Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Katie Mansfield — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:13:56 GMT

I used to feed our two on BARF - suggested to me by a vet when the Beagle was substantially over-weight and the Collie wouldn't keep any weight on. I must say it did help the Beagle get down to normal Beagle-size, but did nothing for the Collie's weight issues. Their coats were amazing but their demeanours changed - neither had a lot of energy, they stopped playing with each other and the Collie seemed to be even more neurotic than usual. I have since gone back to dry food (they're on Wainwrights which says it's "natural") and both of them play like normal dogs and they enjoy walks much more. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper!!!!!

I'm sure some ppl have good results from BARF, I didn't and our two were on it for nearly 2 yrs so I did give it a chance.

K x

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:02:56 GMT

http://www.barfaustralia.com/ try this one - I believe a Dr Billingsley developed the concept originally.

The RMB website is not a fan, though - http://www.rawmeatybones.com/petowners/whynotBARF.php - interesting read, if you like. I get the feeling they hate each other

I'm a bit neutral about it; I believe that with the huge variety of dog breeds and types, some variety in feeding is a good idea. Maybe your dog does well on BARF, RMB, commercial...if you show me a healthy dog with no major health issues, I'm probably not going to argue with you too much on what you feed.

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Roseann21 — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 21:03:53 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]http://vetmedicine.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=vetmedicine&cdn=homegarden&tm=15&f=10&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=8&bt=0&bts=39&zu=http%3A//www.drianbillinghurst.com/[/quote]

You get a security alert if you copy and paste this link.

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Alison Clare Hickman — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 13:30:48 GMT

http://vetmedicine.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=vetmedicine&cdn=homegarden&tm=15&f=10&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=8&bt=0&bts=39&zu=http%3A//www.drianbillinghurst.com/

The source, so I believe, of this dietary regime.

Ali h

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:39:47 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Thanks everyone for your comments the dog is booked in to see me tomorrow so I will see how I get on. I do know the dog is fed a whole cooked chicken a day!

[/quote]then they're not actually feeding BARF. (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). Even if they think they are....and too much food. Wonder what else goes down the hatch?

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:57:14 GMT

Thanks everyone for your comments the dog is booked in to see me tomorrow so I will see how I get on. I do know the dog is fed a whole cooked chicken a day!

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Louise B — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:08:11 GMT

Not if you are a dog Mine go mad for it

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:03:27 GMT

Ah, just as unappetising as the acronym suggests

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Louise B — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:46:01 GMT

[quote user="Julie-Anne Harrison"]

OK, I'm showing my complete lack of knowledge here ...... what in the name of crap is BARF diet? The name doesn't sound appetising in the slightest.

[/quote]

Bones And Raw Food diet.

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Julie-Anne Wilson — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:19:40 GMT

OK, I'm showing my complete lack of knowledge here ...... what in the name of crap is BARF diet? The name doesn't sound appetising in the slightest.

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:42:00 GMT

I would get the owner to make a list of foods and amounts they currently give the dog. I've sometimes found that the owner isn't actually feeding BARF or RMB but some kind of mis-remembered overheard variety, and maybe even well-supplemented with table scraps. This ends up being about double or triple what the dog actually requires, as very few dogs turn down extra food and treats. Have them weigh the food too - sometimes they'll be shocked at the actual magnitude of the food they are feeding, even if it 'looks right'.

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Emma Bartlett — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:14:18 GMT

I feed my dogs BARF (inc 2 x rotties). I would increase veg matter to (blended not whole chunks) and choose leaner meats (I think wild rabbit is supposed to be very lean). Honeys http://honeysrealdogfood.com/ I believe have a vet who will give you advice even if you don't buy from them perhaps you could give them a call and chat to him. Honeys supply pre prepared raw diet to their clients on a monthly basis although they are very expensive as they supply local ethically produced meats. I took on a v fat SBT so I used prescription diet to get her to normal weight than I swapped her to BARF. I do know that some people are very extreme in their views of raw feeding though!

Re: Overweight Dog Fed on BARF diet

Louise B — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:27:13 GMT

Depends what they mean by BARF. Some extend BARF to include any home made food and feed quite a bit of cheese, etc. In which case, just switch protein sources to lower fat where possible (e.g. cottage cheese or chicken instead of cheese) and then monitor closely for weight loss before recommended a reduction in actual intake. Tripe seems to be quite fatty (I feed a bit of BARF and am BARF sympathetic ) and that is a popular protein source. If actual gross total intake needs reducing then just reduce in the normal way you would for any dog food (i.e. small incremental reductions until the desired rate is reached). If they are following the BARF bible (Billinghurst book) they can increase the amount of pulped vegetable matter to increase fibre in the diet if they want to bulk out the diet further.

The good news is barf diets are usually fabulous to stuff into kongs and freeze (etc) so usually easy enough to further increase the feeding time budget if the owner complains the dog seems hungry, is scrounging, etc. Also, a vit/mineral diet is recommended by BARF advocates for all dogs on BARF so, even if they cut down the overall content, if they are still giving the supplement, you don't have to worry in the way we have been conditioned to when cutting down the usual regular pet foods.

You can buy commercially prepared BARF now so might be easier to keep an eye on calorie intake if switch to this as can find out the caloric value per gram from the manufacturer and treat the same way as any other weight loss reduction (i.e. feed to effect) program but this obviously raises questions re: vit/min adequacy.