A BARF Diary.

[Claire]

Thanks to Claire.  I've been reading right through this thread seeing what you are talking about but not knowing exactly what BARF stands for

Biologically Approropriate Raw Food 
or Bones And Raw Food.. Take your pick.

Or rather mockingly by those not in support (I read somewhere) Born Again Raw Feeders! 

[happydog]

this has been a great thread for all BARF converts!!

Has really helped me!

I am justing trying to get my eldest dog Annie (16mths) to eat the bones - she is not that keen

Teri (8mths) loves it all - no sickness or anything!

thanks all!!!

I am finding that Fern is not keen on the larger thicker bones. I think her jaw muscles need strengthening so I am only giving her chicken wings to begin with and when she is proficient in crunching those thoroughly and easily I will gradually introduce her to larger ones.

[happydog]

Thanks to Claire.  I've been reading right through this thread seeing what you are talking about but not knowing exactly what BARF stands for

Biologically Approropriate Raw Food 
or Bones And Raw Food.. Take your pick.

Or rather mockingly by those not in support (I read somewhere) Born Again Raw Feeders! 

  I like that. I am learning to suppress the urge to try to convert every dog owner I meat meet. 'I have seen the light'(s) (sorry 'bout the puns  )

[Joules]

Coco has turned her nose up at turkey mince this morning!  It is the first time she has failed to wolf ( )  her food down and she has enjoyed it the last few times.  Maybe I will try mixing it in with something.  Thank doG I haven't bought it in bulk  

[Rhona W]

Just to mention, the blocks also contain grain, which some people do not recommend feeding to dogs, but the bags don't. 

  I've just openend an A.M.P. 400g green tripe block and it doesn't mention any grain in the ingredients 

Perhaps it is just the meat ones. 
Does it not list maize as an ingredient? 

[happydog]

I do have one problem with this BARF thing. Ferns poos.
They are less frequent, smaller, harder and I never know what colour they are going to be from one day to the next. Consequently I keep missing the little ones in the garden when I am cleaning up - and now the Silver Birch leaves are falling onto the lawn,  I 've got NO chance.
When they were a uniform colour and size at least I knew what I was hunting for  .

[happydog]

Just to mention, the blocks also contain grain, which some people do not recommend feeding to dogs, but the bags don't. 

  I've just openend an A.M.P. 400g green tripe block and it doesn't mention any grain in the ingredients 

Perhaps it is just the meat ones. 
Does it not list maize as an ingredient? 

Nope. It is 'AMP Prize Choice 400g 100% natural meat diet'. Ingredients are listed as: 'Beef tripe, Mince size 5mm max. No artificial colouring, fillers, preservatives, additives or cereals.' 

[Claire]

Coco has turned her nose up at turkey mince this morning!  It is the first time she has failed to wolf ( )  her food down and she has enjoyed it the last few times.  Maybe I will try mixing it in with something.  Thank doG I haven't bought it in bulk  

Try putting it in a pan or the microwave just for a few seconds so it starts to go brown at the edges and smell appetising.  Or add some gravy.

I have to brown the outside of liver if I want Ruby to eat it...I tend to stick it under the grill.  The smell is unbearable , I have to admit...so much so that I have only bought kidneys and heart as the offal part of her diet since because she will eat these completely raw.

[Tommo]

Well my two are just about to be fed their first barf meal....... rabbit mix from amp. Which is daft as I have three rabbits in the freezer
I think that I have got it about right with portion control. Half a block each twice a day. Thats just to get started, I've sorted out lamb breats and chicken wings too from local very freindly butcher. Was given 2 large marrow bones today aswell.
Let you know what the verdict was later..................

[Tommo]

I take it that the occasional beef marrow bone is ok. These ones are huge mind you, came from a Rutland mammoth

[Claire]

Oooer I am not sure my stomach or my heart could take the rabbit thing if I convert, the thoughts of what you are all doing to the rabbits is bringing tears to my eyes.
I know it is only nature after all but feeding with insides intact makes me feel really icky 

Me too.  I'm afraid I am not up to rabbits, or roadkill for Ruby (even if she would be)...I was vegetarian myself for a number of years, and have never myself eaten rabbit, venison, or anything 'adventurous'.  But it's not a pre-requisite to have a strong stomach in order to raw feed.  As much as mine or your cocker might enjoy a rabbit, if you can't face it, then don't feed it.

When I first started reading about raw feeding, some of these thoughts almost put me off.  But you can buy fresh meat from the butchers or the supermarket, and just ask them to cut it to the size you want, then simply put it into sandwich bags in the freezer.  Chicken wings, thighs, drumsticks, turkey mince, fish, raw eggs and stewing beef or lamb are all easily bought in the supermarket with virtually no prep required.  As are lamb's hearts, kidneys and liver if you feel slightly bolder.
 
I buy all of the above from the supermarket as well as oxtail and lamb with bones in from the butcher.  All Ruby's meat is human grade - nothing with fur or heads for me!

I just wanted to point out to the less adventurous amongst us, that raw feeding does not have to be gruesome, and not to let that aspect put you off if you're considering it.  You can just buy meat for the dog when you're doing your normal food shopping/supermarket run for the you and the rest of the family.

[Claire]

I take it that the occasional beef marrow bone is ok. These ones are huge mind you, came from a Rutland mammoth

Yes, I think the advice is not too often to avoid the wearing down of teeth.  They're in for a treat then, I bet they'll love the first raw meal.

My OH bought Ruby a cow 'hock'? for a treat.  I think it's the hip/shoulder joint.  It was humungous!  Much bigger than her head, and she had to drag it rather than carry it.  Boy did she have a big smile on her face though...

[clairep4]

Just thought I'd add that thanks to some advice and support from Penel ( ), as of today, little Zorro is officially a raw fed pup. He had mince for breakfast, a chicken wing for lunch and will have mince again for his dinner.

I'm having to learn how to feed two doggies at once without world war III breaking out and without the pair of them swallowing rather inappropriately sized chunks of meat/bone in one go to beat the other one to it  . Yesterday they were fed in the same room as each other (different ends of the kitchen) and Bella swallowed her breakfast pretty much whole and was then sick later, and Zorro had to have his chicken wing held onto to stop him doing the same.

So the new routine is to shut both of them out while the food is being prepared (the excitement that builds up over you getting a couple of bags out of the fridge  ), and then I ask for "Bella ONLY" (she knows this from the dogwalker - they get driven round in a black cab and as each one is dropped off, Simon says "Spot ONLY" or whatever the dog's name is, and the rest stay where they are). Bella then gets ushered to the porch and the door shut, and then it's "Zorro ONLY" (even though it's only him left  ) and he gets ushered to his spot in the kitchen. And so far it's working, they're eating a tiny bit more carefully and no sick doggies today.  

[Nicola]

Yep, the whole shebang! We buy it whole and skinned but not gutted so OH does the business with the cleaver and Alfie gets given the whole half at a time if you know what I mean.

Ok. I hate to ask because I really don't want to hear the answer.  But does that include the head?  I really don't think I could watch them eat that part. 
(Especially if the rabbit was watching me.  )

Yes I'm afraid it does. No ears though! 

Hark at me  I don't even touch the thing, OH does it all when it's rabbit night!

We do have to be careful with the worming though as we always feed it fresh.

[Claire]

Just thought I'd add that thanks to some advice and support from Penel ( ), as of today, little Zorro is officially a raw fed pup.

That's great - I bet he loves it.  Glad to hear you've averted WWIII and there's been no more sick.