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 Frequently
Asked Questions?
...and their answers.
- Why is feeding a raw diet called BARF? BARF is an
acronym that stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods.
- Won't feeding my pets raw meat make them sick?
Dog and cat digestive systems have evolved over millions of years to consume
a raw diet, and they can tolerate foods containing a wide range of naturally
occurring bacteria. You've probably seen your dog enjoy eating something you
consider disgusting and wondered why he doesn't get sick. The digestive
systems of dogs and cats are short, acidic, and handle bacteria well. A
species-appropriate raw food diet helps dogs and cats maintain a healthy
immune system that can handle the many types of bacteria (both good and bad)
that your pet encounters each day.
- Aren't bones dangerous to my pet? Cooking bones
makes them brittle and prone to splintering, as well as more difficult to
digest. Wild carnivores have always consumed the raw bones of their prey.
Their teeth are adapted for this function, and their short, acidic digestive
track quickly dissolves and digests these bones, which are packed with
essential nutrients. Our domesticated companions have teeth and digestive
systems that are nearly identical to their wild counterparts. While it is
possible for dogs, or humans, to choke on whatever they are eating or
drinking, consuming a fresh, raw diet should not increase the risk of
choking in dogs or cats.
- Can I use ground meaty bone instead of whole bones?
Absolutely, if you are uncomfortable feeding whole meaty
bones then use ground product instead. Just make sure that you have ground
bone included with the meat. If you are using straight meat you will need to
add calcium in order to provide the correct nutritional balance between
calcium and phosphorus.
- What about salmonella poisoning? Many strains of
salmonella exist. Some are quite virulent and can be responsible for life
threatening illness in humans. We recommend the use of free-range,
chemical-free meat sources which tend to be processed in smaller, cleaner
facilities and have lower bacterial counts. The common strain of salmonella
most often found in commercially mass-processed poultry is also often found
in commercial pet foods. This strain generally does not pose a threat to a
healthy pet.
Some of our clients who have switched their companions to a fresh diet have
done so because the pet is gravely ill. If you believe your pet has a
weakened immune system, you can prevent bacterial illness in several ways.
We most frequently recommend adding beneficial bacteria in the form of
Probiotic supplements. Grapefruit seed extract also acts as a powerful
antibacterial. Use it to make a solution to soak the meat in or give the
extract directly to your pet in capsule form. Please contact NDN if your pet
has special needs.
- I'm concerned about the germs found on raw meat. Where should I feed
my pet the meaty bones? Clients, especially those with
small children, often ask this question. You can allow your dog or cat to
eat the raw meat outside, on a deck, in the garage, in a crate, or on a tile
floor—any place that is easy to clean or doesn't require cleaning.
- What if my pet won't eat the food? Some pets
haven't eaten real food in so long that they're confused at the sight of a
real piece of chicken or other meat! If your friend refuses to eat this
"foreign" substance, you have several options. The first is to gradually
transition your pet by blending their existing food with increasing amounts
of NDN mix. A quicker method is to let your pet skip a meal or two. Hunger
will usually encourage them to try something new and different.
If the thought of having your pet go hungry makes you
uncomfortable, you may broil the NDN mix or meaty bone for a minute or
two—just long enough to sear the meat and bring out its aroma. Do not leave
the meat under the broiler long enough to cook it! You're simply searing the
surface. After a meal or two, you can generally skip this step, and your pet
will still readily eat the new food.
- How do I know if I'm feeding enough? Take a good
look at your dog. Dogs at an ideal body weight have only a very thin layer
of fat over their ribs, and you should be able to feel the ribs easily. If
you feel that your dog is heavy, feed less; if your dog gets too thin,
increase the portion of meaty bones fed daily.
- What if my pet has a ravenous appetite? Many of
the pets we work with are slightly to moderately obese when they begin the
raw food diet. Pets naturally adjust their intake of food over time to
achieve an ideal weight when they're fed nutritious foods. The elimination
of grains in the NDN diet assists in shedding unwanted pounds. Begin by
feeding the quantities recommended on the page:
Feeding Guidelines Observe your
dog over the next month or two. If your dog is overweight, cut back
gradually on the quantity of meaty bones being served. If your dog is
underweight, gradually increase the meaty bone portion of the diet. Dogs at
their ideal weight have ribs that are easily felt, a distinct "waist" when
viewed from above, and little fat accumulation on the hips or at the base of
the neck and tail.
- Will I still need to brush my dog's teeth?
It is completely untrue that hard kibble is good for your dog's teeth. Dry
food crumbles and mixes with saliva and water to form a sticky paste that
tenaciously clings to your pet's gum line, contributing to decay. In our
experience, most clients do not have the time to brush their dog's teeth
daily, or even weekly, and instead opt for an annual cleaning that requires
general anesthesia.
Pets on a fresh food diet usually have no need for humans to
brush their teeth. The fresh mix does not cling to the gum line, and chewing
raw bones cleans and conditions the teeth, gums, and jaw. Most clients
report a reversal of existing plaque.
- Should I give my pet dietary supplements along with the raw diet?
Some clients who begin the raw diet are already giving their
pets a variety of supplements such as multivitamins, flax oil, and fiber.
Our general recommendation is to continue giving supplements for a month or
so and then observe your pet's condition. Because our raw diet is so
nutrient rich, many people find that supplements are not required after a
month or so. Again, you know your pet best.
- What about snacks? Most healthy adult dogs should
be fed one meal per day. If you'd like to give your dog snacks, we recommend
low calorie, high nutrition snacks such as split fresh bones with marrow and
fresh or dried fruit.
- My dog loves chewing on rawhides. Are they healthy?
We do not recommend rawhides, pig ears, or hooves. These highly processed
"treats" for dogs contain curing agents and preservatives that are potential
carcinogens in humans and animals. They have no nutritional value, and your
dog will get more benefit from raw bones as a means to satisfy the chewing
urge. In addition to being chemically treated, hooves can splinter and
perforate a dog's intestine, resulting in a life-threatening medical
condition.
- How does the cost of the NDN diet compare to commercial pet food?
Feeding a fresh diet is comparable in price to feeding a premium pet food.
You will find, however, that there will probably be a dramatic decrease over
time in vet visits due to the improved health and vitality of your pet.
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