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When it is time to feed Fluffy or Fido for the day, most of us reach for a bag of dry kibble or in some special cases a can of smelly, seemingly delicious hash. We then prepare our own dinner of chicken breast, vegetables, pasta, cheese or any other combination of “human foods” that generally combine to create a dinner of meats, dairy products, vegetables, starches, etc. We try to stay away from prepackaged foods, processed with lots of preservatives and sodium. This healthy principle that we employee for our own dining is exactly what is behind a raw food diet for our pets.

The most commonly known version of this diet is the BARF diet, which stands for “bones and raw foods” or “biologically appropriate raw foods,” first coined by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. Dr. Billinghurst believed that a lifetime of processed, high-sodium foods was no healthier for our pets than for us and that our pets should be fed the diet that they have evolved to eat. It looks like the diet of a wild or feral animal. He recommended a diet of muscle meat, organs and bones along with vegetables, probiotics, cultured foods like yogurt and a few supplements. This line of thinking is accepted by most zoos or any zoologists concerned with preserving the species of any endangered species. An important distinction must be drawn between a “raw foods diet” and a “natural diet.” A natural diet implies that we would be returning our pets to the hunt, which is both impossible to do as well as potentially deadly. The BARF diet mimics the natural diet while using food that is readily available and appropriate for that species.

Much of this theory flies in the face of conventionally held wisdom. The first concern was one of education, or lack thereof. Many critics claimed that dogs and cats had such specific and complicated nutritional needs that no home kitchen could get them right. In addition, raw meat, eggs and dairy products are full of bacteria that could make our pets sick. Plus, how many times were we told by veterinarians and our parents not to feed Fido the chicken bones because he could choke on them?

These and many more valid concerns have been addressed by proponents of the movement; there are cookbooks and recipes that clearly and concisely instruct their readers on how to prepare their pets’ food and bones are not a worry for our pets unless they have been cooked, as they become brittle and splinter when they are cooked. The one concern that has not been definitively addressed is the bacterial one. Many supporters counter that healthy pets are more resistant to food-borne pathogens than humans and remind us that dogs and cats evolved while dining on raw animals, some times even decomposing prey with plenty of success. Still others simply choose it as the lesser of two evils when faced with the choice between raw foods and processed man-made foods.

An interesting link has been made between the BARF movement and the sustainable agriculture movement that is so popular now. In times of economic and environmental turmoil, many people turn to local produce and even meat to lower the costs (both monetary and environmental) associated with transporting products from their source to our supermarkets. The same holds true for pet foods; by choosing a raw foods diet, you can buy locally and support your local economy as well as our global environment versus purchasing processed kibble produced in another country.

Many frozen raw food supplies are available in pet supply stores as well as some veterinarian’s offices. Check with your veterinarian as to availability. The BARF diet is a controversial one that should only be chosen after careful research and consultation from your veterinarian. Good luck and happy eating!