Bacteria/disease problems with BARF?

[stonydell]

Okay, I've read most all of the threads on the first pages of this forum but I'm still puzzled... is there no danger of bacteria or other bad things by feeding raw meat to a dog? I'm admittedly ignorant but also curious. How can domesticated dogs handle these things if us humans can't? I realize their ancestors/wild cousins do just fine but I would think that after hundreds of years of domestication that they would have lost that ability. Am I wrong or is there another answer I'm missing?

Also, (a little off-topic but related) I'm fascinated by BARF dieting but at the current time, I'm feeding my girls Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul (which, btw, I get for an *AMAZINGLY* low price from my Farm and Garden store). Is there anything wrong with that if I can't make the switch to BARF?

 

[Jan]

I have fed Markus, BARF for about 4 years and have never had a problem. A dogs digestive tract is much shorter than a humans and the food passes through quickly. Bacteria like samonella doesn't have a chance to take hold.

Chicken Soup sounds like it is a good food. It is made with decent ingredients and the dogs seems to really like it. There is a lot worse food out there. Personally, I like BARF better.

 

[BooBoo & Riley]

The food that you think the domestic dogs have been used to for so long are really not the case. Kibble wasn't invented until almost mid-1900s. And dogs have been domesticated much longer than that. So the question is what did the dogs eat before kibble was invented... probably at least a semi raw diet...

I feed both of mine raw... but when I run into crazy weeks or suddenly run out of chicken (right now my chicken back supplier just dropped out on me, so I'm waiting for another supplier), I go back to feeding them kibble and they love their Chicken Soup... I'm also trying out the new premium dog food from Costco... made from lamb, lamb meal, and brown rice... it's so much cheaper and ingrediants looks pretty good...

Oh yeah, never had bateria trouble with Barf, nor have I heard of anyone having trouble on this board either... keep researching, and good luck.. Chicken soup is good, but Barf is definately better for their health.

 

[lafsalot]

If the idea of switching over to a raw diet terrifies you (I know it did me at one time), I see nothing wrong with continuing to feed your furbabies their premium kibble. Our vet was dead set against it, and it was only after doing months of research and reading, that I finally took the plunge. My three are now thriving, and in all honesty, I don't ever see myself going back to kibble again. - Cathy

 

[jesster980]

I haven't switched Kikka yet, but I got the books Give your Dog a Bone and The Raw Diet. Both the books have been great about explaining all about why dogs can and do thrive on BARF.