Part II

A raw diet has many names: BARF (bones and raw food), biologically appropriate raw food, species specific, prey model, to name a few. A raw diet may not be for all and it has risks...but we feel it is by far best to let your pet eat the way they were meant to eat...naturally!

The name "BARF" is used for diets that have been developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, DVM. Other raw diets are not "BARF" diets and should not be referred to as such.

Although raw diets for pets have been around as long as there have been pets, we are only beginning to understand what is truly "appropriate". The rules can change without notice but the diet can be adjusted accordingly, easily. Feeding a raw, natural diet is an ongoing, learning experience.

If you do decide to start feeding your companion animal a raw diet, you must assume all responsibility for doing so. We will not be held liable for any problems that may arise. There are risks with any diet. What we have in this pet nutrition section is how we feed our own dog and if you would like to do the same, we are providing examples to help you do so.

A raw diet is not a fix-all, nor providing miraculous recoveries from near death situations, as some may have you believe.

I must admit that there have been many testimonials that could make you believe this though. Prevention is the key here. Just as with humans, not all dogs may be at optimal health on even the very best diet. Many changes can be made to a raw diet to find that one menu that is perfect for your completely individual pup/dog. That is what is so wonderful about a raw diet.

You may wish to jump ahead, and look at a good sample raw food beginners menu.

If you find that your pup does not thrive on a raw-food diet, (and we are not promoting commercial dog food in any way) there are a few premium-commercial dog foods (kibble) that have been formulated well. Do not judge from brand alone, as some firms have reduced quality over the years.

A major problem with commercial dog food is that each and every kibble meal must try to be a "complete" meal. It is much easier to meet the raw-food diet goal of "balance over time".

Humans (and virtually all wild animals) do not eat "complete" meals. We live by "balance over time". Although some nutrients should be taken in combination, or be availalbe in the "system" to help get through the cell wall.

Another major problem is that all kibble is cooked, leaving it essentially sterile. Cooking destroys enzymes, which may be extremely necessary for a healthy dog. It changes nutrients into a form not readily utilized by the dog and it renders antioxidants useless. The minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that are destroyed are usually added back in, but in a different form than what is found naturally in a raw diet.

"The destruction of enzymes in food forces the pancreas to work harder. It has to produce more digestive enzymes. The result is several diseases in dogs, including Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Insufficiency and sugar Diabetes" (borrowed from "Give Your Dog a Bone" by Dr. Ian Billinghurst). To expand on Dr. B's statement: if your dog's system is having to work so hard to digest a kibble meal, it doesn't spend as much time fending off disease.

Dogs at any age can be switched over --- but having your pup raw fed from day one is best for bypassing many illnesses that occur early in life and preventing the ones that don't show up until years later.

Medical researchers are focusing lots of attention on preventing early and latent diseases with the nutritional advantage of whole and raw food. We are now rediscovering information older generations knew. They had a saying; "Good fuel for good health". Unfortunately, many people did not understand the effects of poor diets.

The extra costs and effort in feeding a raw diet can usually be made up in fewer veterinary bills.

Depending on where you live a raw diet can actually be less expensive than a premium kibble diet.

Benefits of a raw diet are many.

For starters, a few benefits are listed here.

A few things to avoid are presented here.

Want to get started with the raw diet?

Read Feed 'em Right Part III and get started right.

Download the entire Dog Raw-Diet "Beginner's Guide & Menu" in Acrobat PDF format here.