What exactly is the BARF diet?
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Chapter one…
By Ian Billinghurst
Did you say BARF?
Or... What exactly is the BARF diet?
The word BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. The BARF diet or BARF
The feeding program is all about feeding dogs and cats the diet they have evolved to eat over millions of years of genetic adaptation.
Simple logic and basic biology dictate because our pets' bodies require
an evolutionary diet, which is exactly what we should be feeding them.
The basic philosophy of the BARF feeding program
If our pets are to achieve their genetic potential in terms of health, longevity, physical activity and reproduction, their modern daily diet must mimic their evolutionary diet as closely as possible.
The more an animal's diet deviates from its evolutionary diet, the more risk for health problems the animal is likely to develop. This is why modern pet grain diets, no matter how well-researched, cause so many health problems.
If we can accept that the evolutionary diet is the gold standard for our pets,
by definition this is the healthiest diet possible. Any other diet, necessarily
therefore be of a lower standard and therefore less likely to promote good health.
We are not trying to return our pets to nature.
The natural environment can be dangerous. It includes lack of shelter, lack of
medical and surgical intervention, the possibility of starvation, and the danger from other animals.
We will continue to keep our pets in an artificial environment that includes regular bathing and grooming, training, shelter, love, regular treatment, vaccinations, and medical and surgical intervention when necessary. The only part of the environment we want to make more natural is food, although of course we shouldn't expect our pets to catch it for themselves.
We will start providing our pets with the kind of food their bodies need.
is designed. Food that is raw and whole and in the same form, balanced, that they would receive in their natural environment.
The BARF Diet Is More Evolutionary Than Revolutionary Since the BARF diet is based on the diet our pets have eaten for millions of years, it is in no way a radical change for our pets. BARF is actually a return to a biologically appropriate feeding method that was abandoned only 60 to 70 years ago when processed pet foods took over more traditional methods. What is so “magical” about the evolutionary diet? Simple! In order for any machine to function properly, it must be supplied with the manufacturers’ recommended fuel, lubricants, and replacement parts. Anything less will cause that machine to malfunction. Our pets’ bodies work on the same principle. Their design requires an evolutionary diet. This is what the manufacturer recommends. This is the only diet that will increase health, longevity, and reproductive capacity. Our Pets’ Bodies Do Not Function Without the Food of Their Wild Ancestors When our pets were forced to abandon their evolutionary diet and switch to processed pet food, instead of undergoing immediate adaptation, they suffered enormous biological damage and bodily disorders. This continues today. The basic physiology of our pets cannot be changed by a few decades of eating processed food. Such a rapid change is a biological impossibility. The good news is that by eating BARF, our pets can be returned to brilliant health and the need for constant veterinary intervention in their lives will be reduced accordingly. BARF promotes Supreme Wellness! That is, the least amount of disease combined with the best growth, health, reproduction and longevity. Pets fed BARF are typically free of dental problems, skin problems, ear problems, eye problems, intestinal problems, kidney and heart problems, pancreatic and liver problems and immune system problems. BARF-fed animals enjoy a life with a greatly reduced chance of developing both infectious and degenerative diseases. They rarely develop cancer. This health continues into old age. The BARF diet allows animals to grow and develop their bodies to the peak of genetic perfection. As a general rule, any genetic errors your pet has inherited will have a minimal chance of being expressed when you feed the BARF diet. BARF allows pregnant animals to raise an optimal number of offspring that become long-lived; healthy, well-adjusted adults. BARF-fed mothers can produce more healthy litters in a lifetime than kibble-fed mothers. BARF-fed males develop and maintain health and fertility well into old age. Working, competitive or active dogs fed BARF are able to perform to their maximum genetic potential. Sick pets fed BARF are more likely to recover. Senior pets, when switched to BARF, 'become young again.' By feeding BARF to our dogs and cats that stay at home, we find that they simply have brilliant health. They are more likely to be happy, active, smart, alert, well-adjusted family members - without any problems - and they tend to remain so throughout their very long lives. I hope that by reading this book you will understand that for all the health goals we have for our pets, the BARF diet is the only diet that has
maximum chance of achieving these goals. In the next chapter you will read about some of the most common improvements observed when switching pets to BARF.
Chapter two...
BARF can do wonders! Yes - BARF can improve your pet's life! Not sure if you should make the effort to learn more and start feeding your pets a BARF diet? When a pet switches to a BARF diet, changes occur. Some are subtle and some are blatantly obvious. Some appear almost immediately. Others can take months or even years. Some may take a number of generations. All of these will include improvements in health. Let me encourage you to read the following catalog of health benefits. I hope the list of improvements will act as a great encouragement to any pet owner considering switching to BARF. You will see escalating energy levels One of the first changes you will see in your pets will be a newfound zest for life. Young and active dogs develop an incredible increase in stamina. Older pets 'magically' transform into younger animals who are no longer lying around with little interest in their surroundings. They start going for walks again, playing ball, and getting involved in family activities. Cats show all of these traits returning, but in a much more subtle way. You will see increased lean body mass Your pet will lose unwanted fat and increase muscle mass. This will make your pet look better, increase their metabolism, increase their activity levels, and increase their healthy lifespan. In dogs, the effect will be faster if you combine
BARF diet with some normal sensible exercise. Cats get plenty of exercise, of course. Many dental problems disappear This is another feature of a BARF-fed pet that quickly becomes apparent. Your pet will have much improved breath. Tartar will disappear and be replaced by clean, shiny teeth. And all this without having to visit the home dentist or brush your own teeth. This means big savings in veterinary bills, a reduced need for toxic anesthetics and most importantly a mouth that no longer spreads bacteria and poisons internally. A mouth that is much less dangerous - to its human family, but most importantly - to its owner! Many skin problems will disappear when persistent skin problems suddenly disappear and vet visits, medicated washes, antibiotics, cortisone shots and cortisone tablets are no longer necessary, that must mean something. It's hard to ignore the deeply colored, shiny, thick, and healthy coat that has replaced the moth-eaten, broken, frizzy hair disaster your pet used to show off. If you don't take advantage of this, maybe your vet or one of your friends will point it out! Infected Ears Get Healthy Again Healthy Ear problems that have been around for years suddenly disappear. This is not surprising. The BARF diet normalizes and strengthens the immune system. Because BARF contains a good balance of essential fatty acids and other immune-normalizing and strengthening nutrients, it reduces inflammatory conditions and waves goodbye to a wide range of infectious processes. Imagine how good your pet will feel with problem-free ears!
Anal sac problems disappear This reflects the improved immune system health and the remarkable difference that eating bones makes in producing hard stools, which are essential for normal anal sac emptying. I think you will be glad you don’t have a dog or a fussy cat all the time. Yes, cats can develop anal sac disease too. Arthritis disappears Within a few weeks to months, you can expect to see much greater mobility in your pet. This is part of the reason why many older pets have a new lease on life when they switch to BARF. You may find that you no longer have to buy those terribly expensive arthritis pills [NSAIDs] with the ever-present danger of side effects. The weekly trip to the acupuncturist may become a thing of the past. Even better results with this problem will be seen when BARF is appropriately modified by adding healthy oils and antioxidant vitamins, increasing green leafy vegetables, and eliminating red meats. Incontinence disappears Not 100% of the time, but often enough to make us wonder why. Since incontinence often responds to hormonal treatment, its disappearance when we start feeding BARF is a good indicator of the ability of BARF to balance hormones. Improved water balance This is an intriguing improvement. Partly it is due to the hydrating effect of the BARF diet and partly to the lowered insulin levels caused by the minimal levels of starch and sugar in BARF. What you will notice is that your pet fed BARF
much less need for the water bowl. Over time, through various mechanisms, the BARF diet will prevent the formation of crystals and stones in the urine of dogs and cats. It also contributes significantly to kidney health. Kidney failure is a major cause of death in modern pets. Many BARF feeders report the disappearance of "dry eye syndrome". This is one of the many problems that 'inexplicably' clear up when a pet switches to BARF. The return of tears can be immediate or it can take months. There is no explanation for this beyond the obvious normalizing effect of BARF on our pets' bodies. Resistance to internal and external parasites escalates A wonderful effect of the BARF diet is the increased resistance of our pets to both fleas and "worms" or intestinal parasites. Once you start feeding BARF, you are almost guaranteed to spend less money on worm and flea treatments. This not only reduces the strain on the bank balance, but also means that there will be less strain on our pets’ detoxification system. This is yet another example of the remarkable impact of the BARF diet on our pets’ immune systems. Expect Orthopedic Conditions in Young Dogs to Disappear If you are a dog breeder and want to see problems like hip and elbow dysplasia disappear from your breeding program, let me suggest that you seriously consider the BARF diet as the way you raise your young dogs. BARF has a normalizing effect on bone growth. This is hardly surprising, as the BARF diet is the evolutionary diet of dogs.
Diabetes disappears Due to the low levels of soluble carbohydrates in the BARF diet, it is not surprising that pets fed BARF rarely develop diabetes. Pets that are already diabetic when switched to a BARF diet usually require much less insulin. Insulin-dependent cats often become completely normal once they start eating BARF. Reproductive problems disappear Not all reproductive problems will disappear in one generation. However, over three or four generations, consistent BARF feeding will be rewarded with significantly reduced reproductive problems, including increased health and fertility of bitches, unassisted births, brilliant milk production and much greater viability of the offspring. BARFers report incredible improvements in behavior! Dogs fed the BARF diet are much calmer, easier to train and less prone to erratic and unpredictable behavior. Many trainers and behaviorists refuse to deal with dogs that have not been switched to a healthy raw food diet. It is common for pets fed artificial food to exhibit behavior that parallels that of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When these pets are switched to a BARF diet, improvement in temperament is often seen within days. There are many dogs alive today, happily living with their families, who were living on a “death row” due to aggressive and dangerously unpredictable behavior patterns. Their lives changed when they were switched to BARF.
The BARF Diet Reduces the Impact of a Number of Degenerative Diseases Pets fed an evolutionary diet live much longer than those fed a chow diet, and are less likely to develop cancer or any of the other degenerative diseases that plague modern pets. Pet owners who switch their older pets to a BARF diet usually find that whatever degenerative disease their pet has contracted suddenly becomes less of a problem. Over the years, this is a consistent finding. If owners are willing to further modify the BARF diet to suit the specific disease process that has afflicted their pet, the benefit becomes even greater. This good news applies to many forms of cancer. Over the years, the BARF diet has had great success with remissions of many tumors, including mast cell tumors, mammary tumors, and lymphomas. I have no doubt that over time, as more pet owners adopt the BARF diet for their pet with cancer, we will see remissions of a wider range of tumors.
By Ian Billinghurst
Did you say BARF?
Or... What exactly is the BARF diet?
The word BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. The BARF diet or BARF
The feeding program is all about feeding dogs and cats the diet they have evolved to eat over millions of years of genetic adaptation.
Simple logic and basic biology dictate because our pets' bodies require
an evolutionary diet, which is exactly what we should be feeding them.
The basic philosophy of the BARF feeding program
If our pets are to achieve their genetic potential in terms of health, longevity, physical activity and reproduction, their modern daily diet must mimic their evolutionary diet as closely as possible.
The more an animal's diet deviates from its evolutionary diet, the more risk for health problems the animal is likely to develop. This is why modern pet grain diets, no matter how well-researched, cause so many health problems.
If we can accept that the evolutionary diet is the gold standard for our pets,
by definition this is the healthiest diet possible. Any other diet, necessarily
therefore be of a lower standard and therefore less likely to promote good health.
We are not trying to return our pets to nature.
The natural environment can be dangerous. It includes lack of shelter, lack of
medical and surgical intervention, the possibility of starvation, and the danger from other animals.
We will continue to keep our pets in an artificial environment that includes regular bathing and grooming, training, shelter, love, regular treatment, vaccinations, and medical and surgical intervention when necessary. The only part of the environment we want to make more natural is food, although of course we shouldn't expect our pets to catch it for themselves.
We will start providing our pets with the kind of food their bodies need.
is designed. Food that is raw and whole and in the same form, balanced, that they would receive in their natural environment.
The BARF Diet Is More Evolutionary Than Revolutionary Since the BARF diet is based on the diet our pets have eaten for millions of years, it is in no way a radical change for our pets. BARF is actually a return to a biologically appropriate feeding method that was abandoned only 60 to 70 years ago when processed pet foods took over more traditional methods. What is so “magical” about the evolutionary diet? Simple! In order for any machine to function properly, it must be supplied with the manufacturers’ recommended fuel, lubricants, and replacement parts. Anything less will cause that machine to malfunction. Our pets’ bodies work on the same principle. Their design requires an evolutionary diet. This is what the manufacturer recommends. This is the only diet that will increase health, longevity, and reproductive capacity. Our Pets’ Bodies Do Not Function Without the Food of Their Wild Ancestors When our pets were forced to abandon their evolutionary diet and switch to processed pet food, instead of undergoing immediate adaptation, they suffered enormous biological damage and bodily disorders. This continues today. The basic physiology of our pets cannot be changed by a few decades of eating processed food. Such a rapid change is a biological impossibility. The good news is that by eating BARF, our pets can be returned to brilliant health and the need for constant veterinary intervention in their lives will be reduced accordingly. BARF promotes Supreme Wellness! That is, the least amount of disease combined with the best growth, health, reproduction and longevity. Pets fed BARF are typically free of dental problems, skin problems, ear problems, eye problems, intestinal problems, kidney and heart problems, pancreatic and liver problems and immune system problems. BARF-fed animals enjoy a life with a greatly reduced chance of developing both infectious and degenerative diseases. They rarely develop cancer. This health continues into old age. The BARF diet allows animals to grow and develop their bodies to the peak of genetic perfection. As a general rule, any genetic errors your pet has inherited will have a minimal chance of being expressed when you feed the BARF diet. BARF allows pregnant animals to raise an optimal number of offspring that become long-lived; healthy, well-adjusted adults. BARF-fed mothers can produce more healthy litters in a lifetime than kibble-fed mothers. BARF-fed males develop and maintain health and fertility well into old age. Working, competitive or active dogs fed BARF are able to perform to their maximum genetic potential. Sick pets fed BARF are more likely to recover. Senior pets, when switched to BARF, 'become young again.' By feeding BARF to our dogs and cats that stay at home, we find that they simply have brilliant health. They are more likely to be happy, active, smart, alert, well-adjusted family members - without any problems - and they tend to remain so throughout their very long lives. I hope that by reading this book you will understand that for all the health goals we have for our pets, the BARF diet is the only diet that has
maximum chance of achieving these goals. In the next chapter you will read about some of the most common improvements observed when switching pets to BARF.
Chapter two...
BARF can do wonders! Yes - BARF can improve your pet's life! Not sure if you should make the effort to learn more and start feeding your pets a BARF diet? When a pet switches to a BARF diet, changes occur. Some are subtle and some are blatantly obvious. Some appear almost immediately. Others can take months or even years. Some may take a number of generations. All of these will include improvements in health. Let me encourage you to read the following catalog of health benefits. I hope the list of improvements will act as a great encouragement to any pet owner considering switching to BARF. You will see escalating energy levels One of the first changes you will see in your pets will be a newfound zest for life. Young and active dogs develop an incredible increase in stamina. Older pets 'magically' transform into younger animals who are no longer lying around with little interest in their surroundings. They start going for walks again, playing ball, and getting involved in family activities. Cats show all of these traits returning, but in a much more subtle way. You will see increased lean body mass Your pet will lose unwanted fat and increase muscle mass. This will make your pet look better, increase their metabolism, increase their activity levels, and increase their healthy lifespan. In dogs, the effect will be faster if you combine
BARF diet with some normal sensible exercise. Cats get plenty of exercise, of course. Many dental problems disappear This is another feature of a BARF-fed pet that quickly becomes apparent. Your pet will have much improved breath. Tartar will disappear and be replaced by clean, shiny teeth. And all this without having to visit the home dentist or brush your own teeth. This means big savings in veterinary bills, a reduced need for toxic anesthetics and most importantly a mouth that no longer spreads bacteria and poisons internally. A mouth that is much less dangerous - to its human family, but most importantly - to its owner! Many skin problems will disappear when persistent skin problems suddenly disappear and vet visits, medicated washes, antibiotics, cortisone shots and cortisone tablets are no longer necessary, that must mean something. It's hard to ignore the deeply colored, shiny, thick, and healthy coat that has replaced the moth-eaten, broken, frizzy hair disaster your pet used to show off. If you don't take advantage of this, maybe your vet or one of your friends will point it out! Infected Ears Get Healthy Again Healthy Ear problems that have been around for years suddenly disappear. This is not surprising. The BARF diet normalizes and strengthens the immune system. Because BARF contains a good balance of essential fatty acids and other immune-normalizing and strengthening nutrients, it reduces inflammatory conditions and waves goodbye to a wide range of infectious processes. Imagine how good your pet will feel with problem-free ears!
Anal sac problems disappear This reflects the improved immune system health and the remarkable difference that eating bones makes in producing hard stools, which are essential for normal anal sac emptying. I think you will be glad you don’t have a dog or a fussy cat all the time. Yes, cats can develop anal sac disease too. Arthritis disappears Within a few weeks to months, you can expect to see much greater mobility in your pet. This is part of the reason why many older pets have a new lease on life when they switch to BARF. You may find that you no longer have to buy those terribly expensive arthritis pills [NSAIDs] with the ever-present danger of side effects. The weekly trip to the acupuncturist may become a thing of the past. Even better results with this problem will be seen when BARF is appropriately modified by adding healthy oils and antioxidant vitamins, increasing green leafy vegetables, and eliminating red meats. Incontinence disappears Not 100% of the time, but often enough to make us wonder why. Since incontinence often responds to hormonal treatment, its disappearance when we start feeding BARF is a good indicator of the ability of BARF to balance hormones. Improved water balance This is an intriguing improvement. Partly it is due to the hydrating effect of the BARF diet and partly to the lowered insulin levels caused by the minimal levels of starch and sugar in BARF. What you will notice is that your pet fed BARF
much less need for the water bowl. Over time, through various mechanisms, the BARF diet will prevent the formation of crystals and stones in the urine of dogs and cats. It also contributes significantly to kidney health. Kidney failure is a major cause of death in modern pets. Many BARF feeders report the disappearance of "dry eye syndrome". This is one of the many problems that 'inexplicably' clear up when a pet switches to BARF. The return of tears can be immediate or it can take months. There is no explanation for this beyond the obvious normalizing effect of BARF on our pets' bodies. Resistance to internal and external parasites escalates A wonderful effect of the BARF diet is the increased resistance of our pets to both fleas and "worms" or intestinal parasites. Once you start feeding BARF, you are almost guaranteed to spend less money on worm and flea treatments. This not only reduces the strain on the bank balance, but also means that there will be less strain on our pets’ detoxification system. This is yet another example of the remarkable impact of the BARF diet on our pets’ immune systems. Expect Orthopedic Conditions in Young Dogs to Disappear If you are a dog breeder and want to see problems like hip and elbow dysplasia disappear from your breeding program, let me suggest that you seriously consider the BARF diet as the way you raise your young dogs. BARF has a normalizing effect on bone growth. This is hardly surprising, as the BARF diet is the evolutionary diet of dogs.
Diabetes disappears Due to the low levels of soluble carbohydrates in the BARF diet, it is not surprising that pets fed BARF rarely develop diabetes. Pets that are already diabetic when switched to a BARF diet usually require much less insulin. Insulin-dependent cats often become completely normal once they start eating BARF. Reproductive problems disappear Not all reproductive problems will disappear in one generation. However, over three or four generations, consistent BARF feeding will be rewarded with significantly reduced reproductive problems, including increased health and fertility of bitches, unassisted births, brilliant milk production and much greater viability of the offspring. BARFers report incredible improvements in behavior! Dogs fed the BARF diet are much calmer, easier to train and less prone to erratic and unpredictable behavior. Many trainers and behaviorists refuse to deal with dogs that have not been switched to a healthy raw food diet. It is common for pets fed artificial food to exhibit behavior that parallels that of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When these pets are switched to a BARF diet, improvement in temperament is often seen within days. There are many dogs alive today, happily living with their families, who were living on a “death row” due to aggressive and dangerously unpredictable behavior patterns. Their lives changed when they were switched to BARF.
The BARF Diet Reduces the Impact of a Number of Degenerative Diseases Pets fed an evolutionary diet live much longer than those fed a chow diet, and are less likely to develop cancer or any of the other degenerative diseases that plague modern pets. Pet owners who switch their older pets to a BARF diet usually find that whatever degenerative disease their pet has contracted suddenly becomes less of a problem. Over the years, this is a consistent finding. If owners are willing to further modify the BARF diet to suit the specific disease process that has afflicted their pet, the benefit becomes even greater. This good news applies to many forms of cancer. Over the years, the BARF diet has had great success with remissions of many tumors, including mast cell tumors, mammary tumors, and lymphomas. I have no doubt that over time, as more pet owners adopt the BARF diet for their pet with cancer, we will see remissions of a wider range of tumors.