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Raw & BARF Diets

If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional kibble or canned dog food, feeding your dog a raw diet or a mixture of raw and kibble are popular choices. Raw feeding consists of a diet of raw meat, bones, and organs and is intended to simulate the types of food your dog would be more likely to eat in the wild.

There are two main variations of raw diets:

The Prey Model

• The prey model is focused on replicating what a dog’s food might look like in the wild.
• The diet usually recommends 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs.
• Typically, dogs on the prey model diet will eat almost solely meat, while some owners choose to supplement with small amounts of vegetables as well as fish oil supplements.

The BARF Model

• The BARF diet (which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food) tends to be less meat-centered.
• A typical BARF diet is made up of 60-80% raw meaty bones (bones with about 50% meat), and 20-40% fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy, or other foods.
• Owners of dogs on the BARF diet tend to use more supplements than those with dogs on the prey model.

Before changing your dog’s diet, consult your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist to decide whether or not a raw diet is a good idea for your dog.