Carsan Cavaliers

I've mentioned elsewhere that young puppies will be weaned off the bitch and small high protein kibble will be fed, this is to assist in growth and strength and to maintain high levels of protein and amino acids. These kibble foods are high quality ensuring as balanced a diet as possible whilst being convenient for the pet owner.
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It has to be said, not all dog foods are the same quality, you get what you pay for, but to your new puppy growing into adulthood the food it eats are the foundations of life and longevity. There is a strong opinion in the scientific and nutritional community that states giving your treasured pet a BARF diet, introduced properly can have profound effects for its future health and wellbeing, so much so that many ailments found in dogs will be eradicated.
Your breeder will advise if you want to go down the BARF route to feeding, as well as the your vet, with advise on the benefits, what age to start and how to maintain the diet. Many show quality dogs are fed BARF diets because 1/ the dogs enjoy it and 2/ it shows in their skin, hair, eyes, demeanour and mentality.
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A BARF diet, which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food, is a type of raw dog food diet that emphasizes feeding dogs a diet similar to what their ancestors would have eaten in the wild. This diet typically includes fresh, uncooked meat, raw meaty bones, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes organ meats and supplements. The goal is to provide a nutritionally balanced diet that avoids processed ingredients commonly found in commercial dog foods.
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Scientists and Nutritional Experts of veterinary experience have advocated for raw pet diets for years, and say there’s no contest between processed dog kibble in a bag and a raw diet that mirrors what dogs’ ancestors ate.
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Several varieties of raw food diets exist:
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Raw Meat-based Diets (RMBDs): These diets typically consist of uncooked animal muscle, organs, and bones and can be homemade or commercially prepared. Not all RMBD meals on the market are nutritionally balanced; some require owners to add other food or ingredients.
   
The “Prey Model” Diet: This diet replicates what a dog would eat in nature. Owners who adhere to this diet feed their pets entire prey animals, such as rabbits, chickens, and game hens. The idea is that dogs derive all the nutrients they need from prey animals and the food this prey has eaten.
   
The BARF Diet: Short for Bones and Raw Food, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, this diet adheres to a specific ratio of animal to plant-based ingredients and is nutritionally balanced. If you don’t want to prepare BARF diet meals for your dog, you can purchase commercially prepared meals.
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The benefits of BARF diets.
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Dogs are facultative carnivores, which means they thrive on a carnivorous diet but can subsist on a diet that isn’t meat-based. Raw diets, which tend to include fresh meat and more closely match how dogs fed in the wild, provide a more natural and nutritious way to eat. This diet promotes optimal digestion and includes essential vitamins and amino acids, such as vitamin D and vitamin A.

Processed, grain-based commercial kibble and canned food, on the other hand, don’t offer nearly the same health benefits as a raw diet. In fact, they can have an adverse effect on your dog’s well-being.
The numerous ways a raw meat diet can improve your dog’s health include the following:
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• Eliminate Allergies: A raw diet can help get a dog’s dermatitis and other allergies under control.Dogs who eat a raw food diet tend to have healthier skin and a shinier coats. Hot spots, itchy skin, dry skin, hair loss, and ear problems all can improve with a raw diet.

• Boosts Dental Health: Dogs eating raw food also tend to have cleaner teeth, less inflamed gums, and better overall dental health. And less tartar means fewer professional cleanings, which saves owners money.

• Stabilize Weight: A raw diet can help overweight dogs slim down without lose mass and can help them maintain a healthy ideal adult weight. Diabetes is rare in dogs that eat a raw food diet.

• Prevent or Eliminate Digestive Problems: Dogs that suffer from constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and malabsorption may not be eating a balanced diet.Switching to a raw diet not only resolves many digestive problems,but it also results in smaller, less smelly stools.

• Increase Energy Levels: As dogs eating a raw diet start to feel better, you may notice that they have more stamina and appear livelier and more playful.

• Improve Behavior: A raw diet can even help combat stress, anxiety, aggression, and other behavioral and mental health issues in dogs.

• Decrease output, make for firmer stools and no messes to clean up.

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​“The gut is the biggest window to the rest of the body vets explain. “Eighty percent of the immune system lives in the gut.” And a diet that falls short in nutrition or creates a gut imbalance can lead to all sorts of systemic problems for your dog.

Risks of the BARF diet
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​​While the benefits of a BARF diet far outweigh the risks, there are a few things to be aware of when transitioning your dog.
The primary concern? Food safety. Many dog parents worry about their dog’s exposure to food-borne bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. While valid, the risk of contamination from these bacteria pertains more to humans than to dogs. Keep in mind that dogs eat uncooked meat all the time in the wild.
Since humans are the ones preparing the food, it is necessary to take proper precautions to avoid cross-contamination, just as you would when preparing your own meals.
There are many brands of BARF diet available for your dog, Google is your friend. Seek veteranary or breeder advice if needs be.