I'm hoping this won't start up another BARF/kibble war but I just thought I'd put my point of view as I've kind of experienced both sides:
I was feeding Bella on Burns and then Arden Grange - both good, high quality, additive free kibbles. I felt like these were really good, but Bella, although she seemed okay in herself, kept on getting ear and eye infections all the time. Literally every 2 weeks we'd be at the vet with something else, this went on for the first 9 months that we had her. She was well excercised (but not too much), she didn't have any junky treats, she wasn't going in manky water, I tried Thornits in her ears, kept the insides clipped short, tried adding cider vinegar and various supplements to her food and water, but nothing seemed to make any difference. I was ending up with a huge vet's bill, Bella was getting thoroughly fed up of always being pinned down to have ear or eye drops put in, not to mention a big fear of the vet's.
I'd heard about the raw diet. I thought it was faddy and faintly ridiculous and hadn't even considered it as an option. But I then read somewhere (maybe on here?) about it helping some dogs who have had bad health. I did a bit of research and I think in Billinghurst's book it said that it can really help with constant ear and eye infections. "Hmmm" I thought. I still wasn't keen and it was a nightmare because the arguments were either vehemently FOR it or vehemently AGAINST it. There wasn't much about how to actually go about it, or not in an easy way.
In the end I decided I'd try it for a trial period of 2 months. If there was no improvement in Bella's health I would switch back to kibble but just try and find a different brand. Either that or accept that she was destined to have infections all the time. 2 months into the trial she'd had no infections at all - it was the longest period she'd not been to the vet's since I'd had her. Her coat looked incredible, her teeth were whiter and she was clearly enjoying the food. She went for her boosters not long after this and the vet commented on how good her condition was. I mentioned the raw diet and she said "well it's got to be a good thing for her". So I decided to keep her on it - simple as that.
My cats are still on Hill's, they always have been and they are both well, the old one has various age-related things but at 15 still has all her teeth, the 8 year old looks great. So I'm not particularly for or against either. All I know is that for Bella, BARF has been the best thing in the world. I thought with the summer coming up "well now we'll really see if she gets ear infections" - not a single one so far, or eye problems either. I really firmly believe this is down to her diet. OH, who was very against BARF, is also now convinced.
Personally I think if kibble or naturediet or whatever you're feeding is working for your dog then why worry - if it's not, then BARF may help. The downside to it is you have to deal with handling raw meat more than you may like to, with dealing with the hygene issues around that and with having the responsibility for safely feeding your dog bones and the possible risk that they (or you) may get an infection from bad meat one day. For me, I'd rather risk this (9 months in none of us has had any problems at all) than be at the vet's every two weeks with a poorly dog. I think it's purely up to the individual.
