More B.A.R.F. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
We do our best to update this page as often as we can, so do check back often. Again, they are in no specific order; however, if you are new to BARF, it is highly encouraged that you read all the questions and answers, starting with the Top 50 Most Frequently Asked Newcomers to BARF Ask. If there's a Q&A you feel should appear on this page, please contact me with an appropriate answer.
- How much will it cost me to feed BARF?
- Is it true that my vet bills will decrease drastically, if almost not at all? Why is this?
- What is offal?
- What are some 'acceptable' BARF treats I can give my dog?
- What is MSM?
- Do I have to feed a completely balanced meal every day?
- Where should I feed my dog her RMBs?
- How do I know if my dog has allergies?
- What is a good starter oil? Flax seed? Safflower? Fish oil? Help!
- Does giving garlic really have that many benefits?
- On the raw diets I have read, poultry seems to be the main meat. Is there a reason I don't see beef as part of this diet?
- My dog just regurgitated part of his chicken wing? Is this related to chewing (or not chewing)?
- YUCK, my dog eats his poo......why is he doing this and will this harm him?
- How long does it take for raw food to digest, compared to cooked, or even kibble?
- I've heard so much about transfer factors and how they support my pet's immune system. Where can I learn more?
This is a very difficult question to answer, as the answer depends on the size of your dog, how many dogs you have, their appetites, the price & availability of raw meaty bones in your area, as well as what veggies happen to be in season! The one thing you can be assured of...BARF will either cost the same as feeding kibble OR much less. Back to top of page
Yes, you will find that vet trips will decrease dramatically as your dog's body becomes accustomed to it's new food. The main reason being is that all toxins from commercial food have been removed from your dog's body and his immune system is becoming greatly enhanced...thus eliminating many common ailments that you might normally make a vet appointment for, such as: dry & itchy skin, many allergies, skeletal problems, teeth cleaning, flea remedies, etc... Back to top of page
Offal is the term for organ meat. It usually consists of kidney, liver, and tripe or stomachs. Heart can be considered organ or muscle meat. Back to top of page
You'll find lots of yummy recipes and treat ideas here. Keep in mind that many of these recipes contains grains....so, be beware, if your dog is allergic to grains. If you have a dehydrator, then you're all set! You can dehydrate just about everything (e.g. liver, kidney, raw meat jerky, fruits, veggies, etc...). If you don't have a dehydrator, you can also use your oven. Keep a pan below the meats to catch the drippings. Set the oven on it's lowest setting (l00-150 F) and use something to keep the door ajar. The jerky should be dry after 8-10 hours. Back to top of page
MSM is methylsuphonylmethane. It's a sulfur compound. It's been found useful in the relief of symptoms associated with allergies, gastrointestinal upsets, arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders. Glucosamine is most often an ingredient that can be found mixed with MSM, that promotes healthy joints and tissues. I use and recommend Agility by Life's Abundance for my Boxers, as a preventative. Agility is so effective, many pet owners have been able to get their pets off of harmful steroid drugs (e.g. Rimadyl) and on to a natural course of treatment. Back to top of page
Absolutely NOT! The thing to remember is that you are aiming for balance over time. You don't need to feed your dog a completely balanced meal every meal, or even every day. It's balance over time (3 weeks to a month), NOT every meal, that counts! This is the reason for feeding a variety of foods. Back to top of page
Go to your local cheapie store (even Dollar store) and buy a vinyl table cloth. Spread it on your kitchen floor and you have an easily sanitizable place to feed. After "dinner" you can just wipe/mop it up with bleach in a spray bottle. You may even consider tying your dog to the oven handle with an old leash, so she won't leave her 'dinner table' in the middle of eating, and wander through the house with her RMBs! Back to top of page
Many dogs are allergic to grains and yeast products. If your dog is scratching a lot (check for fleas first) and has 'gunky' ears, then the odds are that your dog has allergies. An elimination diet will help determine the cause of the allergies.
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If you are feeding chicken Raw Meaty Bones, which have some skin and fat on them, you probably don't need to add much in the way of Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's), but instead, mostly Omega 3. Flaxseed oil, salmon oil or fish oil are probably your best sources of this. Many dogs are allergic to flaxseed, so keep your eyes open for any sign of an allergic reaction (itching). Back to top of page
Absolutely!!! If given regularly, it is also known to keep the fleas away...they don't like garlic! Garlic is also a natural antibiotic and fungal fighter. When it comes to foods that really work, garlic is as good as it gets.
This pungent bulb offers a plethora of health benefits. For starters, studies show that people who consume garlic regularly have lower cholesterol levels. Other research indicates that garlic thins the blood--specifically by preventing platelets from sticking together and clotting--and that may translate into lower blood pressure as well as a diminished risk of heart disease and stroke.
What's less well known is that garlic gets much of its goodness from it's high selenium content, a trace mineral that has been heralded for it's antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. In fact, if you load meals with lots of garlic (in addition to C & E), you shouldn't need to add a selenium supplement to your diet. Read more about the benefits of garlic here.
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This pungent bulb offers a plethora of health benefits. For starters, studies show that people who consume garlic regularly have lower cholesterol levels. Other research indicates that garlic thins the blood--specifically by preventing platelets from sticking together and clotting--and that may translate into lower blood pressure as well as a diminished risk of heart disease and stroke.
What's less well known is that garlic gets much of its goodness from it's high selenium content, a trace mineral that has been heralded for it's antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. In fact, if you load meals with lots of garlic (in addition to C & E), you shouldn't need to add a selenium supplement to your diet. Read more about the benefits of garlic here.
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Chicken tends to be cheaper and easier to obtain, plus beef is much fattier and richer. But as long as you are providing a variety of meats, feeding a lot of beef shouldn't be a problem. Back to top of page
It's not uncommon at all for dogs new to the diet to have trouble digesting the new bones. Sometimes they might vomit them up (and then continue to eat what they've just regurgitated) and sometimes some of the bone might pass through in the stool. This is purely related to NOT chewing properly or because the body is not used to digesting raw foods. Adding a digestive enzyme during the transitional phase would be most beneficial in cases like this. Of course, if it really does worry you that much, you can always go for giving larger bones or by grinding in the beginning and then maybe work your dog up to eating bones. By the time he's used to digesting the ground bones, he should be able to handle the whole bones with no issues. Back to top of page
There are several reasons why feces are attractive to dogs. The first is the fact that they are full of bacteria, which help in food digestion. These are missing in commercial processed foods. They are also high in B vitamins, which some dogs may crave. They do have some digestive enzymes in them too which again, processed foods lack. This is why bitches lick puppies all over, it is actually helpful to get some of this to the puppies mouth.
Eating stool won't harm a dog, but it does offend us humans! It can also become a habit, which will slow in time if either a raw diet is fed, or supplement with a full spectrum digestive enzyme, beneficial bacteria (such as probiotic powder) and B vitamin. And of course, remove the stools religiously from your yard! Don't hesitate to contact us for a high quality probiotic/digestive enzyme recommendation.
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Eating stool won't harm a dog, but it does offend us humans! It can also become a habit, which will slow in time if either a raw diet is fed, or supplement with a full spectrum digestive enzyme, beneficial bacteria (such as probiotic powder) and B vitamin. And of course, remove the stools religiously from your yard! Don't hesitate to contact us for a high quality probiotic/digestive enzyme recommendation.
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According to Kymythy Schultze, in her book "The Ultimate Diet," raw stays in the stomach 4-5 hours, cooked about 8-10 hours and kibble takes approximately 15 hours to be broken down and move out of the stomach. Back to top of page
Transfer factors are a safe substance for all animals and humans. Transfer factors are the primary communications mechanism used by the immune system to defend your pet against harmful microbial threats. Transfer factors are small molecules that consist of specific sequences of amino acids. These small compounds naturally occur in all mammals and are passed from mother to newborn through the mother's first milk called colostrum. These small transfer factor molecules then start to educate the newborn's naive immune system, which in turn will protect them from the microbial threats they encounter all their life.
Transfer factors have three primary functions. When we encounter a potential microbial threat transfer factors: 1) recognize and alert our immune system to the "threat" 2) condition our immune system to respond quickly to "threats" 3) remember the threats we encounter to quickly respond in the future. Back to top of page
Transfer factors have three primary functions. When we encounter a potential microbial threat transfer factors: 1) recognize and alert our immune system to the "threat" 2) condition our immune system to respond quickly to "threats" 3) remember the threats we encounter to quickly respond in the future. Back to top of page
