BARF Myths Debunked (Part 1)
Reading time: approx. 10 min. | by Lisa Klein
BARF Myths Debunked (Part 1)
In Biologically Appropriate Raw Füdding f& for dogs and when feeding cats a BARF diet, the food is enriched or supplemented with vegetables, fruit, or grains in addition to meat or fish. This raw feeding combination ensures a healthy and species-appropriate diet for your dog or cat. Yet despite the obvious benefits of BARF, there are many myths and unfounded prejudices surrounding this natural feeding method for dogs and cats, which we’ll address in this blog post. No one can probably fully trace the origins of the various myths surrounding BARF anymore. The fact is, however: Most of them persist—and unjustifiably so.
Because it’s also a fact that feeding your pet a BARF diet can do your four-legged friend a world of good—for example, by reducing intolerances and allergies, ensuring better digestion, strengthening your pet’s immune system, and much more. In addition, feeding raw meat ensures that your dog’s diet is balanced and not one-sided. So let’s get started and debunk the BARF myths.
Myth No. 1: BARF is expensive
To put together the perfect BARF menu, you need at least a Ph.D.—at least that’s one of the common arguments that BARF skeptics bring up at every opportunity. For inspiration and to ease that (actually unnecessary) feeling of time pressure, you can start by choosing ready-to-serve BARF meals. When considering the cost, always keep in mind how healthy and beneficial this diet is for your pets. Of course, it doesn’t always have to be the best of the best, but you do want your beloved pet to be healthy. Think long-term, because good pet health will spare your dog or cat a lot of suffering in the future—and save you a lot of vet bills.
Myth No. 2: BARF Feeding Makes Pets Sick
The fear of worm infestations in dogs and cats caused by raw feeding seems to be widespread. However, it is completely unfounded. Time and again, potential infections in dogs—such as salmonella—are cited in connection with a BARF diet. These “nasty” bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature and can even survive in food that has been frozen for months. They are killed only by thorough heating, such as baking or boiling. The main causes of salmonella proliferation are unsanitary handling and storing meat at warm temperatures—risks we can eliminate ourselves by preparing the food ourselves. For dogs, however, these bacteria are completely harmless, as they are well protected by the high concentration of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Nevertheless, care should of course always be taken to ensure that the meat is handled and stored properly.
Healthy pet food through BARF feeding helps dogs and cats lead healthy lives full of vitality and energy and can, as a result, largely eliminate high veterinary costs caused by poor nutrition. While commercially produced pet food is convenient, it is extremely unhealthy due to the numerous synthetic additives it contains.
Myth No. 3: BARF makes pets aggressive
We can emphatically deny this. One of the most persistent BARF myths is certainly the idea that feeding dogs raw meat and raw bones makes them aggressive and triggers their hunting instincts. But just because you feed your dog high-quality protein from raw meat and organ meats doesn’t mean he’ll automatically attack other animals or even people. Raw meat doesn’t make dogs aggressive—quite the opposite is true. However, a BARF diet provides a better supply of essential nutrients, which leads to increased vitality in dogs and/or cats. Some pet owners are overwhelmed by their pet’s newfound energy and misinterpret it as aggressive behavior. On the other hand, feeding commercial dog food—which is often grain-based—can lead to the development of genuine aggression, since, for example, essential amino acids are lacking in the food. If, on the other hand, you feed your dog a natural and balanced diet using the BARF method, aggression can actually be reduced.
Myth No. 4: BARF is a fad
BARF is often portrayed as a new trend—but the opposite is true. After all, feeding your dog or cat raw meat means providing your pet with a species-appropriate, natural diet—just as it was thousands of years ago. The pet food industry is engaged in a race to develop increasingly specialized products for dogs and cats. However, this has nothing to do with a healthy diet for dogs and cats, since the marketing of these products is geared more toward the modern needs of pet owners than toward the health of their four-legged friends. Have you ever wondered why a dog—depending on its breed, age, gender, and coat color—is supposed to need increasingly specialized diets? After all, in nature, there aren’t any mice running around with a label that says “Warning: For Poodles Only.”
Biologically appropriate raw feeding, on the other hand, has a long history and tradition, whereas industrial pet foods didn’t emerge until the late 1960s. That’s precisely why it’s not a myth, but clearly a matter of fact—and, along with species-appropriate and natural characteristics, it’s convincing more and more dog and cat owners of the benefits of BARF, and quite rightly so.
Are you, like many other readers, fascinated by topic of BARF and would like to read more articles on this exciting subject? Then our other BARF blog articles are just the thing for you!
Have you ever wondered if you’re making feeding mistakes with BARF? Then be sure to read our BARF article on The Most Common BARF Feeding Mistakes!
You also have the option to add a BARF brochure for your cat, a BARF brochure for your dog, and a BARF Herbal Guide for free. So take advantage of this offer right away!
If you’d like personalized feeding advice, including a nutrition plan for your dog or cat, our team of consultants will be happy to assist you via email at info@dr-ziegler.eu or by phone at +43 (0) 6245 71851.
