Diet

This BARF - Bones and Raw Food - for Dogs & Cats site owned by Jane Johnson.

The diet of dogs is a much discussed issue. There are a lot of myths and misinformation out there about what you should feed your dogs and cats. Let me be really clear from the start. You DO NOT have to feed your dogs a diet consisting of canned dog food and dry dog food (kibble). There is a much heathier alternative that is available, and effectively brings us back to basics. More and more people are recognising that going back to basics is the best thing they could do for their beloved pets. And financially, you will most probably find yourself saving heaps of money.

In fact, what most people find out after years of having a dog with a constant scratch, or hair loss, or ear infection, is what they have been feeding it has caused it! Yes, this means all those very expensive commercial dog foods.

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In fact, there is a great page (that I just found), that I think you need to read immediately. It is an API Report which looks at what is really in pet food. Take your time reading this article. It will make you think very differently about some of the commercial products.

The approach that I use for feeding my dogs is one based on a Raw Natural Diet, with raw meaty bones being the prime ingredient. My dogs have a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrate.

Dogs have a terrific digestive system that is designed to process bones in a way that is totally foreign to humans. Dogs do not need to have the food pre-processed for them. Food that is available in cans and as dry kibble is processed food.

It is important that you do what is best for your dog.

My dogs get fed once a day, and fast one day a week (on most weeks). An average meal is made up of:

Raw meaty bones daily. eg: chicken wings, chicken necks, chicken carcasses, lamb flaps, meaty veal bones, etc.
Pulped vegetables - once weekly
Natural yogurt, sprinkle of kelp, dessicated coconut, garlic
Offal once a week. eg: lamb's heart, liver, cow heart, lamb brains, etc
Eggs (raw) - occasionally. Throw in the shell for some extra value.
Table scraps and left-overs

You will hear some people claim that bones are dangerous to your dogs. There definitely is a potential for a problem with cooked bones. I only give my dogs raw bones. I know a lot of people who feed their dogs raw chicken bones, and they have never reported a problem to me. My dogs love them. Just make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after getting the food ready.

Once you get yourself organized you will find that getting the dogs' meals is easy, and quite inexpensive.

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As a direct result of the diet of my dogs:

Their coats are shiny and rich in colour
They have no doggy odour
Vet visits are very infrequent
Development rate of puppies is much more measured and natural - no quick growth patterns which good breeders try and avoid.
Their teeth are gloriously naturally clean
And I have much more money left over to buy toys for them!

Here are some great web pages that I recommend you view for yourself:

A person recommending Billinghurst
A Corgi Page
The Canine Aids-like Virus
Dr Tom Lonsdale's page (one of my favourites)
Chicken wings
Feeding Chihauhaus
A page on feeding bitches in whelp
Another page on the Raw Natural Diet
A Border Collie Diet page

And in terms of books to read, all dog lovers should have these on their book shelves:

"Give Your Dog a Bone" by Dr. Ian Billinghurst
"Natural Diet for Dogs" by Juliette Levy

"Grow Your Pups with Bones" by Dr Ian Billinghurst - this book is his latest and can be ordered directly from Ian. Click here for his email address.

Other books I recommend include those listed here.

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Please email us if you have any further questions or comments.

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- Bluegrace surfers to this particular page since 27th May, 1998.

Page last updated 15 November, 1999.

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