The "BARF" Trend - Advantages, Drawbacks and Risks

Background

The trend of feeding raw foods to dogs and cats was apparently started in the early 1990’s by an Australian veterinarian who wrote a book promoting the virtues of feeding raw food to dogs (1), and the abbreviation “BARF” (usually taken to mean either “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” or “Bones and Raw Food”) is now a widely used acronym in this context. There are several other concepts and philosophies for “correct raw feeding”, such as the “Prey Model” or the “Ultimate Diet” (2), but these are much less well known, and the BARF acronym is now generally accepted as a synonym for feeding raw foodstuffs.

BARF rations are oriented towards adapting the predatorprey system for domestic dogs and cats, giving them food consisting essentially of raw meat, with a high proportion of “meaty bones” and organs (Figure 1). on top of this fruit and vegetables, nuts, oils and herbs are also fed, with eggs and dairy products in lesser amounts. The feeding of grain products is generally not recommended, although other carbohydrates such as potatoes or pulses are sometimes allowed. Despite the fact that “artificial ingredients” (such as mineral or vitamin preparations) are proscribed, there is already a large selection of products on the market specially aimed at supplementing BARF rations.

The most important motive for an owner in choosing a BARF diet for their pet is the desire for a “more natural, healthier food” (Figure 2) (3,4). other reasons include a chronic illness (such as skin disease, gastrointestinal disorders and allergies) which the owner hopes will improve on the new diet, and various claims that commercial ready-to-serve foods contain only “waste materials and chemical ingredients” and are responsible for various diseases. These stories make many pet owners feel insecure and cause them to search for “healthier” alternatives.

The information sources for BARF are primarily internet sites and books (Figure 3) (3,4). Unfortunately, these sources are normally written by lay people and contain misleading or even inaccurate information, although they may be presented in a very scientific style. BARF is frequently propagated in a very emotional manner and portrayed as a cure-all for diseases, problems and behavioral abnormalities. This can result in some owners, who would not normally consider feeding their pet raw food, being convinced that they will injure their pet by feeding them commercial diets. 

Key Points

• BARF rations are oriented towards adapting the predator-prey system for domestic dogs and cats, giving them food consisting essentially of raw meat, with a high proportion of “meaty bones” and viscera.

• No scientific studies exist on the long-term effects of raw diets, so discussions on the advantages and drawbacks can therefore only be conducted on the basis of inferences from knowledge of food science and nutritional physiology.

• Various risks can arise when raw diets are fed, including nutritional imbalances, transmission of disease, and the use of unsuitable and harmful ingredients; problems may also occur if an animal is fed bones.

• Animals fed meat containing thyroid tissue can develop hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis.