs on our Content Centre:

48 products
Filters
48 products