Barf diet: what would the natural heir of the wolf eat?

It is increasingly common among pet owners to hear about the Barf diet and basic nutrition, but what does it consist of?

Barf nutrition began to spread in the early 1900s, thanks to Ian Billinghurst , an Australian veterinarian who, through the publication of the book entitled “ Give your dog a bone ” – explained the need for dogs, cats and other animals to feed on raw meat, edible organs and bones. Defined as a real philosophy, supporters of the Barf method affirm their desire to bring pets back to their origins by favoring a diet based on the "predator-prey" system with the ultimate aim of supporting the instincts of our four-legged friends guaranteeing them a healthy and totally natural lifestyle.

The final goal is to offer your pet a diet that makes the most of the nutritional values ​​of each ingredient. The animal's consumption of raw meat and fish, provided they are well preserved, guarantees the easy absorption of all the nutrients that foods are naturally provided with.

Specifically, this type of diet requires that each meal is made up of 80% meat, offal and bones and the remaining 20% ​​of cooked and subsequently chopped fruit and vegetables . It is advisable to pay close attention to the administration of bones ; in fact, they must be taken in moderation and above all not cooked or boiled, this is because as they become soft they tend to break easily and could cause damage once ingested. Furthermore, it is essential to choose a type of bone suited to your pet's chewing strength. To conclude, you can also add raw eggs and offal , such as liver, lungs, kidneys, all foods rich in vitamins.

In any case, please remember that just like for humans, when it comes to nutrition the indications can and must vary depending on the needs and requirements of the individual animal, which is why we always recommend relying on a veterinary expert in nutrition .

It is precisely from the idea, observation of dogs' habits and the desire to offer them only the best and uncontaminated products, that our Niki Natural Barf line was born. A line composed of natural snacks for dogs made following these principles and respecting animal and vegetable raw materials.

Taking into account the predator-prey system, which we talked about before, in nature nothing is discarded, in fact, an animal rarely wastes food, on the contrary it prefers smaller prey and frequent meals rather than trying to grab too large prey which will not succeed to finish quickly by attracting other predators.

All the elements that make up the line have a specific function and are essential for the well-being of our animal. Dog snacks in line with the Barf diet are not cooked but simply dehydrated at low temperatures to make them safe, but at the same time retain the smells and wild consistency of their origins.

Biting and chewing are innate behaviors in dogs, Deer Horns for dogs allow the animal to express its natural needs, which are not satisfied by ingesting only dry or wet foods. Furthermore, the special structure of the horns, hard and porous, promotes the cleaning of the dog's teeth , facilitating the removal of plaque and promoting healthy and robust gums.

The Coffee Tree Bone , on the other hand, is innovative, a completely vegetal chew without additives and caffeine, characteristics that make it safe and easily digestible for the animal. During chewing, the wood fibers melt, release a sweet taste and have an effect similar to that of dental floss, promoting cleaning of the oral cavity.

The Barf diet involves the consumption of beef, lamb, chicken, horse and fish, paying particular attention that everything is stored correctly. As far as meat is concerned, there is a wide variety of supplementary snacks to add to your normal diet that is made up of wet or dry food, or that follows the Barf method.

Among these we have buffalo meat which contains less fat and is particularly suitable for dogs with obesity problems, but also beef rump, bull and veal rump, and more common meats such as chicken breast and lamb meat. .

Furthermore, dogs also need to consume skin , with and without hair, cartilage, tripe and other organs which provide all the necessary nutrients to guarantee a healthy and appropriate diet.

In any case, as with humans when it comes to nutrition, even in this case it is absolutely not recommended to improvise as nutrition experts, but it is necessary for the well-being of our four-legged friends to rely on the advice of a veterinary doctor , who knows the history of the animal, its lifestyle and its needs to create a diet suited to the real needs of your animal.