The question "Is raw meat healthy for dogs?" is particularly important for people who are trying BARF for the first time. We would therefore like to make it clear from the start that if fed responsibly and in moderation, raw meat is neither harmful nor dangerous for dogs. Nevertheless, raw meat is of course a sensitive food that you should handle with care. Read here what you need to bear in mind.
Raw meat for dogs: these factors are important
When it comes to raw meat for dogs, there are three factors that are particularly important: the amount fed, the tolerance and the freshness.
Unlike cats, for whom meat and offal make up the vast majority of their diet (90 percent and more), dogs also need a significant amount of plant-based food in their diet. This means that of the two percent of body weight of daily food recommended for an adult dog, around 60 to 70 percent should be animal-based, depending on age and activity. This includes muscle meat, various offal, bones and cartilage, and in the case of beef, tripe and omasum. We have already discussed the topics of BARFing offal and feeding bones in other articles. You can also use our BARF calculator to calculate the recommended amounts for your dog individually. As long as the meat content is within the parameters mentioned over a longer period of time, you are generally in the green zone.
Unfortunately, food intolerances are a recurring issue in dogs. The characteristic allergy-like symptoms of intolerance often occur, particularly with types of food such as beef and chicken, including itching, diarrhea and patchy hair loss. In such a case, an exclusion diet, for example with horse for dogs , is the best method for finding the right food.
Freshness is also very important for raw meat. For example, with our BARF shop, we attach great importance to ensuring that your goods arrive fresh. To do this, the meat is shock-frozen after processing and sent in special cool boxes with a minimum filling quantity. This means that the meat remains sufficiently cooled for several days. If the meat has a core temperature of less than + 7 °C upon arrival, you can safely freeze it again and feed it to your pet at a later date. If you are unsure, please contact our customer service.
“Is raw meat healthy for dogs?” Comparison with nature and conclusion
Raw meat is easy to digest for most healthy dogs because their digestive system has evolved to do just that in the wild. With this type of feeding, the other animal products and the plant-based portion mean that the food only contains what your dog really needs - so after switching, you will notice that the amount of your animal's stool decreases because there is less indigestible material left over. With a little know-how and the right preparation, you can feed your dog raw BARF meat . This includes knowing how to defrost meat properly and what the optimal BARF mix ratio of animal and plant products is for your animal. In our BARF guide, you will find answers to numerous questions about BARF.
