A high energy density, protein sources of high biological quality, high lipid content with the right ratio between saturated and unsaturated fats and a correct intake of fiber for the functionality of the intestine. These are the main characteristics that the typical ration and right of a hunting dog should have. The number of meals is equally crucial, as is the choice of the right ingredients. There is a particular diet which is worth investigating for this type of breeds and which is known by all with an acronym consisting of four letters.
What is the BARF diet diet
Unlike the normal home nutrition that we usually give our dogs, it just focuses on certain foods.
While we are used to considering the dog a omnivorous animal, the BARF gets its bearings only on the meat. The principle is based on wolves. The ancestors of dogs, have a 'high protein diet because their only source of sustenance is precisely the flesh.
According to this type of diet al dog they are not given foods they do not need such as cereals, wheat or preservatives.
Even if it is healthy and balanced, not everyone has decided to adopt it because compared to the traditional one, it not only implies a time consuming to prepare the daily meal, but also one great attention.
In this case, in fact, it is necessary to inquire in depth and evaluate whether it is appropriate to adopt it in their diet without having disturbances or deficiencies, especially during the most acute phase of the hunting season.
How BARF feeding works
Usually we try to give it whole animals, but when this is not possible, we try to combine them with something else. This is because the recommended diet is one that allows the dog to receive it'80% meat, including organs such as the heart, the 10% of bones and 10% of organs, of which half must consist strictly of liver. The reason for this administration is due to the fact that supporters think that dogs, like their cat cousins, are carnivores and that therefore their nourishment is found not only in the flesh, but also in the bones and organs.
In addition, for the true purists of the diet, in addition to feeding the meat of different species, one must add small amount of plant residues, the same ones found inside the stomach of prey.
In addition to these fundamental components, the BARF diet involves the administration of elements such as eggs, dairy products, fish.
Supplements are not used, so many add fish oil to compensate for the low level of omega-3 fatty acids found in animals raised on cereals. Alternatively, you can use the meat of animals fed on pasture which usually have an omega-3 content more than double.
The feature of the diet is that meat like fruits, vegetables and eggs must be all served raw, because their job is to create a strong and healthy immune system.
The benefits of the BARF diet
The hunting dog during the hunting season has a high energy consumption and the principle is to have a healthy and strong animal, but also to ensure an optimal standard of living.
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Proponents are convinced that this type of nutrition is capable of giving long-term benefits and above all it has positive implications on the health of our four-legged friend.
In addition to more energies, as mentioned above, it ensures the decrease in fat corporeal, a improvement of the musculature, but also a decrease in allergies and other diseases. On an aesthetic level, the hair appears shinier and healthier, fresh breath and clean teeth.
Furthermore, the fact that the foods are mainly based on meat will make them very palatable for the dog, especially because they are varied and always fresh.
In any case, before deciding whether to follow the BARF diet to your dog is better consult your vet, because if you do not know the characteristics of your hound, this diet could do more harm than good.
The disadvantages of the BARF diet
For many there is the risk of having shortages from the postural nutritional if you don't know how to balance foods and how to change them.
For them the biggest problems are essentially focused onintestine that risks perforations, although all supporters are convinced that by administering luscious bones the risks disappear in the long run.
To this are added the bacterial, viral and parasitic proliferations.
Those in favor, however, argue that with this type of diet it is shorten digestion times required therefore there is no risk of virus proliferation.
In addition, just use some precautions to avoid parasites, such as for example freeze the blue fish meat for 96 hours or for Pork meat for 40 days and game to avoid trichinellosis.
Those who are against this diet think the raw meat increase theaggression of animals, while those who support it, think that it helps to have a more peaceful and balanced behavior due to the satisfaction of a natural diet.
Finally, regarding risks of zoonosis just take the right measures, especially when deciding to handle raw meat. The main thing to do, for example, is to separate the ration intended for humans from that for animals and wash your hands thoroughly before touching the food intended for our four-legged friends.
