By: Sandra Brigola

     VON Hapsburg Danes

BARF :

An acronym for  Bones and Raw Food or  Biologically Appropriate Raw Food

With over 150 members on the WholesomeDane e-mail list and over 68 e-mail lists devoted to the feeding of a Barf diet for various breeds Barf is not a fad diet or a fad.

In fact recently the Pet Food Industry magazine featured the title 'BARF' on the front cover  with an editorial. In issues that followed there were several pages devoted to testimonials of BARF feeders; all of them complimentary . Is the pet food industry worried about this turn of events..I doubt it..so far only .05 percent of the pet food market is feeding a raw diet; hardly competitive to a multi billion dollar industry.  What the pet food industry sees is another opportunity to cash in on what many pet owners and breeders have discovered..a healthier way of eating for their pets. They have already formed a 'raw diet' group within the industry with the intention of regulating it and possibly putting some of the small family run businesses who manufacture frozen raw diets out of business.

The Barf diet is what dogs have been eating for several hundred thousands of years, so  why should we think that a highly processed, grain laden kibble product  should be superior to that of  a Barf diet?  Some like to contend that our dogs are not 'wild dogs' or somehow that they have changed from their ancestral heritage.  Man has spent hundreds, perhaps thousands of years perfecting breed type for various characteristics that were needed during various periods of history, hence we may have changed outward appearance; but inwardly they are ALL wolves.

The official change from Canis familiaris to Canis lupis familiaris was formalized in 1993 by the publication of Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographical reference, edited by D.E .Wilson and D.E.A Reeder. Published by the Smithsonian Institute  in association with the American Society of Mammalogists, this reference book is the final authority of the scientific community on mammal classification

Dogs are now officially classified as a variety of wolf. Until recently zoologists classified dogs and wolves as separate species; now these scientists have managed a taxonomic merger and proclaimed the two animals to be the same species. The scientific name of the wolf is Canis lupis and the dog used to be Canis familiaris;  they are now both  known as Canis lupus.

It has long been known that dogs were domesticated from wolves, and many scientists considered the dog a variety of wolf. Recent molecular genetic (DNA) analysis has proven without a doubt that the dog is now a wolf!

With this in mind it just makes perfect sense to feed your dog as a wolf would eat!

Let's have a look at the digestive process of the wolf/canine. This system goes from mouth to pharynx to esophagus to stomach to small intestine to large intestine to rectum and anus.  In a raw food diet the digestive process would normally take 4 hours; on a kibble diet it may take up to 24 hours or longer.

The mouth includes lips, tongue, teeth and  salivary glands. One has to only look at the canine teeth; they are designed for ripping and tearing!  The salivary glands add saliva to the food which kick-starts the digestion process acting as a lubricant.

Canines lack the enzyme amalase which is the enzyme needed to digest complex carbohydrates. One only has to  look at commercial pet food and see that the majority of them contain grains and fillers, cheap calorieshardly an ideal diet for our canine friends. Have you actually ever watched your dog eat?  They do not chew their food as we humans do, their teeth are not designed for this, they will gulp the mushy veggies or cooked grains.

Several holistic vets are now in agreement that grains should NOT be part of a natural diet as they compose a very small portion of a carnivore's natural diet. In the true natural setting, grains hardly exist at all. Wild grains were much smaller that our hybridized domestic varieties. This means that a prey animal is not going to get much of its nutrition from grains. Therefore, the argument that dogs eat animals with grains in their digestive tracts doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

From the U. C.  Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Book of Dogs, 1995 edition:

"Sugars and starches are commonly referred to as digestible carbohydrates. Their digestion and metabolism result in the formation of glucose, which is used for energy and for the synthesis of fat and dispensable amino acids.

During lactation, glucose is necessary for the synthesis of lactose (milk sugar). Sugars and starches are not strictly required in the canine diet, however, because the amino acids in protein and the glycerol present in fat can be used to make glucose  ...Because starches are a less expensive source of energy than either protein or fat, digestible carbohydrates constitute a

substantial portion of most commercial dog foods."

From Nutrient Requirements of Dogs by the Subcommittee on Dog Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, Board of Agriculture, and the National Research Council:

"Provided the diet contains sufficient glucose precursors (amino acids and glycerol), the glucogenic capacity of the liver and kidneys is usually sufficient to meet the metabolic need of growing animals for glucose without inclusion of carbohydrate."

In the wild, dogs were scavengers, not predators. They mainly ate partly decomposed herbivorous animals, the stomach contents and also the droppings of which would provide most of their requirements for grasses, vegetables and herbs. We, in our civilized society get upset when Fido loves to eat and roll in horse or animal droppings. Just remember that this all is natural to them, everything has already been predigested!

As our canines lived in packs, the top dog and breeding bitches would have first pick and what was left would be shared between the old members of the pack and the young pups; this would mainly be the bones, a very important ingredient in their diet. Bones contain the calcium and phosphorous in balance that is necessary for proper development. Bones also help with muscle and joint development.ever watch a young pup tackle a large knuckle bone?  Good dentition and jaw development  is another important factor in feeding raw bones.

Our wild canines would also scavenge for fallen, ripe fruit, various grasses and anything else that was semi-decomposed.  Hence, we have the garbage bin tipper. This is natural for them; the only difference being that everything in the wild was RAW, whereas, todays dog eats the remains of our COOKED, human food which can make for some very upset tummies and gastrointestinal illnesses.

In the wild all the raw food was full of natural enzymes, whereas cooked food is dead, containing no enzymes.

The pancreas is the organ in the body that produces all the enzymes necessary for proper digestion. Today's dog has an underactive pancreas (due to all that unnatural food), and this food will stay in the digestive tract and putrefy, causing major toxins to be built up in the system, ( a precursor to bloat) and pancreatitis, plus a host of other manmade illnesses.

How important are enzymes?  Life could not exist without enzymes. There are two types of enzymes: metabolic and digestive. Digestive enzymes convert the food we eat into chemical structures that can pass through the cell membranes of the cells lining the digestive tract and into the bloodstream. Food must be digested so that it can pass through the cell membranes.

Lipase is a fat digesting enzyme, Amylase helps change carbohydrates (grains) into simple sugars, Protease converts protein into amino acids and Lactase handles the dairy products.

Hundreds  of metabolic enzymes aid in converting food into new muscle, flesh, bone,  nerves and glands. Working with the liver they help to store excess food for future energy and building needs. They also assist in the kidneys, lungs, liver, skin and colon in their important eliminative tasks. The pancreas is the largest factory devoted to turning out digestive enzymes. The pancreas receives enzyme precursors from body cells or the bloodstream and supplies the finishing touches.

Changing metabolic enzymes into digestive enzymes means extra work for the pancreas, but when it confiscates metabolic enzymes it punishes the whole body by depriving it of the mechanics every organ needs to carry on their processes and functions.

Research done in an Alaskan College compared the weight of the pancreas of wild mice vs. laboratory mice. The laboratory mice were raised on a diet of processed, enzymeless food and had a pancreas that was 2 ½ times larger than it's wild cousin. The wild mice were eating nothing but raw food. In another raw vs. cooked food study  mice were allowed to live a normal lifespan. Upon necropsy the study  revealed a pancreas that was 3 times the size in the cooked food mice as opposed to  raw fed mice.

Puppies are born without any enzymes to digest their food. During the first few weeks they receive all their nutrients through the bitch's milk. Mother nature has designed a unique process in the weaning of her puppies. The bitch will regurgitate her food and the puppies will eat the pre-digested food, thus being able to digest it.  In this regard, I leave it to mother nature and the bitch to decide the weaning process, from thereon my pups are  put onto a BARF diet..how coincidental!

Predigestion is an interesting phenomena. The Eskimo dog teams fared much better on high or putrefied meat; .meat that was left to lie several days without cutting it up. The explanation for this is that it is more of an autolysis..(predigestion) rather than a bacterial decomposition. Raw meat  has ample stores of the proteolytic enzyme cathepsin and lipase which are instrumental in implementing the digestion process.

Are Raw Meat /Poultry Safe?

What about salmonella, e-coli or other bacteria?  Many pet owners and veterinarians are concerned that by eating raw meat and poultry that their dogs will suffer from salmonella or e-coli poisoning.. Have you ever watched your dog bury a bone only to dig it up days later and relish eating it? Dogs are not just predators but scavengers, and evolved eating rotten and decaying flesh, as well as the droppings of herbivores and even other carnivores. They can handle bacterial loads that would kill us, without blinking an eye.

Our dogs and cats evolved eating raw meat, and the consumption of cooked flesh is totally and completely unnatural for them. They do not get optimum nutrition from it, it is not well digested by them, and is not what their organs were designed to process. Eating a raw diet, based on the evolutionary diet of the dog or cat, will make the animal healthier. This healthier animal will be able to handle a certain amount of bacteria in its food, and will be resistant to most disease-causing micro-organisms it encounters.

So... why aren't all our dogs dead?  For two reasons.

1. healthy dogs who are regularly exposed to small amounts of bacteria are immune to that bacteria.

2. not all salmonella , e-coli (or campylobacter) strains are equally capable of causing disease!

Question: We've all heard of the Greyhounds that have died from eating meat contaminated with Salmonella.  This was not quality meat but none the less, dogs are susceptible to the various pathogens in meat, cooked or raw.

Answer: This was actually a Streptococcal infection. Again, we're exposed, and dogs are exposed, to streptococcus every minute of every day from birth on. Strep is EVERYWHERE. But this was a mutant strain of strep.

Question: This is of greatest concern to those just starting to feed raw and those dealing with young, old, sick, or immune-compromised pets.

Answer: Genetically and evolutionarily speaking, today's dog and cat are no different from their flesh and bone-eating ancestors. However, they may not be in good enough health to handle even the smaller load of bacteria that is present in free-range or organic meat and dairy products. This is part of the art of natural rearing: to evaluate the health of the animal, and find the best way to bring them to optimal health as quickly and safely as possible.

The feeding of the raw, species-appropriate diet can, by itself, work literal miracles on many animals.

For Immune compromised dogs you can begin with a cooked version of the raw diet, using poached eggs, cooked meat, steamed bone meal, the usual supplements, and raw, food-processed veggies.   When the meat is ground, bacteria is spread all through the resulting mixture. With chunks, you can poach the meat, leaving the inside rare or raw and still kill the surface contamination.

As the animal's health improves, you simply cook the meat or eggs less and less, until they are raw. I then introduce soft raw bones, primarily chicken necks, and from then on ease them into the new diet. Those who are very fearful can also soak the meat in a mixture of standardized grapefruit seed extract and water; this will kill surface contamination..

Is feeding raw without risk? No, it's not. Feeding a raw diet may entail a risk for some dogs, but with thousands of dogs now being fed a Barf diet, the unfortunate few that have problems are extremely rare. I have to conclude the risk is far smaller than the huge benefit I've seen.

There are more health problems associated with kibble diets than raw, it is a well know fact that kibble also contains salmonella, e-coli and other bacteria. Heck, even lettuce and other fruits and veggies have been found with e-coli contamination and caused sickness in humans.

To shudder with horror at the thought of giving a carnivorous predator raw meat is silly; shudder instead at the sad state of the modern factory farm, and how the livestock industry has trained us to accept that our foods are so filthy we don't dare any longer to "give the dog a bone."

Barf Diet Research Report

The Canine Health Concern has independent research conducted by dog lovers for dogs, and supported by an international team of vets.

Research conducted by the Canine Health Concern in 1996; shows, conclusively, that natural

food - including raw meaty bones - is better for a dog than processed pet food.

A major benefit reported by dog owners taking part in the recent survey included

a dramatic reduction in veterinary visits for dogs fed the natural diet for six

months or longer. Specifically, there was a drop of 85% in veterinary visits

after changing from artificial pet food to natural bones and vegetables. This

comparison was statistically significant (with alpha 0.5% and P<.0014) at 99.5%

confidence.

Eighty-nine dog owners took part in the survey. Seventy-four per cent had

changed to the diet recommended in Dr. Ian Billinghurst's book, 'Give Your Dog a

Bone', and 13% were already feeding a similar diet. The main visible health

benefits reported by owners of the 126 dogs who were changed to the new diet

include: more energy and activity, improved teeth and gums, glossier coats, and

skin, weight and behavioural improvements.

Other benefits reported included lower susceptibility to fleas, improved

appetite, an absence of stomach and digestive upsets, sweeter breath, cleaner

ears, no more scratching, and veterinary medication no longer required.

Multiple benefits were reported by owners for their dogs. The majority (88%) of

the benefits were achieved by feeding a mixed diet which included raw chicken

wings, raw meaty lamb, pork and beef bones, raw green tripe, and both cooked and

uncooked vegetables. These ingredients were statistically significant (99%

certainty) as contributory factors to the improved health of the dogs in the

survey.

Significantly, health improvements increased over time. Dogs on the Billinghurst

diet for six months or longer were dramatically healthier than those whose diet

had only recently changed. However, those who had been on the diet for only a few weeks still showed improvements.

10 August 1996

Another remarkable fact has emerged. The Sunday Times, a UK national newspaper

undertook research into the cost of pet food during the early part of 1999. It

found that feeding a pet food from normal human sources: i.e. supermarkets etc. was

actually cheaper than feeding processed pet food!!

THE  "B" DIET

Otherwise known as "Give Your Dog a Bone" by veterinarian, Ian Billinghurst of Australia.

The meals are divided into so many meals per week i.e. one bone meal, one grain meal, one meat meal etc. and one day of fasting, when bones only will do. Even whole carcasses of  rabbit,  poultry can be given, (raw of course).

Dr. Billinghurst says the benefits of feeding raw bones are that

·they contain calcium & phosphorous in balance plus other minerals

·they contain good quality protein

·they contains essential fatty acids

·they contain vitamins A, D, and E in the fat

·they contain copper and iron in the marrow

·they contain anti-oxidants and enzymes

·the action of eating bones cleans the teeth and provides exercise

The benefits of chicken wings in particular are ..all of the above ..plus

·they are a good balance of bones and flesh to provide the above benefits

·they are from young animals so bones are soft and free of toxins

·they can be easily managed by dogs of any size and age

·they have the best fatty acid content of all bones

·they are very high quality protein

So what do we feed on Barf?  Ask 10 people and you will probably get 10 different answers. The beauty of this way of feeding is that YOU are in control of how your Dane is fed..not the kibble manufacturers, who may have snuck in some mouldy grains or changed the formula without your knowledge.

The basis of the BARF diet is Raw Meaty Bones ; 60 to 80 percent of the diet is based on this premise. Chicken bones are the preferred bones of choice; these are young bones and very flexible. The parts of the chicken that are recommended are the necks, backs, wings and carcasses. This high quality protein contains B complex vitamins, and high levels of omega 6 essential fatty acids. The marrow contains high levels of blood forming nutrients.

You also need OFFAL..these are defined as liver, kidney, brain, heart all fresh and raw of course. Offal is a valuable source of nutrients, including first class protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and taurine .

Vegetables are extremely important in the Barf diet ..raw of course and should preferably be juiced and the pulp mixture added..these will be of a mushy texture with the cell walls broken down for ideal absorption of the nutrients. A mix of green leafy veggies,  orange, yellow, some root veggies; I generally use a combination of  three to four for variety in one mix.

Over-ripe fruit can be given occasionally . I generally give this separately from the veggie meal.

Dried fruit is great for snacks  and an excellent source of fibre. Berries, sprouted grains, and fresh ground nuts can also be given to add some variety to the diet.

Minced meat from lamb, turkey, pork and chicken, buffalo, emu, ostrich are just some suggestions that can be used for a pattie mix .. Raw. Unbleached tripe is another excellent source of protein.

Raw or canned fish..mackeral, salmon,(Pacific salmon must be poached or cooked), herring, smelts can give some variety as well and supply some great omega 3's in food form.

Supplements form a very important part of the Barf diet.  Many Barfers add yogurt, raw eggs, essential oils in the form of cold pressed oils flax, salmon, fish or hemp oils are alternated,  offal, garlic cloves, kelp or a green food supplement and vitamin C and B to the Pattie mix or to a veggie meal.

The Billinghurst Pattie Mix

Dr. Billinghurst developed the Pattie Mix for those dogs that dislike the veggie meal by itself. I find it ideal for weaning puppies off mom and onto Barf. It's also a great introduction to the Barf diet for those concerned with the idea of feeding raw chicken bones by themselves.

Lean minced meat and veggies (pulped) WITH JUICE total weight is 2 kg.or about 4 ¼ lb.

You add the following supplements:

Yoghurt: low fat and plain..1/2 a small tub

Eggs: raw about three

Flax seed oil, hemp oil 3 tablespoons  I I use salmon oil as it is more bioavalable)

Raw liver: a ¼ of lamb's liver, or  2 oz. chicken liver, beef heart, chicken or turkey gizzards

Garlic: 1 or 2 cloves

Kelp or greens powder: 3 teaspoons

B vitamins and vitamin C: a mega dose of each

Vitamin E: 100 IU daily for a 11 lb. Pup and gradually increase IU's as pup grows..up to 400 IU's for an adult.

Cod liver oil: 1 to 2 ml. Daily ( I only use this in winter months)

Mix the meat, veggies and supplements up , divide into meals and freeze.

Note: I prefer to add B and C vitamins separately, as well as Vit. E , as then I know that the individual pup has eaten the vitamins. Vit. E should not be frozen.  I also add salmon oil at feeding time.

Meat for the Pattie mix can include any of the following minced (with bones) varieties:

chicken , beef, lamb, rabbit, turkey, buffalo, pork, venison, moose, bison..as long as it is RAW.

Veggies for the Pattie mix are juiced and can be any of the following:

carrots, beets, spinach, squash, celery, collard greens , apples, oranges, grapes, mangoes, bananas, peas, green beans, dried fruit, blueberries,etc.

I prefer to keep the fruits separate from the veggies in the mix and feed fruit occasionally with the raw meaty bone meal.

Cooked veggie scraps, rice, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs are good occasionally.  For variety I also give canned or poached salmon (never raw), sardines, mackerel or unbleached tripe.

Large RAW Bones:

The other part of the diet is large bones; the long bones from the limbs of cattle. The femurs and tibias of the hind legs or radius and ulna of forelegs.

Bones are great for teething and they get calcium/phosphorous/minerals from a natural source.

Bones are a natural tooth  brush, you will keep those teeth pearly white.

For Dane puppies these bones they need every day to chew on, not only does it keep them from chewing on furniture etc; it keeps their jaws and whole body exercised. It provides valuable cartilage for producing healthy, disease free joints in pups.

The other neat thing about Barfing is that it does not have to be 'complete and 'balanced' at every meal..if you follow the basic plan over a 10 day period you have covered all the nutritional requirements.

Complicated..not really. For many newcomers to this way of feeding it does seem overwhelming at first; but once you have settled into a routine it is really very simple. "North Americans tend to make it very complicated", relates Dr. Billinghurst; we want to weigh and measure everything. Personally I never have.. I go by how my dogs are doing, do they need a little more weight..easy add a few more chicken backs to the meal, getting a little pudgy. means.less chicken  or protein and adding a few more veggies to the mix. A freezer and a good juicer are all that's really needed. Some people have invested in meat grinders or vita mixes to grind the bones or juice the veggies. I've made out fine with my low cost juicer and a freezer to pack my meat in.

Once you have embarked on this feeding program one of the first things you will notice is a reduction in the amount of water your Dane consumes, the next great thing will be smaller stools..yep, chalky white stools are the norm. The Barf diet is a 'wet' diet, hence the reduction in water intake, another great reason to reduce the incidence of bloating. Who can argue with smaller stools for easier pickup? Your Danes may seem hungrier than ever before always looking for that next meal. This is also normal. Once your Dane gets the taste of real, wholesome fresh food their appetite improves and don't forget it does move through the digestive system much faster. In time, once they realize that this is everyday fare and not just a sometime special treat things settle down and at last they begin to really enjoy eating and getting all those valuable nutrients that were missed in a kibble diet.

Some Danes may go through a detox process..loose stools, skin breaking out or blowing coat..this too is normal; they are getting rid of toxic substances; better OUT than in. Some lose weight, but this too shall pass to be replaced with lean muscle mass and glowing coats.

Of course not every Dane is going to transition to this way of eating smoothly..a Dane that has had generations of kibble feeding behind him or years on a kibble diet would benefit with the addition of digestive enzymes and some probiotics to aid in the digestive process. You may see small bits of bone in the stool at first..don't panic, this is normal. Sooner or later these digestive aids will be unnecessary and your Dane baby will be truly Barfing!

After feeding the Bones and Raw Food Diet for over  10 years I can attest to the optimal results in health. The best part is there are virtually no veterinary bills with my crew of five. I have raised 4 litters of Danes on Barf..all whelped naturally and without complications, with plenty of milk for all the puppies.

If you are interested in feeding your Danes a Barf diet and have access to the internet we have a great support group online.  Go the www.groups.yahoo.com and sign up for the WholesomeDane list; with over 150 members and growing daily we welcome you to our dedicated group.

This is not a feeding plan to embark on without doing your homework first, there have been some people who think they are feeding BARF and are not, with our Danes and their very fast growth rate it is of the utmost importance that you invest in  several of the book resources mentioned below and begin your education from there.

Book Resources:  All these books are available through Dogwise at 800-776-2665 or www.dogwise.com

Give Your Dog a Bone  by Dr. Ian Billinghurst

Grow Your Pups With Bones by Dr. Ian Billinghurst

Natural Nutrition: The Ultimate Diet for Dogs & Cats  by Kymythy Schultze

The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog by Juliette de Bairacli Levy

The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog Wendy Vollard & Kerry Brown DVM

Reigning Cats & Dogs by Pat McKay

References:

1. Give Your Dog a Bone by Dr. Ian Billinghurst

2. Grow Your Pup With Bones by Dr. Ian Billinghurst

3. Canine Health Concern: Raw Diet  6 month Survey http://www.asr-svr.dircon.co.uk/wwwchc

4. Personal anecdotal experience with Barf over a period of 8 years, including whelping and rearing three litters of Dane puppies on the Barf diet.

Sandra Brigola is the editor of Canine Health Naturally a newsletter available by subscription to readers worldwide.

My Danes have been my 'greatest teachers' in all my 39 years of sharing my life with them. Whether, breeding, showing or companionship; each and every one of them have left a legacy of learning.

Website: www.homestead.com/vonhapsburg

e-mail:sandra@axion.net

Phone: (604)-921-7784

Barfing Your Great Dane