BARF Diet - Page 3

Egg white has avidin which binds to biotin and inactivates it producing a vit B deficiency -like syndrome.

Eggs: There is so much biotin in the yolk of an egg that most people don't worry about feeding the whites. If your dogs have a dry brittle coat, brittle toe nails you might want to feed just the yolks. The ideal situation is to feed eggs from free ranging hens (ones that run around loose, not that are just outside in a big dirt pen). Much healthier and packed with nutrients compared to store bought eggs.

Green tripe is the raw unprocessed stomachs of ruminants. Usually you buy it shredded. I have never seen it at a grocer, but have bought from raw food vendors. It's value is that it contains partially digested vegetable matter along with enzymes and beneficial bacteria. Feeding it is not for the weak of stomach as it smells as bad, if not worse, than what comes out the other end of the cow. As far as dogs are concerned it is the ultimate delight.

I have had my dogs on the BARF diet for about 5 years with very good results. I have only had one serious problem. I had a good source of pork neck bones and would feed them once a week or so for variety. I had one dog get blocked when I fed these. My vet freaked when the blockage was revealed on an x-ray and wanted to immediately do colon surgury. I refused and over the course of a few days my dog passed everything. I think my dogs case was worsened because when he first appeared ill he was straining a lot and passing loose stools. The vets initial diagnosis was parvo and my dog was given anti diarrhea drugs. I did consult with Ian Billinghurst regarding the problem and he indicated in Australia he sees roughly 6 of this type of blockage per month. He showed me a tool used to relieve the problem...basically a tool to give an enema that gets hooked up to a garden hose. His advice for this particular dog was more flaxseed oil, yogurt and veggies in his diet. I am happy to say this incident happened 2 years ago and my boy is doing very well...just no pork. The real issue I have with the BARF diet is the lack of availability of knowledgeable vets. A vet will tell me how good my dogs look and when I indicate their diet, I just get UMM OK...usually followed by a speach on all the risks and reasons not to feed BARF. When what I see is a healthy animal...no feas, ticks, dentist, allergies, etc.