Introduction

Always searching for better, more economic diets for dogs, breeders and exhibitors of pets and performance dogs are traveling in two directions these days. The majority of these dog owners cheer on the development of ever more specialized commercial diets by premium pet food manufacturers. However, a growing and increasingly vocal segment of the population is switching to BARF, the diet familiarly known as “bones and raw food” but also tagged as “biologically appropriate raw food,” “Billinghurst Australian real food” and the “born again raw feeders” diet.

Developed by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, the BARF diet under any appellation is based on feeding raw, meaty bones, animal offal, raw vegetables, and supplements instead of commercially-processed or cooked homemade diets.

Billinghurst has published two books about BARF: Give Your Dog a Bone in 1993 and Grow Your Pups with Bones.

Dr. Billinghurst describes BARF this way:

“BARF is about feeding dogs properly. The aim of BARF is to maximize the health, longevity and reproductive capacity of dogs and by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. How do you feed a dog properly? You feed it the diet that it evolved to eat. … Artificial grain based dog foods cause innumerable health problems. They are not what your dog was programmed to eat during its long process of evolution. A biologically appropriate diet for a dog is one that consists of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs’ wild ancestors. The food fed must contain the same balance and type of ingredients as consumed by those wild ancestors. This food will include such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that will mimic what was those wild ancestors ate.”
Those who feed BARF point out that kibbled foods have been around for about 60 years but that dogs ate handouts from human tables for millennia before processed foods were marketed. However, the debate rages hot and heavy. Those who develop processed dog foods and those who feed these diets point out the scientific reports that back their claims; those who feed BARF are equally as adamant that their anecdotal evidence about dog health and well-being proves the value of fresh, raw food.

Raw vs cooked

BARF feeders eschew the convenience of 40-pound bags of kibble and opt for preparing meals for their dogs that include uncooked meaty bones, uncooked muscle and organ meat, raw eggs, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, cooked cereals, cottage cheese, and herbs, enzymes, and other supplements. They are not tied to the same diet every day – no more just measuring the kibble and pouring it in the bowl. If a good source of fresh chicken parts or lamb meat is available, the dogs get chicken or lamb. If green beans are on sale this week, cottage cheese is two-for-one at the supermarket, or the carrots are ready to be pulled in the garden, the dog’s diet (like the family diet) will likely be heavy in those ingredients.

The BARF philosophy is that dogs should be fed the foods they are evolutionarily suited to eat. The BARF principles are that commercially-prepared cooked foods lack enzymes and other essential dietary components and contain some ingredients that promote allergies and are otherwise harmful for dogs.

Those who develop, study, and feed prepared dog foods do not agree, and they point to studies and feeding trials to prove their assertions. Companies producing these foods do not rest on their laurels; they keep on studying canine nutrition so they can improve the food they sell. As a result, companies now market a variety of dry foods based on lamb, chicken, beef, or turkey with grain sources of rice, corn, barley, or wheat.

In the old days, kibble was preserved with ethoxyquin, a preservative with a bad rap; today vitamins are used by an increasing number of companies. As scientists learn more about the individual needs of breeds, performance dogs, puppies, couch pets, middle-aged dogs, and geriatric dogs, they design and test diets to meet those needs. As a result, many dog food companies now include Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids for coat and skin health, provide special diets for large-breed puppies, or tout the addition of anti-oxidants and herbs in their formulas. (See sidebar.)

Proponents of the BARF diet do not believe that these changes in commercial formulas give dog owners enough leeway in planning dog diets or provide appropriate nutrition for many dogs. They encourage dog owners to experiment with a broad variety of raw foods and judge whether their dogs appear healthier and more energetic on the BARF diet than on the commercial diet.

Long-term

There are beginning to be some nutritional analyses of BARF and some cases of disease or deficiency have appeared in dogs fed the raw meat diet. Two veterinarians who specialize in canine nutrition reported in the AKC Gazette(1) that some of the diets they analyzed were low or deficient in some nutrients. Letters to the editor in a subsequent Gazette(2) issue, however, disputed portions of the article.

Some veterinarians have expressed doubt about feeding bones to dogs, but BARF believers counter that fear with the assertion that cooked bones tend to splinter and cause damage, but raw bones are safe. Other veterinarians and health experts have expressed concern about bacterial contamination in raw meat diets, especially E. coli and Salmonella, and Freeman and Michel found substantial E. coli contamination in one of the diets they analyzed for their report. Both E. coli and Salmonella organisms can infect other animals and people, so even though the majority of dogs may not exhibit symptoms, they can none-the-less pass the contamination to other animals or people. Serious outbreaks of these diseases can kill or debilitate children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.(3)

The best judge of diet is the condition of the dog. Some dogs with low energy, allergies, skin problems, and other symptoms have increased pep and stamina, shiny coats, healthy skin, and a general increase in well-being when switched to the BARF diet, but many dogs do well on premium commercial diets, especially those that are highly digestible and include fatty acid supplements. Dog owners need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Books

Along with Billinghurst’s books and seminar, those considering a switch to a home-prepared diet for pets or show dogs can find information in Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide to natural Health for Dogs and Cat; The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown DVM; and The Collins Guide to Dog Nutrition by Donald Collins DVM.

Other sources of information include research conducted by the Iams Company and Purina. Scientists at these companies are leaders in canine nutrition studies and development of commercial diets.BARF: Bones And Raw Food
The search for a better dog diet marches on
Introduction
Raw vs cooked
Long-term
Books
Notes
Introduction

Always searching for better, more economic diets for dogs, breeders and exhibitors of pets and performance dogs are traveling in two directions these days. The majority of these dog owners cheer on the development of ever more specialized commercial diets by premium pet food manufacturers. However, a growing and increasingly vocal segment of the population is switching to BARF, the diet familiarly known as “bones and raw food” but also tagged as “biologically appropriate raw food,” “Billinghurst Australian real food” and the “born again raw feeders” diet.

Developed by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, the BARF diet under any appellation is based on feeding raw, meaty bones, animal offal, raw vegetables, and supplements instead of commercially-processed or cooked homemade diets.

Billinghurst has published two books about BARF: Give Your Dog a Bone in 1993 and Grow Your Pups with Bones.

Dr. Billinghurst describes BARF this way:

“BARF is about feeding dogs properly. The aim of BARF is to maximize the health, longevity and reproductive capacity of dogs and by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. How do you feed a dog properly? You feed it the diet that it evolved to eat. … Artificial grain based dog foods cause innumerable health problems. They are not what your dog was programmed to eat during its long process of evolution. A biologically appropriate diet for a dog is one that consists of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs’ wild ancestors. The food fed must contain the same balance and type of ingredients as consumed by those wild ancestors. This food will include such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that will mimic what was those wild ancestors ate.”
Those who feed BARF point out that kibbled foods have been around for about 60 years but that dogs ate handouts from human tables for millennia before processed foods were marketed. However, the debate rages hot and heavy. Those who develop processed dog foods and those who feed these diets point out the scientific reports that back their claims; those who feed BARF are equally as adamant that their anecdotal evidence about dog health and well-being proves the value of fresh, raw food.

Raw vs cooked

BARF feeders eschew the convenience of 40-pound bags of kibble and opt for preparing meals for their dogs that include uncooked meaty bones, uncooked muscle and organ meat, raw eggs, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, cooked cereals, cottage cheese, and herbs, enzymes, and other supplements. They are not tied to the same diet every day – no more just measuring the kibble and pouring it in the bowl. If a good source of fresh chicken parts or lamb meat is available, the dogs get chicken or lamb. If green beans are on sale this week, cottage cheese is two-for-one at the supermarket, or the carrots are ready to be pulled in the garden, the dog’s diet (like the family diet) will likely be heavy in those ingredients.

The BARF philosophy is that dogs should be fed the foods they are evolutionarily suited to eat. The BARF principles are that commercially-prepared cooked foods lack enzymes and other essential dietary components and contain some ingredients that promote allergies and are otherwise harmful for dogs.

Those who develop, study, and feed prepared dog foods do not agree, and they point to studies and feeding trials to prove their assertions. Companies producing these foods do not rest on their laurels; they keep on studying canine nutrition so they can improve the food they sell. As a result, companies now market a variety of dry foods based on lamb, chicken, beef, or turkey with grain sources of rice, corn, barley, or wheat.

In the old days, kibble was preserved with ethoxyquin, a preservative with a bad rap; today vitamins are used by an increasing number of companies. As scientists learn more about the individual needs of breeds, performance dogs, puppies, couch pets, middle-aged dogs, and geriatric dogs, they design and test diets to meet those needs. As a result, many dog food companies now include Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids for coat and skin health, provide special diets for large-breed puppies, or tout the addition of anti-oxidants and herbs in their formulas. (See sidebar.)

Proponents of the BARF diet do not believe that these changes in commercial formulas give dog owners enough leeway in planning dog diets or provide appropriate nutrition for many dogs. They encourage dog owners to experiment with a broad variety of raw foods and judge whether their dogs appear healthier and more energetic on the BARF diet than on the commercial diet.

Long-term

There are beginning to be some nutritional analyses of BARF and some cases of disease or deficiency have appeared in dogs fed the raw meat diet. Two veterinarians who specialize in canine nutrition reported in the AKC Gazette(1) that some of the diets they analyzed were low or deficient in some nutrients. Letters to the editor in a subsequent Gazette(2) issue, however, disputed portions of the article.

Some veterinarians have expressed doubt about feeding bones to dogs, but BARF believers counter that fear with the assertion that cooked bones tend to splinter and cause damage, but raw bones are safe. Other veterinarians and health experts have expressed concern about bacterial contamination in raw meat diets, especially E. coli and Salmonella, and Freeman and Michel found substantial E. coli contamination in one of the diets they analyzed for their report. Both E. coli and Salmonella organisms can infect other animals and people, so even though the majority of dogs may not exhibit symptoms, they can none-the-less pass the contamination to other animals or people. Serious outbreaks of these diseases can kill or debilitate children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.(3)

The best judge of diet is the condition of the dog. Some dogs with low energy, allergies, skin problems, and other symptoms have increased pep and stamina, shiny coats, healthy skin, and a general increase in well-being when switched to the BARF diet, but many dogs do well on premium commercial diets, especially those that are highly digestible and include fatty acid supplements. Dog owners need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Books

Along with Billinghurst’s books and seminar, those considering a switch to a home-prepared diet for pets or show dogs can find information in Dr. Pitcairn’s Guide to natural Health for Dogs and Cat; The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown DVM; and The Collins Guide to Dog Nutrition by Donald Collins DVM.

Other sources of information include research conducted by the Iams Company and Purina. Scientists at these companies are leaders in canine nutrition studies and development of commercial diets.

Pet weddings may take lots more effort on the part of the participants and caretakers because everything is made to order. You can’t just go out and buy wedding garments, flowers, decorations and cakes off the shelf. This is good, we think! The more we engage in activities and thoughts directed toward positive loving outcomes, the more we express the Creator’s universal love among people. So, celebrate you dogs, cats, birds, rodents & pets of all types.

A Lil’ Angel Wedding costs $95 and we will customize any ceremony to your particular pet and its needs here at Lil Angel in Denver Colorado. It may be that you want to:

have a wedding among pets of different owners (usually dogs)

adopt a pet into your family

bless the birth of a litter or offspring of a family pet

celebrate the birthday of a family pet

consecrate mating or breeding activities

anniversaries of family pet events

Pet Nuptial Package

While New Year’s Eve revelers were popping corks and kissing their sweethearts, an unusual union of love and friendship marked the millennium for Shayna Johnson and Dusty Heller: the two were married.

While a millennium marriage at midnight may not seem unusual, this marriage was different. It was between two Maltese dogs.

Did they exchange vows, you ask? Did they wear bridal clothes? Did they honeymoon? Yes, yes, and yes. Perhaps an act of love and devotion more reflective of their owners’ own relationships, this wedding had it all.

Shelley Johnson, mother of the bride, spent weeks preparing for the big day. A white satin gown for Shayna, a tux for Dusty, a red lacy dress for Koko, the Maid of Honor (the only other pup in the procession). The wedding colors were red, white, and purple — festive for New Years. Flower arrangements decorated the home of Bunny Heller, mother of the groom. There were also small bouquets and boutonnieres for the wedding party.

Vows were written and exchanged (read by the pets’ owners), and a minister even stopped by after midnight to bless the wedding. There was even a faux wedding license, signed by one guest, a policeman who acted as an official witness of the county.

Over sixty invitations were sent out around the country, and about 25 people attended the ceremony and reception, with one guest traveling to the Florida wedding from Texas.

“The idea was both mine and Bunny’s (the mother of the groom),” Johnson said. “The four of us, Bunny and her husband and my husband and I, have been friends for about two years. We are all from Florida, live less then an hour apart from each other, and are all retired.”

” This past summer,” Johnson continues, “we were traveling together in our motor homes, and observed how the dogs just love each other so much. Shayna [Shelley's Maltese] has a sister, Koko, also a Maltese, so it’s not like she’s lonely. But she just loves Dusty. You say his name and she gets excited. As soon as she sees him, she goes crazy. We just thought that it would be great for the millennium to have a wedding.”

Does the wedding mean the two dogs will be shacking up any time soon? “It’s really all just in fun,” Johnson said. “Shayna will still live with us and Dusty will live with Bunny. And, you know, Shayna’s a modern dog and insisted on keeping her last name. And no, there won’t be any puppies!”

Johnson and Heller met in January, 1998 at a rally hosted by the Florida Safari Club (an association that sponsors trips for owners of the Safari motor home). “The Hellers showed up and they had an identical motor home,” said Johnson. “Bunny opened the door and in her arms was this little ball of fur. It was a Maltese, identical to ours.”

With the same motor homes, the same dogs, and admittedly similar personalities shared by the four friends, Johnson says, “It’s the dogs that are technically getting married, but I think it’s really the four of us. We’re such great friends. This was just a fun and creative way to express ourselves.”

In place of an engagement ring is, of course, a diamond collar. “We were at a party on Labor Day at the Hellers’ house and Dusty surprised us all by presenting Shayna with a diamond collar and asking for her paw in marriage.”

Once the vows were exchanged, each doggy received a 14K gold heart-shaped dog tag. They read: Dusty Weds Shayna January 1, 2000, and vice versa.

A great deal of time and energy was put towards preparations: the two couples sewed the wedding clothes and made decorations (Shelley’s hobby is making doggy clothes, www.bigfoot.com/~shelleyjohnson), made invitations and wrote wedding vows, and cooked an Italian feast for dinner (Maltese, once called “The Roman Ladies’ Dog,” is an Italian breed).

All the preparations for this Maltese Millennium Marriage, as they call it, stood as a testament to how devoted the two families are not just to their dogs, but to each other. The honeymoon, by the way, will bring the two families together by motor home next summer in Maine. “Shayna loves lobster!” said Johnson.

Pet weddings are becoming increasingly popular. After searching newsgroups, pet-lovers’ Web sites, and local dog parks, an easy half a dozen more couples surfaced.

There was the family in Hollywood that had two Jack Russell Terriers that got married. This, far less extravagant than the Millennium Maltese Marriage, was a staged wedding where the family’s two small daughters dressed up their doggies, performed a play-like ceremony for the entire family, and, “pushed the dogs’ noses together and said, ‘I do.’

The girls, their mother, Tracy Dugin, tells me at the Mulhulland dog park in Los Angeles, “really just wanted puppies. They thought if the dogs got married, they’d be well on their way. And, actually, it ended up being a really good learning experience where we got to talk with the girls [ages 7 and 9] about marriage and commitment, and, of course, where puppies come from!”

Another married pet couple was between newlyweds Austin and Monica Miller, of Tacoma, Washington. “Austin and I both had dogs and decided that when we got married, the dogs would get married, too.” Monica said. “I know it sounds kind of sick, but we put a little veil on his dog, who is the girl dog, and a little hat on my dog, who is the boy.

They were walked down the aisle in front of us by Austin’s niece and nephew, and even though they weren’t formally wed by the minister, they did get pictures taken and eat cake!”

So whose name was used? “Well, we thought it’d be funny if Penny, that’s Austin’s dog, took [Monica's dog] Romeo’s last name. Isn’t that what’s proper?”

Each of these weddings, quite different from one another, is a unique expression and extension of the pet owners’ love for each other, as well as for their pets.

From bringing the pets into a new family, to creating a new family because of the pets, pet weddings are a fun way for people to just get together and love one another.

Of course a new bowl or bed will please your pet but your dog will certainly feel special after a good grooming, especially when you dress her in a deep red bandana.

However, milkbone treats or chewies may be more up her alley. A wide variety of dog treats are available in specialty stores as well as discount marts and grocery stores. Remember that it’s important to buy the correct size for your dog and to monitor them in case of choking. Chewable treats are less likely to cause choking than hard treats.

If your dog is an active pooch, she will appreciate a new ball, squeaky toy, or pull toy. Again, watch out for small pieces that can cause choking. These are meant to be used interactively so Precious gets extra attention from you. Always get the machine washable kind. Bright colors are best so when the toy ends up in the water, in the snow, or in the shadows, it’s easy to find.

Jewelry is always a popular Valentine’s Day gift. Perhaps the most adorable jewelry for your dog would be a collar charm. To match your pet’s personality, they come with dozens of different sayings, from Diva, Spoiled Rotten, and Rub My Tummy to Talk to the Tail, Sargeant Sniffer, and my favorite, Rescued. Or you can customize your own at the super stores.

Some dogs love car rides or a trip to the store for a special human treat. She may not understand that it’s Valentine’s Day but she will certainly understand and appreciate the extra attention. Although a juicy wiener or even an ice cream cone won’t hurt her on rare occasions, remember that chocolate is deadly for dogs. DO NOT give your dog chocolate Valentine’s candy, or any other kind of chocolate.

And last, but perhaps the most indulgent, a luxurious home massage to soft music, at the end of the day, for your best friend, will show her, more than anything else, just how much you love her. Dogs suffer stress and sore muscles just at humans do and a light, gentle massage can melt those aches away.

Dogs may be the only friends we have who are never too busy to offer a listening ear and a sympathetic paw. Let’s remember them this Valentine’s Day.

3.)    Protect your dog from the cold. Many breeds are not built to handle cold weather. Check out your local pet store for the many ways to handle this. You can buy doggie boots and gear made specifically for cold weather. There are also paw waxes that protect from the cold and aid your dog’s grip on slippery surfaces like ice or snow.

4.)    Let your dog check the weather. Dogs don’t have the Weather Channel, so they don’t know why they are being denied a long walk for the day. Allow your dog to step outside and feel for itself that it is too cold or too stormy to go on a long walk. Instinctually, the dog will understand why it is coming back inside where it’s safe. But, be careful not to allow them to do this too often. They can learn to use this open door to manipulate and control you. Also, some dogs, if out in the cold for too long, will develop thicker fur and maintain their fat as a natural protection, so they may not feel the cold as intensely as we humans do. This can be an advantage if you want to continue to take your dog for walks in cold weather. However, please keep in mind that many short-haired breeds do not have this natural resistance to cold weather.

5.)    Be cautious when around the fireplace! Animals are instinctual about fire; it is natural for an animal to stay away. However, during this holiday season, many owners like to dress their dogs up. Never use a product which may contain alcohol, such as hairspray, silly string, or entertainment paint, on a dog that will be around fire. Always be cautious near a fire with an animal that is wearing clothing. A stray piece of fabric can quickly cause the entire outfit to light on fire. A screen is a good way to keep a “done-up” pup safe. Also, never leave an animal alone in a room with a lit candle. As a general holiday precaution, test your smoke alarms, and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times!

6.)    Be aware of dangerous holiday items. The festive poinsettia causes dogs to vomit. Chocolate is a poisonous treat. And tinsel has sent many a dog to the emergency room, as it can easily cut up intestines. Paper-based tinsel is generally a safer option, but the plastic or metallic-based varities should not be used.

7.)    Protect your presents and decorations. Remember that a dog will know if a gift contains something edible, even if you don’t. Ask your guests in advance if there is food inside the presents, and keep them out of your dog’s reach! Keep fragile ornaments toward the top of the Christmas tree; only place sturdy ones near the bottom. Often people use a pen to keep dogs away from their tree. Keep it fun by decorating the pen with ribbons. And, above all, set rules, boundaries, and limitations!

8.)    I don’t recommend giving a puppy as a holiday gift. Most often, giving a puppy for emotional reasons turns out badly. Love is never the problem. Who doesn’t love a puppy? But most people don’t know how to keep a puppy balanced, and the puppy is going to suffer the consequences from the first day. In particular, if a person doesn’t know they are getting a puppy, they will be in the wrong state of mind to receive him or her. I highly recommend holding off on affection for a week or, at the very least, until the end of the day when the puppy is quiet, in his kennel, and ready for sleep. This is virtually impossible to do if you just received a puppy as a surprise!

I strongly believe that people need to have some basic knowledge about the commitment and responsibility of pet ownership and how to play a leadership role even though it’s a puppy. The beautiful part about starting with a puppy is that, if you know what to do, you are going to prevent problems. But if you don’t, you are going to create problems. We have to take the same philosophy as adopting a child. You don’t just give a kid away. You have to get the whole family involved. Everyone has to understand the responsibility they are taking on.

9.)    Live in the moment! Be happy! Laugh! Celebrate! Want to do something special for your dog for the holidays? Be balanced. Don’t be nervous. Don’t be fearful. Don’t be tense. Don’t think about anything that makes you sad, depressed, or angry. Really live in that moment. Believe it or not, that is one of the biggest gifts we can give to our dog–and ourselves! Everyone, rich or poor, can practice this simple activity. It has more meaning than any gift you can buy. Live in the now, with your dog right next to you and your family around you. Your dog is going to get the benefit of it, particularly if you don’t have days like this on a regular basis. This special day will linger in his or her memory, and, hopefully, you can learn to practice these days more often, not just during the holiday season.

That is April’s Ferret Club! It is way cool! You can get special discounts on portraits on that site!