We would like to give a few helpful tips to dog owners who are thinking about switching partially or even completely to BARF feeding. No matter which type of feeding you choose for your dog, it is always important to find the right balance of ingredients to protect the organism from over acidity or nutrient deficiency (or even overdose). Always think of your dog as an individual – adapt their feeding, depending on their age, activity, performance and their general state of health, so when feeding, you should always consider their current needs.
BARF - amount of food to feed per day for an adult dog
3% of the dog's body weight is the amount of food needed per day. An overweight dog, a senior, or a dog that gets very little exercise due to a physical limitation/disability, should receive 2% to 2.5% of its body weight in food. A dog with malnutrition can eat 4% of its weight per day until it reaches an appropriate weight. It doesn't matter whether the meals are divided into one, two, three or more portions. We recommend two servings a day for healthy, adult dogs. Dogs with digestive problems, as well as breeding animals and puppies, are discussed later. The optimal amount of food depends on various factors such as activity level, age, season, physical & mental health and much more and should be assessed individually.
| Determination of the total feed quantity and composition | |
|---|---|
| 3% daily amount for a 20 kg dog | 20 kg = 20.000 g x 3/100 = 600 g total food |
| The animal content of the total feed should be approx. 70-80% meat and meaty bones, fats and offal. To make it easier to understand, we will use a meat content of 70% in our example. | 600 g x 70% = 420 g total meat content |
| 15% of the total food content should be fleshy bones (ribs, sternum, neck, wings). | 600 g x 15% = 90 g bones |
If your dog does not tolerate bones or bone meal, an alternative providing essential calcium content with natural supplements is Eggshell Powder or Calcified Seaweed.
| Continuation of the calculation | |
|---|---|
| We subtract this bone content from the total meat content. | 420 g – 90g = 330 g |
| 10% of the remaining total meat content should be offal (liver, kidney): | 330 g x 10% = 33 g |
| Gullet, gizzard may make up 25% of the remaining total meat ration: | 330 g x 25% = 83 g |
| The remainder of the total amount of meat consists of 55% lean meat (breast, head, rump or crown meat): | 330 g x 55% = 182 g |
There are dogs that do not tolerate raw meat very well and develop stomach noises, smacking their lips or hyperacidity after feeding. Dogs are more often affected as they get older. The raw meat, that had been previously well accepted, is becoming more and more of a problem, this may result in the dog eating more grass or it does not seem to feel as well after eating. Our Canis Plus® Pure Meat Pots and Rolls offer an excellent alternative to raw meat and are usually easier for these dogs to digest. You can then simply replace the calculated total meat content (see above) with our pure meat pots or rolls and add a natural calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder and a high-quality fat source such as our Canis Extra Salmon Oil.
Naturavetal® Info
BARF Feeding information for dogs
The most important thing about BARF is that you feed a varied and balanced diet over a longer period of time in order to cover the nutrient supply from all sides. Therefore, you are encouraged to vary and combine the ingredients and recipes as you like, so that the dog gets a bit of everything over a period of 2-3 weeks. You can even skip the weighing as you gain experience and routine, because you will develop a feeling and a right sense of proportion. You can create an offal day, a fish day and then more vegetables are fed with some fruit again - balance is everything. With a varied diet, your dog is able to store nutrients adequately and is better cared for overall. If you need more help with orientation at the beginning, there are a few detailed recipes below that will be of help.
Fats should always be fed with meat and in this example the proportion is 10%. Often the meat fed has a certain fat content already, which would then have to be subtracted at this point. The animal fat content should be between 15 – 25% when feeding BARF for dogs. For information on fat in dog nutrition, click here.) If it is not possible for you to feed the dog animal fat, you can alternate the feeding between animal and vegetable oils.
| Continuation of the calculation | |
|---|---|
| Fats should always be fed with meat and in this example the proportion is 10%: | 330 g x 10% = 33 g |
| In our example, the plant-based portion of the total daily ration is the rest of the daily feed amount at 30%. | 600 g x 30% = 180 g |
| We divide this into 70% vegetables, which are divided into 50% colourful vegetables (such as carrots, pumpkin, beetroot, fennel, etc.) and 50% leafy salads (such as lettuce, spinach, chard, lamb's lettuce, etc.). | 180 g x 70% = 126 g (half green and the other half mixed vegetables) |
| 30% fruit (such as strawberries, pears, apples, bananas, oranges, etc.) | 180 g x 30% = 54 g |
If you would like to offer your dog a high-quality, balanced vegetable/fruit supplement, take a look at our pre-mixed, air-dried flake mixtures. With valuable millet – to meet your dog's need for fibre – or even completely grain-free.
If the dog is very hungry, half of the fruit and vegetables can be replaced by puffed or cooked substitute grains such as amaranth, millet, buckwheat or quinoa for a while. Depending on your dog’s needs, phase of life or simply the season, you can round off your dog's BARF meal with valuable supplementary foods. A high-quality herbal mixture, various cold-pressed oils or various algae extracts bring variety to the diet and support the normal functions of the organs. We regularly present recipe ideas that you can transform and optimise according to the needs of your animal.
| Summary of food per day | |
|---|---|
| Calculate 20 kg of the dog's body weight at 3% | = 600 g total feed per day |
| Animal content (70%) = 420 g | Includes: | = 420 g animal content |
| 15% fleshy bones = 90 g | |
| 10% offal = 33 g | |
| 25% gullet, gizzard = 83 g | |
| 55% muscle meat = 182 g | |
| 10% fat = 33 g | |
| Vegetable content (30%) = 180 g | Includes: | = 180 g vegetebale content |
| 70% green and colourful vegetables = 126 g | |
| 30% fruit = 54 g | |
BARF Recipe Ideas for Dogs - calculated according to daily feed quantity
Below you will find various recipe ideas that would be suitable for a dog with a body weight of 20kg and a normal activity level. If your dog has a different body weight or his activity risk is lower or higher, you can use the calculation method shown above and adapt the recipes accordingly to your dog's needs.
Feeding information on the Naturavetal® BARF recipes
For allergy sufferers or sensitive dogs, we generally recommend varying the recipes so that you use the animal proteins by type, i.e. only from one animal species. However, for healthy dogs, it is completely conceivable to vary different types of meat during the week or even in one meal. These recipes serve as orientation or inspiration for new ideas and provide variety in the bowl!
BARF: Recipe Idea Day 1
- 90g – Chicken wings
- 33g – Fish offal
- 83g – Beef gizzard
- 182g – Beef head meat
- Up to 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the beef head meat
- 126g – 63g each zucchini / fennel and 63g rocket
- 54g – Blackberry or Papaya
- + Canis Extra Aktiv // 1 tbsp Quark // Canis Extra Organic Hemp Oil
BARF: Recipe Idea Day 2
- 90g – Chicken necks
- 33g – Chicken stomach
- 82g – Beef tripe
- 182g – Chicken
- Up to 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the chicken breast
- 126g – 63g each celery / cucumber and 63g iceberg lettuce
- 54g – Peach (pitted) / raspberry
- + Salmon Oil // 1 tbsp Cottage cheese
BARF: Recipe Idea Day 3
- 90g – Beef breast meat
- 33g – Lamb kidney
- 82g – Beef gullet
- 182g – Beef rib
- Up to. 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the rib meat
- 126g – 63g each carrots / pumpkin and 63g lettuce
- 54g – Banana / Apple
- + Canis Extra 3-6-9 Fish and Hemp BARF Oil // 1 Egg
We provide these recipes to make it easier for you to get started with BARF, the recipes only serve as an initial orientation. Later on, it is much easier and more cost-effective if you determine how much offal the dog needs in a week, for example, and possibly only feed offal 1-2 times a week. In principle, you only have to calculate the values determined above to x7.
| Summary of feed per week | |
|---|---|
| Calculate 20 kg of the dog's body weight at 3% | = 4.200 g total food amount per week |
| Animal content (70%) = 2.940 g | Includes: | = 2.940 g animal share |
| 15% fleshy bones = 630 g | |
| 10% offal = 231 g | |
| 25% gullet, gizzard = 578 g | |
| 55% muscle meat = 1.270.5 g | |
| 10% fat = 231 g | |
| Vegetable content (30%) = 1.260 g | Off which: | = 1.260 g vegetable share |
| 70% green and colourful vegetables = 882 g | |
| 30% fuit = 378 g | |
BARF Recipe Ideas for dogs - calculated according to daily feed quantity
Feeding Info - BARF Weekly Plan for Dogs
Even though the total amount of food varies during the day, in the following examples, the dog has received a balanced diet spread over 3 days. Balance over a longer period of time is the be-all and end-all of BARF. Therefore, you can take the liberty to simply divide the food freely over the week and adjust the quantities according to the daily routine, season or other, individual needs and according to how you feel. You know your dog best – these suggestions are for guidance only.
BARF: Recipe Idea Day 1
- 90g – Chicken wings
- 99g – Chicken stomach
- 264g – Beef head meat
- Up to 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the beef head meat
- 126g – 63g each courgette / fennel and 63g rocket
- 54g – Blackberry / Papaya
- + Canis Extra Aktiv // 1 tbsp quark // Canis Extra Organic Hemp Oil
→ Total food quantity: 666g
BARF: Recipe Idea Day 2
- 180g – Chicken necks
- 165g – Beef tripe
- 99g –Chicken breast
- Up to 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the chicken breast
- 126g – 63g each Celery / Cucumber and 63g iceberg lettuce
- 54g – Peach (pitted) / Raspberry
- + Salmon Oil // 1 tsp Cottage cheese
→ Total food quantity: 657g
BARF for the Dog: Recipe Idea Day 3
- 82.5g – Beef breastbone
- 181.5g – Beef rib
- Up to 33g animal fat, depending on the fat content of the rib meat
- 126g – 63g each Carrots / Pumpkin and 63g Lettuce
- 54g – Banana / Apple + Canis Extra 3-6-9 Fish and Hemp BARF Oil // 1 Egg
→ Total food quantity: 477g
Further information and frequently asked questions (FAQ) about BARF for dogs
When it comes to feeding BARF, it is important to have the right meal composition. For a normally healthy dog, this should consist of 70% meat content and 30% vegetables. Depending on your needs, you can then feed a supplementary feed, such as to cover the calcium requirement or to ensure the iodine supply is correct. In our BARF guide you will find many informative articles on the subject of BARF. Click here for the BARF guide.
With BARF you have the opportunity to decide exactly what your dog should get as food. You can tailor each meal to its individual needs. BARF is also the type of feeding that comes closest to the origin of the dog, i.e. the wolf. However, it is important to find out exactly how BARF works for the dog or cat so that there are no deficiencies and the animal is well cared for.
Many dog owners therefore first opt for the Partial-BARF concept. Here the dog is fed 50% with a ready-made dog food, the remaining 50% then consists of self-prepared BARF ingredients. You can find out more about the partial-BARF concept in our guide "Partial BARF - The right balance"
The right amount of food for the dog is determined by age, current body weight, activity level and, of course, individual history. Background information and tips on the subject of BARF can be found here.
In principle, BARF is also well suited for puppies. However, since they are in the growth phase, it is particularly important that the BARF meal contains everything the puppy needs for its growth. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that the energy content of the BARF ration is not too high, as an excess of energy can be responsible growth that is too rapid, which in turn can promote joint problems later on.
Many puppy owners therefore decide to offer the puppy a ready-made puppy food that is put together in such a way that it can be fed in combination with BARF, such as Canis Plus® Puppies & Young Dog Food. In this way, the puppy already gets to know the concept of BARF and can later, as soon as the growth phase is completed, be completely converted to BARF.
Which supplements are right for your dog depends on the composition of their diet. For example, if your dog does not tolerate bones, it makes sense to supplement with another calcium source such as Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder to cover the calcium supply. If you need to supplement iodine, Canis Extra Seaweed Meal, for example, is suitable. Naturavetal® offers a wide range of natural complementary feeds for BARF, click here for the products.
As a pure carnivore, the cat depends on a high proportion of meat in its daily feeding. Vegetable included serve more as fibre for the intestinal flora. It is also important to supplement the right complementary foods so that the cat is provided with everything it needs in a species-appropriate manner. You can find out more about this in our guide "First steps to BARF for cats".
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.
