I am just learning about raw feeding for my pet (also referred to as the BARF diet or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), so I would like to thank my co-worker Michelle Thomas, for editing and contributing her knowledge and own experience to this post.

Michelle is a student of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and basically is my dog nutrition ‘go to’ person. As I learn more, I plan to continue to post on the subject of raw feeding.

The Poop Chronicles have discussed that Louis’ dad and I have been truly at our wits end trying to get our baby boy to digest his meals and relieve himself without discomfort for him and we wouldn’t mind if the large brown stains all over the carpet ceased as well.

A number of weeks ago, when things just couldn’t get any worse for the poor baby and he had progressed to vomiting in addition to the diarrhea, we decided to try and make the switch to a raw diet. The extremely nutritious high protein food we were giving him seemed to be no easier for him to digest then the poor commercially manufactured food we started with. I learned some dogs do have trouble digesting extremely high protein kibble and a reason for that might lie in the disconnect in the way processed food is digested versus the way dogs and cats are designed to eat and digest. Raw food contains living enzymes and probiotics which aid in digestion. A kibble no matter the quality of ingredients can not adequately mock raw food it will always be lacking the vital life force destroyed in heat processing. Natures Variety Instinct, which Louis was eating, attempted to replace this vital force post heat processing with a freeze dried raw bio-coating, but nature can not be fooled and Louis’s sensitive little tummy knew better and was not happy.

As my limited knowledge on the subject understands, dogs and cats are carnivorous and designed to digest nutrients that raw foods have to offer. Heat processing destroys Amino Acids and vital nutrients such as taurine present in raw meat.

Even the highest quality kibble or canned food diet will be deficient in some nutrients (as admitted by the reputable pet food company Solid Gold, who recommends adding their supplement, Seameal, to all of their foods to help replace the vital nutrients lacking in proccessed foods.)

Through utilizing human grade raw food, some companies are manufacturing raw diets for our pets that mimic the natural way canines are designed to eat. After all I doubt Fido and Fluffy’s ancestors were huddling around a campfire cooking their nightly catch. Raw food advocates claim a plethora of benefits. By receiving a whole diet including amino acids, fatty acids along with the vitamins and minerals naturally available in the raw food, a stronger immune system is sustained and common health problems (i.e. fleas, dental and gum disease, allergies etc.) can be managed and prevented in a more natural way, making your pet more comfortable and setting him up for longevity with a healthy life.

Feeding raw is intimidating at first. We, as consumers, are trained to think that scientists and veterinarians have spent care, time, money and energy into making commercial pet foods that will sustain the health of our pet and raw diets are usually frowned upon by the average vet.

Brands such as Nature’s Variety, Dr. Billinghurst’s BARF Diet, and Primal Pet Foods are only a few brands of the companies that are manufacturing complete, healthy raw diets that meet your pet’s nutritional needs. In addition, they are pre-packaged and have easy to use guidelines for feeding amounts to simplify the process.

After months of diarrhea, Louis’ digestion was not regulating and I was still not ready to put him back on more useless antibiotics. Feeling that things simply couldn’t get worse, I switched him to Nature’s Variety Raw Frozen Diet Beef Formula . The next day he literally had his first semi-solid stool. Over the next week and a half, his digestion continued to improve and now is like clockwork. He is energetic, bright eyed and his coat has never been shinier. His stools are regular and pretty much odorless, his breath is non-offensive and even if I forget about bath time for over a week, he doesn’t have that ‘dog’ odor. As he was in a pretty toxic state, we are watching him evolve and detox, requiring a little more ear cleaning then usual and some more shedding then I have seen, but these are natural and very mild detoxification effects that are only progressive steps toward his overall health.

I feel like we are finally starting to see his true personality, a silly little hairball, interested in everything with a never ending desire for playtime and his tail wag has evolved to include his whole tush!

We have since added Primal brand’s meats to give some variety to his diet to maximize the different health benefits that multiple meats have to offer and I am amazed, at about three weeks into this adventure, to see the transformation Louis is still undergoing.

Michelle Thomas, my co-worker, had her own amazing experience with a raw food transformation and her French Bulldog rescue Mojito.

Mojito

by Michelle Thomas

Mojito is a 16 month French Bulldog who was rescued from a puppy mill at the age of 9 months. Who knows what poor quality food he was fed there, but when Mojito came to me he was lethargic, not interested in food, he had a horrible body odor and was very shy. His stools were loose and foul smelling and the second night we had him he had uncontrollable, explosive diarrhea in his crate. To top it off, every morning I woke up to him vomiting food that was still undigested from his dinner the night before. First, I tried the high quality Wellness dry and canned food, but he was not interested in it at all. I then decided to try the Innova Evo dry food, which is grain free, wanting to ease him into a raw food diet. He enjoyed the taste, but this only increased his digestive problems making the diarrhea worse. I was fed up and decided to make the switch, cold turkey, to the raw meat diet. I also added some acidophilus probiotics to the meat to help re-balance his large intestine. The results were amazing. In two days his explosive diarrhea ceased and his stool was at least solid enough to pick up. The vomiting decreased and then ceased after about a month. I was even more excited at the fact that my shy little guy began coming out of his shell and was developing a goofy personality wanting to play with his toys he previously ignored. I was saddened that he had been feeling so horrible before, due to lack of proper nutrition. Mojito also transformed in his looks as well his dull eyes now sparkle he has a brilliant brindle coat and he is a lean, mean, muscle machine! (Sorry, cheesy!) I was amazed at the results, but also learned that I had to be patient for Mojito to be balanced as his body was so horribly toxic prior to beginning the raw food. It took about three months to get him balanced.

Below, see Mo before and after his raw food transformation.

Mo Before

 

Mo After

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The food brands we mentioned above all have incredibly informative websites that assist with feeding guidelines and recommendations for transition and safe handling. We would especially like to direct you to www.barfworld.com, which has a plethora of information on Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Both Mojito and Louis have benefitted from this holistic feeding method and we are amongst a growing population of raw pet feeders exploring all of its healing potential. As solid research begins to bring to light evidence on the power of more alternative ways of living and eating, it has been a journey for me to open my mind to the reality that we truly are reflective of what we ingest and through this power, we each have the opportunity to maximize our whole selves.

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