Owners who decide to raw feed have a wide range of options available for putting together meals that are healthy and tasty. Variety is an absolute ‘must’ with raw feeding in order to obtain all nutrients in their natural form. We already know that sometimes a thousand options are not enough because we like to try something new. In this article you will find new ideas and recipes, where you can be sure that the ingredients are suitable for your dog. We have described how to put together the right portions in our article ‘First steps to BARF for Dogs’, where you will also find new ideas for tasty recipes and numerous tips guiding you towards the right supplementary foods such as oils and herbs, which can be helpful additions to even the most carefully compiled nutrition plan.
Meat - Recommendations for BARF ingredients
Naturavetal® Info
Bone feeding for dogs
Caution! Bones can splinter - feed under supervision! It is very important that any bones fed are raw. Cooked, fried or otherwise heated bones change their natural structure, can splinter and thus cause serious injuries, lead to constipation or even intestinal obstruction!
Beef BARF ingredients
In one piece/chopped/ground - bones can splinter - feed under supervision!
- Muscle meat
- Head meat (cheek meat/lips)
- Diaphragm meat/crown meat/trunk meat
- Chuck and blade
- Tongue
- Heart
- Leg slices (caution-marrow cavity)
- Giblets
- Liver
- Kidney
- Rumen (with contents)
- Leaf stomach
- Spleen
- Lungs
- Cartilage
- Oesophagus/gullet (dissected and without thyroid gland)
- Larynx (dissected and without thyroid gland)
- Trachea/throat (dissected)
- Raw bones (preferably meaty bones with 50% meat and 50% bone), NEVER feed cookeed bones!
- Beef brisket
- Veal breastbone
- Oxtail
- Marrow bone (with care!)
- Beef leg
- Ribs
- Spine
- Shoulder
- Upper leg
For in between (low nutritional value)
- Udders
- Testicles
- Pizzles
- Coat
- Skin
- Ears
Cooked alternatives to raw beef are Canis Plus® Beef Pot, Canis Plus® Beef Green Tripe Pot, Canis Plus® Beef Power with Millet and whole Goat's Milk or the ready-made complete meals Canis Plus® Beef with Green Tripe or for puppies and young dogs Canis Plus® Puppy Beef with broccoli and pear.
Lamb BARF ingredients
- Same ingredients as for beef
- Pay attention to - digestive tract (possible parasitic load)
Cooked alternatives to raw lamb are Canis Plus® pure Lamb, Canis Plus® grass fed Lamb with Millet and whole Goat's Milk or the ready-made complete meals Canis Plus® Lamb with Pumpkin and Apple or for puppies and young dogs Canis Plus® puppy meal Lamb with Parsnip and Blueberries.
Goat BARF ingredients
- Same ingredients as for beef
- Pay attention to - digestive tract (possible parasitic load)
Cooked alternatives to raw goat meat are Canis Plus® Pure Goat.
Horse BARF ingredients
- Same ingredients as for beef
- Caution - tubular bones can splinter
Cooked alternatives to raw horse meat are Canis Plus® Pure Horse or the ready-made complete meal Canis Plus® Horse with Courgette and Pumpkin.
Poultry BARF ingredients
In one piece/shredded/ground - bones can splinter, feed under supervision!
- Whole, young chickens and their chicks
- Whole, young turkeys and their chicks
- Whole, young geese and their chicks
- Whole, young ducks and their chicks
- Whole, young pigeons
- Muscle meat
- Breast
- Heart
- Stomach
- Giblets
- Kidney
- Liver
- Lungs
- Raw bones (preferably meaty bones with 50% meat and 50% bone), NEVER feed cooked bones!
- Wings (meaty, with skin/bone (increases fat content)
- Thighs (meaty, with skin/bone, increased fat content)
- Necks
- Backs/carcasses with skin
- Ribs
- Caution - bones of older animals can splinter!
- Caution - tubular bones can splinter!
Naturavetal® Info
Eggs for dogs
Eggs are an easily digestible source of protein and contain essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The shell is an excellent source of calcium if it is crushed as small as possible or finely ground (as in our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder). Raw eggs can be fed especially when feeding spinach and similar ingredients that contain a higher amount of oxalic acid (large amounts of oxalic acid can lead to reduced absorption of calcium). However, raw eggs should be fed sparingly, their shells should be thoroughly washed in hot water to minimise possible salmonella contamination, and they should be fed whole. Boiled eggs are a great way to give your dog a treat - they require dexterity and the cooking process renders hazards such as salmonella or egg white harmless.
Cooked alternatives to raw poultry meat are Canis Plus® Pure Chicken, Canis Plus® Duck pots or the ready-made complete meals Canis Plus® Chicken with Millet and Carrot or Canis Plus® Turkey with Pollack and Parsnip and for puppies and young dogs our Canis Plus® Chicken puppy meal.
Rabbit BARF ingredients
- Whole young rabbits
- Whole rabbits
- Caution - offal (possible parasitic contamination)
- Caution - bones of older rabbits/hares can splinter
Cooked alternatives to raw rabbit meat are Canis Plus® Pure Rabbit or the ready-made complete meal Canis Plus® Rabbit with Game and Broccoli.
Game BARF ingredients
- Same parts as for beef
- Pay attention to - digestive tract (possible parasitic load)
- Caution - tubular bones!
- Caution – do NOT feed raw wild boar!
Cooked alternatives to raw game meat are Canis Plus® Pure Game or the ready-made complete meals Canis Plus® Game with Buckwheat and Wild Berries or Canis Plus® Rabbit with Game and Broccoli.
Fish BARF ingredients
- Whole, raw fish
- Fish fillet
- Fish heads
Cooked alternatives to raw fish are Canis Plus® Pollock with Parsnip and Mango or Canis Plus® Turkey with Pollock and Parsnip.
Naturavetal® Info
Avoid raw meat if your dog has acidosis problems
Some dogs do not tolerate raw meat very well and develop stomach noises, smacking their lips or hyperacidity after feeding. Dogs are often particularly affected as they get older. Raw meat, which was previously well tolerated, becomes more and more of a problem, the dog eats grass in large quantities and does not seem to feel as well as usual after eating. Our Canis Plus® pure meat tins and rolls offer an excellent alternative to raw meat and are usually easier for these dogs to digest. You can then simply replace the total meat content with our pure meat tins or rolls and add a natural source of calcium such as our Canis Extra organic Eggshell powder and a high-quality source of fat such as our Canis Extra Salmon Oil. In addition, our Canis Extra Ceolife® can nutritionally promote a balanced acid-base balance and thus help to ensure that the dog generally develops fewer problems with acidosis.
Vegetables BARF Ingredients for dogs
Naturavetal® Info
Green vegetables and green leaf salads
The greener the vegetables fed, the better they are for the dog, half of the vegetable portion should consist of green leaf salads.
Vegetables that are well suited for dogs
Chopped/pureed, raw, partly steamed, or cooked
- Watercress
- Chinese cabbage
- Fennel
- Garden cress
- Vegetable sorrel
- Cucumber
- Carrot
- Celeriac
- Pumpkin
- Dandelion
- Parsnip
- Beetroot
- Celery
- Turnips
- Jerusalem artichoke
- Courgette
Leafy vegetables that are well suited for dogs
Chopped/pureed, raw, partly steamed, or cooked
- Batavia lettuce
- Chicory
- Oak leaf salad
- Iceberg lettuce
- Endive
- Corn salad
- Lettuce
- Lollo Rosso
- Lollo Bianco
- Chard
- Lettuce
- Romaine
- Rocket
Vegetables suitable for dogs in moderation
Chopped/pureed, raw, partly steamed, or cooked
- Corn
- Types of cabbage, e.g. cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, red cabbage or savoy cabbage can cause flatulence – test slowly, boil or steam
- Leek
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Beetroot
Unsuitable vegetables for dogs
- Avocados (Caution! Persin)
- Onions
Raw legumes, e.g.
- Peas
- Lentils
- Beans
Unripe nightshade plants, e.g.
- Green Paprika
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Aubergines (Caution! Solanine)
Ready-made alternatives to home-made vegetables and fruit: Canis Extra Vit/Min-Variety Flakes or Canis Extra Top-Fit Mix Flakes.
Fruit BARF Ingredients for the dog
Naturavetal® Info
Avoid acidic fruits if there are hyperacidity problems
Fruit varieties that contain a lot of acid should only be fed sparingly. For dogs with existing acidity problems, it is best to avoid them altogether. In addition, there are fruits such as plums that can lead to stomach and intestinal problems, these should also be fed sparingly and not at all for sensitive dogs.
Fruit varieties that are well suited for dogs
Ripe or overripe, raw/pitted, crushed/pureed. Never mouldy!
- Apple
- Apricot
- Banana
- Pear
- Blackberry
- Strawberry
- Fig
- Goji Berry
- Rose hip
- Blueberry
- Raspberry
- Honeydew
- Red currant
- Cherry
- Mango
- Melon
- Nectarine
- Peach
- Papaya
- Gooseberry
Fruits suitable for dogs in moderation
Ripe or overripe, raw/pitted, crushed/pureed. Never mouldy!
- Pineapple
- Persimmon
- Kiwi
- Lychee
- Mirabelle plums
- Plums
- Citrus fruits such as: orange, tangerine, lemon
- Plums
Unsuitable fruit varieties for the dog
- Ground Cherry
- Star fruit
- Quince
- Grapes (also raisins)
Ready-made alternatives to home-made fruit and vegetables: Canis Extra Vit/Min Variety Flakes or Canis Extra Top-Fit Mix Flakes.
Healthy filling for the dog
Naturavetal® Info
Satisfying for the gluttonous appetite
Some dogs simply seem to have an insatiable hunger and cannot be satisfied if they are only given vegetables and fruit as a vegetable side dish. This brings to the fore a topic that is controversially discussed, grain or grain-free feeding. There are dogs that do not tolerate gluten and other substances contained in the grain and develop allergies, especially due to wheat. If you want to be on the safe side, it is best to feed grain-free or use high-quality, gluten-free grain alternatives. Our Canis Extra Vit/Min Variety Flakes are also particularly suitable for promoting a feeling of satiety.
Ingredients providing satiety for the dog
Gently opened so that they can be used by the dog
- Amaranth (an ancient grain)
- Buckwheat
- Millet
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
Oils and fats as BARF ingredients for dogs
Naturavetal® Info
Fats in BARF
The right oils and fats are very important for BARF, especially as an energy supplier. In addition, there are fat-soluble vitamins that can only be absorbed by the body in the presence of oils or fats. You can find out more about this in our guide article "Good oils for dogs". Always pay attention to the quality of the oils and fats you feed, i.e. good raw material quality, and in the case of vegetable oils they should be gently cold pressed. These properties are crucial for how many nutrients are left. Oils quickly become rancid if stored incorrectly. They should therefore always be stored in a cool place away from light and should be used up quickly after opening or frozen in portions. Therefore, Canis Extra 3-6-9 Fish and Hemp oil is particularly suitable for supplementing oils in BARF. The combined oils of 7 types of fish and healthy hemp oil offers the benefits of different oils in one product, so that the dog is sufficiently supplied with the important omega-3-6-9 fatty acids.
Well suited vegetable oils and fats for dogs
Gently manufactured or cold-pressed
- Borage oil
- Hemp oil
- Coconut oil
- Pumpkin seed oil
- Evening primrose oil
- Olive oil
- Black Cumin Oil
Animal oils and fats that are well suited for dogs
Gently manufactured or cold-pressed
- Cod oil
- Goose fat
- Salmon oil
- Cod liver oil
- Cod oil
- Beef fat
Natural complementary food as BARF ingredients for dogs
Gently air-dried and processed
Each dog has its own individual needs. This depends not only on the activity level of the dog, but also on its age, its state of health and also on external factors, such as the season. With natural supplementary feeds, the BARF meal for your dog can be adapted even more individually to your dog's needs.
Canis Extra Tausendgrün Organic Herbs for BARF a natural source of a variety of vitamins, minerals for a balanced diet
Canis Extra Berry Power a natural source of a variety of vitamins, minerals for a balanced diet
Canis Extra Active a natural source of a variety of vitamins, minerals and trace elements for the basic supply to the dog
Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder or Canis Calcified Seaweed a natural source of calcium, for example if the dog cannot tolerate bones or bone meal
Canis Extra Seaweed Meal a Natural Source of Iodine
Canis Extra Brewer's Yeast a natural source of B vitamins
Canis Extra Organic Rosehip Powder a Natural Source of Vitamin C
Canis Extra Mineralmoor a natural source of a variety of minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium
Further information and frequently asked questions (FAQ) about BARF in dogs
The size of the daily ration of BARF for dogs depends on the activity level, age and current body weight of the dog. In our guide "First steps to BARF in dogs" you will learn how you can calculate the daily ration for a normally active, healthy dog.
Which food the dog tolerates best depends on various factors. Already in puppyhood, when the dog is shaped by it first food plan, the course is set, which is then influenced by further life circumstances. The nature of the dog can also say a lot about which food would be best for them. If you would like to learn more about which dog food best suits your dog's character, feel free to take a look here.
At Naturavetal®, you can combine wet and dry food and make the feeding even more varied for the dog. For example, if you want to cover 50% of the daily ration with dry food and the other 50% with wet food, feed half of the daily ration of dry food in one meal and half of the daily ration of wet food in the other meal. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact our team of experts.
If the dog suffers from an allergy, you should go in search of the allergy trigger and first feed the dog a source of meat that they has not yet tried in their life (this is usually called a novel protein) - neither as a main food nor as snacks. You can find more information on this topic in our guide "My dog is an allergy sufferer - what now".
For puppies, at the beginning of the transition to BARF, you should opt for meat sources that are easier to digest. These include lamb, chicken, turkey or beef. If you want to approach the changeover to BARF for puppies even more gently, you can also use our Canis Plus® pure meat cans or Canis Plus® meat rolls at the beginning and only switch to raw meat later.
More BARF tips from Naturavetal®
- In Summary: Toxic Food for Dogs
- First steps to BARF for Dogs
- Variety of complementary feeds for the balanced menu
- Pure meat cans as a substitute for raw meat
- Pure meat rolls as a substitute for raw meat
- High-quality flakes for easy addition to the BARF menu
- Complete meals as a practical BARF alternative for holidays
- Canis Plus® cold-pressed dry food suitable as a supplement to BARF for adult dogs
- Canis Plus® cold-pressed dry food suitable as a supplement to BARF for puppies and young dogs
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone. We are here to help you with comprehensive advice. You can reach us Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by phone at 0208 - 531 7804 or mail info@naturavetal.co.uk.
