Hi everyone

I am thinking of switching my feeding to barf feeding as i have heard great things about this, but i need a little more help.
I am a little confused on how these raw ingrediants should be fed ie what with what, and in what sort of amounts do you know to feed a dog.  Does it go on how much they weigh??
Also does any of you you feed any vitamins? and if so which sort do you feed them.

Many thanks

Hayley

Quantities - as a guideline feed 2 - 3% of your present dogs bodyweight per day. Calculate this by multiplying 2/3 by your dog's weight and dividing i by 100. Eg 2 x 30/100 = 600g, 3 x 30/100 = 900g. However be guided by your hand and eye; if the dog is looking a little too ribby up the amount and reduce if the dog is looking a little too well padded! Dogs will vary depending on age, sex, activity level, temperament and time of year.

Meats - lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit, pork, venison, hearts, lungs, kidneys, tripe

Fish - oily fish is good, pilchards, mackeral, sardines, trout fresh or tinned.

Veggies - All exept onions they can cause haemolytic anaemia in dogs because they contain chemicals that oxidise the animal's red blood cells.

Oxalic acid can interfere with calcium absorption; so don't feed too much of Spinach, Chard and Beetroot Leaves.

Care should be taken not to overfeed cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, swedes, turnips, cassava, millet, and broccoli to dogs as this may inhibit thyroid function.

Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and aubergines all belong to the nightshade family of plants. Dogs who have arthritis may be sensitive to these foods; I personally don't feed potatoes at all.

Fruit - all except Grapes and raisins which can cause kidney failure.

Dairy - IMHO nothing except live yoghurt.

Vitamins/Supplements?

Again that is down to the individual; my dogs get fresh clove of garlic every day, 1000mg FBO, 400 iu Natural Vitamin E, 1000mg of Ester C with bioflavonoids and Keepers Mix (alfalfa/kelp)

Books - The simplest one is Switching to Raw by Sue Johnson but that is not easily available in the UK. The next best one IMHO is Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kmythy Schulze, very accessible, easy
to read, has diet plans. Some extraneous stuff you don't need ie reader testimonials and I personally don't agree with fasting.

Ian Billingshurst has written several books; The Barf Diet is probably the easiest, Give your Dog a Bone is very comprehensive but very badly written, Grow your pups with bones is more for the stud
dog/brood bitch puppy owner. Tom Lonsdale's Raw Meaty Bones is less useful for the beginner IMHO.

Websites - Britbarf, K9nutrition yahoo groups the first is UK the second is US

What with what - I usually feed twice a day, one meal of RMBs and the other of other stuff; no more than 10% veggies overall, feed balance over time.

HTH

Hi Tohme

Wow you sure know your stuff and that was very fast indeed.
Thankyou so much for all your help this gives me a much better idea on the subject as soome you read on the net just waffle on and on.
Im going to get one of those books you recommended and have a real good read up.
Lets just hope the dogs prefer it lol.

Many thanks

Hayley

ps forgot to say I feed no grains/cereals in any form whatsoever.

Tohme I would too like to thank you for your very informative reply. I have just one question though. You say you feed your dog one serving of rbm per day and one serving of "other stuff." I am curious as to what that other stuff would be? As someone who too strives to give the best to thier dog, I am always looking for new secrets. Would you mind?

Give your Dog a Bone is very comprehensive but very badly written

I'm interested in your above comment tohme :) I found this book to be one of the best i have on raw feeding.

Did not say it was not a good book just that it was not put together well..............

Often "other stuff" means everything but RMB. Such as offal, fish, eggs, fruit and veg. I feed once a day, first the "starter" course of veggie mix with offal, egg or fish, or offal/fish by itself. Then bones  for "main course" after this. Lastly, sometimes left-overs for pudding, such as salmon skins, sea bass tails, but I don't feed any grains. I have noticed that just the smallest amount will cause increased wax production in the ears and staining on teeth.

I personally don't believe that dairy belongs to the dog's natural diet, but as long as the dog can digest it ( which mine can't) I don't know of any damage this could cause. I don't believe in the heavy use of supplements; a good variety in the diet should leave little need for this. However, as the produce you get is less than perfect in its nutritional values (unless you grow all your own organic veg and the dogs catch their fresh, wild rabbit/salmon/deer etc. every night), I give Vit. C every day, Vit. E most days, seaweed a couple of times a week and an Omega Oil blend also a couple of times a week. 

one last question....how would one go about mixing all the ingredients listed above into a big stew? Certainly a normal household food processer cannot mince and puree raw bones from a chicken. If for example i wanted to make my own homemade complete meal...what do i need to do to mince and puree all the ingredients together. Can this be done or am i stuck buying the stuff from the store like Amore, Homemade for life and Healthy Paws.

There is no need to mix, blend or puree any of the food, unless you wish to do so.  All meat can be given as is. Whole rabbits, pousin, Chicken wings and carcassess, fish with heads, tail and everything else are given directly to the dogs.  I feed fresh whole raw tripe and simply slash chunks off with a very sharpe knife and the dogs will chomp quite happily on this. the only things than need to be pureed are the veggies.

The only time I blend anything is when making treats like liver cake, or satin balls.

Kayc, I'm curious. what are satin balls? And how do you make them?
Ta Anne

1lb raw mince
3 eggs with shell
1/2 pound soaked oats
2 large tablespoons of dark treacle
tub cottage cheese
tablespoon fish oil
Mix altogether, shape into balls and feed throughout the day

Kay

Edited to add, feed raw, do not cook :)
Edited again, Freeze mince first and thaw before mixing and feeding

Thanks for that Kayc.
I'd be temped to make them except they have oats in. Daren't give cereal to Safi :(
Anne