Dog Food – BARF stands for Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. The basic principle is to feed a diet that the animals have evolved to eat, i.e. AS NATURE INTENDED. It is advisable to do your own research in order to make up your own mind. People do not eat processed foods everyday of their lives so why should our pets?
We are becoming more aware of the effects of colourings, additives and preservatives in our own diets, causing allergies and hyperactivity in our children. Dogs are also affected.
There is so many companies now selling natural ready made dog food than when I started feeding naturally over 20 years ago, so do your research and do what works best for you and your dog.
People have now forgotten that they used to feed their dogs’ meat, bones and vegetable scraps – a broad variety of foods which, being minimally processed, retained their nutritional value and were cheap. Dogs were regarded as animals not people and Dogs.
Behaviourists
Behaviourists were never heard of as before dog food came out dogs were fed a healthy diet of meat, scraps and bones.
Always be mindful of the age, breed and amount of exercise your dog gets and feed accordingly.
How many times a day do YOU eat? How much do you feed your baby, teenager? How hungry would you feel on one meal a day? How would you like to eat the same thing day in day out?
PICA
A common problem in dogs is the ingestion of non-food objects such as sweet wrappers, toilet paper, socks, cables, plaster, stones. Not only is this behaviour a nuisance, but it can be life threatening. This problem requires attention and treatment.
COPROPHAGY
Coprophagy (eating faeces) In the domesticated dog is a behavioural problem, it needs to be investigated but can be corrected. Itis considered normal among puppies and represents a small health risk to the offending puppy eating its own faeces, but eating that of other dogs may cause parasitic infections (e.g. coccidiosis) or increase a puppy’s risk of coming into contact with viral pathogens (parvovirus) shed in the faeces.
Despite reassurances, owners are often disgusted with the habit and may be unwilling to tolerate it. Many persistent coprophagous dogs have been given up for rehoming as a direct result of stool eating behaviour. The problem is especially intolerable in situations where a dog comes into close contact with children, who may be licked on the mouth by the dog.
Recommended Reading
Recommended reading for those interested in natural feeding their dog
www.holisticvet.co.uk Nick Thompson, Veterinary Surgeon
Work Wonders
Work Wonders by Tom Lonsdale, Veterinary Surgeon
Description: inspires us to see a dog’s dietary needs from a dog’s perspective into taking account Nature’s teachings, easily understood science, and sound common sense. Work Wonders provides essential information for anyone interested in dogs, diets and health. The entertaining and informative chapters lead you through the practical essentials of dog feeding
Food Pets Die for: Shocking Facts About Pet Food By Ann N. Martin
Description: Ann uncovers the unsavoury ingredients that can legally be used by the commercial pet food industry. Ann arms consumers with crucial information on how to read labels on pet food, and discern for themselves whether or not they want to feed their pets commercial food.
She offers healthy alternatives for feeding animal companions with nutritious and easy-to-prepare recipes. For people who don’t have the time to cook, Martin provides information on several pet food companies that produce healthy, human-grade pet food. Ann Martin builds a strong case for why our pets will live longer, healthier lives without commercial pet food.
Give Your Dog A Bone
Give Your Dog A Bone by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, Veterinary Surgeon
Description: deals with feeding dogs their natural or evolutionary diet. This book contains vital information for all dog owners. It is a must for the owners of new puppies. Its pages are packed with practical authoritative dog feeding advice that will drastically reduce vet bills.
It shows that a dog’s diet, which is based on raw meaty bones, is simple to produce, promotes health and is inexpensive. It explains why processed foods are the major cause of growth, reproductive, dental and most of the degenerative diseases including problems such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, cardiac disease, the auto-immune diseases etc.
Grow Your Pups With Bones by Dr. Ian Billinghurst
Description: This deals with feeding companion animals for maximum health. It shows how easy it is to grow pups into healthy adults with a sound skeletal system.
Not Fit for a Dog!
Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Dog and Cat Food by Michael W. Fox, Elizabeth Hodgkins
Description: highlights the dangers of modern pet food how it is unbalanced, creates addiction, and often contains ingredients that can literally poison your pet.
It destroys the myths propounded by pet food companies that human food is bad for pets, and that natural food diets are unsafe. The authors are three veterinarians share their expertise to provide an in-depth appraisal of the pet food industry and what people are feeding to their cats and dogs.