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Starting Out with BARF:

The raw food diet, better known as the BARF Diet, is an evolutionary diet that’s healthy. It’s safe. And it’s highly recommended. So, while you may know about switching your dog or cat’s diet from processed food into BARF, if you’re the owner of a new puppy or kitten, it’s essential to start their diet directly with BARF.  First and foermost, this raw meat diet prevents cancer.

While Dr. Ian Billinghurst, author of The BARF Diet, notes that cancer (dogs with cancer, cats with cancer) is a multi-step process beginning with a single cell that mutates.  Therefore, of the best strategies is to provide your puppy or kitten with an immune stimulating diet with the lowest levels or carcinogens. 

  1. The arrival of your new puppy or kitten marks the getting acquainted stage so while you’re focused on this raw meat diet, it’s important to get to know your new pet.  As they begin to feel at home, there may be some little naps but whatever food you offer may be rejected.  On the other hand, they may over eat as well. 
  2. If your new pet is already eating processed foods, you’ll need to wean them off and start them with BARF.  Your pet’s new digestive system hasn’t had enough time to get used to the processed food so the weaning period should be easier than an older pet which has been eating processed food their whole life. However, young digestive systems are more susceptible to being upset.
  3. Using a rapid approach to establish a BARF habit is essential for the raw food diet detox.  The best food is either a basic raw meaty bone patty or a whole raw meaty bone such as a chicken neck or wing.  There are still potential upsets so you must not over feed your pet.  It’s important to feed several small meals instead of one big one.  Take your time while introducing the new foods.
  4. So, the question may be, how many meals do I serve my pet?  Kittens less than three months can be fed from four to five times daily. Puppies less than three months can be fed up to four times daily.

Dr. Billinghurst advises pet owners to vary the food types between fresh and whole and raw that replicates the pet’s evolutionary diet. After all, the essence of this raw meat diet is just that: raw meaty bones.

At The Dog Bowl, nothing is more important than your pets’ health and well being.  For more information about The BARF Diet click here.  To order online now - click here, we ship right to your door anywhere in the U.S.