The acronym BARF was first coined by veterinarian and nutritionist Dr. Ian Billinghurst in 1998. Standing for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food”, the BARF diet for dogs solidified a set of dietary guidelines for feeding dogs; namely that for the best health and longest lives dogs should be fed what they evolved to eat: raw meat, vegetables, fruit, and seeds. This type of diet is high in protein, low in simple carbohydrates and recognizes that dogs are not carnivores, rather omnivores that need plant material to thrive.
Benefits Of a BARF Diet for Your Dog
There are a multitude of benefits that come from feeding your dog a BARF diet. For many dogs, the most immediate and important benefit will be weight loss if they are overweight. By switching from a sugar filled kibble to a high protein BARF diet, rich with complex carbohydrates, your dog will begin moving towards their ideal weight; much like a human would switching from a diet of fast food to healthy meals.
Other benefits include:
- Better dental health
- Improvement in skin and coat conditioning
- Reduced inflammation
- Smaller less smelly stools
Does Research Support BARF Diets?
Yes! There have been many studies done on the benefits of a BARF diet for dogs, however one that really stands out was a study performed by Finnish veterinarian Dr. Anna Hielm-Björkman who ran a six-month study investigatating the levels of homocysteine (an amino acid correlated with inflammation chronic disease) in dogs based on the diet they ate.
The results of her six month study were stark. Dogs who ate traditional kibble diets had homocysteine levels ten times higher than dogs who were fed a BARF diet!
What To Look for In a BARF Diet for Your Dog
When looking for a BARF diet for your dog, there are a few important things to consider.
- Is it convenient? Just like with a diet for yourself, it needs to be sustainable! If you’re spending too much time meal prepping for your pup, it’s unlikely you will be able to stick with it long term.
- Is it balanced? Not all raw dog food diets are created equally. Sometimes, just like with kibble manufactures, marketing hype can get in the way of quality. In a race to appear “limited ingredient” or “all natural” some raw foods leave out important vitamins and minerals to keep their ingredient list short.
- Will they like it? Dogs have preferences, just like people! Now, they are more likely to enjoy a BARF diet because it’s what they like to eat naturally, however maybe your dog is more of a chicken lover instead of beef. It’s important that there are options for you and your dog to try.
Is Acabonac Pet a BARF Diet?
Absolutely! Acabonac Pet was developed by an agronomist with over 30 years experience in the pet food industry. We made sure that our food is a 100% complete BARF diet containing everything your dog needs to thrive. We start with high quality protein, including the grass finished beef we raise ourselves on Long Island, then blend in whole vegetables, fruits, seeds and a vitamin and mineral mix to make sure Acabonac Pet is a balanced BARF food.