If you are in doubt and have a lot of "catastrophic thoughts" about feeding with Barf - then read on, because I was definitely one of them - and think that it has taken me 10 years to dare to jump into it!!...and have I regretted it - NO, not at all 😊
I have, as some people know, an allergic dog, and once you have a food that doesn't affect the dog, you are SO afraid of ruining it. I have been feeding Hill's Z/D for many years, which has stabilized her stomach. I don't think I have a count of how many times I have been asked to switch to Barf – but I have always turned it down because:
1) I didn't know enough about it
2) I thought it was difficult
3) I thought there were many things you needed to know (vitamins - supplements, etc.)
4) I was afraid of bone splinters (ignorance)
5) Was afraid of hygiene (bad stomach)
6) …etc etc.
All based on MY ignorance – but I haven't actively sought the information either because I didn't dare change her.
But that changed after a conversation with another beagle owner – with a dog almost the same age and also with allergies. She said that a lot of things had improved, and I was taken by it and thought – I'll give it a try for Emma's sake <3
After reading a lot online, I cautiously started with Kalun for 3 days. It helps the stomach to “reset” – before you start on the “real” raw meat 😊 – it contains digestive enzymes.
I chose a 100% pre-mixed product (minced muscle meat/giblets/cartilage/bones). It's easy. You know that the dog is getting all the important nutrients/vitamins that it needs.
I have chosen to use game/ostrich, which I know she does not react to. As an adult dog she should have about 2% of her body weight – and be fed once a day. Now Emma is on the round side, so we give her a little less, 2% of her DESIRED weight….also because a lot of treats go down.
And YES, these ARE good quality treats, which can therefore count, they are always single protein, quality treats she gets, so the calories/grams must be counted.
We have now been on Barf for almost 3 months and have had a vet visit because I wanted to check her skin/fur. She often had very red/brown paws (after licking) and red/brown under her chin and was red between her foot pads.
Result: The vet had never seen her in such great condition. Fur thick and shiny – completely white where she should be white (red/brown colors from the lick gone).
I am SO glad I switched to Barf and will never go back.
I will hasten to say that some will say I am a “light” barfer – because no, she doesn’t get big meat bones, 1/2 chickens with the whole thing – “home made” Barf,….and I probably never will be, when there are products that work for us, we will do it. But maybe with my next dog I will be more courageous – who knows 😊
A little about the blogger.
Her name is Lotte. She spends most of her free time training with her dog Emma, who is an 11-year-old beagle girl. They have trained and competed in Schweiss tracks for several years. Agility without much success (you can't lure them with treats) and now they train Nose Work. They compete at NW3 level, and they have a party together when they apply <3 – because the most important thing for this dog handler is that the DOG has fun, and that you learn the most from the mistakes you make. So instead of being angry/disappointed about a test that didn't go as planned, learn from it! - in most cases it's not the dog that makes the mistake <3
To Barf or not to Barf…..that's the question
If you are in doubt and have a lot of "catastrophic thoughts" about feeding with Barf - then read on, because I was definitely one of them - and think that it has taken me 10 years to dare to jump into it!!...and have I regretted it - NO, not at all 😊
I have, as some people know, an allergic dog, and once you have a food that doesn't affect the dog, you are SO afraid of ruining it. I have been feeding Hill's Z/D for many years, which has stabilized her stomach. I don't think I have a count of how many times I have been asked to switch to Barf – but I have always turned it down because:
1) I didn't know enough about it
2) I thought it was difficult
3) I thought there were many things you needed to know (vitamins - supplements, etc.)
4) I was afraid of bone splinters (ignorance)
5) Was afraid of hygiene (bad stomach)
6) …etc etc.
All based on MY ignorance – but I haven't actively sought the information either because I didn't dare change her.
But that changed after a conversation with another beagle owner – with a dog almost the same age and also with allergies. She said that a lot of things had improved, and I was taken by it and thought – I'll give it a try for Emma's sake <3
After reading a lot online, I cautiously started with Kalun for 3 days. It helps the stomach to “reset” – before you start on the “real” raw meat 😊 – it contains digestive enzymes.
I chose a 100% pre-mixed product (minced muscle meat/giblets/cartilage/bones). It's easy. You know that the dog is getting all the important nutrients/vitamins that it needs.
I have chosen to use game/ostrich, which I know she does not react to. As an adult dog she should have about 2% of her body weight – and be fed once a day. Now Emma is on the round side, so we give her a little less, 2% of her DESIRED weight….also because a lot of treats go down.
And YES, these ARE good quality treats, which can therefore count, they are always single protein, quality treats she gets, so the calories/grams must be counted.
We have now been on Barf for almost 3 months and have had a vet visit because I wanted to check her skin/fur. She often had very red/brown paws (after licking) and red/brown under her chin and was red between her foot pads.
Result: The vet had never seen her in such great condition. Fur thick and shiny – completely white where she should be white (red/brown colors from the lick gone).
I am SO glad I switched to Barf and will never go back.
I will hasten to say that some will say I am a “light” barfer – because no, she doesn’t get big meat bones, 1/2 chickens with the whole thing – “home made” Barf,….and I probably never will be, when there are products that work for us, we will do it. But maybe with my next dog I will be more courageous – who knows 😊
A little about the blogger.
Her name is Lotte. She spends most of her free time training with her dog Emma, who is an 11-year-old beagle girl. They have trained and competed in Schweiss tracks for several years. Agility without much success (you can't lure them with treats) and now they train Nose Work. They compete at NW3 level, and they have a party together when they apply <3 – because the most important thing for this dog handler is that the DOG has fun, and that you learn the most from the mistakes you make. So instead of being angry/disappointed about a test that didn't go as planned, learn from it! - in most cases it's not the dog that makes the mistake <3