I am currently swapping to a natural BARF diet. Have ordered the book 'Give Your Dog a Bone' (should arrive end of April). However, I seem to recall that the author is against grains being fed to dogs (and explains why), BUT I also thought that he suggested Rolled Oats for a meal.

Can someone here confirm if occassionally feeding a meal of soaked rolled oats is correct (afterall it is a grain)!

Look forward to hearing from anyone,
Thanks,
Denise.

I tend to pluck information from various sources regarding a natural diet. Everyone has different ideas and nothing is ever going to change that. Personally I do do the majority of what Ian Billingshurst says except I DO give grains such as soaked rolled oats or cous cous, boiled brown wholegrain rice or Natural Choice Wholebake Holistic Health Meal (as recommended by BAHNM - British Association of Holistic Nutrition & Medicine) which is added to their raw meat and veg etc dinners. BAHNM have a Help Line which is 01252 843282 (I have used it several times, especially when my Cockers were puppies) I found them really helpful.
I would NEVER feed a meal made up entirely of grain with no meat or veg though.

Like you Liz I improvise , I feel as long as the meat and bones are in the diet they will be fine I give my dogs the leftovers as well . they really like the leftovers so why would I deprive them of it , I occasionally use pasta and brown rice . lol Mari

On a Sunday mine usually have a treat - I toss their boiled rice (which was boiled in the greens water from cooking the family's veg of course - no salt) in the roast joint meat juices before adding it to their raw meat & veg etc.
Mine have leftovers too and pasta. Skins from poached salmon and jacket potatoes.
LOL when I have fixed their meal I call all three of them to 'line up'. They all have their particular place and dribble with excitment at the prospect of what is going to be in their dish THIS time. When they have finished it's time for desert which they all line up again for - a couple of spoonfuls of goats milk yogurt usually.
I'm not sure who gets more pleasure from this routine - me or them!

Hi Denise

Had a quick look for you - rolled oats are ok. They have the highest fat level of all the grains, they have two and a half times more protein than rice, twice as much calcium as rice and good levels of zinc, potassium, manganese and vitamins B and E. They are also higher in fiber.
He is not totally against feeding grains but warns they lack the necessary amino acid to absorb calcium.
He does recommend feeding sprouted grains.

Just wanted to thank each of you for responding to my query, and offering some helpful ideas and suggestions for natural feeding and approach. Particularly grateful to Lara for the reassurance of checking in the book for me.

I feel much confident about this now, and will probably add some raw mince or tuna to the oats.

Thanks again,
Denise.