B.A.R.F. Diet for Dogs

The Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst is a holistic approach to canine nutrition. Enthusiasts refer to the diet as "Bones And Raw Food," "Billinghurst Australian Real Food," and "Born Again Raw Feeders." Billinghurst's philosophy focuses on emulating an undomesticated dog's diet. Feeding raw meats, uncooked vegetables and bones creates a balanced diet of proteins, minerals and essential nutrients. Skeptics of the BARF diet question the safety of feeding raw meats, while proponents advocate a dog's need for an unprocessed, grain-free diet.

  1. Concept

    • According to Billinghurst, cooked and processed meats in conventional dog food lack living enzymes, which help keep dogs healthy. Billinghurst believes a diet of raw foods gives dogs the full nutritional benefits of the foods they eat.

    The Diet

    • Raw foods included in the BARF diet contain antioxidants, phyto-chemicals and unprocessed amino acids. (See Reference 1) Raw ground meat, whole and ground meaty-bones, non-muscular animal internal organs (animal offel) and raw vegetables dominate the menu. A BARF diet may also includes raw eggs, yogurt, fruit, nutritional supplements and cottage cheese. (See Reference 3)

    Benefits

    • Billinghurst claims dogs exhibit less dental tarter build-up, improved breath and less incidence of periodontal disease on the BARF diet and reduces skin irritations from food allergies and produces a thick, shiny coat. The diet also promotes rejuvenation of the immune system, minimal infections and inflammatory problems. Billinghurst also claims dogs increase muscle mass, lose weight and have less odorous stools when on the diet.

    Warnings

    • Jorie Green, managing editor of VetCentric.com says the BARF diet is not substantiated with scientific veterinary medical research. In her article, "Should Your Dog Eat BARF?" she quotes Julie Churchill, a specialist in companion animal nutrition at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Churchill believes the BARF diet can be life-threatening, arguing the sharp edges of ground bones can damage internal organs, and cause infections resulting in costly surgeries. The article also discusses the possibility of bacterial infections from consuming raw meat.

    Interesting Fact

    • In a 2007 article on worldwidehealth.com veterinarian John Burns questions Billinghurst's claims that the bacteria found in feces acts as a probiotic lining a dog's intestinal tract with beneficial bacteria. However, Burns notes, that Billinghurst does not recommend feeding your dog feces. Instead, he suggests that yogurt will give your dog the necessary beneficial bacteria.