Barf (sorry)

[sharron]

I'm considering changing Zeb on to a barf diet. At the present moment hes on Natures menu. But I'm having problems getting it. I have looked it up and it looks like they are changing onto tinned food. Which work out more expensive. As it only come in 4 flavours but 12 tins of each

So I'm thinking about putting him onto barf. The thing is that i dont know what i need to do. Have read what they have on there site and it talks about raw veg and fruits but Zeb isn't a fruit and veg dog. He will eat grated carrot and courgette but that is about it.

he does have a bone every week and a chicken wing twice a week.

Any advice would be great.

[Gundogsgalore]

Hello,
I have been feeding a raw diet for about 8 years now, and I have 6 dogs. Some have been raw fed from puppies, and the three rescues from when they came to live with us.
Their diet is roughly as follows
Breakfast - tripe / lamb / or a "complete" raw mince
dinner - chicken carcasses or wings, breast of lamb with the bones still in, or pork ribs.
once a week they have a raw egg too for breakfast, and once a week they have pilchards in tomato sauce for breakfast. Sometimes they have whizzed up veggies too. If we have leftovers like pasta and rice, the lurchers or the puppy will have those mixed in with their breakfast.
Hope that helps - fire away I'm sure you will have more questions.

[sharron]

How do you know how much to give them???

[Nettie]

The equation is 3-5% of what their ideal body weight is. Adjust it if they are putting on too much weight and likewise if they seem to be losing weight, its very much an eye thing. It also depends on the dog, for instance Bertie is 27inches tall and weighs 22kg and has 300 grams for breakfast and 300 for dinner, he doesn't keep weight on well. Rio is 24.5 inches tall and weighs about 24kg and puts on weight quite easily so she is on 200 grams for each meal. Indy is 29inches tall weighs about 27kg and has the same amount as Bertie. 3-5% is a guide and just reduce or increase amounts according to how Zeb is looking.

[Gundogsgalore]

Glad you answered that one Nettie, cos I feed all mine "by eye" I've been doing it for so long I wouldn't have a clue how much they eat ... although I do know that young Morris is eating a whole block of meat to himself for breakfast

[Aoj]

Jun 19, 2008 10:03:10 GMT -5 Gundogsgalore said:

Glad you answered that one Nettie, cos I feed all mine "by eye" I've been doing it for so long I wouldn't have a clue how much they eat ... although I do know that young Morris is eating a whole block of meat to himself for breakfast

You and me both!!

Mine have roughly 6 chicken necks for breakfast, may be more or less depending on size. And one 454g block of meat each for dinner. Except Tyler has decided he doesn't like bones anymore so he has 1/2 pack of meat for breakfast as well.

[sharron]

is there anywere were i can get more info on what i can feed ?

[Aoj]

Sharron, if you google Barf, you will get hundreds of "helpful" sites!

[sharron]

Will Zeb is enjoying the meat thing.

Don't know if am doing it quite right but.
He have a quarter of a block of meat with same liquidized veg, (usually carrot, cabbage, mixed nuts and seeds, and a bit of parsley thrown in for good measure.)
and 1/2 a cup of mixer.
In the evening, quarter block of meat, and a cup of mixer.
twice he has a chicken wing, i once a week a bone.
With cod liver, evening primrose and garlic.

Is this about right or not.?

[awlgy]

Sharron a site I find helpful about raw feeding is Britbarf.Derek,the guy who runs the site,is very knowledgeable and the site is a friendly place........you won't gey p[eople who faint at the thought of not feeding totally raw either!!

[Nettie]

Jul 20, 2008 13:47:02 GMT -5 sharron said:

Will Zeb is enjoying the meat thing.

Don't know if am doing it quite right but.
He have a quarter of a block of meat with same liquidized veg, (usually carrot, cabbage, mixed nuts and seeds, and a bit of parsley thrown in for good measure.)
and 1/2 a cup of mixer.
In the evening, quarter block of meat, and a cup of mixer.
twice he has a chicken wing, i once a week a bone.
With cod liver, evening primrose and garlic.

Is this about right or not.?

Sharon, its best not to feed mixer with raw food, the dog digests them at different rates, if you want to feed a biscuit as part of the meal then its better to give it seperately in a different meal, so perhaps raw in the morning and kibble in the evening or vice versa.

I think you will definately learn a lot on Britbarf, its a yahoo group, lots of helpful advice. Here's the link

pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BritBarf/

In case you don't know how yahoo groups work, you don't have to visit the website to view messages, you can set it up so that all messages are emailed to your inbox or you can view on the web.

[sharron]

Thanks guys have looked it up.

[samsmum]

There's a raw food called Duck, which we have been researching lately.
if you type duck dog food into google it'll come up, I can't get the link to copy!