About UK BARF Club - The Ultimate Feeding Guide for Cats and Dogs

What is a BARF Diet?
A BARF diet is a modern day approximation to the diet wild dogs have evolved to eat after hundreds of thousands of years in the forests and scrubland of the world. We cannot feed whole prey to our domestic dogs because we can’t easily get hold of it. But we can source quality meat, bone and organ tissue to emulate the carcass. We can use fruit, vegetables, nuts seeds and herbs to reproduce foods found in the gut of rabbit, deer or sheep – as dogs would be eating in nature.

A BARF diet provides a range of benefits. These benefits include:

* Reduced doggy odour and 'dog breath'.
* Naturally cleans teeth - no need for toothbrushes, de-scaling, helps prevent gum disease leading to improved general health.
* Chewing raw meaty bones cleans teeth and supplies minerals, but, very importantly, dogs love it!
* The time it takes for a dog to chew raw meaty bones gives their stomach time to get the acids moving.
* Produces firmer, more 'pick-upable', smaller stools.
* Can reduce vet bills (healthier dogs)
* Economical to feed in comparison to quality commercial dog foods.
* Puppies develop at a more appropriate rate. Quick growth spurts are avoided. A GOOD breeder will want to stop fast growth in any pup.
* Better weight control which helps to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and obesity.
* Some long standing bowel problems (e.g. constant or recurrent diarrhoea) and skin problems (chewing feet, recurrent ear infections or    constant scratching) can be cured with raw food and careful selection of ingredients.

What do animals on a BARF diet eat?
As varied a raw diet as possible, with lots of raw meaty bones, e.g. chicken wings, poultry necks, rabbit, oxtail, minced meats, lamb shanks, eggs and their shells, liver, heart, fish, yoghurt, veg (blended), fruit (blended), herbs, nuts and seeds.

This sounds daunting. It shouldn't be. Just think of the human 'meat and two veg'. We feed dogs something similar - for every handful of meat, they get 2 handfuls of blended veg and fruit. That's it. It's as simple as that. To this you can add herbs, seeds and nuts for minerals and essential fatty acids, but the basics really are basic. Natures Menu have created a product that is already done for you, available in 5 complete flavours of tasty nuggets. These are meat, vegetables & rice. Natures Menu Nuggets. Also available is a blended fruit & vegetable nugget to mix in with the Prize Choice range of meats.

Can I feed puppies and kittens on BARF?
You most certainly can. They can be weaned onto a raw food diet - this is, after all, what they did for thousands of years before 'puppy and kitten' diets came along! Of course, you won't want to feed that little puppy huge marrow bones! So use common sense in your feeding. See the guide at the bottom of the page.

How do I start?
Some people start gradually while others do a straight swap. Gently does it for the first week is a good approach. Most people start with minced meat and when the animal is used to this then add raw meaty bones e.g. chicken wings as they build in confidence. It is usually not advisable to feed dried food and B.A.R.F at the same meal as they take differing times to digest.

I fed a raw meaty diet and my cat was sick immediately - should I continue or revert back to the food that I have fed for years?
Try introducing the raw meat more gradually. Also, the cat may have a problem with one meat more than another, so vary what you give it. You have to remember this is a massive change to them. They have been on processed food for years and all of a sudden you're changing tastes, textures and ways of eating. It may take a while. If the vomiting persists, see your veterinary surgeon.

Isn't it dangerous to feed dogs chicken bones?
Never ever feed cooked bones as they are more likely to splinter and cause problems in a dogs digestive system. People have been feeding dogs raw bones for years and rarely report problems. Chicken wings are the best bet, also a minced chicken with bone content. Try Prize Choice minced meats or the wings from the Chunks range.

Why is my dog drinking less water daily?
Should I be concerned ? No, there is absolutely no reason to be concerned. Raw food is full of naturally occurring water. All the moisture needed to digest raw food is contained in raw food. Although a lower sodium intake is part of the reason that our BARFing dogs drink less water, the real reason is that raw food has not had the water removed like dry food has.The difference between dry and canned dog food is the water content they leave the water in the canned and bake it out of the dry.

How much does it cost?
With the convenient range of frozen products available from AMP changing your pets diet from a processed pet food onto BARF is cheaper and cost effective. When buying fruit and veg for the family you could add a bit extra so that this can be blended and frozen into meal size chunks for your pet. Alternatively try the convenient Natures Menu fruit & vegetable nugget all ready prepared to just defrost and serve to mix in for your BARF diet. Also available is Natures Menu Nuggets with meat, vegetables & rice. This is a complete raw diet. Natures Menu Nuggets. This will take all the hassle out of preparing meals for your pets. It’s ready to serve once defrosted with no fuss or preparation. Raw meaty bones are easily available from the Prize Choice Chunk range.

What about things like salmonella?
The digestive tract of a dog is much shorter than a humans and the concentration of hydrochloric acid in their stomach is much higher. Consequently, they can deal with bacteria that humans can't. Just think of the things that a dog will eat if allowed.... imagine the things they can pick up or lick, these can contain bacteria but they don’t harm them.